Visit our Popular Forums

Geophilist · 10-31-2006, 02:36 PM

Silverhawk,

Now you're talking, those curls must be done, or the porject will never get finished.

Don't know if this will help, but I hear that the folks that deal with fire damage use an Ozone generator to remove odors. If you are having a problem, perhaps you could rent, or even get a company to do it for you. You might ask a friendly fireman about it. I do know that the little ones they sell would be a waste of money, you would need a commercial machine.

Anyway, I have my fix and am happy. I await more updates.

Tim, I think this forum would always have a place for such a class act as yourself. Besides, you might need an Argosy to pull your new trailer!

Steve

Geophilist · 12-18-2006, 09:13 AM

Silverhawk

What gives with Shorty? It has been over a month now, and I am really jonesing.

Steve

GlenCoombe · 12-24-2006, 08:25 AM

Spotted a new 20' Argosy project on eBay today. Item # 330066037315 looks like a complete rebuild required but should go cheap as a roller.

REFLEXX · 01-10-2007, 11:13 AM

hello all!

I just got a wild hair about this 20 footer! The one on e-bay is available again and I'm very interested (I live real close).

I can do the work to restore it, but need my RV to be able to tow. Can this baby tow a 5-6,000 trailer???

Am I looking at tens of thousands to restore???

I'd love to see "smokey" saved too, I could follow the restoration and do the same to this one?!?

thanks in advance,

New guy Gene.

REFLEXX · 01-10-2007, 05:34 PM

Hello all,

Well my 2nd post is a reply to myself! I asked some folks "in the know" about this little 20 footer and they say that is a seroius project that WILL cost a good chunk of change to complete.

I'll pass on this one.

balrgn · 01-10-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REFLEXX

Hello all,

Well my 2nd post is a reply to myself! I asked some folks "in the know" about this little 20 footer and they say that is a seroius project that WILL cost a good chunk of change to complete.

I'll pass on this one.

Used by a logging camp, Hmmm Don't imagine it is tooooo good a shape

2 Blown motors to boot.

It would tow, but it is not likely set up for towing. (mine is not but would with a little work)

bibbs · 01-13-2007, 08:56 PM

wheres Shorty? any prgross on the little guy [girl]?

Doug

Silvertwinkie · 01-13-2007, 09:13 PM

What a great thread. I too would love to know how shorty is doing. The outside for the most part looked great!

dieterdog · 01-14-2007, 12:54 AM

yes,, please post progress on Shorty,,, feels like an adoption of a sad puppy dog from the animal rescue,, am very grateful for your efforts,, donna

Geophilist · 01-15-2007, 10:55 AM

We Want Shorty, We want shorty!

Steve

3Ms75Argosy · 02-04-2007, 12:15 AM

Figure out how to get the engine out? I've been wondering how hard it would be to buy a cheap bread van and just swap the whole enchilada out?
Marc

silverhawk · 02-04-2007, 07:02 AM

I wish there was actually something to tell ya. The truth is that there is'nt.

Shorty and I are pretty much just hibernating for the time being. I went inside him the other day and found all the cleaning supplies I had left in there frozen, solid. This morning it is 0 degrees outside. I would rather have a foot of snow.
I have been able to wangle some funds for the project but not nearly enough to move forward yet. There is still alot of engine and mechanical deconstruction to do. This will not start until warm weather. Spring will be here early though, so says Punxy Phil.

I ca'nt wait.
Bob,

safari57 · 02-04-2007, 11:34 AM

Bob,
I bought an engine that had been in a fire and the carb was toasted (old Rochesters can be a problem if not maintained) that was in a 73 GMC truck (a 454 low mileage with carb fire). Given I couldn't work on it for a while I pulled the spark plugs and shot in a bunch of transmission fluid, then loosely put the plugs back in. I also pulled the carb off and shop vac'd as much of the crap that I could get out of the intake (before I did the cylinders with oil) and then also shot a bunch of trans fluid down there as well. Then put a bag duct taped over the intake hole and let it sit till several months later when I had the oppty to work on it. I had been told that the engine would not turn over when I got it and forgot to checkwhen I got it home (at that time a few beers/memory impairment were always involved), but when I did try it at the later date it turned over fine. I pulled the plugs and spun it over a lot to clean things out, changed the plugs/oil/distributor and plug wires and Alternator wiring and fired it up. I used an Edelbrock carb and the engine fired right up and I ended up using it as it was for years in my beater truck. If you are going to let it sit for a while you might want to consider the oil in the cylinders at least in case they got water in them when the fire was being put out. Just make sure you remember to clean it out before you try to start it.

Barry

silverhawk · 02-04-2007, 02:06 PM

That sounds like good advice Barry. When I consider the cost of a crate moter, and the trouble of a rebuilt one, that sounds like the right first step to try. What can it hurt right? One question, why tranny fluid? Also anyone with any systems information, I could use it or info on where to get it.
Thanks... Bob,

safari57 · 02-04-2007, 04:41 PM

Frankly, I can't remember why we use tranny fluid. This bloody stroke has caused some memory clips to disappear but I know we used it on any engine we were leaving sit for a long time. Also, when we got an engine that, from sitting the rings had stuck to the cylinder walls we used clean varsol and let it sit, and sometimes that worked to free it up, then we'd use the trans fluid for a couple of days, spinning it over every night a few times both forwards and backwards. It is critical to remember to clean it out and change the oil before you try to run it though. I'll pop an email to my buddies back in the old home town and ask why we used trans fluid. Jeepers I hate this not remembering the really important stuff like that yet I still remember my telephone number and stuff when I can easily look it up if I need to.

Just because an engine has had a fire on top doesn't mean the engine is shot. But if it got filled with water trying to put the fire out then you have to make sure it's drained out and the engine is properly re-lubricated. Rust never sleeps as the saying goes.

Good luck with it . It will be interesting to see how it turns out this spring or summer.

Barry

Alumatube · 07-24-2007, 02:34 PM

What's up with Shorty? Any new news???

And ATF in the bores helps unstick the rings from the cylinder walls. There will be a little smoke when you start it the first time afterwards...

Susan

bhayden · 07-27-2007, 11:54 AM

A quart of ATF in the crankcase of an old V8 won't hurt it. It was something we did back at a garage when I was working my way through school. The tranny fluid is a terrific detergent.

And yeah, I was just wondering a couple of days about what's up with Shorty??