What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2019]

[BuickOldsPontiac]

I like mine, they are essentially worthless now and they just run. Problem is finding a clean one (interior wise) since they are popular broke family cars and they get thrashed now that the prices came down so much.

If you spring for a v8 model you lose a little fuel mileage but gain bigger front disks, bigger rear end, and a good amount of power reserve. They also don't seem to rust out nearly as bad as the 99-06 pickup and Tahoe/burnans.

It's the last full frame v8 rwd "truck based" vehicle you can get that isn't huge. I guess maybe a Dakota but they have the dreaded 4.7

I want to replace my Rainier simply because it's got 250k on it but parts are CHEAP and it's comfortable, pulls a car trailer, fits in a parking lot easy and overall the build quality is pretty good.

A envoy Denali or Rainier are good bets for v8 aluminum 5.3 or late trailblazers. Saab 9-7 also.

Only thing that sucks is the air bag suspension is flaky and the v8 is really to big for the chassis and they are tough to work on the sides for plugs or manifolds. Also front diffs are a bit funny being bolted to the pan but mine had been great so far. Front wheel bearing are like fuses and seem to go out religiously at 50k miles. The Rainer, bravada and saab got the annoying awd tcase you can't shift so if I got another one I'd go envoy since you can manually lock 4wd.

If I find a low miles late production envoy Denali cheap I might just 6l80e swap the 60e out and run one of those another 8 years. Problem is they ended production right when the 6 speed came out and the 60e definitely lacks the ease of towing (always jumping out of 4) you get with a 6 speed. The 08 Denali got the gen 4 LS so some brackets and driveshafts and wiring and they alegegedly fit nice.

I was lucky to find mine 4 years ago. It only had about 112k miles at the time, and was very clean both inside and out. I would guess it spent most of it's life as a second or third vehicle. It is also a 5.3 v8. For the Trailblazer the only way to get a v8 was either in the SS or as an option on the EXT. And I suspect that most of the EXT models had the 6, but I am not sure. I think the only model that never had a v8 was the Olds Bravada.

 

[joesregalproject]

I like mine, they are essentially worthless now and they just run. Problem is finding a clean one (interior wise) since they are popular broke family cars and they get thrashed now that the prices came down so much.

If you spring for a v8 model you lose a little fuel mileage but gain bigger front disks, bigger rear end, and a good amount of power reserve. They also don't seem to rust out nearly as bad as the 99-06 pickup and Tahoe/burnans.

It's the last full frame v8 rwd "truck based" vehicle you can get that isn't huge. I guess maybe a Dakota but they have the dreaded 4.7

I want to replace my Rainier simply because it's got 250k on it but parts are CHEAP and it's comfortable, pulls a car trailer, fits in a parking lot easy and overall the build quality is pretty good.

A envoy Denali or Rainier are good bets for v8 aluminum 5.3 or late trailblazers. Saab 9-7 also.

Only thing that sucks is the air bag suspension is flaky and the v8 is really to big for the chassis and they are tough to work on the sides for plugs or manifolds. Also front diffs are a bit funny being bolted to the pan but mine had been great so far. Front wheel bearing are like fuses and seem to go out religiously at 50k miles. The Rainer, bravada and saab got the annoying awd tcase you can't shift so if I got another one I'd go envoy since you can manually lock 4wd.

If I find a low miles late production envoy Denali cheap I might just 6l80e swap the 60e out and run one of those another 8 years. Problem is they ended production right when the 6 speed came out and the 60e definitely lacks the ease of towing (always jumping out of 4) you get with a 6 speed. The 08 Denali got the gen 4 LS so some brackets and driveshafts and wiring and they alegegedly fit nice.

That's some useful info. I never really noticed them until I saw all the ones on this forum. They seem fairly reliable and pretty capable as far as towing. I didn't even know they came with a straight 6 until recently. I've got 5 vehicles as it is, I really don't need to be buying any more, but thanks to you guys I now have an itch for a Trailblazer or Ranier. Lmao

 

[pagrunt]

Replaced both sender floats in the wifes' Santa Fe today. Now I don't have to keep checking to see if her gauge is working or not (cause she ran out of gas coming home from work this morning.) So easy to do when both are at home & nothing else going on & having the right tools to do it.

 

[wonderboy24]

another one to build with my boys.

 

[joesregalproject]

Baby chicks are doing well. They are eating and drinking plenty and they are already getting bigger. They are starting to fly.

 

[TURNA]

Baby chicks are doing well. They are eating and drinking plenty and they are already getting bigger. They are starting to fly. View attachment 120787

MMMMMMMMM YUMMMMMMMMMY

 

[old80cs]

Yesterday I started the Trailblazer without any issues. After a few minutes I was convinced that the work I had done last week solved the problems with the ignition system. So I called and got the ferry permit to bring her to the Delaware DMV for inspection. After passing inspection and getting a new tag, it was off to the car wash and then time for an oil change and a transmission flush. And finally a two hour drive on the back roads of Delaware and Maryland! I still need to get the AC taken care of, but she ran like a champ!


View attachment 120464

Glad you got it sorted out! I have to get a state inspection sticker this month with my TB.

I was lucky to find mine 4 years ago. It only had about 112k miles at the time, and was very clean both inside and out. I would guess it spent most of it's life as a second or third vehicle. It is also a 5.3 v8. For the Trailblazer the only way to get a v8 was either in the SS or as an option on the EXT. And I suspect that most of the EXT models had the 6, but I am not sure. I think the only model that never had a v8 was the Olds Bravada.

I bought my 08' Trailblazer in 09' with 32K. It now has rolled 165K and is still running strong. Aside from the exhaust manifold cracking every so often, the I6 runs like a champ and has never left me stranded. They GMT360 does have it's quirks but I'd love to have another one to replace mine in another couple years. Not going to happen unfortunately. There isn't much to choose from in domestic SUV's with full frame / rear drive, part time 4x4 models anymore.

 

[81cutlass]

Since GMT360's are the hot button topic lately

Another chapter in the keep my 250k mile Rainier running and looking like it should.

After 2 weeks ago sqweel and serpentine belt change, and finding 3 of my exhaust manifold bolts were loose which actually made it squeel since the MLS manifold gasket was acting like a whistle, the engine is nice and quiet again. Seems to run better too, before it would occasionally studder and misfire when mildly warm and the 02's were all wack.

Last weekend I started getting a driveline vibration around 40-50mph, I thought it was misfiring actually and almost put spark plugs in it since they have 50K+ on them, but it went away on downhill coast and I thought it was something in the driveline.

Looked at it today and yep, driveshaft to axle U joint was wasted. There was not a single needle bearing on one of the caps and I am shocked it just started shaking since for as rusty as it is it's been at least a year if not years that they have been missing. Amazing how bad something has to be to actually be bad sometimes. Bad putting and grooving on the opposite cap.

Usually it would be a rock auto purchase, in this case they were $8-$12, but I wanted to get it going asap and ran to o-really's. It was actually only $14. Either RA is getting more expensive or the parts stores are bringing their prices more in line with what the internet charges. Plus I got to get rid of 4 gallons of my used oil.

Anyways, vibration is gone.

 

[Turbolq4]

did a little paint.

 

[81cutlass]

Small project last night

Getting married in a few months and apparently you are supposed to get gifts for the guys in your wedding party? I guess!!

Found some nice quality grill tools set of the old Bezos internet shopping conglomerate. Went to every store in town (lowes, menards, Kohls, ect) and they all had junky cheap grill tools. Wasn't worth spending time on them since they are so cheap. These had this ugly logo lasered on. iPartner? whatever..... That had to go!

Scotch brite on the die grinder and some 400 grit to blend in the texture and the logo is gone

And went over to the maker space in town and set it up in the laser

And Bam! Making a set with all my buddies last names on them. They turned out pretty awesome! Might want to get a little varnish in the letter areas so they dont fill with food goo but they turned out pretty nice!