Airstream 310 Renovation Part 2 - Bringing back the dead!

[Bamaforlife]

Welcome to our Thread! In 2013, my daughter and I purchased and renovated a 1982 Airstream 310 Classic Motorhome for her to use with her antique business. In 2014 the engine died in Memphis and we have been making plans for the past 3 years to bring her back to life. Having secured an Isuzu 6BD1T engine in Utah and working with Summit Truck Group in Memphis to swap out the engine, we start our new adventure. Special thanks to Jerry Stritecky and Nelson Woodbury of Rocky Mountain Medium Truck Parts for the engine, the origins of the engine are another story that i will detail in the future. Also props to David Lund, Kelsey Hall and the Service Team at Summit Truck Group in Memphis, TN for agreeing to handle the engine swap, they have been wonderful to work with and i'm confident they will do an amazing job.

I will make every effort to post updates and pictures weekly, to get everyone started attached are a few pictures from the original renovation in 2013. Enjoy and please post comments

Scott and Meredith

[Bamaforlife]

Here are a few more pictures from the 2013 Renovation

[Bamaforlife]

More from the original renovation

[Isuzusweet]

I have a 1983 310 turbo diesel, and am just curious as to what mileage the motor quit on you, and why?

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[mayco]

Same same......what happened with the original? Was it a Factory diesel to start with?

[Bamaforlife]

Thanks for the inquiries about the engine on the 310 -here are the specifics

The engine is original - an Isuzu 6 BD1T In-line 6 Turbo Diesel from 1982
i bought the vehicle in 2012 with 79,200 miles on the engine, my mechanic has disputed the mileage but i have no indication of any tampering before i owned it.

During the 2013 renovation a number of issues were identified with the engine and repaired including

- New Dynamic Stabilizer on the front of the engine
- New Alternator
- New Water Pump
- New Radiator and hoses
- Repair to the right bottom engine mount and part of the block that with a small crack in the metal
- Re-coated the inside of the fuel tank and new fuel lines were installed

The engine when it seized had 87,450 miles and the primary cause was deterioration of the crankshaft and scarring on the bearing caps that led to the engine seizing. When we dropped the oil pan we found metal shavings indicating a number of possible problems. I plan on pulling the old engine and sending it off to be repaired as 6BD1T engines seem in demand in the US. I have attached pictures of the oil pan and the bearings so you can see the scarring. When i met with Clarke Power Equipment, they showed me the deterioration on the Crankshaft and the bearings. Let me give a shout out to Clarke Power Equipment in Memphis who allowed me to store the vehicle on their gravel yard the past 2 years, my hope was they could take on the project and benefit from their involvement, the current Manager is Michael Notgrass - solid guy who cared enough about the vehicle to steer me to another shop that had experience and mechanics that could spend the time necessary and wanted the challenge associated with a vintage vehicle. Clarke Power is in good hands!

I will post more information as we proceed - thanks for the interest

Scott B

Could we have prevented the problems with the engine - not sure, we were careful to change the oil filter and fluids on schedule and we tried to only use Diesel from known fuel stations, but i am not sure we always did especially in rural parts of the south. Not being the original owner i don't know the extremes and the history of the vehicle and the original engine. We repaired everything we could on the outside of the engine but not the internal workings which did us in.

[Bamaforlife]

Here are some pictures of the current condition of the 310 prior to the renovation. Aside from some Dirt and Dust along with a few critters - note the racoon print on the side of the kitchen cabinet - she has weathered the long winter pretty well

Scott B

[mayco]

Here is a bit of info that you may already know but might be helpful. Our coaches were fitted with the Isuzu 6bd1a motor, then Airstream added an after market Turbo. The 6bd1a is a bit different than the 6bd1T. One of the main concerns for our coaches is that the 6bd1T Turbo crossover piping will not fit under the dog house. So if indeed you are installing the 6bd1T then there is going to have to be some serious modification to the original dog house cover. It will have to be raised several inches is my understanding. You may have already dealt with that. Is the new motor already installed??
Here is a pretty good link on the differences between the 6BD1 series. https://itstillruns.com/specificatio...e-7769459.html

Soon after I acquired my '82 310TD I also had to replace the harmonic balancer. Ive read about others also. I wonder if there is a design flaw? Especially since yours needed replaced at 80000 miles.

You may want to double check the model number on the new motor. It may prevent some surprises down the road and you could start making plans now on how you're going to have to modify the dog house.....IF the new motor is a factory 6BD1T

[Bamaforlife]

Thank you for the clarification - i have been stating the engine incorrectly for a while now. The engine i purchased came out of an Airstream 310 in Wyoming - interesting story that i will share when i have all the details. The replacement is a 6BD1-A with a Turbo kit

Good Catch - Airstream owners are the best!

[mayco]

Whew! Good deal! Because that could have gotten complicated with the 6bd1T!

[Magnet18]

The 310 remodel looked nice, hope you have good luck bringing it back to life!

Just curious, what did you use to paint the overhead roll up doors?

[Bamaforlife]

The paint used on the Interior of our 310 during the 2013 renovation was Annie Sloan Chalkpaint - I believe the color was Linen and it was finished with soft wax to age and highlight the color

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by mayco

Whew! Good deal! Because that could have gotten complicated with the 6bd1T!

Not really Mike.

The inlet manifold of our A model aftermarket turbo should fit the T model engine as the block and head should be exactly the same.
Getting the T model would give us stronger internal components and oil spray cooling for the underneath of the pistons to better deal with engine heat due to the turbo. It would also allow us to get a slightly bigger turbo compressor, (which will barely fit; see John for details) and allow for higher turbo PSI, versus the 10 PSI we're only allowed on our A models.

Remember, supposedly sometime in 1984, Airstream switched to the T model themselves.

If I were to replace my motor, I'd look for a 6bd1T.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[Bamaforlife]

Thanks Tony great information on the engine options

[mayco]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Not really Mike.

The inlet manifold of our A model aftermarket turbo should fit the T model engine as the block and head should be exactly the same.
Getting the T model would give us stronger internal components and oil spray cooling for the underneath of the pistons to better deal with engine heat due to the turbo. It would also allow us to get a slightly bigger turbo compressor, (which will barely fit; see John for details) and allow for higher turbo PSI, versus the 10 PSI we're only allowed on our A models.

Remember, supposedly sometime in 1984, Airstream switched to the T model themselves.

If I were to replace my motor, I'd look for a 6bd1T.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

Isn't the Turbo mounted on the top right on the T model?

[mayco]

Well......on top anyway

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by mayco

Well......on top anyway

Attachment 305988

Yes,probably; but like I said, if you take the inlet, exhaust manifolds and plumbing off our A model, they should just bolt up to the T model. You're just changing the engine block and heads for the T.
Cheers
Sidekick Tony

Originally Posted by mayco

Isn't the Turbo mounted on the top right on the T model?

[mayco]

I gotya. So, do you know if that's what Airstream did when they switched to using the T model engine? Using an after market Turbo set up on the T block? I wonder just how many classics were built with the 6bd1T. Or when they stopped using the Isuzu all together. I don't remember reading any posts here on the forums from someone with the T model. But I'm lucky to remember my address .

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by mayco

I gotya. So, do you know if that's what Airstream did when they switched to using the T model engine? Using an after market Turbo set up on the T block? I wonder just how many classics were built with the 6bd1T. Or when they stopped using the Isuzu all together. I don't remember reading any posts here on the forums from someone with the T model. But I'm lucky to remember my address .

Supposedly sometime in 1984 AS switched to the T model; wether by neccesity, if Isuzu stopped making the A model, or owners complaining of lack of power, I don't know for sure; but that is what was told to me.

Like I said, from what I've read and researched, the difference between the T and the A model is all internal stuff mostly and a different turbo location.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[Bamaforlife]

Airstream - help - need to find an alternator for my Isuzu 6BD1A engine, have the new engine installed, went to pick up and discovered both alternators i have (Denso 100210-1710) the stator has failed and the alternator is not putting out properly. Any suggestions who to call and where to go, i have tried Denso direct and they have so far not returned my calls or emails.