Hi, how are we? I’m glad to see Oppo still exists and is filled with excellence as always.
Ignore the disaster that is my driveway at the moment... Pictured is my neighbor’s ‘05 Envoy XUV with an LM4. I arrived home from work on Saturday to see a tow truck backed up to it, and immediately I ran over and asked what had happened. He informed me that his water pump had failed and he was having it towed to a local shop, and that after calling around all day he had found the best deal on the job: $1,100. They fully intended to charge him the full labor to removed and install the water pump, to remove and install the thermostat, and to remove and install the fan clutch as three separate jobs. Every shop he called priced it out the same way. What in the actual hell?! I immediately spit out “I’ll do it for $300!” However, I feel guilty even charging that much for the job even though I’m saving him $800. I mean, 2 hose clamps for the intake tube, two bolts for the fan shroud, spin the fan clutch off, undo the upper and lower hoses and two heater hoses, then remove 6 bolts and it’s out. I know businesses have overhead to cover and the taxes businesses have to pay in the state of Oregon are obscene, but... really?
In other news, This is a neat vehicle. I had no idea the LM4 existed until I removed the water pump and though “WTF?! That’s an aluminum block... It can’t be an LM7!” Also, the sliding rear roof and versatility of this thing is crazy. The rear cargo area has a bulkhead with a window behind the rear seat and the whole area is weatherproof, so it’s like a small crew cab pickup with a built in retractable topper. Neat! Early 2000s GM is best GM (J-body cars do not apply).