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Re-built engine

In August of last year we started getting mass amounts of white smoke.  We had the motorhome towed to the Cat dealer in Amarillo.  Two days later I had a heart attack. Cat said we could leave the motorhome with them until I got better.

Quad bypass and two more surgeries for infection later, I contacted Cat and asked for some prices on repairs.  The engine is shot and  a replacement would cost $28,000.00.  A re-build would cost $18,000.00.

Our Unit is a 1991 Unihome Grand Villa, 36 ft. long.  We have done quite a bit to in the past 12 years, including a first class paint job,
an brand new tires (less than 1000 miles). 

I would like to fix the engine and sell it due to my health problems.  The cost of repairs is high enough to make our price too high.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Alan Dodson
214 415 2854
Alan Dodson
1991 U280 GV 36'

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #1 –
Wow, that is a tough situation. I think you will never get out the new engine in a sale. If working you are probably worth about 30 k give or take. The paint job is never going to be able to be recovered. I would consider parting it out.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #2 –
Fix it and enjoy it yourself.  Life is not done with you and your Foretravel motorhome will continue to give you years of pleasure that may not happen any other way.
Or sell it for a couple thousand as is.  Never a good idea to spend big just to sell it.

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #3 –
Hello,
It seems that sometimes school buses may use your engine.  I might try to find an old school bus that had a good engine and harvest the engine from that bus and use it to replace my engine.  That might be a way to reduce the cost of the repair.  I would probably not spend a lot of money fixing it just to sell it.    You may be spending a lot of money just to try to break even (and consider it a loss if you also spend a lot of time getting the job done).  If you get it fixed and use it, you will find the investment of time and money better spent.  Best Wishes.
Best of Travels

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #4 –
If you are not going to use it, sell it as is- for a project.  Someone will buy it, fix/change the engine, and have a nice coach for a reasonable price.  I agree with the others, don't spend big $$$ getting it ready to sell, you will never get them back.

Take care of your health and enjoy your family.
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #5 –
I second a used engine.  We sold trucks out of our municipal fleets that the bodies were gone but the engines were good for 100s of thousands of miles.  Good diesel engines outlast the coach normally.  Find a reputable shop and explore that option.  Or you could put it at a static park nearby and use it as "cabin".

Good luck with the recovery and the coach.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #6 –
Please let us know what engine your coach has.  Is it a Cat 3208?  If so, what HP?

Agree that sinking big bucks in the coach would not be an economically wise decision, particularly if you are going to turn around and sell it!

Better to try to sell it "as is".  Second choice would be to locate a good used or reman engine, but between cost of engine and cost of installation..... 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #7 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Please let us know what engine your coach has.  Is it a Cat 3208?  If so, what HP?

I spoke with Alan earlier today. Yes, it is a Cat 3208T 250 HP with a cracked block.  David
David & Lou Ann Bouchard
Summer: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Winter: RiverBend Motorcoach Resort  LaBelle, Florida
2003 U320 38' Build #6174 "Willie"
2013 Cadillac SRX Toad
MC #17151 FMCA #F431393

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #8 –
Check out Diesel Trader.com
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #10 –
A 3208 long block should be way under $10,000 (and I've been told in the boat world to figure $5-10k for a complete long block. They made tons of them. The prices you were quoted don't make sense.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #11 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Better to try to sell it "as is". [/quote

A sad state of affairs, my best wishes to you, Alan. and may you prosper on.  ^.^d  I agree with Brett, move it on without doing anything to it. Granted, they are "Classics", but the cost of a replacement engine will not be worth any resale value, given the age of the coach. Parting it out should be out the question; put the Coach for sale on this Forum and see what happens. Provide pics, be honest what you've done to her and what's needed to bring her back to pristine. Best of luck, M
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #13 –
Might be real, might be the one that was recently auctioned, might be a scam. 


Wild guess, 25 hours to switch out?
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)
 

Re: Re-built engine

Reply #14 –
Try.    heavytruckparts.net. It's the place most big truck salvage yards put their inventory on.  You can search buy distance and price.
1998 Foretravel U320c
4200 RCFE  unit # G5341