2007 Gmc Savana 3500 Base Extended Cargo Van 3-door 6.0l on 2040-cars

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Chevy's 6.6-liter Duramax is pretty much all new

To say there's a heated battle in heavy-duty pickups is an understatement, with Chevrolet, Ford, and Ram constantly trading blows of increased torque, horsepower, and towing capacity. The latest salvo is the revised, more powerful turbo diesel 6.6-liter Duramax V8 in the 2017 Chevy Silverado. It has 910 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 145, putting it nearly level with the Ford Super Duty. Here's a closer look at where those gains come from. How exactly did Chevrolet add all that torque plus 48 horsepower? The automaker essentially took a fine-tooth comb to the entire engine. Chevy says it changed 90 percent of the V8, and the cumulative effect of those small changes adds up to big increases. As you might guess, the turbocharger is updated. The larger unit features electric actuation of the variable nozzle turbine (VNT), and what Chevy calls a double axle cartridge mechanism that separates the VNT moving parts from the housing. That helps with heat performance as well, with a claim that the exhaust side of the turbo can run continuously up to 1,436 degrees Fahrenheit. Helping that cause are six exhaust gaskets made of Inconel - an nickel alloy that contains chromium and iron – and upgraded stainless steel for the exhaust manifold. Despite having the same cast iron cylinder block, albeit with some minor enhancements, the engine has new cylinder heads, pistons, piston pins, connecting rods, and crankshaft, which have all been upgraded to handle 20 percent higher cylinder pressures. Alongside the increase in pressure, Chevrolet also increased the cylinder head's structure with a honeycomb design. The pattern features high-strength aluminum with dual layer water jackets that not only improve strength, but also optimize water flow for better cooling. For 2017, the cylinder head also benefits from integrated plenum that aids the engine in getting more air under heavy loads. The cylinder head isn't the only component to get a minor update, as the pistons have a larger diameter pin for improved oil flow. The same detailed improvements has been bestowed to the humble connecting rods (second in our hearts only to the inanimate carbon rod). The new design has the bolts oriented roughly 45-degrees to the rod instead of parallel. The angle split design, as it's called allows for easier passage through the cylinder.

GM opens military discount to 21M veterans and their spouses

May marks the start of National Military Appreciation Month, and General Motors is getting into the spirit by expanding its military discount program to, well, just about everyone. That includes a total of 21 million military veterans and their spouses, along with the current slate of active duty, reserve, and National Guard members. The discount can slash thousands of dollars off the price of a new Buick, Chevrolet, or GMC vehicles, with Automotive News listing an $1,100 discount on the top gas-powered version of the Malibu, the Premiere. Those that want a bit more spice can get $1,700 off the price of a last-generation 2015 Camaro SS, while truck buyers will enjoy $3,000 off the Chevy Silverado All Star. That's just a start, though, since the military discount can be paired with other GM incentives. The discount doesn't apply to everything, though. Some are understandable – none of Cadillac's vehicles are included in the deal, nor is the Corvette Z06. You'll also be unable to apply the discount to a range of base-level trims, like the Chevy Cruze or Equinox L, the base Colorado, or the entry level GMC Acadia, Canyon, and Terrain. A full list is available at GM's dedicated military discount website. GM's expanded discount plan runs from today through May 31. News Source: General MotorsImage Credit: General Motors Buick Chevrolet GM GMC Car Buying Car Dealers Military

Mystery man buys fast food worker a new car

A mystery man bought a Tennessee fast food worker a new car. 34-year-old Jeff Smith told WKRN he was approached by an older stranger as he was exiting a grocery store. The two struck up a conversation about Smith's 1991 Geo Storm. The vehicle is falling apart; it has more than 350,000 miles on it, a cracked dashboard, no drivers side window, and a door that is literally being held closed by a small hook. The stranger asked Smith to follow him down the road to James Motors, but then asked the fast food worker to wait outside. Smith told WKRN, "He comes back out and says, 'How do you like that blue pickup?' I said. 'It looks great.' Then he said, 'Well, I bought it and it's yours now.' [...] It's just a blessing. It's the best thing that has ever happened to me." At first, Smith didn't believe this was even real. But the owner of James Motors showed up at the fast food restaurant where he works with the keys and title to the 2001 navy blue GMC Sonoma. The mysterious benefactor didn't want to be identified, but asked smith to do something nice for someone else in the future. Weird Car News GMC geo