More like a cross between the two Jake.

I may have found the problem with the loose steering, and it was a cheap fix. The steering gear box connects to a bell crank bolted to the frame rail. There is another bell crank on the passenger side that serves like an idler and also attaches to a steering stabilizer.

So while my son cranked the steering wheel side to side I watched the front suspension. At first I thought the bell crank support bearings on the driver's side were shot. From another angle I could see it was the frame rail twisting top to bottom. There is a cross-member between the frame rails right at the bell crank supports. The bolts that attach the cross-member were loose on the driver's side. Tightened them and anything else I could get a socket on and no more flex in the frame rail.

I don't think it's really a permanent fix. The bolts that hold the cross-member aren't that big. If it's better but works loose again I'll tack weld the cross-member to the frame rail. I can always cut the weld if the cross-member ever needs to be removed.

I feel a lot better now. The bell crank supports on these chassis are known for wearing out. This motorhome already had new ones installed, Henderson Super Steer bell cranks with tapered roller bearings, about $300 a piece. I didn't want to have to replace those again.

I know you guy's don't give a shit but I thought I'd share anyway!

Thought for a while I was gonna have to get me one of them too.:p

Just buy a new one then you won't have to deal with all the issues that come with an older one. I suggest a diesel pusher, 34' would be a good size. Then you could tow an enclosed car hauler with the Chevelle in it. $250,000 should get you into a nice unit.

Oh, that's it?

Hank, have you ever seen this one?

http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/sit.../rv_afloat.jpg

http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/sit...mphib-rear.jpg

http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/sit...rv-landing.jpg


Or...
I saw this thing on tv a few years ago...the guy drove it almost pole to pole, from North America to South America.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/4...e79cfc41_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/4...27006a37_o.jpg

That first one looks sweet, I'm sure it cost a few bucks.

I think I read 1.2 mil.

Hank,why don't you make a weinermobile out of it?

I could see Hank driving the wienermobile.

Attachment 884

Okay, I checked into the wienermobile idea. Just too expensive, maybe in a few years.

Worked on the exhaust some more the other day. Soaked the stud I broke with PB Blaster for a week. Used a stud remover on it and started twisting on it. :mad: It snapped again only this time it snapped off flush with the end of the manifold. I went ahead and replaced the donut gaskets, the driver's side one was pretty burned. Of course the new one leaks because it only has 2 of 3 bolts holding it.

Now it's try to drill it out, not an easy thing, hard to get to or say forget it and just leave it until I install a set of headers. You would think in a big ass motorhome you'd have plenty of room to work on the engine, not so. It's packed in tighter than the 454 in the Chevelle.

Latest update on the wiener mobile. Replaced the front swaybar bushings. The one attached to the frame on the drivers side came out in pieces. It was so dry and brittle it just fell apart. It doesn't use end links, the bushings on the controls arms are just like the ones attached to the frame.

Spent an hour on the web looking for a source for the bushings on the rear swaybar. Finally found them, apparently 1 3/4" swaybars aren't that popular.

Replaced the hose between the fuel inlet and the pipe running to the tank. I helped my uncle replace his, he only needed about half the hose he bought so I got the rest. Figured I had it and the original was a little mushy.

Finally got the distributor lockdown bolt loose, what a pain. I soaked it for week with PB Blaster and still couldn't get it loose. The fuel line wraps around it and the only thing that fit was a stubby thinwall socket on a 3/8 breaker bar. The bar had to go in from the back of the engine due to other crap in the way. That meant the bar was under the floor so I couldn't get any leverage on it. Yesterday I got underneath and sat up in between the frame rails and outside of the MH and was able to pull it loose.

Timing it was fun too. The timing tab is near the bottom of the engine on the driver's side and uses #5 cylinder instead of #1. Timing was only 5 degrees advanced, I pushed it up to around 11-12.

Tomorrow is the maiden voyage. We're going to a campground near Kalamazoo with my uncle and another friend. He has a membership to some campground thing so it only costs us $10 a day for full hookup. Wish us luck, I hope we don't need but you never know.

Good luck and have fun. It's not that far of a trip so it will help you get to know it.

We will soon see if that thing is a beef frank, pork frank, or turkey frank, won't we?


Hank, have fun bud...good luck with that beast, it is pretty on the lakes outside k-zoo, been there myself. :D

Thanks, you get better. That's idea, start with a few short trips until we figure this thing out. We'll probably take stuff we don't need and forget stuff we do. Plus I want to check out the handling and see if it needs anymore work.

Thanks, supposed to be decent weather, maybe rain on Wednesday. The colors should be pretty good, I hope.

Have a good trip Hank. I hope it goes without a hitch.

There'll be a hitch, a few cuss words, a couple of beers and a smoke or two to chill out. It'll be good, there is always s*** to deal with, just part of life I guess. You guys take care I may be able to check in, they're supposed to have wifi in the lodge. Lynda is bringing here laptop so I'll let you know how it's going. I'd take mine but that seems too much like work I think. Well it was when I use to work all day on 'puter. When I go away I want to get away from it, not you guys, just the pc in general.