As some of you might remember we have a 1974 20' argosy that we recently purchased on eBay. It has a new 350 engine and TH400 transmission. The motor installation is about 85% complete but the entire front of the motorhome has to be reinstalled, radiator, grille, etc.
Our plan for the little Argosy is to use it as living quarters and tow vehicle for our 31' Excella trailer that is being converted to a 2 car transporter. With that in mind we've decided we want to install a new 454 engine instead of the 350.
So about the horse trading.
A friend of ours owns the local engine machine and rebuild shop. For our part of the horse trading we have sitting behind our shop an 81 Chevy dually pickup (rattle trap rust bucket) with a running 454 engine and a bad TH400 transmission. Our friends part of the deal is a 1994 Chevy 14' C30 van box truck that had an engine fire. The engine and transmission have been pulled already. Our friend would get the dually pickup minus the 454 and transmission, he would also get the fresh rebuilt 350 and fresh rebuilt TH400 transmission that is sitting in the Arogsy. What we would get is the box truck, the 454 engine completely rebuilt and ready to drop into the motorhome and the 4L80 transmission that was originally in the box truck (71,000 miles). In essence we would be getting a new engine and a heck for stout 4L80 overdrive transmission to put into the Argosy. Plus we would get the box truck which we have plans for in about 6 years which would give me time to rebuild the front of the truck where all the fire damage occurred. I would have to find a replacement engine and transmission but Chevy drive trains are relatively easy to come by.
For myself I think this is a heck of a deal
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