345 Engine removal

[RWilliKiwi]

I need help with directions to remove the engine from my 1986 345 Airstream. I have a good shop to help rebuild it but although they work on Motor homes all the time they aren’t so sure they want to take this on.

[Paul J Mauro]

how did you make out did they get it done?

[RWilliKiwi]

I will be able to tell you in a week or so. I found a little shop in Florida that specializes in RV engine replacement that is confident they can do the work. Judging by the number of V8 GM cars in his shop I’m confident he knows the engine.

[chiefair]

You can read about my swap here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f311...-a-140290.html

I took mine out with the heads on it. I removed the carb, exhaust manifolds - and should have removed the distributor. You need an engine lift plate that bolts to the intake manifold in place of the carb. I had to bolt the arm of my engine hoist directly to lift plate with no chain to get enough clearance. It is a tight fit, but it will come out. I had to jack up the front of the motorhome a little to get the angle right for the motor to come out.

[RWilliKiwi]

Ok, this is just the information I was looking for. How long ago did you do this and are you happy with the results.

[Paul J Mauro]

Sounds like it's gonna be a bigger project but it's time.new 454.banks exhaust.fuel injection.nrw tranny upgrade.
Pushing the ole budget but since I bought new in 1985 I guess I'm due

[chiefair]

Originally Posted by RWilliKiwi

Ok, this is just the information I was looking for. How long ago did you do this and are you happy with the results.

Very happy with the 502. Runs great and a major increase in power.

[davejay]

Hey,
Engine removal is easy. At 61 , it's not as fun as then, but we know tricks ,we didn't t know then.
Remove heads
Drop exhaust manifolds
Remove starter, suspend from frame with bunge cord
Remove clutch fan assembly and alt and power steering pump
Obviously the radiator has to come out
Remove the lower fan belt pulley from the harmonic balancer
Disconnect torque converter from flex plate.
Your engine hoist needs to be a short vertical beam. They make them, and you have to ask them, how tall is the vertical boom on the hoist. It should be about 4 feet. A regular engine hoist boom will be about 5.5 feet tall that will not work. Your horizontal boom needs to go in to the engine compartment, almost level. Get the hook as close to the block as possible to the block.
Lift out motor, you will have to tip the front of the motor up to clear the front subframe.
It's a tight squeeze, but it lol come out I reinstalled my motor with the heads on, it was no big deal, but it's easier weight wise with the heads off. Good luck DJ

[Paul J Mauro]

ok thanks for all the good info one last question (yeah right ) while Im at it am I crazy not to do the tranny after all these miles 226k I did one at 100k so that one must be ready to croak

[Shinytoaster]

Originally Posted by RWilliKiwi

I will be able to tell you in a week or so. I found a little shop in Florida that specializes in RV engine replacement that is confident they can do the work. Judging by the number of V8 GM cars in his shop I’m confident he knows the engine.

Greetings - would be interested in who you got to do the RV work in Florida. I’m in Gainesville and (still) looking for help.

Cheers -
Pete

[Marc BRUNET]

Originally Posted by RWilliKiwi

I need help with directions to remove the engine from my 1986 345 Airstream. I have a good shop to help rebuild it but although they work on Motor homes all the time they aren’t so sure they want to take this on.

Hello,
My airstream 345 have broken engine in Florida,
Could you send me the adress of the shop?

[Paul J Mauro]

so here is the end of our SAGA .put in a rebuilt 454 from LKR it lasted 3,ooo miles and blew up (warranty was 2000 of course)
Now I had a new JASPER 454 reman put in in ALbuquque ,where it blew and drove it home to MASS so far so good .this time I bout 100k mile guarantee

[davejay]

Hello.
We have a 85 325. These things are basically a one ton dually frame with a body plopped on it. Any shop can do this. But.... The shop will need an engine pulling hoist with a shorter vertical boom. The picking arm needs to come into the engine room at almost dead level. Get your chains as tight to the block as possible. Upon lifting the horizontal boom will be tight up against the top of the engine room. Your pan will will drag on the front of the frame. Be careful with the fiberglass cowling that goes across the front the pan will catch on that.
Remove trans it's to hard to try to pull them as a unit. I pulled the heads off upon removal but upon install had them on the engine. It's a tight fit but very doable. The vertical boom on the engine puller is about 10 inches shorter than a standard puller. You could use a fork lift too. One fork longer the better. Get that chain as tight to the block as possible I pulled the intake for more lifting ability. Headers off all stuff on the front of mottor removed. Makes it easier. Hope this helps. DJ

[davejay]

Man what memory
I didn t notice that posted my engine removal in 2019. I said basically the same thing there as I said in my lastest post. What a memory. Now I just gotta find the keys to the classic. I got friends that mess with me.