1984 Airstream 345 owner (Newbie) need advice!

[wxbuoy]

Originally Posted by Keyair

I dont have airhorns....

What???? I hope you at least got a working door bell! 😁


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[Keyair]

On a seperate note, I am not happy with my alternator output.
Watching my volt gauge I am good at 13.5v with no lights, but with headlamps on it dips to 12.5 or less.

I went thru my receipts and the alternator was replaced in 2006 at Indian river Battery in FL, and it says 100amp.
The battery power cable is beefy, and must be a 2gauge... so that should be ok... which leaves the external Voltage Regulator.

This is the beast.



I just ordered a replacement, and the seller says they come set at 14.2v, but he can can change that up to 14.9.
Wondered if say 14.5 would be better?

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Pushing hard to wrap up the last few details before I hit the road for the storage swap.
Doghouse redo with MLV underway.

Steve,
I think you said you already had material for your doghouse insulation, but here is another one that works very well, especially in really tight spots. Its a little pricey , but works real well for all kind of applications
https://www.designengineering.com//c...hesive-backing

[Keyair]

Motorhome made it to new storage. More later!

[Keyair]

Home!

What a day!
Found a great storage, and we decided to go for it today.
Did some final checks, at the old storage, and set off for home, which was on the way to the new storage.
Here she is, looking a little faded/dusty outside our home, while I did some final checks before the 45 mile run to the new home.
Note the GF giving me the"Are you done fiddling, lets get going look"...



Using my Psiclops XL180 tire pressure gauge for the first time(A must own item), I set both the tag axle tire pressures together at 75psi, and then tried to set the drive axle pressures... The valves were impossible to reach! I had paid a tire shop to do them before, but not myself. I managed to check the outer tires, and read 65psi... That would have to do. Tires are toast anyways. 10 years old, and have some sun cracking, I knew I would nurse them this one last trip before they are replaced, with the Alcoa's and new tires. I will be sure to have the valves setup for access!
Set the fronts at 75 too, and the front airbags at 55.

The drive from here to storage is across a toll road with a 2000' elevation climb, and decent. I was a little worried.
With the GF driving her Range Rover behind, I set off, and held a steady 50/55.
I noticed a weird noise once I got going, and thought it was the PS pump, which worried me... but after a few miles, I realized it was the microphone on the rear view camera picking up cars passing me!
The climb out of Orange County is enough to pull my Mercedes Diesel down to 45mph, yet the MH blasted out and over, and barely seemed phased... I held a steady 50, with just a bit more gas and no downshifts. Temp held steady between 200/210. The downgrade was treated with respect, and the brakes felt fine.
The new 7 blade fan is noisy, for sure, but not sure if its any worse than the flexfan. We sat in traffic for a while and you could hear it working hard, so I think the viscous coupling is good.
Arrived, at the storage and was just parking when the GF called me in panic, crying. As she pulled up at the storage, her Range Rover brakes failed! Lucky, she was going slow. Looks like the ABS pump failed...

So, we got the MH put away safe, but came home with the Range Rover on a Tow Truck!

[streamquest]

Steve,

Congratulations on your successful journey home! Been following your progress, and truly admire the energy and effort that you've recently put into that coach to make it happen. Sorry to hear about the Rover's brake failure, but one thing at a time. I know you'll have that fixed in a flash. Happy New Year!

Charly

[bkahler]

Steve, glad the trip went well!

I'm not convinced your fan clutch is working properly. In my 310 I don't recall hearing the fan at all. Once in a while on long grades and such I would hear fan noise for a little bit and then it would go away.

Have you replaced the fan clutch since you bought the motorhome?

[Keyair]

My MH came with a solid mounted flex fan.
I recently swapped on the 7 blade fan from my '87 suburban, and the VC from that was new, and had maybe 500 miles on it. That's not to say its not bad, but I do have another around, that I might try once I am over these next few hurdles.

Wanted to put in writing my overview of driving it yesterday...

The new fuel sender, I cobbled together is working, but I think I will adjust it if I ever drop the tank again. With 20 gallon into the tank it read between E and 1/4. Adding another 25 gallons(45 total), had it reading between 1/4 and 1/2.
Interestingly, on the ride, I saw the "Low Fuel" light come on, when the needle got close to E on bumps. As there is no connection at the sender for it, I think it must be driven by the Ohm reading on the gauge /sender.

The voltage meter reads 14v, when cruising or anything above 1500rpm, but if I turn on the headlamps, it drops to 12.5 instantly, and if I leave them off, it fades to 12.0 after afew mins. Not good. I was wondering if its a headlamp issue or a charging issue... so while cruising at 50mph, I pushed the battery connect button, therefore connecting the House batteries to the charging circuit. Immediate drop to 12.0v. Either the Voltage regulator is not doing it job, or the alternator is toast. I have a new Transpo F-540XHD external VR on order.

Also, pushing the battery connect button, makes the "water in fuel" idiot light come on! Go figure?

All, it all, it drove well. The steering was pretty good, with no slack or wander. The ride with 75 psi in the front tires and 55psi in the airbags was awesome, and lacked the see-saw bounce I noted with the bags empty.
The brakes felt fine, but I will be going thru them later. I didn't have to use them hard, so I can only check that later.

While I was under the rear, trying to set the drive axle tire pressures, I could hear a air leak from the rear suspension... probably the airbags, that are old and cracked. I have replacements to hand.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Keyair

My MH came with a solid mounted flex fan.
I recently swapped on the 7 blade fan from my '87 suburban, and the VC from that was new, and had maybe 500 miles on it. That's not to say its not bad, but I do have another around, that I might try once I am over these next few hurdles.

I've read on various forums that not all fan clutches are created equal. I experienced that situation on my Ford F350 when I was doing a lot of towing. The original failed and the new replacements would kick in way to soon. I was never happy with aftermarket replacements. I went ahead and bought one of the ACDelco units that several have mentioned recently because their comments indicated that it works correctly. Once I received mine I found that it has Made in USA cast into it, that made me feel better

The voltage meter reads 14v, when cruising or anything above 1500rpm, but if I turn on the headlamps, it drops to 12.5 instantly, and if I leave them off, it fades to 12.0 after afew mins. Not good. I was wondering if its a headlamp issue or a charging issue... so while cruising at 50mph, I pushed the battery connect button, therefore connecting the House batteries to the charging circuit. Immediate drop to 12.0v. Either the Voltage regulator is not doing it job, or the alternator is toast. I have a new Transpo F-540XHD external VR on order.

I assume you're talking about the dash volt meter. I experienced the same voltage drop on the 310 when turning lights on. Eventually it would drop to less than 12 on the dash gauge. I never had time to track it down. I never felt it was an alternator issue other than maybe it was undersized. The 310 had no LEDs except for the brake lights. If I'm not mistaken you've replaced all of yours with LEDs, right?

Also, pushing the battery connect button, makes the "water in fuel" idiot light come on! Go figure?

Cool!

As we discussed take various voltage readings to see if any points read lower than others.

[Keyair]

Will do Brad.
Documented all the above for my own benefit as well!
I have a photographic memory, but Kodak stopped making the film...

Today is wrapping up old storage, and moving my Dodge van...
Hopefully I can relax and have a beer tonight!

Range Rover looks like the ABS power relay failed, shutting off the power to the pump. Don't have a spare, and its special, so will get one ordered.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Keyair

The voltage meter reads 14v, when cruising or anything above 1500rpm, but if I turn on the headlamps, it drops to 12.5 instantly, and if I leave them off, it fades to 12.0 after afew mins. Not good. I was wondering if its a headlamp issue or a charging issue... so while cruising at 50mph, I pushed the battery connect button, therefore connecting the House batteries to the charging circuit. Immediate drop to 12.0v. Either the Voltage regulator is not doing it job, or the alternator is toast. I have a new Transpo F-540XHD external VR on order.

.

Sounds like you are describing the symptoms I had. Now, after replacing the alternator and the charge wire from the isolator (which is not an issue you have) I read a solid 14V at night, lit up like a christmas tree.
On a side note, I wish I had the temp of the old pan to compare to the Derale Pan. It appears that the tubing system is extremely efficient in cooling the trans down once in motion.

[bkahler]

So what it amounts to is the alternator has to be able to put out enough current to keep up with the current being used. My 310 did the same thing but I never replaced the alternator to know for sure.

Makes sense though.

[Keyair]

Or the VR is not controlling the alternator correctly. As stated, I think my alternator is a 100a unit which should be enough to keep the headlamps fed easily. The new VR is on its way, so we will see.
Good to hear you are happy with the trans pan. Yes, It would have been nice to have been able to compare. We are in a better place. I didn't get time to install my temp gauge, so I don't know how my temps were.

[Keyair]

Storage is is all moved, and I can relax a little... I thought.
We got a good used ABS pump for the Range Rover, and I will be fitting that this week. The Subaru motor block is ready to rebuild. Its gonna be a busy month.

The Airstream is safe and tucked up, but I will be going out there to do a few things. I will not be able to work on the MH at the new storage as much as the old, as they are stricter. Working inside is ok they say.
The plan is to get into my box of TBI parts, and figure out what I have. Then I can rework the wiring harness on the bench, configure each item and its connector in advance. I will order new sensors and try to figure out what I will use for a fuel pump. At this time, its probably going to be an external inline pump. The injectors will either be replaced or go out for cleaning and flow matching. I even have a complete 454 I can use to mock up.

[Keyair]

Fingers crossed, this cures my Voltage issues...

[gunner]

Have you had a chance to install the voltage regulator, if so what were the results?

[gunner]

Originally Posted by gunner

Have you had a chance to install the voltage regulator, if so what were the results?

When I looked at the voltage regulator you purchased it states it is for a Ford. My assumption somewhere along the line either Chevy or Airstream changed the alternator to an external regulator because when I look up a P30 chassis it shows an internal voltage regulator.

[bkahler]

I believe there was an alternator upgrade option for the Classics. The 86 345 I dismantled had a separate voltage regulator that I believe was original to the coach. I say that because of the paperwork that came along with the 345 seemed to indicate the external regulator was an upgrade.

I can't remember the name of the company that made the upgrade package but at the time I did some research and it seemed to be a common option.

Brad

[bkahler]

Found a picture of the 345 alternator. The company is Lestek Inc.

[Keyair]

Not yet Gunner, not been back to storage due to Obamacare deadlines(I am a Health Broker) and the GF's Range Rover brake issue, which has not turned out to be a simple fix... Surprise! So far we have replaced the ABS pump, ABS relay, ABS fuse and now the whole fusebox... Now awaiting more parts...
Also, the dreaded Subaru motor is back from the Machine shop and I am amassing parts/seals/gaskets ready for the rebuild.

I hope to get over there next week, and do that, and also get a photo of my wierd "Black Box" on my genset that I thought was normal, but clearly is not!