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abridges01 · 12-01-2006, 09:02 AM

Thanks to Stray and others for your continued support. A bad cold and cough (waa, waa, waa!) has prevented any recent adventures (being subject to each and every cold, bug and minor ailments is one of the wonders of having young kids in school, as I am sure many of you can attest) and a lack of spare funds under the mattress has dropped this project down the priority list a little, but I remain confident and determined and will keep you all posted of developments.

Cheers,

Andrew

gearhead · 12-03-2006, 10:46 AM

Just a small thing that will add life to your new 454. You can get an oil pan off a dump or heavy duty truck with the 454(junk yrd). I just cut mine apart and added 2in. of depth (with a welded in 2" band of steel) to the sump. Then use a truck oil pump pickup and presto it now holds 8 Qts of oil. The pan will still be above the cross member so it's protected. The benfits are less chance of running out or low on oil, cooler running oil, longer change intervals, and as a result longer engine life. 454s are very hard on oil it runs very hot and just a quart low can damage the engine, I have rebuilt several where the oil simply cooked to jelly on a hard pull on a hot day. This mod along with quality oil will allow you to (I have several times) remove the oil cooler and it's adapter then install the 2qt. truck oil filter (it just screws on) you now hold 10 qts of much cooler running oil. You should also have the radiator re-cored, not just cleaned, as the new engine with better compression will make more heat. Just some things that worked for me.

abridges01 · 12-03-2006, 03:49 PM

Thanks Gearhead:

Your suggestions make a lot of sense and I will see about implementing them.

No work this weekend due to many Christmas functions and commitments. If I don't get a chance beforehand, all the very best to you all over the coming Holidays.

Cheers,

Andrew

str8strm · 12-29-2006, 08:30 AM

or anything else for your MoHo? Are you going to try and come to 29 Palms in a few weeks?

bobchevy89 · 12-29-2006, 11:52 AM

my 454 came with a 7 qt pan plus figure in the oil cooler add in another qt.

abridges01 · 12-29-2006, 06:25 PM

G'day and Merry Christmas:

Finally found some time to get back under Ethyl today and was rewarded with removal of the front end - by this I mean front bumper and plastic surround, which somehoe seems to be impossible to remove from bumper assemly. This is the state of things as of this moment:

What concerns me now is the cross member (indicated above) that appears riveted in position with whopping great half inch blond rivets. I can see no easy way to either remove (and replace it), or how to get the engine up over it if I am to use any sort of engine hoist/picker.

Of course I am also very concerned as to how the heck I am ever going to get it all back together?! There's a heck of a lot of parts...

I was hoping to get some more time this weekend, but the Missus has killed that idea off by arranging a large party to see in the New Years... oh well, as excuses go, I think I can live with that one!

Here's wishing you and yours a very Happy New Years.

Cheers from the Bridges Clan.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 12-29-2006, 09:51 PM

Hi, I told you to take it out from the bottom! Anyway, you can cut, drill, or torch the rivits out of the cross member and reinstall it with grade eight bolts and self locking nuts.

Keep up the good work.

Bob

bibbs · 12-29-2006, 10:59 PM

so glad you are back at it! grinding off thoes rivet-heads should not be too hard,use a drift to drive them out.I got to say I dont know that you realy need to do all that ,I just picked up a 74 argosy,with no engine,and all that frame was still in place! So it must fit some how. Putting it all back will be all the fun. you have pictures and all our help.every thing clean. It will be a breeze.and a brand new engine! Wow
thanks for the update.
Doug

GlenCoombe · 12-30-2006, 05:34 AM

I see you've got some of the engine disassembled. Once you get the cross brace out take the heads off. You should be able to attach the engine hoist to the top of the block and wiggle it out..... I say should.... as that's what I expect you'll be able to do. Just make the chain tight to the top of the block for the lift.
I'd give that a try before I went to the trouble of disassembling the frame further.
Have a Happy New Year, don't celebrate to hard.

swebster · 12-31-2006, 04:19 PM

I'm with Glenn. Even with a tightly "engineered" fit these coach were meant to be serviced (engine R&R) without cutting up the frame. A long "van" engine picker in there...take off the pan, oil pump, etc. Remove the heads and manifold and it should go up and over.

Please try this before cutting up your frame even further.

tn2 · 01-10-2007, 07:17 PM

One thing you need to consider is how long you can block the driveway. When you can only work on it few hours after work per day...then some on week ends....that engine stuff can drag out into many days.
Hay...I always say....some man put this thing together....I should be able to take it out. In the take out process...you'll learn alot about the reinstall part. It's just nuts and bolts.
Good luck

GlenCoombe · 01-18-2007, 06:46 AM

So, Andrew... what's up with your engine surgury? We're waiting to hear what it actually took to remover the heart from the beast.

Silvertwinkie · 01-18-2007, 07:24 AM

A bit off topic, but does anyone know if a Duramax or an 8.1L would fit under there? Anyone suggest putting a 6.0L in there and a 4L80e?

Just seems to me to put another 454, though strong enough, that there might be some other options??

Just curious?

bobchevy89 · 01-18-2007, 09:07 AM

the cost of putting in a diesel is very high. there was a thread that some one put in here. cost was $20,000.00 and higher great mods wrere required it is cheeper to put in 3 454's than one diesel.Chaplin Kent can tell what his cost. insurence took care of his.

slow-canoe · 02-04-2007, 03:08 PM

Just woundering if you got the engine out and how you did it. I just bought a 1975 ,26 footer last fall with some miles on it and just what it took to remove the engine. As far as a diesel a GM 6.2 should fit right in but not the most overpowered one going but would work.
Hope things go smoothly and keep us posted.

abridges01 · 03-02-2007, 05:44 PM

We're still alive here, but I am afraid to report there has been very little progress with Ethyl. This is partly due to family obligations and commitments, a lack of funds, work, weather and my being pathetic. Even my four year old daughter told me recently, "You need to get Ethly fixed Daddy, so we can go camping" so now it's official. With some sustained good weather I hope to get cracking again soon, so watch this space... but don't hold your breath! .

Cheers,

Andrew

nohillgrish · 03-02-2007, 07:52 PM

He Lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!He Lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously Andrew, good to see you're still out there. We just work with what time and money we have. It's your, and the fam's, time table.

abridges01 · 03-06-2007, 03:04 PM

Thanks Stray, it's good to see that Ethyl and I have not been forgotten. Now if I can just get that lump out of there...

Cheers,

Andrew

str8strm · 03-06-2007, 06:07 PM

Maybe you should try to schedule a work weekend for some of the airstream folks to come down and do a "barn raisin" on your engine!!

GlenCoombe · 03-11-2007, 07:19 AM

Andrew, with Daylight Screwup Time imposed upon us by the Federal Government we now have more daylight to complete or in your case get back into, our AS projects.
Get that carb and intake manifold off. Take the heads off. Rent or buy and engine hoist and get that thing outta there!

We're with you if not in person in spirit. Go for it!