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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Resort Information in Florida
Sebring, FL--Tanglewood RV resort is very nice
http://www.tanglerv.com/
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olds468
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01/27/10 11:19am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: 1985 Holiday Rambler-Too Old?
I got a 85 Alumalite XL that was very well maintained this year for $6K. I felt it was a good deal everything works well new tires, no leaks. My real preference would have been a Diesel motor but I would have to added $10K to the purchase price and that I did not have. $12K seems very high to me, you can get a mid to late 90's for that. The bad thing with the mid 80's was the 3speed transmission, the turbo 400 is an excellent transmission but it still is only a 3 speed, so 55mph and 8mpg will probably the best you can get. If you drive it 65 or higher you will be lucky to get 4-5mpg.
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olds468
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11/07/09 11:07am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Jacks up or down during cold winter?
I will be parking on gravel, I was wanting to put something down on the gravel for the jacks to sit on. Anything special out there or will a piece of 2x10 work?
Thanks
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olds468
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11/04/09 06:16pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Replacement Engine 454
If you are considering a different motor Steve Schmidt engines of Indy. His shop builds all kinds of motors. Nothing can beat cubic inches.
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olds468
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11/03/09 06:33pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 454 exhaust manifold bolts
Any distributor of ARP fasteners will have any type of kit just for the 454 exhaust. NAPA has always had a good variety also.
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olds468
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08/31/09 10:32am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
Looks like the cure is a gauge that is not reading 20+ degree's high.
The higher the temp the more the gauge is reading high compared to a thermal heat gun. I bought a IR gun for $30, when the gauge is 210 the top radiator hose is 190 the bottom is 180-185, the radiator housings never show more than 195 and that is when the gauge is showing close to 230F.
The most that the Intake by the thermostat housing showed was 210 with the gauge showing 230F.
I have been good at chasing my tail end on this one, well atleast I have the pc of mind that the cooling system is good to go.
Next year I will fix the gauge and probably install an electric fan to assist with pulling the air through the radiator.
Thanks guys and gals.
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olds468
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08/31/09 10:05am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Air Filter changes
I have an 85 Rambler with the 454 carb motor, the air filter has a stainless filter that is permenant and a paper filter on the outside of that the issue I see is the stainless filter does not seal on the top of the filter cover, so the paper filter seals and has about 1-2" at the top that the stainless filter does not cover. This doesn't seem right to me, I would think that the stainless is not doing anything as all the air would go through the paper filter at the top.
Thoughts?
John
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olds468
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08/23/09 06:18pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Trying to post a picture.
Attempting a photo post.
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k420/oldsdigger/IMG_1588-1.jpg
the preview looked good, now I will attempt to get this into my signature
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olds468
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08/18/09 03:29pm |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: 454 temp
Gale, the only item I have not done is check total timing @3000rpm. I also have to find out the tube size and core size of the radiator.
Brian, I am running a thermostat 160 fail safe. I was attempting to get cooling performed prior to 180, to help keep the motor cooler.
Brian, where did you get your Thorley headers from and did you have any issues during installation?
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olds468
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08/15/09 05:26am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
Everything is new from the radiator, water pump and clutch. All of this seems to be working fine, you can hear the fan pull hard at temp.
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olds468
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08/14/09 07:28am |
Tech Issues
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
Did we find a cure or the problem?
Sorry for the delay, I had date with a knee Dr. on Tuesday (scope discovered a torn meniscus and arthritis.
Still have not found the problem, to correct 1 item I have a 7 blade fan, the AC coil looks good and air passes well.
The gauge is mechanical, I need to get a gun to check the temp of the radiator when the other gauge is showing 230F. When the Stewart gauge is showing 230 the stock gauge is at the mid point. At the same time the trans temp is showing 200F, which comes from the pan area. I am still thinking to have the coolant checked out, I have not been driving this much so I have not noticed any coolant usage yet.
The rubber door looks good, extra metal was added to ensure all air goes through the radiator.
I will check with the radiator shop on the size of tubing and core.
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olds468
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08/13/09 03:34pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
The other day in the driveway it seemed like I was adding 4 oz of water every 15 minutes or so, but there was plenty of coolant in the overflow can. Once it had cooled down the overflow can was at the correct level, so I have not had to add coolant all the time. The stat was a fail safe stat, the clutch was an extreme duty $85.00 from Carquest, the fan is a 5 blade with a 5 core radiator, the fan is definitly working. There is good airflow through the radiator as you can feel this with your hand in front of the radiator.
The heat gun sounds like a good check on the gauges, the gauge is a mechanical one.
Yes I have a fan shroud and it is in good shape, I may attempt to have the coolant system pressure checked. If there is a head gasket leak they should be able to fine it there.
Great suggestions guy's.
Thanks for all your input so far.
John
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olds468
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08/08/09 07:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
Jim, There is a stewart warner gauge in this I believe this is connected to the sensor in the front of the intake. I say I believe because this also has a sensor in the head and the instrument panel gauge is just a dial from cold to hot and I have not disconnected one to see which is which.
I just took this for a ride, 210F today but there is a cool breeze of air.
195F coming down hill.
The new plugs Champion's gap is .035, the old AC were .045, I am not so sure I have not lost some power.
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olds468
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08/08/09 01:12pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
Thanks for the info guy's, Looks like I am at 11 BTDC with or without the vacuum, so as stated the vacuum does not pull enough at idle to change this.
The mounted vacuum gauge shows 17psi at 700-800 rpm, idle. This motor has 2 timing gauges 1 on toward the top which is the one that I could get the reading off and 1 is toward the bottom. I could not get any reading from the bottom markings.
My entire issue with this motor is that it want to run @ 230F or more, I put a new 5 core radiator, extreme duty clutch on the fan, put a 160F thermostat in it and Flow Kooler water pump on it. I am 99% sure I have all the air out as I put the MH on a hill with the front on the up side and filled the radiator while the motor was running.
There is no smoke from the motor and the oil looks fine. The plugs looked fine besides being worn out, so I replaced the plugs, wires, rotor and cap.
In the drive just idling it goes to 180F, with 2500rpms it goes to 195F.
I have not gotten it out on the road yet, but I don't suspect it will be any different.
I don't see any vacuum line leaks.
My next guess is a slight leak in a head gasket.
Any other thoughts.
Thanks
John
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olds468
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08/08/09 09:09am |
Tech Issues
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RE: 7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
toofunny(David) I only have 1 AC unit it is a Coleman Delta T I have no idea about the fuse.
I have to check the timing and also see about checking for a head gasket leak. I have replaced all the cooling system and this motor still wants to get to 230F with very little load.
What a pain.
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olds468
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08/04/09 07:33pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 454 temp
Back to the top with this thread. I replaced the 4 core radiator with a 5 and extra finning for extra cooling, extreme duty clutch for the fan, and a Flow Kooler water pump, all hoses and belts. Still running 220-230F, now when this hits 230F it feels like it is vapor locking as it hesitates and sometimes acts like a back fire.
Thought I would double check the timing (another thread), thinking of checking the plugs to see how they are burning, maybe see if I can see moisture from a head gasket issue.
Any other idea's guys??
John
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olds468
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08/04/09 06:00pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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7.4 L 454 BBC Carburated
What should the timing be set at with the vacum advance disconnected.
This is a 85 Carburated 454 with the air pump.
Thanks in advance.
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olds468
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08/04/09 05:01pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 85 Holiday Rambler Alumalite XL
Got line repaired, new end welded on the line and pressure tested. Will see if this engine runs cooling with: new 5 core radiator, new extreme duty clutch on the fan, new 160F thermostat and new Flow Kooler water pump.
A friend also suggested just running water and a water wetting agent in the radiator. I put the antifreeze back into it if I see too much heat that will be my next try.
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olds468
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07/27/09 08:46am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 85 Holiday Rambler Alumalite XL
It is an aluminum tube but it is about 3 feet long, with male ends on both ends.
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k420/oldsdigger/IMG_1768.jpg
Photo attempt on here. One end I had to cut off as it had the hole
The photo did not make it, I'll have to learn hot to post from Photobucket.
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olds468
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07/21/09 06:46pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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85 Holiday Rambler Alumalite XL
I need to find a Oil cooler line that runs to the radiator, A truck repair garage told me that Work Horse purchased all the rights to the Old GM truck and motor home parts. Anybody hear of this?
I have tried Napa, Carquest, and a couple of others that show these cooler lines for 1992 and newer, but nobody shows anything for the 85.
most of the lines that anyone has had is smaller in diameter so it will not fasten into the radiator.
This is the aluminum line from the radiator to the rubber line before the oil filter block. The lower line is the one I need.
This MH has the 454 BBC motor.
Any leads would be appreciated.
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olds468
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07/21/09 05:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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