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bkahler · 08-08-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vswingfield

Hi Brad and Susan,

Remember when Uhaul had that painted on their trucks? Then they realized that adventure was the last thing anyone wanted during moving. Same for Airstream pickup.

Thanks for the photo documentary. Glad you are back home safely. Agree about the 454. Good as the 350 is, the big blocks are outstanding engines. I look forward to your progress.

Vaughan

I can certainly do with less "adventure" for a while

First order of business will be to steam clean the underside. Even our Triumph sports cars don't get THAT greasy underneath

Brad

safari57 · 08-08-2007, 10:04 PM

You know, Brad, with the right 454 in that engine bay, and a bit of suspension work, maybe you could leave the race car at home and just use the MoHo. I wonder what class you'd be in?

It makes sense if the have the big block already in stock and given the loads you are anticipating hauling to do the swap now. It sounds like it's in a vehicle so you'll have all the appropriate brackets etc. Have fun. I hope you don't have tight time lines for any of this, it would seem that you have quite a few projects on the go and need to find some time for R&R with the other motorhome.

Barry

bkahler · 08-09-2007, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safari57

You know, Brad, with the right 454 in that engine bay, and a bit of suspension work, maybe you could leave the race car at home and just use the MoHo. I wonder what class you'd be in?

Yeah, I can see it now, we're out there on the track (hey, its a 2 seater right

) and ALL of the competition is drafting behind us waiting to make their move.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by safari57

It makes sense if the have the big block already in stock and given the loads you are anticipating hauling to do the swap now. It sounds like it's in a vehicle so you'll have all the appropriate brackets etc. Have fun. I hope you don't have tight time lines for any of this, it would seem that you have quite a few projects on the go and need to find some time for R&R with the other motorhome.

Barry

The 454 is sitting in an 81 chevy 1-ton dually. The TH400 is bad but the engine runs. We're planning on rebuilding the engine so we're looking at ideas on how to build it to suit our needs. I'm starting to look into TBI but for me its a slow learning curve. Any motor that has more than 4 cylinders is new to me, I've only rebuilt 4 cylinder Triumph motors or the 4 cylinder diesel on my Case backhoe. I'm sure there will be a learning curve involved!

Yes we do have quite a few projects. We've been trying to whittle them down some. Picking up this Argosy will actually save time because the 53 Panel truck we had planned on using would have required to much rework and time to make it useful for us. As far as being driveable all the Argosy needs is the 454 installed, the front end of the Moho reinstalled and a bunch of clean up work, etc. Making it look pretty can be dealt with over time.

Thanks,

Brad

klattu · 08-09-2007, 06:12 AM

Whew...
Looks like you had good heart exersize pulling that load.
Try to stick with a 400 type trans, maybe a 425 (400 with straight cut gears)
If your going Fuel Injection, a 4L80E masybe? (overdrive 400)

bkahler · 08-09-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klattu

Whew...
Looks like you had good heart exersize pulling that load.
Try to stick with a 400 type trans, maybe a 425 (400 with straight cut gears)
If your going Fuel Injection, a 4L80E masybe? (overdrive 400)

The Argosy came with a freshly rebuilt TH400 transmission but I don't know anything more about it than that. Its not the original transmission to the Moho, its from a 78 Chevy 1-ton pickup. We'll see how this one holds up and as a backup I can rebuild the one that we have out of the 81 1-ton.

Not sure we want to spend the money for a 4L80E. Would be nice though!

Brad

vswingfield · 08-09-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

Any motor that has more than 4 cylinders is new to me, I've only rebuilt 4 cylinder Triumph motors or the 4 cylinder diesel on my Case backhoe. I'm sure there will be a learning curve involved!

Hi Brad,

Not that much of a learning curve. After all, it has 4 cylinder heads, just two of them.

Check out the RV/Towing options offered by http://www.edelbrock.com/. Their carburetors are excellent and they offer complete packages including the carb, intake, and cam all designed to work together for specific purposes. http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/index.html also has RV specific products. I have quite a bit of V8 and large engine experience. I’ll be glad to help out or advise. I’m a short distance away.

Vaughan

bkahler · 08-10-2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vswingfield

Hi Brad,

Not that much of a learning curve. After all, it has 4 cylinder heads, just two of them.

Check out the RV/Towing options offered by Edelbrock.com - Edelbrock Corporation. Their carburetors are excellent and they offer complete packages including the carb, intake, and cam all designed to work together for specific purposes. Flowmaster, Inc. also has RV specific products. I have quite a bit of V8 and large engine experience. I’ll be glad to help out or advise. I’m a short distance away.

Vaughan

Vaughan,

Thanks for the info on the edelbrock carbs. The big decision will be whether its going to be TBI or Carburetor. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have plenty of time to figure that one out.

Might just take you up on your offer one of these days.....

Thanks,

Brad

vswingfield · 08-10-2007, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

Vaughan,

Thanks for the info on the edelbrock carbs. The big decision will be whether its going to be TBI or Carburetor. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have plenty of time to figure that one out.

Might just take you up on your offer one of these days.....

Thanks,

Brad

Edelbrock also offers an EFI unit for vehicles that originally had carbs.

Edelbrock.com - Electronic Fuel Injection - Pro-Flo EFI Systems

Might be simpler than trying to convert to a factory TBI. Still something else to consider.

Vaughan

balrgn · 07-19-2008, 12:19 PM

Thought that I would bump this up, thanks for the link.
You should be commended for revitalizing this ole Beauty!!

Does it have a name yet?

bkahler · 07-19-2008, 12:30 PM

Thanks Balrgn!

We're hoping to make it into a nice little tow vehicle for our race car trailer and provide us with a home at the race track.

Progress to date is not a great deal but the 350 has been pulled and a 454 is now at the machine shop in the process of being rebuilt. I've made arrangements with someone to come to our shop to do the brake and suspension work since I won't have time myself until early next year. We're moving to Kentucky either later this fall or early next year and we'd really like to drive the Argosy there rather than go through another Trip of a Lifetime.....

As is typical on these old Motorhomes some things are in worse shape than we had expected and others are in better shape than expected.

I was just browsing the RockAuto website and found that they list the rear springs and they aren't all that expensive. Considering the little Argosy lists to starboard some in the rear its probably going to get new rear springs along with the other suspension work.

Brad

balrgn · 07-19-2008, 12:39 PM

I do not know about down there, but up this way there is a place to trade in your leafs for refurbished ones, saves ya $$$$$$

Keep us posted on your progress, always interested!!!!

Ike T · 07-19-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

We're moving to Kentucky either later this fall or early next year and we'd really like to drive the Argosy there rather than go through another Trip of a Lifetime.....

I am envious. We still have 13 years before we can move to Kentucky and enjoy a simplier life.

If you don't mind me asking, where?

bkahler · 07-19-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ike T

I am envious. We still have 13 years before we can move to Kentucky and enjoy a simplier life.

If you don't mind me asking, where?

Tim,

We'll be moving somewhere around the Richmond area. I'll be working on a project there through around 2018 or so after that we'll probably retire. We're hoping to do some land/house hunting sometime in latter August and then again in October. After that who knows.

Brad

overlander63 · 07-19-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

Considering the little Argosy lists to starboard some in the rear its probably going to get new rear springs along with the other suspension work.

Brad

Brad, many brand-new motor homes have to be shimmed to level them after all the "stuff" is installed. you may need to do that to make the little critter sit level.

bkahler · 07-20-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

Brad, many brand-new motor homes have to be shimmed to level them after all the "stuff" is installed. you may need to do that to make the little critter sit level.

Terry,

I'll keep that in mind but I'm bettting after 34 years there is probably some fatigue in those rear sprigs!

Adding a shim was also done by the factory on the Triumph TR3 sports car. Triumph added a leaf on one side to offset the weight of the driver since most times the car was driven solo.

Brad

mikeajana · 04-08-2019, 11:01 AM

Attachment 42781

This is the Argosy moho and trailer outside Memphis on I-40 I didn't get such a good pic of on our last trip. We stopped and asked about them, and I have the name and phone number of the fellow who owns them if anyone is interested. We have no knowledge of condition other than what these pics show.

Attachment 42778

Still have the number and name of the guy?

Good Read Brad!