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Old 09-01-2009, 04:48 PM   #1
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Tow Vehicle Gave Up The Ghost

Well, it finally happened. The trusty TV finally gave up the ghost. It was a 2001 Z-71 with 330,000 miles on it. Yes, 330,000 miles. Driving to work the other day the camshaft bearings spun and starved the right head of oil. Fried some rockers. This trusty engine, a 5.3, gave me many thousands of trouble free miles and about 6 thousand miles of towing the SV 291. I am putting in a very low mile used engine I traded out for some body work since that is what I do for a living. Why a used engine? Because I'm cheap. And it only has 50K miles on it.
Now here's the good part. Ya know when you buy a camper, boat, four wheeler etc... how you suddenly pick up new friends? Well, we have a camping trip planned for this Labor Day weekend. A VERY good friend of mine
(really true friend) is going to haul the TT the 100 miles to the campsite for me and set it up. He will be staying on his boat while we camp and will haul it back to the house at the close of business. Wow, life suddenly got better.
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Scouts Out, L Troop 3/2 ACR 76-79
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2009 SV 291
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One great 16 yr old son
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Two dogs, Ziggy and Zaggy
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Old 09-02-2009, 07:47 AM   #2
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You should pay him back by taking a ride in his boat and drink a few of his beers. Life is good LOL
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Old 09-02-2009, 02:29 PM   #3
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It's awesome to hear when real friends do things for good people. My wife and I host and promote motorcycle events on weekend in the Tampa Bay Area and on a weekly basis we are raising money for someone who was in an accident or lost a house to fire or some other cause like children charities or a military family needing help to name just a few. Most times we don't know these people but they need help and you do what you can. It's great when you can help someone you know and it makes a difference in their family even if it's just a holiday weekend trip.

Sorry to hear about TV but I would say your got your moneys worth from that '01. Before placing any used motor I would invest in two gasket sets. Old pan gasket should be replaced to check the pan for metal particles and check all components on that end for damage. Valve cover gasket set for same reason. You can tell a ton by looking for baked on old used oil, particles, damage of any kind, when rotating motor with oil pan off you can see the lower end of cylinder cambers and inspect for damage. It's cheap and then you wont have to worry about those gaskets leaking after install. Can you tell I was a mechanic?

Good luck and enjoy your saved Labor Day weekend.

Scott n Kim
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Nights Camped: 2013-15 2012-28 2011-16 2010-10 2009-30
2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 2WD w/trailer pkg 345HP 5.7 Hemi/5spd Auto/3.92 Rear
2008 Wildwood 23FLSRV - Prodigy Brake Controller - BlueOx WD Hitch
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Old 09-02-2009, 06:47 PM   #4
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ScottnKimmer,
Replaced the knock sensors, oil pan gasket, valley gasket, intake gasket, put on new water pump etc... No metal anywhere and crank looked great. New hoses all around. No sludge issues top or bottom. Rocker assy was so clean you could eat off of it. Installed new plugs and wires while on the stand cause its a lot easier to do when engine is out. Gaskets and plugs are a mite expensive.
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Scouts Out, L Troop 3/2 ACR 76-79
Desert Storm Part One 1991
2009 SV 291
2001 Z-71
One great 16 yr old son
Great wife
Two dogs, Ziggy and Zaggy
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Old 09-03-2009, 04:21 AM   #5
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Well, I am glad to see someone else is like me and does it right the first time. That's the best way to be sure not to be repairing it on the first trip out. You did your homework now it's time to enjoy many more happy carefree miles in that Z-71.
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Scott n Kimmer

Nights Camped: 2013-15 2012-28 2011-16 2010-10 2009-30
2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 2WD w/trailer pkg 345HP 5.7 Hemi/5spd Auto/3.92 Rear
2008 Wildwood 23FLSRV - Prodigy Brake Controller - BlueOx WD Hitch
2011 Harley Electra-Glide Ultra Limited (His Bike) - 2005 V-Star 650 Classic (Her Bike)
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