Argosy 20' MH restoration

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by chevy2man

I think you’re doing the right thing with going with a fuel pressure regulator and return line. I’m not sure I would trust the PWM fuel pump setup they sell with the kit. I installed a FAST EFI on a friend’s 1970 Hemi Cuda. It was a 526 Ci hemi that he had built to make about 630 hp. I think we gained a little more torque but lost a few Hp up top. But drive ability was greatly improved.

Wow! HEMI Cuda!! That's cool.
Yes, I agree with you. PWM pump with no return setup is very easy way to install. But I think return setup is better to use.

I've read an article that was wrote by Japanese owner, who installed the Atomic EFI with no return fuel system. They said "it made cavitation in summer when over 35 degrees". So I decided that I use a fuel return line on my setup.

[chevy2man]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Wow! HEMI Cuda!! That's cool.
Yes, I agree with you. PWM pump with no return setup is very easy way to install. But I think return setup is better to use.

I've read an article that was wrote by Japanese owner, who installed the Atomic EFI with no return fuel system. They said "it made cavitation in summer when over 35 degrees". So I decided that I use a fuel return line on my setup.

Here’s a couple pics of that car. The cavitation of PWM pump in warm weather is I was thinking. Definitely don’t that problem with an RV.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by chevy2man

Attachment 328951Attachment 328952 Here’s a couple pics of that car. The cavitation of PWM pump in warm weather is I was thinking. Definitely don’t that problem with an RV.

That looks awesome!! Super cool!
I really like American cars.

Yep, warm weather causes the cavitation.
The author installed the EFI kit to '90s Tahoe. Eventually, they changed PWM pump setup to in-tank pump setup.

At least, Argosy doesn't have lots of hp, but we have heaps of terrible traffic jams over here. The worst situation of cavitation is traffic congestion in summer.

I don't want to annoying heat problems.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

Is that a Datsun pickup? Whatever it is - it’s GORGEOUS!!!

Whatever happened to cheap four cylinder, 5speed, simple diesel, Japanese pickups, with two latches on the tailgate and hooks readily accessible along the side of the box to tie stuff down.

I seriously want a new one.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Whatever happened to cheap four cylinder, 5speed, simple diesel, Japanese pickups, with two latches on the tailgate and hooks readily accessible along the side of the box to tie stuff down.

I seriously want a new one.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

Many Japanese pickups have grown their body size, performance, price or whatever.

[chevy2man]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

That looks awesome!! Super cool!

I really like American cars.



Yep, warm weather causes the cavitation.

The author installed the EFI kit to '90s Tahoe. Eventually, they changed PWM pump setup to in-tank pump setup.



At least, Argosy doesn't have lots of hp, but we have heaps of terrible traffic jams over here. The worst situation of cavitation is traffic congestion in summer.



I don't want to annoying heat problems.

I figured the traffic would be a major issue. Will you do electric cooling fans as well? I think that EFI setup has the capability to send output signal to some fan relays.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by chevy2man

I figured the traffic would be a major issue. Will you do electric cooling fans as well? I think that EFI setup has the capability to send output signal to some fan relays.

Yeah! The EFI be able to control two fans.
I'm going to use two 14" electric cooling fans, and remove the original mechanical one.
Moreover, I add an engin oil and trans oil coolers too.
I'm sensitive to over heating

[chevy2man]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Yeah! The EFI be able to control two fans.

I'm going to use two 14" electric cooling fans, and remove the original mechanical one.

Moreover, I add an engin oil and trans oil coolers too.

I'm sensitive to over heating

Cool! You can’t go wrong with that! Keep us updated on your rebuild with pictures as well. [emoji106]

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by chevy2man

Cool! You can’t go wrong with that! Keep us updated on your rebuild with pictures as well. [emoji106]

Thank you! I'll do my best.
I have to re-core the original radiator as well.
I would be broke when the Argosy has completed...

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Yeah! The EFI be able to control two fans.
I'm going to use two 14" electric cooling fans, and remove the original mechanical one.
Moreover, I add an engin oil and trans oil coolers too.
I'm sensitive to over heating

Yuki,

You might want to reconsider eliminating the mechanical fan. I'm not convinced two electrical fans can keep the 454 cool on hot days especially sitting in traffic like you've described. I left mine on for that reason.

Brad

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Yuki,

You might want to reconsider eliminating the mechanical fan. I'm not convinced two electrical fans can keep the 454 cool on hot days especially sitting in traffic like you've described. I left mine on for that reason.

Brad

Hi Brad,
Thank you for the advise.
Oh.. I've ordered electric fans and shroud already....
I didn't think the original fan can provide more air flow than that.

I bought a shroud and cooling fan kit that made by Mishimoto.
It has two of 1300 cfm fans. I think it's not enough...
However, I'm not sure that kit would fit on the radiator.

By the way, what do you think the 454 needs how much cfm?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Hi Brad,
Thank you for the advise.
Oh.. I've ordered electric fans and shroud already....
I didn't think the original fan can provide more air flow than that.

I bought a shroud and cooling fan kit that made by Mishimoto.
It has two of 1300 cfm fans. I think it's not enough...
However, I'm not sure that kit would fit on the radiator.

By the way, what do you think the 454 needs how much cfm?

Yuki,

I assume the electric fans bolt to the front of the radiator. Is there any reason you can't leave the original fan mounted to the water pump?

What are you hoping to gain by leaving the mechanical fan off?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

By the way, what do you think the 454 needs how much cfm?

Sorry, I missed this. I don't really have any idea what the CFM requirement would be. I guess my only comment would be the more CFM the better!

Brad

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Yuki,

I assume the electric fans bolt to the front of the radiator. Is there any reason you can't leave the original fan mounted to the water pump?

What are you hoping to gain by leaving the mechanical fan off?

Hi Brad, Thanks for the reply!

I'm going to use puller fans and shroud that will mount behind the radiator.
I'm just guessing, if I removed the mechanical fan, I can do drive belts or whatever maintenance easily. There is very tight space in there...

Hopefully, I can check the ignition timing at the timing tab with a flash light. I'm not sure though...

Sorry, I missed this. I don't really have any idea what the CFM requirement would be. I guess my only comment would be the more CFM the better!

Yeah, I think so too!
I'll try to using those electric fans.
If it won't be cooling down the engine well, I add to extra "emergency" fan or bring back the mechanical fan on it.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Hi Brad, Thanks for the reply!

I'm going to use puller fans and shroud that will mount behind the radiator.
I'm just guessing, if I removed the mechanical fan, I can do drive belts or whatever maintenance easily. There is very tight space in there...

You'll be the first that I know of that will have eliminated the mechanical fan. It will be interesting to see how well that works. Even when GM added the electric fans to the P30 chassis they still left the mechanical fan in place.

Hopefully, I can check the ignition timing at the timing tab with a flash light. I'm not sure though...

You should have timing marks on the bottom side of the engine.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by bkahler

You'll be the first that I know of that will have eliminated the mechanical fan. It will be interesting to see how well that works. Even when GM added the electric fans to the P30 chassis they still left the mechanical fan in place.

Umm... Maybe I'll try it.
That's like an experiment, field-test or something like it.

You should have timing marks on the bottom side of the engine.

I should make timing marks with white pen at bottom side of the engine.
I've heard that many motorhomes have two of timing tabs. It's for #1/#6 on the top side, the bottom side for #5/#8.
But my Argosy has gotten a rebuilt engine when it lived in the USA.
Probably the previous owner threw the timing tab in the bin.
So the Argosy doesn't have a timing mark on the bottom.

I looked for the bottom timing tab on the Internet, but I couldn't find out it...

[split window]

Hello Yuki

I follow your thread of your restoration. Great work.!!
I got a photo of a friend. He has improved his fan a bit because of the temperature problems.
The conversion is in a 250 AS with 6.5l turbo diesel. He always lives under the sun in Portugal. Now he has no problems.
He himself is still the first owner and is now more than 80 years old.

I self live in Germany and also drive a 250s diesel. Special built for Germany.

I wish you further success with your great work.

Peter

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by split window

Hello Yuki

I follow your thread of your restoration. Great work.!!
I got a photo of a friend. He has improved his fan a bit because of the temperature problems.
The conversion is in a 250 AS with 6.5l turbo diesel. He always lives under the sun in Portugal. Now he has no problems.
He himself is still the first owner and is now more than 80 years old.

I self live in Germany and also drive a 250s diesel. Special built for Germany.

I wish you further success with your great work.

Peter

Hi Peter,
Thank you for the message and information.

Wow! He has huge fan!

I guess Portugal is hot in summer, however we have similar tempreature and more terrible humidity in Japan.

I'm not sure my small electric fans would make good work...
I'll report the result, when I installed the fans on the Argosy.


Anyway, your profile picture is amazing!

[GREEN ARGOSY]

I removed a harmonic balancer. It's very tight!
I hold the puller with long steel rod then turning the wrench.
I was nervous when turned it.


It went well.
I'm going to clean the engine block and change a seal.
Next, I remove a mechanical fuel pump. Because I'll use electric one for an EFI so I don't need that.
Anyway, it's easy just remove bolts and put away the pump then install a block off plate.


Maybe I should remove a push rod when the mechanical pump off, but I couldn't remove the plug.
I tried to loose with an adjustable wrench, but plug got stripped...
I should have used an 8 point (double square) socket, but I don't have it.
So the push rod leave in the block now.

This is a future subject.

[chevy2man]

Cool! Looks like you’re moving right along.