New to the Forum

[DA TAZ]

Hello everyone I just decided to register after following this forum for a year or so. I find the people here to be most helpful and freindly. I've owned a 1979 28 Excella now for 12 years and have a terminal case of aluminitus just like everyone else here. I've done many of the same repairs and upgrades as many of you have and hope I can be of some help to others here. I work in powertrain engineering for the automotive and trucking industries in Michigan.

Looking forward to being part of the forum
DA TAZ

[Mike Leary]

Welcome! Your expertise and offer of help is appreciated.

[SteSpot]

We have a 1982 24' Motorhome that we are in the process of bringing back to a useable motorhome. We have a 454 7.4 L Chevy engine on a P30 chassis.....living in California, we had to bring her back to her original smog equipment.....not an easy task....but we were able to get her smogged and licensed....now we are concentrating on the inside.....if you change this, well we might as well do that......welcome again and please post some pictures...paula

[DA TAZ]

I to have a p30 454
My current project is going all electric on the engine cooling fans.

[Mike Leary]

You obviously have a 454. Geez, those engines with the crappy manifolds got hot; cook a steak in 3 minutes. I have heard that Banks built a better manifold/ exhaust system that helped.

[Skatiero]

Good idea to use it for cooking! I love those old motorbikes... Maybe someday!

[Skatiero]

Um, motor HOMES. Darn autocorrect!!!

[ScrapIrony-2]

There is a cookbook, probably available at Amazon, titled Manifold Destiny...all about cooking on the engine block while headed down the road...my '63 Chevy fed me a warm/hot meal many times, although I would prefer not to remember the time the can of beans exploded...WHAT A MESS!!! This book informs you of how to foil wrap stuff, where to place it for best cooking, and when to stop and turn it...entertaining reading, even if you don't try it...

[DA TAZ]

I think i'll stick with the BBQ I've done it snowmobiling and i dont like the taste of 10w40

[xrvr]

Used to do hotdogs on the cylinders of old BMW boxer twins. Jim

[Surprise]

I was looking through some old paperwork from Airstream and found a letter admitting that on the passenger-side exhaust manifold there was a design flaw that caused the exhaust manifold gasket and doughnut gasket to fail prematurely! This flaw being the Steel Panel in the wheel-well blocking airflow and essentially trapping the hot air. This is for the 310/454ci varient. I'm sure other models as well!
I'm considering notching out a piece of this panel and bending it out to funnel some air to this area. Just thought I'd add my own observation!

[DA TAZ]

I have seen that manifold glow cherry before i added a trans cooler which required a large hole thru the wing panel. I also had the radiator redone about 4 years ago and went to 4 cores now even when i tow my boat im lucky if i can reach the thermostat on cooler days. The main reason i m going all electric on the fans is noise. The stock cluch fans can engage harshly and a toss the belts and flex fans are noisey------huh-----

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by DA TAZ

I have seen that manifold glow cherry before i added a trans cooler which required a large hole thru the wing panel. I also had the radiator redone about 4 years ago and went to 4 cores now even when i tow my boat im lucky if i can reach the thermostat on cooler days. The main reason i m going all electric on the fans is noise. The stock cluch fans can engage harshly and a toss the belts and flex fans are noisey------huh-----

Welcome to the forums!

It seems by your post that you have an understanding of mechanical things, good!
It will be interesting to see if you chime in on some of the more "mechanical" debates that sometimes happen here. In general there is a nice group here and the forum is a lot of fun!
Bruce

[DA TAZ]

Thank you Bruce B. I see another thread on fridge repair has started. When mine failed 3 years ago i went to a convensional compressor type with an inverter could not be happyer with the preformace. Ill post some pics and duity cycle info soon.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Surprise

I was looking through some old paperwork from Airstream and found a letter admitting that on the passenger-side exhaust manifold there was a design flaw that caused the exhaust manifold gasket and doughnut gasket to fail prematurely! This flaw being the Steel Panel in the wheel-well blocking airflow and essentially trapping the hot air. This is for the 310/454ci varient. I'm sure other models as well!
I'm considering notching out a piece of this panel and bending it out to funnel some air to this area. Just thought I'd add my own observation!

I suppose that is why they started to add the vents at the wheel well around 85/86

[raveson]

Welcolm to the fourms!
Over the years the fourms community of classic MHs have been a great place to share info on all kinds of repairs. I,m sure you have much to share.

[nm1oqrz]

I have a 1989 GMC 3500 dually that is on it's 4th set of exhaust manifolds.
I also have a 2005 Chevy 2500 HD that is on it's 2nd set of exhaust manifolds.
The 454 bolts could all be removed without breaking but the Chevy has a reputation of bolts breaking and exactly half had to be drilled out.
Happy Camping nm1oqrz

[DA TAZ]

When i did mine i drilled the mounting holes out to. 437 and used grade 8 12 point bolts with hardened tooling washers and thick copper gaskets ----no problems since in 8 years. When i go to headers ill cut the flanges between the pipes for a little compliance --- works well on the test stand engines at work.

[Kota]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Welcome to the forums!

It seems by your post that you have an understanding of mechanical things, good!

2X!

Very good indeed. I tell people that there are some very good deals on these older classics but if you can't do the work yourself, they will eat you alive!

If my frig ever fails, it will be replaced with a conventional and inverter.