My Engine replacement odyssey - 1994 HR
My engine replacement odyssey has begun. I posted questions about the 460 V8 in my 1994 Holiday Rambler some time back and after much engine diagnosis and finally laboratory analysis of my crankcase o...
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I finally finished off my engine replacement odyssey, at least I think I did. Sunday my friend mpaten came over with a scan gauge and all the engine fuel injection and general running parameters checked out just fine. We hooked up a pressure tester to the cooling system and I found a sneaky leak at a hose fitting that only leaked under pressure. It was fine after tightening the hose clamp better. I ended the day by running the engine for a half hour and then checking a few of the spark plugs to visually double check what the scan gauge said was okay and I found everything was fine. I’d replaced a few of the FI parts such as idle air control valve, throttle position sensor, and O2 sensor and now the engine runs great, no more wanting to stall if I pushed the gas pedal too hard when starting out, or wanting to stall on deceleration (which was a fairly new problem to my old engine). My new headers sound great and overall I couldn’t be more pleased. I do have to install a few heat shields on the exhaust (a fairly simple task) but right now I’m focused on getting out of the flood plain I’m sitting in, tropical storm Bill is on its way, YEEHAWW!
Overall my engine replacement odyssey cost me about $3,200 total, nearly what I originally paid for my entire RV. Costs including taxes were $2050 for the rebuilt long block engine, $370 for the headers, $200 for an EGR valve pipe elbow that I broke while removing it (:M FMC greed!), $150 for miscellaneous FI parts, $180 to have both the radiator and alternator professionally freshened up, $50 for an idler pulley to replace the AIR pump, and about $200 in miscellaneous belts and hoses.
Time wise I physically began the project May 9th with the arrival of the engine at my work site and didn’t finish until yesterday June 15th. The project was severally hampered by weather, both rain (May had 24 days of periodic rain) and heat. In other words, what should’ve taken me two weeks took over five weeks. During the actual engine removal and subsequent install I had the help of two friends. My new friend mpaten, an Austin resident who regularly posts on this board and a longtime friend Mike from Houston. To anyone doing this project, the engine removal/install goes better with at least two people, one to adjust engine/transmission alignment inside and/or under the RV and one to handle the engine hoist.
So that’s it, done!
Steve
PS a little update, after I posted earlier today I drove my RV into San Marcos to have it safety inspected. Driving in traffic before was always a bit worrisome and stressful, what with oil pressure readings going up and down, the engine running a bit rough at times, along with a recent stalling tendency,it was always stressful. My new engine ran beautifully! It’s so smooth that I found myself constantly checking the oil pressure gauge as I’d come to a stop just to make certain it was still running, man it runs smoothly now! I’m very pleased, who knows maybe I’ll finally enjoy driving this huge lumbering machine. BTW, it passed the safety inspection with no problem.
Overall my engine replacement odyssey cost me about $3,200 total, nearly what I originally paid for my entire RV. Costs including taxes were $2050 for the rebuilt long block engine, $370 for the headers, $200 for an EGR valve pipe elbow that I broke while removing it (:M FMC greed!), $150 for miscellaneous FI parts, $180 to have both the radiator and alternator professionally freshened up, $50 for an idler pulley to replace the AIR pump, and about $200 in miscellaneous belts and hoses.
Time wise I physically began the project May 9th with the arrival of the engine at my work site and didn’t finish until yesterday June 15th. The project was severally hampered by weather, both rain (May had 24 days of periodic rain) and heat. In other words, what should’ve taken me two weeks took over five weeks. During the actual engine removal and subsequent install I had the help of two friends. My new friend mpaten, an Austin resident who regularly posts on this board and a longtime friend Mike from Houston. To anyone doing this project, the engine removal/install goes better with at least two people, one to adjust engine/transmission alignment inside and/or under the RV and one to handle the engine hoist.
So that’s it, done!
Steve
PS a little update, after I posted earlier today I drove my RV into San Marcos to have it safety inspected. Driving in traffic before was always a bit worrisome and stressful, what with oil pressure readings going up and down, the engine running a bit rough at times, along with a recent stalling tendency,it was always stressful. My new engine ran beautifully! It’s so smooth that I found myself constantly checking the oil pressure gauge as I’d come to a stop just to make certain it was still running, man it runs smoothly now! I’m very pleased, who knows maybe I’ll finally enjoy driving this huge lumbering machine. BTW, it passed the safety inspection with no problem.
