I have been considering an engine swap on mine for a while because my 454 is getting weak. Only I am thinking of going a different rout of swapping in a late model used 8.1 or 7.4 vortec complete with Alison trans, fuel injection and all accessories. The only thing holding me back is justifying the expense in to this old P30 chassis. The decision will pretty much come down to finding a suitable donor vehicle at the right price. Lately I have been investigating using a late model 6.0 that they use in the one ton GM trucks.

NT

So what would I do....
Hmmm, you kidding me. I don't need all those comparisons and charts when it is a labor of love.

I used to have a large salt water (reef) tank (several in fact). with over a hundred gallons, i estimate that over the years it must have cost me over a hundred bucks a gallon to maintain that baby and a ton of manual labor (and I'm probably not stretching that too much

My house burned down and I never got back into the hobby. I miss it every day.

A labor love... Get er done

I call totally understand the fish thing. I never had the patience to keep them but I can watch them for hours, beats the crap out of TV. I can watch the lake here from my living room.

I love that coach. I think it is the second oldest tag axle we know of. Sounds like you pretty much know what you need to know to get the ball rolling. Let me know if I can help. Good luck with your classic coach.

I'm starting the engine swap next week.

Finally got a chance to get started on the Barth project. Well, here we go, let the games begin.



The PITA radiator that cost me the Milford trip is out. I gave it 40 lashes and it will go a different radiator shop soon.



When I get all the stuff off the engine I will make my final decision how to extract it.

To be continued:

I got several more parts in front out of the way... more to go...



Removed a few things inside that were in the way:



A few more parts to remove from the engine and I will wrassle it out of there!

Almost finished getting the top of the engine ready. I built the "gallows" to lift it.



I still have to pull the distributor from the top. On the bottom side, I have headers, starter, flywheel and mounts left. It will be out soon.



Having measured and considered the options, I decided it will be easier to lower the engine onto a dolly and wheel it to the side door. My neighbor can pick it up from the side with his backhoe bucket.



It should be easier than going out the window.

reminds me when i helped someone replace his 440 in a 29'winne Brave it was not fun!!!!!

You should have bought that miniaturizer ray on cragslist. It would have made getting it out so much easier!

Just be careful and make sure Liz keeps an eye on you. You are way more self motivated to have tackled this project. Keep us updated!

May the force be with you.

When we replaced the engine on my Breakaway, the mechanic didn't have a lift with enough capacity. so we dug a hole and dropped the old engine into it, pulled the coach away, swapped engines in the pit, and backed the coach over the pit. Naturally, this was known as the "Money Pit".

quote:

Naturally, this was known as the "Money Pit".

quote:

Originally posted by Steve VW:
it will be easier to lower the engine onto a dolly and wheel it to the side door. My neighbor can pick it up from the side with his backhoe bucket.

I did it that way once, but removed the heads and intake manifold to make it lighter and smaller.

It also fit the door opening better. We didn't have a backhoe, so we used my extra long arm engine hoist to reach in the door to lift the engine.

Whoa! Where did the engine go?



End of phase 1: the engine is raised!



I still need to remove the engine mounts, flex plate, oil lines, etc.


On to phase 2: I need to build an engine crate and platform to get the dolly out to the door.

Wow Steve. Keep going.

I still have to build an engine dolly. I guess I could always swipe a shopping cart and cut off the bottom like the guys in Detroit. The inverted top part makes a great grill...
I hope to get back to the Barth work soon.

THIS has been very handy for me.