Alright... it has begun. The infamous timing chain noise was just getting louder and I've sourced all the parts and tools to do it myself. This will be an ongoing tutorial/experience from my perspective.
If you're doing this it's at you're own risk, and I'll document my experience to help you out.
Find a place to wrench, my garage is it. I wanted to depressurize the fuel system, since I know I'll have to get into the valve covers. To do that, turn off the motor, pop the hood, open the battery cover, open the fuse cover, remove fuse F1, start the vehicle (it will stall out and I did it 3x to be sure).
Disconnect the battery, all of them. I have 2.
Remove the air intake completely, including both L & R air boxes. There's 1 ring clamp around the throttle body and 1 ring clamp on each air box closest to the maf. To remove the air box, gently pull up and towards the engine bay.
Remove the fan. Unclip all hoses on the upper radiator shroud. I used a metal body panel remover for removing all the wire clips. At each end of the shroud on the bottom side, there is a push tab to separate the upper shroud. Once that's out of the way, remove the fan with the GM fan clutch tool. I attached a breaker bar to the wrench and to the piece the stops it from moving. It's reverse treaded, turn right to loosen it. Remove the accessory belt. I used a breaker bar with a 1/2 to 3/4 adapter for more leverage. The book says cut it, but thats up to you.
Remove the lower protection plates. I have a sump guard too. Its just 4 bolts. Also remove the driver's (or left side if your looking from inside) plastic cover. There's a few plastic clips.
Remove all cooling components. Start by draining it. I used a cheap 7qt oil pan to catch the coolant. The lower tube from the left (looking from inside) has a metal clip that needs to be pulled out prior to yanking the pipe off. A good amount of coolant will spray out, let gravity do its thing for 5 minutes. Then pour the coolant into a 5 gallon bucket. Then remove the upper radiator hose from the thermostat and let the coolant drain to the pan below before removing it completely. Remove the water pump. I find it easier to loosen the intake manifold and strap the front of it up with tie down straps to the hood latches. To do this remove the metal fuel line, 17mm compression fittings and 2x torx t30mm bolts. Remove the plugs and pipes to the throttle body. There are 8x 10mm bolts holding the intake manifold, then lift the front of the front of the intake manifold for clearance. Remove the 4x t30 bolts holding the water pump and the pipe to the thermostat. More coolant will spew out. Remove the thermostat. Remove all plugs and wire clips from the thermostat. Remove the lower hose first by removing the metal clip and pull down. I had trouble, but found a genius solution. I used a single paracord and tied constrictor knot around the top side of the lower tube and another constrictor knot on the other side. This leaves a loop hanging just below the bottom of the frame, and i used my breaker bar for leverage on the paracord's loop. The constrictor knots on each side evenly pulls the pipe out of the thermostat. Again, let all of the coolant drain. Remove the only t30 bolt holding the thermostat.
This is where I stopped. To be continued...
If you're doing this it's at you're own risk, and I'll document my experience to help you out.
Find a place to wrench, my garage is it. I wanted to depressurize the fuel system, since I know I'll have to get into the valve covers. To do that, turn off the motor, pop the hood, open the battery cover, open the fuse cover, remove fuse F1, start the vehicle (it will stall out and I did it 3x to be sure).
Disconnect the battery, all of them. I have 2.
Remove the air intake completely, including both L & R air boxes. There's 1 ring clamp around the throttle body and 1 ring clamp on each air box closest to the maf. To remove the air box, gently pull up and towards the engine bay.
Remove the fan. Unclip all hoses on the upper radiator shroud. I used a metal body panel remover for removing all the wire clips. At each end of the shroud on the bottom side, there is a push tab to separate the upper shroud. Once that's out of the way, remove the fan with the GM fan clutch tool. I attached a breaker bar to the wrench and to the piece the stops it from moving. It's reverse treaded, turn right to loosen it. Remove the accessory belt. I used a breaker bar with a 1/2 to 3/4 adapter for more leverage. The book says cut it, but thats up to you.
Remove the lower protection plates. I have a sump guard too. Its just 4 bolts. Also remove the driver's (or left side if your looking from inside) plastic cover. There's a few plastic clips.
Remove all cooling components. Start by draining it. I used a cheap 7qt oil pan to catch the coolant. The lower tube from the left (looking from inside) has a metal clip that needs to be pulled out prior to yanking the pipe off. A good amount of coolant will spray out, let gravity do its thing for 5 minutes. Then pour the coolant into a 5 gallon bucket. Then remove the upper radiator hose from the thermostat and let the coolant drain to the pan below before removing it completely. Remove the water pump. I find it easier to loosen the intake manifold and strap the front of it up with tie down straps to the hood latches. To do this remove the metal fuel line, 17mm compression fittings and 2x torx t30mm bolts. Remove the plugs and pipes to the throttle body. There are 8x 10mm bolts holding the intake manifold, then lift the front of the front of the intake manifold for clearance. Remove the 4x t30 bolts holding the water pump and the pipe to the thermostat. More coolant will spew out. Remove the thermostat. Remove all plugs and wire clips from the thermostat. Remove the lower hose first by removing the metal clip and pull down. I had trouble, but found a genius solution. I used a single paracord and tied constrictor knot around the top side of the lower tube and another constrictor knot on the other side. This leaves a loop hanging just below the bottom of the frame, and i used my breaker bar for leverage on the paracord's loop. The constrictor knots on each side evenly pulls the pipe out of the thermostat. Again, let all of the coolant drain. Remove the only t30 bolt holding the thermostat.
This is where I stopped. To be continued...