My Engine replacement odyssey - 1994 HR (Summary)

[Geocritter]

Hi all y’all,

Just a small summary addendum to my earlier thread started back in May 2015. I just completed my first substantial journey, traveling 900 miles from San Marcos TX to Sierra Vista AZ with my newly installed rebuilt engine and new exhaust header system. The first day was tough, I only made 160 miles, it seems my RV had a few shakedown issues. The first one I’m a bit angry about, the second one I’m just flat out embarrassed about.

Shakedown issue #1 was my new exhaust header system came apart at its two ball and socket joints. I’ve worked on exhausts often enough to know that you can’t bolt exhaust pipes together too tightly. Use a 3/4 drive breaker bar and lay on the torque, but even after that if you’re smart you’ll fire it up and run the engine for a while to heat up the exhaust system and then retighten it. I did all that and the damned nuts still came loose from the bolts holding the ball and socket pipe joints together causing a huge exhaust leak and a deafening racket. I pulled into a truck stop and finally found replacement nuts as well as a second set of nuts to use as locknuts on top of the original nuts. It’s been over 850 miles and they’re still holding together. I only wish I’d thought to locknut them in the beginning.

SD issue #2, somehow while I was putting everything back together I forgot to put a final tightening on one of the radiator hose clamps. It was tight enough to not leak under normal service but on the first long upgrade after San Antonio the engine heated up enough to build cooling system pressure and KABLOOIE! The radiator hose pulled free from the radiator and blew 3 gallons of coolant all over the highway. Fortunately, I was watching the gauges and pulled over before it caused over heating damage. What’s aggravating is that when I made the 50/50 anti-freeze mix I went so far as to use distilled water and now I have to do it all over again, gaaah!

I had no more problems after the first 100 miles and the engine ran beautifully. I’d also tweaked the suspension system by replacing the sway bar bushings and adding air bags to the rear suspension. No more push-pull from semi’s passing at 80-85mph! With the new engine and added power from the exhaust headers I had trouble keeping it below 70mph, man alive those horses just wanted to run. I even passed a few semi’s on long upgrades, how cool is that!

So after the first 100 miles the remaining 800 miles passed by uneventfully, overall it was a good journey and I’m very pleased with the outcome.

Steve

[BobR]

Sounds like your back on track. I too enjoyed your previous thread and wondered if you would need to add pontoons as well as a new engine. You had some rain to deal with during your install.

[Johnny_G1]

Geocritter wrote:
Hi all y’all,

SD issue #2, somehow while I was putting everything back together I forgot to put a final tightening on one of the radiator hose clamps. It was tight enough to not leak under normal service but on the first long upgrade after San Antonio the engine heated up enough to build cooling system pressure and KABLOOIE! The radiator hose pulled free from the radiator and blew 3 gallons of coolant all over the highway. Fortunately, I was watching the gauges and pulled over before it caused over heating damage. What’s aggravating is that when I made the 50/50 anti-freeze mix I went so far as to use distilled water and now I have to do it all over again, gaaah!
Steve

Remember that quite well on my friends Wanderlodge, just didn't tighten that rad hose enough, mind you it was only 4ins long on a cat motor and dumped it on a 10 mile grade, nice thing to fix with a boiling hot motor in the dark.

[turbojimmy]

That's great! While frustrating, your issues were minor. You've done in one trip what I've done in 18-months in mine. I've only put about 1,000 miles on mine since the "new" engine.

Good luck with it!

[FIRE_UP]

This is really nice to read of folks who've done that sort of thing on their RVs. Having the capability, tools, place to work, training, foresight, and more, to do that extensive type of work, is just great. I too have done all my own repairs/alterations/fabrications/etc. for years and years. It's a great feeling to do something like that and, HAVE WORK AND LAST!!

After doing what I would think is, a really nice job of install and prep, only have all that nice work get blasted by a bunch of anti-freeze all over the place, must have been a bit frustrating, to say the least. But, you got through it and that's the important point. This is a great post. Really glad you posted it.
Scott

[mike_brez]

Awesome, I loved reading that thread.

[Orcadrvr]

Great job!

Have fun with your "new" toy!

[BTPO1]

I also followed your thread and got a lot of ideas. I am glad that everything is going good for you now and you are enjoying.

[Geocritter]

jmaotto wrote:
How does fuel millage compare to the old engine?

Like I said, them horses kept wanting to run! I averaged about 6mpg but I had trouble keeping my speed down. As it was I usually ran between 65-70mph, and on long flat stretches I'd see my speed constantly creeping up to 75mph. If I'd simply set my cruise control at 60mph I'd have probably gotten at least 7mpg if not more. Also, I was traveling from an elevation of 570' to an elevation of 5,000' and so was gradually going uphill the entire way.

Steve

[jmaotto]

How does fuel millage compare to the old engine?

[Mr_Mark1]

Mr. Steve, I surely enjoyed reading and following your thread. Glad that you are up and running. You have the mechanical abilities that I can only wish for.

Safe travels,
MM.