WormGod
08/04/2011, 08:25 AM
I was leaving the local grocery here the other evening and when I got to my VX, a guy was walking around it taking in the sight. We exchanged the quick, general How-Do's and he proceeded to tell me he always loved the VX and used to be a master tech at an ISUZU dealer I had gone to way back when (yep, before ISUZU dealers around here became fossils). Apparently, he is now a Chevy master tech (according to his work shirt anyways.... and the bEaUtIfUl ZO6 he climbed into when he drove away).
Of course, first and foremost, he put out there just how natural it is for the VX to burn a qt. of oil every 3k. Name of the game, just how it is. Nothing new there, but he also said that since I was S/C'd, the potential to burn more was greater due to rod 1 being the furthest. I am skeptical, especially since before and after, my VX almost burns no oil. Regardless, something to think about and keep eyes open for.
He was also saying the EGR was always the biggest problem with them. Funny enough, he said, it's actually not the EGR at all. It would become an EGR problem because the EGR plumbing would get completely carbonized. He said, even in the shop, they would run a coat hanger down the line fashioned with a brush and cleaner, clean up the EGR, and it would purr like a kitten. I have had the EGR issues before but never thought to bother with the actual line itself. Damn shame it's a pain in the arse to get to with the S/C, heh.
One interesting thing he mentioned, which I had heard Tone say before, was, DO NOT USE ANY PLUGS OTHER THAN THE FACTORY. I always took this with a grain of salt, but he claimed some voodoo science that the VX and the factory plugs were married to. I didn't get into the "why not" so much, but again, food for thought.
Things he spat on.... cheap stock CV boots, transmission (and we will all agree, these should have been a stock 5spd manual), power window jamming, under-powered alternator (never thought about that), and lack of accessories.
The things he loved most are too many to list, but being owners, we have heard them all before.
In general, it was a pretty cool conversation. He said he hadn't seen one around in years and being able to get up close to one again was "pretty awesome". It was pretty touching, the way he would just stand there and look at it, like a proud parent watching their kid walk across the graduation stage. Kinda touching. Glad I could bring back some good times for him. :)
Of course, first and foremost, he put out there just how natural it is for the VX to burn a qt. of oil every 3k. Name of the game, just how it is. Nothing new there, but he also said that since I was S/C'd, the potential to burn more was greater due to rod 1 being the furthest. I am skeptical, especially since before and after, my VX almost burns no oil. Regardless, something to think about and keep eyes open for.
He was also saying the EGR was always the biggest problem with them. Funny enough, he said, it's actually not the EGR at all. It would become an EGR problem because the EGR plumbing would get completely carbonized. He said, even in the shop, they would run a coat hanger down the line fashioned with a brush and cleaner, clean up the EGR, and it would purr like a kitten. I have had the EGR issues before but never thought to bother with the actual line itself. Damn shame it's a pain in the arse to get to with the S/C, heh.
One interesting thing he mentioned, which I had heard Tone say before, was, DO NOT USE ANY PLUGS OTHER THAN THE FACTORY. I always took this with a grain of salt, but he claimed some voodoo science that the VX and the factory plugs were married to. I didn't get into the "why not" so much, but again, food for thought.
Things he spat on.... cheap stock CV boots, transmission (and we will all agree, these should have been a stock 5spd manual), power window jamming, under-powered alternator (never thought about that), and lack of accessories.
The things he loved most are too many to list, but being owners, we have heard them all before.
In general, it was a pretty cool conversation. He said he hadn't seen one around in years and being able to get up close to one again was "pretty awesome". It was pretty touching, the way he would just stand there and look at it, like a proud parent watching their kid walk across the graduation stage. Kinda touching. Glad I could bring back some good times for him. :)