2002 Chevrolet Astro Base Extended Passenger Van 3-door 4.3l on 2040-cars

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How easy is it to rebuild a Chevy small block V8?

Chevrolet's famous small block V8 stands as one of the workhorse engines in American auto history, with its variants going into vehicles from hot rods to pickup trucks. But do you know that you can fully disassemble and completely restore one of these mills in just under four minutes? Well, as long as there's some assistance from time-lapse photography, that is. Hagerty created this short clip showing a dirt-covered small block turning from a frog into a prince. Thankfully, the time-lapse doesn't speed the process up too much, and it's still easy to see how all of the principal parts fit together. With all sorts of sensors and software helping to drive the modern automobile, viewing the internal combustion engine in its purely mechanical form is still fascinating. Related Video:

Chevy recalls 73k Cobalts for side airbag non-deployment

Chevrolet is recalling 73,424 examples of the 2010 Cobalt in the US and Canada because the driver's side curtain airbag might not deploy in a crash. These vehicles carry build dates between January 4 and June 23, 2010, and, specifically, 59,474 of them are in the US. "GM is aware of one crash with one injury that may be related to this condition," the company said in a statement. The problem occurs because of improper routing of the side-impact sensor wiring harness in the driver's door, and there can be a short circuit causing the curtain airbag not to deploy. The campaign to fix the issue will begin on August 26. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and will repair the issue on any affected examples. Related Video: GM Statement: General Motors is recalling 59,474 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt sedans in the U.S. because some of them may have been built with improper side impact sensor wire routing in the left front door. Dealers will inspect all suspect vehicles and any found with the condition will be repaired free of charge to the customer. GM is aware of one crash with one injury that may be related to this condition. Including vehicles sold in Canada, the total recall population is 73,424. RECALL Subject : Improperly Routed Side Impact Wire Harness Report Receipt Date: AUG 10, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V500000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 59,474 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) CHEVROLET COBALT 2010 Details Manufacturer: General Motors LLC SUMMARY: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door. The misrouted wiring harness could cause an electrical short that disables the driver side curtain air bag. CONSEQUENCE: A disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, increasing the risk of injury to the driver. REMEDY: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sensor's wiring in the driver's door and make repairs as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15075.

German police Corvette promotes safe aftermarket tuning

The German organization Tune It! Safe! promotes safe, legal vehicle tuning in the country, and it probably doesn't have to worry about anyone breaking the law when this Polizei-themed Chevrolet Corvette is on the scene. The Vette is on display at the Essen Motor Show and is the group's latest police-wrapped tuner car, following models like the Brabus Rocket, Mercedes-Benz CLS, and AC Schnitzer-tuned BMW 123d in years past. Tikt Performance did the tuning this time, and the German company added a full carbon-fiber body kit for the Vette, including a front lip, side sills, rear spoiler, and relatively understated wheel flares. It also installed forged wheels that measure 19-inches in front and 20-inches in back and wrapped them with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tires. To really let the coupe look the part of a proper Polizei car, the tuners included police lights from Hella and the appropriate blue-and-white wrap. Tikt left the 6.2-liter V8 alone to produce 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet, and the power routes through a seven-speed manual. Even with the stock performance, this police-themed 'Vette would still look fantastic blasting down the Autobahn with the lights flashing. World premiere at the Essen Motor Show: initiative for safe tuning starts the new campaign year with TIKT Performance Corvette A powerful look for a powerful campaign: TUNE IT! SAFE! presents innovative design and maximum precision Innovative design, maximum precision and unique performance – with an enhanced Corvette, TUNE IT! SAFE! shows that attractive, creative tuning in no way has to conflict with legal requirements. In the new campaign year, the seventh generation of a sports car icon stands as a symbol and shining example of safe automobile tuning and 100 per cent driving fun. The campaign car of the initiative for safe tuning, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Association of Automobile Tuners (VDAT) as well as numerous other organisations and institutions, sees its premiere at the Essen Motor Show (Hall 10, Stand F104). TUNE IT! SAFE! also continues its partnership with premium tyre manufacturer Hankook. Tuning specialist TIKT Performance based in Upper Bavaria is responsible for the innovative conversion of the new TUNE IT! SAFE! police car.