Magnet18's 1983 310

[Magnet18]

On the bright side, ride is notably improved with the rear suspension maintenance

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Magnet18

Issue #2, stopped on the south side of Indy at a flying j for propane. Apparently they don't have the right nozzle to fill an rv (dubious), but more pressing, noticed a totally flat tire, drivers outside dual.

Thankfully everything seems fine, no obvious damage.
I think what happened is we drove through a patch of road debris, a bunch of drywall that must've flown out of someone's truck. A piece of it may have flown up between the duals and hit the 90* fitting I had on the outside dual and allowed it to leak out. As evidenced by impact marks on both the valve stem and centramatic right behind it.

Pressure was near zero but thankfully the bead wasn't broken and it's taking air just as fast as the onboard compressor can dole it out.


To add to tools kit - heavy duty bottle jack

Lucky dog, the tire kicking helped!!

[Magnet18]

Originally Posted by PeterH-350LE

Lucky dog, the tire kicking helped!!

That or I didn't kick the correct tire!
Will be sure to get all of them next time


Mechanical status -
engine performing great! Hill climbing notably improved
Mpg - 6.5 according to the fuel pump, longer average will tell the story better
Vacuum - 20@idle, 10when cruising
Oil pressure 60psi
14 volts but I know the isolator is stealing one
Engine temp staying at 180ish
Trans temp hasn't gone over 90 - trans cooler and pan doing their jobs
2650 RPM to cruise at 65mph

[dadstoy]

Send postcards along the way, I mean post pics!

[cmadmaxman]

TPMS
I don't leave home with out it on all tires!

Even on our maiden trip home with the Zephyr, it caught a leaking valve stem extension!

[Magnet18]

Originally Posted by cmadmaxman

TPMS
I don't leave home with out it on all tires!

Even on our maiden trip home with the Zephyr, it caught a leaking valve stem extension!

Lesson learned!! I had been putting that off as an expensive nice-to-have, but I'll definitely be getting one immediately. Amazing that I didn't even feel it flat back there. Which one do you use?


Update on the rest of the day :

Stopped just short of Indy to make sure the tire still had air. All good there, up from 78 to 82 as it warmed up so not leaking.
While inspecting things, noticed a fuel leak at the pressure regulator. Tightened inlet NPT fitting - nope, confused for awhile, finally went away when I tightened the factory staked plug in the pressure port that I wasn't using, since I don't have a turbocharger.

Stopped 5 miles later to check the fuel leak - looked all gone. Finally got propane. Learned the thermostat won't work on a cheap inverter, worked fine on the puresine I intend to install. Also noticed the honda battery dead, as I had to keep the key on accessory to power the blue ox. Thought that might happen. Picked up a lithium battery pack to jump it and then to use to power the blue ox tomorrow.

Another couple hundred miles later in effingham, fuel regulator still looks dry. Filled up and parked nose downhill, and noticed a large puddle forming under the front of the airstream. Turns out I need to rethink the fuel tank vent, when steeply downhill on a full tank it is low enough for gas to pour right out. Turned around to park nose uphill. Need to re-do that pronto. Just moving the vent won't work as the hose along the way will also leak. Will also be careful to not fill the tank all the way.

[Magnet18]

Other than the aforementioned minor hiccups, very happy with the big stuff. Between the centramatics and driveshaft there is a lot less vibration.

Regarding the EFI system, I was thinking the hill climbing and power felt much better, but didn't say anything. Just in case I was imagining it.

Without prompting, the wife says "wow, it really climbs hills easier and quieter". So confirmed, I'm not imagining it!

[bobmiller1]

Ahhhh.....church parking lots........gotta love them. Regards, Bob

[Keyair]

Awesome!
Sounds like those M&S rated Roadmasters are not too noisy then.

[cmadmaxman]

I have the orginal pressure pro system on the 310 and now the pressure pro pulse on the zephyr. Removable sensors on the valve stems when not on the road, keeping batteries from running down on the sensors.
Might have to get a battery feed to the toad to keep battery up?

[Magnet18]

Awlrighty then. Spending a week in effingham.

Woke up at 6am to the sound of rain on the roof. Checked the weather, raining and 25 degrees. Not about to drive an ice storm in the dark, decided to go back to bed and get well rested.

Checked the fuel pressure regulator again before taking off, still dripping. Hunted for the leak, snugged things... Dripping even worse.

Took me awhile, eventually figured it's coming out between the two halves of the regulator body... Looks like a bad diaphragm. Research online shows I'm not the first to have this happen to a brand new regulator, so that's likely it.

Local parts stores of course came up empty. Fortunately, there was a private campground literally one block down the road. Clean and well maintained, no meth labs. Limped here and pretty much have the place to ourselves, the owner seems more than happy to have us during the off season. I think we can stay here as long as needed to fix the issue. Also an opportunity to go over everything with a fine tooth comb and check for loose bolts.

Going to get a new pressure regulator next-day delivered, preferably a beefier or better brand if I can find a drop in replacement.

Just shaking out the bugs and being flexible. I'm looking forward to kicking back here for a week and enjoying my heated floors, and might even fire the woodstove back up.

[Magnet18]

On the brighter side of life, for the next week my corner office has a great view of a lake. Hard to complain.

[ontheroadagn]

Hey Magnet,
If your route is thru Tulsa, I'm about 2 miles off I44 and have a driveway available. Tulsa is about 500 miles from Effingham. If it would work for an overnight stop let me know. Or if you're passing thru and need something let me know.

Dave

[Magnet18]

Originally Posted by ontheroadagn

Hey Magnet,
If your route is thru Tulsa, I'm about 2 miles off I44 and have a driveway available. Tulsa is about 500 miles from Effingham. If it would work for an overnight stop let me know. Or if you're passing thru and need something let me know.

Dave

Good to know, thanks!
Not sure yet if we'll go Oklahoma route or memphis route, or if we'll try to do it in one day. Sure appreciate the offer!

[ontheroadagn]

Originally Posted by Magnet18

Good to know, thanks!

Not sure yet if we'll go Oklahoma route or memphis route, or if we'll try to do it in one day. Sure appreciate the offer!

I think you can go Memphis route with no toll roads. You can hardly get in or out or Tulsa without paying and plus you have 2 more axles behind ya.
Also keep an eye on the weather.

[Waipio Rim]

Originally Posted by Magnet18

On the brighter side of life, for the next week my corner office has a great view of a lake. Hard to complain.

Not bad as cubicles go....

[Magnet18]

Originally Posted by Waipio Rim

Not bad as cubicles go....

One thing is for certain... I don't think I'm ever going back to staring at the same 4 pieces of neutral grey sound dampening fabric for 9 hours every single day.

When I first started my career my goal was to eventually get a cubicle near the windows. Not actually a cube with a window, but if you stood up you could see outside. Talk about sad and pathetic.

[Magnet18]

New regulator showed up. One thing summit does right is shipping. Ordered yesterday afternoon, paid $20 for shipping, parts arrived before lunch.


Slightly different mounting bracket, should be a drop in replacement otherwise, plus no more NPT fittings

[Magnet18]

New regulator installed, fired right up, set it to 60, no leaks!

Need to mount it, wants to float above the frame. Thinking about possible spacer materials.

[Magnet18]

Considering one of these... Recommendations?

http://www.bulldogdirect.com/fire-suppression-system/