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Topic: Engine Swap (Read 1415 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Mikeado1 –
Okay guys, apparently I heard wrong.
It's a 1989, small basement, Oshkosh chassis. And has 8.2(Fuel Pincher?)! Information is coming from the current owner. I have not physically put eyes on the rig yet. Coach looks in great shape in the photos. Now, what do ya' think? Engine swap still sounds fun to me. But I'm a sucker for a good project also!  :D
Sorry for the confusion!!!!!!!!  Mike
The 8.2 is a high RPM diesel and unless another of the same is installed, you are going to have to replace the third member in the rear end. Replacing the ring and pinion is going to be way more expensive and not that many people can do it right with all the preloads, mesh pattern adjustments.

I installed a 7.3 turbo in our SOB many years ago. It was a mechanical engine so only 6 wires total for the swap. The glow plug timer was even mounted on the engine. I dumped the auto for a Getrag 5 speed manual with O/D. Doubled the fuel mileage over the 440 Dodge.

So, it is possible but lots of little problems come up that you never thought about. Engine mounts, throttle linkage, air cleaner, oil pan modification is necessary in a front engine coach, exhaust system.

With a Foretravel, unless you have lots of time and tools, including a welder, metal cutting band saw, etc, it's always better to just buy the coach/engine combination that you wanted originally. If you go to an electronic engine, be prepared for a LOT more work getting it working right.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #26 –
On my 8.2, 2,500 RPM is pretty much getting up there.
On my tach the needle goes horizontal at the three o'clock position and by then, on level ground I would be doing around 68. Not comfortable speed for us.
Before I removed the oil drum muffler I could not get the engine to rev that high.
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: Engine Swap

Reply #27 –
Right. Most likely about a 4:10 gear .  Any modern engine/trans combo  will be fine with the rear gear.  All of the newer stuff can run at 3000 RPM easy and the trans have enough range to find a happy cruise gear.

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
Right. Most likely about a 4:10 gear .  Any modern engine/trans combo  will be fine with the rear gear.  All of the newer stuff can run at 3000 RPM easy and the trans have enough range to find a happy cruise gear.
I think the most popular engine in most RVs today is the Cummins 8.3 liter engine. Popular many years ago and today too. The fuel cutoff is at 2400 rpm, a long ways from 3000. We have a 3.07 rear end (no OD 5th or 6th) but we turn only 2130 at fuel cutoff. I don't know of any big diesel that will happily turn 3K.

I don't think we are talking about repowering a newer Foretravel but as a viable alternative replacement engine for one of the older engines Foretravel offered in the late 1980's and early 1990's

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Mikeado1 –
. . .  with Detroit Diesel 6V92. It's pretty cheap! But I don't want that engine. Was thinking of an engine swap . . .
Mikeado1

Why would anyone NOT want that 2-stroke diesel?  It sounds like a V-12!  And with the electronic fuel injection you needn't concern yourself with the classic Detroit Diesel tricks.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #30 –
Quote from: Old Toolmaker –
Why would anyone NOT want that 2-stroke diesel?  It sounds like a V-12!  And with the electronic fuel injection you needn't concern yourself with the classic Detroit Diesel tricks.


OP has identified that the coach he is considering has a DD 8.2 liter 4 stroke.  Totally unrelated to the 2 stroke DD's.
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: Engine Swapn

Reply #31 –
A good diesel and like the 6.9/7.3 Ford/Intn., with the upgrades to cylinder head bolts, should provide good service with any earlier problems behind them.  Some injector timing tools are supposed to be difficult to find but there are many thousands of these engines in school buses, trucks, etc. They are known for giving excellent fuel mileage.

When I was driving my damaged donor Ford PU with the turbo 7.3 in it back from St. Paul, MN, i was talking to a guy at a rest stop with a new PU. He had just sold his 6.9 Ford PU with 650,000 original miles on it pulling horse trailers. Never any trouble so it does not have to be a big rig CAT, Cummins or Detroit to give reliable service. Same with the 3208 CATs.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #32 –
I hinted that disc brakes are better at stopping than drum brakes and was questioned about that statement.
Well, I guess I was basing my statement on the fact that drum brakes are not as popular as they were, for some reason.
And there must have been some basis for the popularity of disc brakes today.
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: Engine Swap

Reply #33 –
Disk brake will take the heat better better than drum brakes. I have found that
the drum brakes on the Monaco I had stopped better then the disk brakes on
my Foretravel.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Engine Swap

Reply #34 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
OP has identified that the coach he is considering has a DD 8.2 liter 4 stroke.  Totally unrelated to the 2 stroke DD's.
My bad.  I *thought* the OP mentioned the CAT fuel pincher, but I scrolled back to the beginning to double check the engine and the wheels fell off the bus.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.