Just bought a 2009 with a 4.8L engine. Wanting to check everything but can't get the Vortec cover off. Looks like I have to remove the entire intake. Hoping someone can help.

 

That Vortex cover should just pull straight up. It has four rubber boots it pushes into - 2 in the front and 2 at the back, and it takes a little force to pull out.

 

Tanks for the reply.

I finally found a video showing you have to reach up under it to get to the 4th one.

 

Also found a tube running off the Vortex box that runs the length of the engine. Have no idea what it is for but it has a vacuum tube attached to what looks like a PCV valve. Debating whether or not to cut it off. The cover has a 1/2" lip that catches on the tube so I had to disconnect the intake boot so it would move. For whatever reason, the cover butts right up to the top of the engine compartment and has to be pulled straight out, instead of up. Which you can't do with the intake attached.

I personally would like to get ahold of the engineer who came up with that!

 

Ha. The engineers who come up with that stuff are NOT considered about ease of maintenance.

 

They hire people to put extra junk in to keep people from working on their own vehicle. Me personally, if I was in charge, I would hand the engineers a tool box and tell them to do a job in 1 hour or be fired. Then see how how fast things change.

And that's not even counting the stuff they add just to bump up the price.