New crate 454
Last month I broke the crank in my 1988 Winnebago Super Chief. It had only 57,000 miles on it. I located a GM crate engine 454. I took my time and installed the engine piece by piece. I went with a n...
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Hi, I would like to thank everyone for their input. Someone mentioned lack of information and so I apologize for that. The casting numbers on the crate engine were the same as the old engine I replaced. I have installed a 195* T stat....(California emissions) I did burp the cooling system 3 times. All the vacuum lines are new. I may re visit the routing just to make sure the lines are correct. The new radiator is a 4 row core Aluminum. The existing radiator was a 4 row Brass.
One reader suggested water pump rotation. That raised one of my eyebrows.....I do have a serpentine belt driving the water pump, however I did specifically ask for an extreme duty water pump for that model/year motor home. Now that does not mean I got what I asked for, so I am going to check the part number against the invoice! or vis-a-vis. Sometimes even the old hot rod guys take things for granted. I went to my buddy who has a Hot Rod shop here in town and asked him about the different water pumps for motor homes (specific for MH) He said he never heard of this but is going to research it for me.....I do know that this engine is very cold blooded, it takes forever for it to heat up to 195.
The fan clutch is a direct replacement from the Chevrolet Dealer. It has the big aluminum finned 9 " head on it and it ROARS on start up and it ROARS when the engine starts to heat up. I also have two 10 inch electric fans in the front of the radiator. Although they are 10 years old they still ramp up and blow hard......
I am conflicted on the timing settings, some say 8* BTDC, and some say 4* BTDC. I went with the factory setting for vacuum advance....I may have to play with it.
I always fill the tank with premium fuel. The new engine is close to having 375 miles on it so I Will be changing the oil this week. I have just been driving it around a little to figure out what is going on with the heat issue. Again, thanks for your input
One reader suggested water pump rotation. That raised one of my eyebrows.....I do have a serpentine belt driving the water pump, however I did specifically ask for an extreme duty water pump for that model/year motor home. Now that does not mean I got what I asked for, so I am going to check the part number against the invoice! or vis-a-vis. Sometimes even the old hot rod guys take things for granted. I went to my buddy who has a Hot Rod shop here in town and asked him about the different water pumps for motor homes (specific for MH) He said he never heard of this but is going to research it for me.....I do know that this engine is very cold blooded, it takes forever for it to heat up to 195.
The fan clutch is a direct replacement from the Chevrolet Dealer. It has the big aluminum finned 9 " head on it and it ROARS on start up and it ROARS when the engine starts to heat up. I also have two 10 inch electric fans in the front of the radiator. Although they are 10 years old they still ramp up and blow hard......
I am conflicted on the timing settings, some say 8* BTDC, and some say 4* BTDC. I went with the factory setting for vacuum advance....I may have to play with it.
I always fill the tank with premium fuel. The new engine is close to having 375 miles on it so I Will be changing the oil this week. I have just been driving it around a little to figure out what is going on with the heat issue. Again, thanks for your input
