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thenewkid64 · 07-11-2003, 10:02 PM

First off, I want to thank everyone for all of the sage advice and well wishes on our first part of this adventure.

I have travelled to dallas to pick up our re-engined coach!! The guys who are doing it were a little bit behind schedule, and had a couple of things to finish. Like taking the replacement Drivers side exaust manafold off and having it machined. The original one was cracked. I was there when they brought it to life, and it was sweet! I even got greasy reinstalling the lower air dam, bumper, and grille.

So the items replaced were, in no particular order:

Engine, with a crate long block from GM
Water pump
Alternator with upgrade to 100 amp
Starter
Lower Radiator hose
AC Compressor
AC Lines
Expansion valve
Dryer
Oil Cooler Lines
Plug Wires
Cap and Rotor
U joints
all external seals on transmission
Transmission dipstick tube (it was cracked at the case fitting)
Rear Differential yoke
One exaust manifold
Coolant with royal purple additive for better cooling

That is all I can remember, I have not gotten the parts list from the mechanics yet. That will be tommrow

I have some pictures, but I am dialup so I will post them when I return. Tommrow is break-in day! Wish me luck

InsideOut · 07-11-2003, 10:31 PM

So you really did get a NEW motorhome, huh?! Hope you like it even more now that it's had all the work done...it ought to last "forever"! Safe travels home...

Shari

thenewkid64 · 07-14-2003, 03:18 PM

We Made it!

We were not able to leave Dallas until Saturday around 2:00 PM

But we got on the road and for the most part things went well. No ground up govenors, I have not checked it but I will, and I have a spare. No banging noises under the doghouse. Oil pressure was high, engine temps were cool, Dash AC and roof AC kep us cool and dry inside

Here is a trip synopsis.

Break in went fine. Ran from shop up and down on and off freeway, out to sister-in-laws on back roads and back out to freeway. That clocked approx 50 miles. Then drove 25 miles at 60-65 and got on US 80 out of Dallas, and took it east to the state line, varying speeds, on I 20, 60-65 MPH for the remainder of the 314 mile first day.

2nd day begins with an Oil change at the campground. This stuff looked like I had run it 4500 miles!!! New filter and 7 quarts of oil and we are gone. 459 miles later and we are in Florida. No troubles other that the mentioned Airbag trouble.

Day 3 begins with another campground oil change. I am getting good at this, 10-15 min tops. On the road early so I can get som income generation done today as well as drive. 351 miles and we are home!

Troubles:
I had the dash AC freeze up today, and we fought with the Airbag compressor all the way home. It will run and fill, but since I need new bags they leak a bit, or the compressor does, so when it goes to top up it won't start. I just see the Volt gauge deflect for 3 sec and then it waits for 15 sec and tries again. If I pull the fuse and drive for an hour or two I will lose a bit of height. I stop put the fuse in and it runs and fills, I pull the fuse and head on down the road. It only took me 2 days to figure out I could do this, duh.

I still have a drivetrain harmonic at 48-54 MPH, so I need to check in with the shop. The U-joints were replaced and I had the carrier bearing replaced. The rear axel yoke was replaces as it was not holding the u-joint properly. The driveshaft was balanced after all of the work was done on it.

Attached is a picture of it by its older brother!

thenewkid64 · 07-14-2003, 03:32 PM

A Side Shot:

**Stefrobrts** · 07-14-2003, 03:55 PM

Woo-Hoo! You made it! You made it!

So glad to see it again, and it's hard to believe it's in Florida now! What an adventure getting it home. Hopefully your future travels in it will be less adventuresome

zduke4x · 07-14-2003, 07:51 PM

Welcome back to the Nature Coast!! Glad things are working their way out....see you soon...lol...jem

Chas · 07-14-2003, 08:05 PM

NewKid,

Looks great, how about a pic of that rear bedroom that you went thru all the trouble to get? I like the light gold accents, goes well with the Argosy beige. How many goodies are you going to be able to donate off of your other one? I could see a set of chrome wheel simulators right off the bat. I hear Petermh is the airbag guru. I am not sure how the driveshafts on those things are set up, even though they balanced off the vehicle you may want to check and be sure all the yokes are in sync.

Chas

thenewkid64 · 07-14-2003, 09:00 PM

We are glad to be back!

Chas, I will post some more pics, but I want to at the least make the bed! The interior needs a complete re-do, drapes, upholstery, and carpet and floors.

The kitchen will be redone much like in our current MH, but we have yet to decide on countertop material.

My current MH does not have wheel simulators, so that will be an upgrade for this one. I need to move my LCD TV and some other things and I can then sell the 76.

The next couple of weeks will be hetic.

I have new Airbags on order, but they are not to the warehouse yet, Firesone is making them now, the production run is not continuous.

The to do list is long, but I know it can be done.

59toaster · 07-14-2003, 09:23 PM

Great to hear you finnaly got it home!

The A/C may be over charged. Take it to a local place and proably looking at just a few bucks to fix that up.

Look forward to seeing some more pictures.

thenewkid64 · 07-15-2003, 07:17 PM

Tonight I played musical motorhomes.

New on on the landing pad, old one to the mechanics for some PM work.

I noticed that the 78 with the new engine had some valve noise that the 76 does not. How loud should the valves be on a motor with 1100 miles on it? with the cover off it is just a tick tick. It is louder on the roadside than on the passenger side. Of course this is at a warm idle................ At speed with the doghouse open all you hear is fan and roar!

So do I need to worry, or just keep an ear on it? Is this a matter of break in?

BTW the 76 has less than 90K original miles on the original motor.

PeterH-350LE · 07-15-2003, 08:09 PM

One would assume that they were properly adjusted by the factory.
Are you sure it is not a small exhaust leak?

thenewkid64 · 07-15-2003, 08:17 PM

Could be an exaust leak. They spent a day fighting with the Drivers side mainfold, replaced it 3 times and it is still not quite right. I will check the bolts, but I have started saving for an exaust system. I may get a Banks if I can justify it.

The rest of the exaust system is marginal. I have a couple of perferations in the pipes and one of the mufflers is going. I knew that going into it.

I will put a wrench on them tommrow night and restart it. Hopefully that is all it is for now

Valeve lash was set at the factory, so it should not need to be messed with.

PeterH-350LE · 07-15-2003, 09:09 PM

If it goes away or gets less noisy after it fully warms up, it is an exhaust leak.
Those bolts only get 30 (inner) and 20 (outer) pounds torque. They should be grade 8 bolts, just don't push it too hard! You can't straighten a warped exhaust manifold with excessive torque.

wb13798 · 07-16-2003, 09:34 AM

brett
i have a set of manifolds that are used and are good. if you think you need one next time grand pa comes up ill have him take them to spring hill. i was going to ebay them and decided i didnt want the hassel . lol
al

thenewkid64 · 07-16-2003, 09:44 AM

Thanks Al!

I will take you up on the offer. That lets me pospone the big $$ for a banks system for a while.

Let me know and I will arrange to meet him.

Thanks

Chas · 11-06-2003, 11:59 AM

Hey Newkid!!,

Looking for another adventure? I found this one sitting not far from the house, you could pick it up cheap and do some street camping at Peter's house to get it road ready.

Chas

PeterH-350LE · 11-06-2003, 04:14 PM

Make that some extended street camping at my house and the priviledge of using all the tools I have, because you will need them.
I looked at that "thing" about 18 month ago with a friend. Surprised it is still there (or may be not)
Come on Chas, I double dare ya.

Chas · 11-06-2003, 04:25 PM

Yes,

It is pretty rough. I thought about buying it for about five seconds. The worst thing is it appears to have been smacked in the windshield, right in the middle and cracking both sides. That pretty much totals it out, right? Did you see the way the generator slides out the rear? I have more pics.

How much was or is it being offered for? I was too afraid to ask, maybe it was too temptingly cheap, the wife would definitely send me packing if I brought this one home.

Chas

thenewkid64 · 11-06-2003, 04:38 PM

My budget is still crying foul from the 78. I just dropped another 500 on a carb and trans cooler.

Windshields can be replaced, but you are looking at 1400-2300 bucks for the glass and the gasket. It all depends on who you know.

I like the "little" ones, but I want all the space I can get and stay under 30 feet!

I know......... The Texas forum members could all pitch in, buy it, spend nights and weekends to refurb it and sell it at a hefty profit since it is a classic and rare! I bet it would go for a mint on Ebay!

PeterH-350LE · 11-06-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chas
......the wife would definitely send me packing if I brought this one home.

Chas

and I would change my phone number.

It really wasn't the Rattlesnake skin inside one of the closets that turned me off. Maybe it was the little tulips wallpaper or was it looking at the motor? The smell? The cracked windshields certainly didn't help.
I heard something like under 2k.