I am going to be getting some insurance money from an accident my wife had in her tahoe, and I was looking for some advice on where to start or what order would be the most logical. Should have about $1500 to play with.
My radiator is alway low or on empty and I think that my leak is coming from the water pump area. I never see any water on the ground or anywhere on the motor so I assume its a slow leak and drying before it can be found. I plan on doing the water pump, timing chain, plenum, new plugs, wires, cap and rotor, new hoses, maybe new radiator been running only water and I think its rusting the radiator.
My question is, does all that seem like it could be done together at one time and make sense to do it together? I figure since I'm doing the water pump might as well do the timing chain and since im doing that should do plenum.
My truck has been neglected for some time now and wanna freshen her up a lil bit.

 

Plenum, water pump, timing set, and tune up in one blow is a good idea. There is a lot of overlap in things that need to come off for those jobs.

You REALLY need to find out where the water is going.... got a pressure tester for your cooling system? Handy tool to have around. I think this is something I would address BEFORE doing anything else, as you may have a bigger problem than just a water pump. (possible head gasket.)

 

Its been a while but I think my mechanic buddy did the pressure test and that was his suggestion. Probably would not hurt to buy one and check it again.
Any other special tools that would be needed? I think a torque wrench is needed also right? In inch/lbs and ft/lbs?

 

Yeah, finding a torque wrench that will go as low as the 12 inch pounds is an exercise though..... (initial torque on some fasteners for doing the intake job....)

A three jaw gear puller will make your life easier as well. Need it to get the balancer off the end of the crank.

 

I wanna get all the stuff together before I start since this is my daily driver. I hear getting the balancer off can be a p.i.t.a!!!

 

With the puller, its easy.

 

One tool to get if you don't have one is a comp tester, then before you buy any parts do the comp test, this way you will have no surprises after you put a bunch of money into the motor.

 

Yea I think i'm gonna use my buddies, but definitely gonna do another pressure check.

 

How hard and what benefits would it be to replace the cam shaft? Would i have to change a bunch of other parts to see a benefit?