i just bought a 01 express with a 4.3 and 185,000miles on it. i want to give it a full tune up, but i dont see any clips on the cowl to open it up. my old van was a g30 and opening the cowl was self explanatory, just unscrew a few bolts and open the clips. this one is eluding me tho.
it has a minor oil leak and water leak aswell, i traced the water leak to the water pump, and i'm hoping that the oil is coming from the timing cover. i plan to have the shop put on a new timing chain kit when i have them do the water pump. i figured once they have the water pump off its not that much more work to do the timing chain then aswell.
once i get the cowl opened up for a tuneup, if i find the oil leak is the valve covers. is there anything in there i should replace while i have it open? like new lifters, pushrods or rocker arms? or would those not match up with a worn down cam?
van runs great btw the only odd noises are coming from the bad water pump, no lifter ticks or anything.
about the oil leak. are the 4.3litre vortech motors prone to oil leaks elswear, like the rear main? i'm no mechanic, but if i know exactly what is broken, and i can remove the broken part, i can usally get a new part put on. but any deeper than that takes a mechanic for me.
sorry for the book i wrote, but i hope you can help me out.