Author Topic: Latest Major Project (1981 Motorhome) (Read 3767 times)

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #25 on:** February 06, 2011, 10:25:17 pm »

Update - Moving to the next step and going to start taking apart the allison to refresh it. I still need to remove the old engine and trans from the motorhome as well. I did get my wiring harness and it is all modified ready to install.

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #26 on:** February 07, 2011, 10:23:06 pm »

Took the transmission down as far as suggested by my Allison guru connection.

j555 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 07, 2011, 10:27:02 pm »

your brave

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #28 on:** March 06, 2011, 07:17:26 pm »

Update: Since we had some better weather, I went back to work on the motorhome.

The Allison is completed and all back together.

Finished removing the radiator and everything in the nose section.

I took this picture showing throught to the inside.

Since then, I started removing things from the top and front of the engine in preperation for removal. Carb, altenator, air conditioning, distributor, etc. are all removed. Next is to disconnect the exhaust, some wiring running behind the water pump to underneath, then hook up the cherry picker and remove the motor mounts. I may need to remove the exhaust manifolds or at minimum emission BS. Unfortunately I have a lot of traveling for work coming up this month and next.

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2011, 05:36:21 pm »

UPDATE
Since I've been really busy with work (traveling for training) and the crappy weather we've been having, hasn't allowed much time to work on the motorhome project. Looked at the weather forecast and today didn't look to be too bad, so I took it off so that I could spend some time on things around the house and hopefully then the motorhome. Got some things taken care of this morning around the house and turned to the motorhome after lunch. Finally the old engine is out of the motorhome and in the garage.

Now to start measuring and figuring out the best way to get the Duramax in there. After some initial measurements, it looks like I'm going to have to rethink how I was going to put it in. The frame really narrows down in front. It is only 23" across where the harmonic balancer would be and 28" where the transmission will be. The frame is notched about where the flexplate will be and is only 29" opening. The Duramax is 28" from outside of head to outside of head, 31" with exhaust manifolds on.

j555 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:14:05 pm »

weathers getting better! fabricate away!

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #31 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:02:08 pm »

Maybe for you, but we are expecting almost 1.5" of rain over the weekend. I live in the Portland, OR metro area.

NVMYZ28 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:50:46 pm »

Did they not tell you about all the rain in the Pacific Northwest before you moved there?

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #33 on:** March 31, 2011, 10:31:20 pm »

It beats that white crap you have to deal with. Oh and the salt on the roads.

j555 · « **Reply #34 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:42:49 pm »

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #35 on:** April 07, 2011, 06:32:27 pm »

Just picked up a pretty, shiney, new part for the conversion.

My new customized intercooler.

The Sad · « **Reply #36 on:** April 07, 2011, 06:36:56 pm »

Sweet!! It's gots da boost!!!

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #37 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:52:41 pm »

Of course I'm running the turbo LOL. Notice the inlet/outlet size. I went with 3" tubing.

Today was a good busy day. First I changed water pumps in my LLY. When I was finished with that, I turned to the motorhome. Earlier in the week, I got the engine stripped back down so that it was small enough to fit through the front opening where I removed the original 454. After that, I started making my engine plate adaptors. I got them drilled and mounted to the block. Next (today) was to stab the engine into the bay and get it positioned and centered. Now to mark the plates with the motor mounts in position. Then remove the plates to drill and tap for the motor mounts and reinstall everything. Here are a couple pics, more pics are in the link to my album on the first page.

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #38 on:** June 26, 2011, 10:37:03 am »

I made a little more visual progress this weekend. I got the Allison bolted up and raised up until it hit the floor of the living room. I need to clearance the corner a little (about an inch or so). Then I need to modify the existing transmission cross member and relocate it for the trans.

I still need to do some old wire cleanup and removing some components from the motorhome that are no longer needed (fuel pump, fuel line, speedo cable, etc.) I know it probably would have been easier to remove that stuff before putting the engine and trans in, but I just couldn't wait. I wanted to see some visual progress. Slowly but surely it is coming together.

NVMYZ28 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 27, 2011, 09:07:46 am »

Nothing a little torch cut cant cure!

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #40 on:** June 27, 2011, 01:32:38 pm »

hahaha a torch would not have been good. That is a 1/4" piece of steel on top of 3/4" plywood and the other side of the plywood has carpet. Already taken care of with a cut off disk on my grinder and a couple bottles of water.

NVMYZ28 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 27, 2011, 03:47:42 pm »

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #42 on:** August 02, 2011, 06:50:07 pm »

Just picked up the drive line today, through it in the motorhome real quick, and then snapped some pics of the transmission mount.

The Sad · « **Reply #43 on:** August 04, 2011, 10:16:34 pm »

Almost done?

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #44 on:** August 05, 2011, 09:03:21 am »

Mechanically, yes. I still have to reassemble all the accessories (alt, AC, fan, etc.), then install the radiator and get some custome radiator hoses, then install the intercooler and customize those hoses, figure out a tranny linkage, mount trans cooler and hook up. Then I still have all the wiring to deal with (mounting the computers, cleaning up the dash). I'm not planning on having it finished this year. I will finish the mechanical, and then work on the wiring this fall/winter when it starts raining. Plus I think I will need to build a new dog house cover, which also means recarpeting the front area.

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #45 on:** October 27, 2011, 01:31:40 pm »

With all the talk of projects, I just wanted to bring this thread back up to the surface. No real progress as life has gotten in the way as of late (father inlaw fell again).

As an update to my last post on Aug 5, I have all the engine harness installed on the engine with the exception of connecting the Bosch fuel controller (fire wall is in the way) and all the accessories except the alt and AC compressor installed.

DaBo_Z28 · « **Reply #46 on:** November 26, 2011, 06:44:54 pm »

Cody Updates please

I am curious how your coming along with it

Rockin C Racing · « **Reply #47 on:** November 28, 2011, 08:31:14 am »

Well there really isn't any new updates as life get in the way sometimes. Over the last several weeks I haven't had time to work on it as we have been dealing with some family issues. With that said, I did manage to find some time this weekend and finished installing all of the engine harness, transmission harness, and locate where I need to put the computers. I'm down to having to fabrication on various things (mounts for the computers, mount for the gas pedal, mount to relocate the fuel filter housing, etc.).

DaBo_Z28 · « **Reply #48 on:** December 04, 2011, 06:26:52 pm »

Keep us posted when you can

It makes for interesting reading

DaBo_Z28 · « **Reply #49 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:24:28 am »

Quote from: DaBo_Z28 on December 04, 2011, 06:26:52 pm

Keep us posted when you can

It makes for interesting reading

Any new news?

News:

Author Topic: Latest Major Project (1981 Motorhome) (Read 3767 times)