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RE: The old girl is back - where to start
Well, speaking as someone who owns a 1923 Model T Touring Car hot rod...I have to say that putting a different engine in a vehicle can be very satisfying and rewarding.
Would I tackle a diesel conversion in my Trek? No. I could put in a new 454 or larger with much less difficulty. If I read those messages correctly, this swap has been in the works for something like 5 years now, right?
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mrblanche
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05/09/12 08:05am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 2012 Chevy Cruze Not Towable 4 Down
You know, I'm a little puzzled about the switch to the Malibu by the original poster. I was under the impression the 6-speed auto in the Cruze and the Malibu were the same transmission.
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mrblanche
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08/27/11 09:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Engine Noise When Going Uphill - UPDATE
Also 454's do not and never have had sleeves,In fact I can't think of a gas car engine in the 80 years that came with sleeves.
Any number of aluminum-engined cars have had sleeved engines. But the 454 is about as simple as cast-iron pushrod v-8 engines get.
As a hot rodder, the first thing I'd do is make sure the ignition system is completely working. It might take as much as a new distributor (but probably only a coil, ignition module, rotor, and cap). Then I would make completely sure it's getting all the fuel it needs with a loaded pressure test and replacement of all filters. Then I'd pull off the valve covers and make sure all the uppy and downy thingies are doing their job (just checking to make sure you're paying attention!). That would be to eliminate the possiblity of a broken or worn-out camshaft.
There IS the possiblity that the noise climbing a hill was detonation, and it holed some pistons, but guess what? Replacing some pistons is not that difficult, especially if you can find someone like me who could use a little extra work. Yeah, it would be a few hundred dollars, perhaps as much as $1000. Replacing a cam is a pain in most motorhomes, since you have to remove the A/C condenser and radiator to get at the front of the engine. A fair amount of labor, not that much for the parts. New cam, new timing chain, new lifters, maybe new pushrods, new water pump (as long as you're in there).
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mrblanche
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08/12/11 09:30pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: R V Park in colorado
There are still tours of the AF Academy. We did it last summer. Did the Flying W Ranch, too, and my wife, who is no fan of country music, absolutely loved it.
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mrblanche
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07/16/11 10:58pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: new diesel D E F ? any experience
The bad news is that it adds another complication to your diesel life. The good news is that the vehicles using it are getting better fuel mileage than they did before. It CAN freeze, I hear, so the tanks usually have some arrangement for heat.
We've had no problems on the 13 trucks we're operating with it. The rumor in the trucking industry is that 2011 diesels that don't have it may have to retrofit it, but there is a lot of squabbling going on.
The Volvo engines using DEF and particulate filters are actually emitting cleaner air than they take in, when they're passing through such cities as Houston. The (true) joke in the industry is that in trucks with such engines, a smoking driver is a bigger polluter than the rest of the truck.
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mrblanche
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07/16/11 10:56pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Denver, CO
As a Denver native, I have to say there are many things there that are outstanding. The Museum of Natural History, now called the Museum of Nature and Science, is a good bet.
Just for a lark, dinner at the Casa Bonita (west Colfax, actually in Lakewood, I believe) certainly falls in the touristy class. At one time the largest restaurant under one roof in the world. Cliff divers. Need I say any more? Food's OK.
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mrblanche
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07/16/11 10:50pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Its Been a long time, questions with new purchase
Knowing some of the common problems to gas motorhomes in general, I think the first thing I'd do is move that spare to the rear to clear air flow for the radiator.
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mrblanche
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06/13/11 06:32am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Backfire through intake 454TBI
At that age, I would replace the distributor cap, rotor, ignition control module, coil, and plug wires. Get the best quality you can with all of them; if you get them at O'Reilly, you can get Bosch parts that are guaranteed for life.
This is the voice of experience, by the way. About 2 weeks ago I was getting my MH (1995 Trek 2430, 7.4L GM engine) ready for a trip and had it running when it suddenly quit. It would crank just fine, but not even a hint at firing. Checked with starting fluid to be sure it wasn't a gas problem. No joy. Pulled a plug wire and checked for spark. No joy. Pulled off the distributor cap, and the problem was obvious. Almost 1/2 inch of the rotor was burned away.
Mine has the small-diameter HEI distributor with the separate coil. Replacing the cap, rotor, module, and coil cost less than $100, and now it runs great.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5767580893_55e8ced3ed_z.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5768126076_4c0054a080_z.jpg
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mrblanche
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06/12/11 02:37pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Changing an Alternator?
Well, the standard caution when doing electrical work applies, and that is first disconnect the battery(ies) ground cable. This will avoid any arcing.
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mrblanche
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06/04/11 02:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: RV Beginner
I have just arrived from Australia and intend to travel throughout America in an RV for the next 11 months. I would like to purchase a small Class A approx 30ft which I can resell when I have finished touring. After having looked in several dealers yards I have discovered there are many different manufacturers. My question is which of these are high quality, built with better materials eg steel frames, better insulation, quality workmanship and which vehicles are in the cheaper class and to be avoided. Looking forward to hearing from experienced RVers.
I don't know where you're shopping, but you could find pretty good motorhomes all day for less than $20,000 in our area. A lot less, if you do some careful shopping.
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mrblanche
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05/28/11 05:49pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: RV Beginner
My question is which of these are high quality, built with better materials eg steel frames, better insulation, quality workmanship High quality won't exist in a 30' Class A. Quality starts at around 40'.
Haven't heard of a Safari Trek, have you?
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mrblanche
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05/28/11 05:47pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Done with Flying J in Lebenon, IN
They do the same thing in OR, so there goes another state you can not visit......:B
Only for "exempt" trucks, which are trucks that have an Oregon fuel permit. RV's, diesel pickups, etc., pay the tax at the pump, and it's not an unreasonable tax. The truckers have to pay a per-mile tax, currently about 13.5 cents per mile, making Oregon's fuel tax the highest in the country, over double what the nearest competitor is.
The fine for entering the state without that fuel tax permit is $450. Don't ask me how I found out.
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mrblanche
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05/28/11 05:42pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Done with Flying J in Lebenon, IN
I have found that in Indiana they post the price before the tax is included. I don't think that is proper, but it is common.
Ken
The price posted on all truck stops in Indiana is the "Exempt Truck Price." That is, you have an IFTA permit and will pay the remaining taxes later. Otherwise, you have to pay all the taxes up front, the price you had to pay.
About 20 years ago, Indiana tried for a "gotcha" tax on diesel. They passed a law that, at the end of the year, would have taken the state's annual budget shortfall, divided it by the number of gallons of diesel bought in the state during the year, and prorated the deficit to all the truckers who bought fuel in the state. A week later, they weren't selling any fuel at all, and the law was rescinded. Indiana has a long history of playing with the truckers with their fuel taxes this way.
Welcome to the wonderful world of diesel fuel taxes.
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mrblanche
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05/28/11 05:40pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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