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Old 05-15-2014, 11:14 PM   #1
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Smile Getting Gus ready for the road!

Well we bought "Gus" last year ... as a purely impulse buy.
I gotta prove I can get her running and that I can drive her or the wife wants the $$ back!

Nice how my money buys the MH and it's her money when it's sold!!

At any rate ... here is the game plan:

1. check rear dualees for air pressure. How do I pressure up the inner one??
2. Replace exhaust manifold gasket (sounds like a old sewinig machine)
3. Find electrical short. Engine battery goes dead. Have to use alt battery to start engine
4. Install new front seat pedestals and ensure seat belts work and driver seat can turn without hitting highdraulic leveler controls.
5. Replace old blinds
6. Recover some of the seats etc. Bring it into this century!
7. Get chassis checked for alignment
8. Anything worth installing to improve safety and steering control

Please feel free to cut in and lend us your advice.

Cheers!

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Old 05-16-2014, 07:20 AM   #2
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The bubbles in Gus's siding say he's way past due for some maintenance/attention getting him waterproof again?
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Old 05-16-2014, 08:25 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus68 View Post
Well we bought "Gus" last year ... as a purely impulse buy.
I gotta prove I can get her running and that I can drive her or the wife wants the $$ back!

Nice how my money buys the MH and it's her money when it's sold!!

At any rate ... here is the game plan:

1. check rear dualees for air pressure. How do I pressure up the inner one??
2. Replace exhaust manifold gasket (sounds like a old sewinig machine)
3. Find electrical short. Engine battery goes dead. Have to use alt battery to start engine
4. Install new front seat pedestals and ensure seat belts work and driver seat can turn without hitting highdraulic leveler controls.
5. Replace old blinds
6. Recover some of the seats etc. Bring it into this century!
7. Get chassis checked for alignment
8. Anything worth installing to improve safety and steering control

Please feel free to cut in and lend us your advice.

Cheers!

You will need to put your hand thru the outerwheels holes after you see where it is on the rim, I have to big of hands so you'll need someone with small hands that will fit to add air or to check. 454s are know to have leakie gaskets but the shop that did mine the second time tried a new type gasket that has held going on 2 years. OR you can have a set of headers installed.
If it needs shocks go with either Bilstiens or Koni's
Check the Bell Cranks also (steering). There are some good places in the vendor section.
Good Luck and happy travels,
JMO,Tim
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Old 05-16-2014, 05:42 PM   #4
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Well the manifold problem is most likely a cracked manifold. Many people have had that problem with the old 454's including me. Battery is probably bad and can't hold a charge. Hydrometer test will tell better. As far as the inside rear dually's are concerned you will need one of these to test the pressureMilton Industries , 982 Service Gage - Large Bore Dual Head Chuck
And one of these the inflate the tires Milton s 690 12 12 1 4" Dual Head Air Chuck S69012 | eBay
OR one of these to do both.
Amazon.com: Milton S522 Bayonet Guage-Dh Chuck-Skin: Automotive
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Old 05-17-2014, 08:27 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ahicks View Post
The bubbles in Gus's siding say he's way past due for some maintenance/attention getting him waterproof again?
I fixed the roof last fall. Hopefully it held up. I have no evidence so far to indicate it has leaked since. The warping was there before the fix.

see http://www.irv2.com/forums/f65/how-d...of-168650.html
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Old 05-17-2014, 08:55 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spritz View Post
You will need to put your hand thru the outerwheels holes after you see where it is on the rim, I have to big of hands so you'll need someone with small hands that will fit to add air or to check. 454s are know to have leakie gaskets but the shop that did mine the second time tried a new type gasket that has held going on 2 years. OR you can have a set of headers installed.
If it needs shocks go with either Bilstiens or Koni's
Check the Bell Cranks also (steering). There are some good places in the vendor section.
Good Luck and happy travels,
JMO,Tim
I can't get my hand in there. Can I get another hose line and connect to it and then install it on the hub like the other wheel?

It has a Bell Crank on it. Not sure what else is installed at this point.

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Old 05-17-2014, 09:00 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BA-in-Mich View Post
Well the manifold problem is most likely a cracked manifold. Many people have had that problem with the old 454's including me. Battery is probably bad and can't hold a charge. Hydrometer test will tell better. As far as the inside rear dually's are concerned you will need one of these to test the pressureMilton Industries , 982 Service Gage - Large Bore Dual Head Chuck
And one of these the inflate the tires Milton s 690 12 12 1 4" Dual Head Air Chuck S69012 | eBay
OR one of these to do both.
Amazon.com: Milton S522 Bayonet Guage-Dh Chuck-Skin: Automotive
I have a dual head air chuck. I also have a locking chuck I'm going to try.
I have a large compressor in the garage and it took a long time to pump up the tire. What on earth do you do on the road?

How big of a jack do you need? 12 ton?

Is it safe to take the tires off with the back end held up with the levelers?
Block from the ground to the axle?
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Old 05-17-2014, 09:30 AM   #8
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Don't worry about a jack, get a good Roadside Assistance policy. Both Coach-Net and Good Sam offer good coverage.

Don't concern yourself too much about the tire pressure until you check the DOT date codes on the tires. Examine the tires carefully for any signs of weather checking on the sidewalls. If the tires are 7 years or older they are suspect and you should seriously think about replacing them. Do a search and you will find many threads on this site about tires.

The bell crank you pictured is a replacement for the original. The Henderson crank you pictured is the preferred replacement, much better than the original. Have a qualified mechanic double check the front end components to insure it is safe.

Your photo shows what appears to be delamination at the corners of the front and rear windows. Looks like it is time to remove the windows and reseal them. Do a search here for ideas on how to correct the delamination.

Looks like you have a good project ahead of you. Stop by here often and ask your questions.
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Old 05-17-2014, 09:51 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kazoo Tom View Post
Don't worry about a jack, get a good Roadside Assistance policy. Both Coach-Net and Good Sam offer good coverage.

Don't concern yourself too much about the tire pressure until you check the DOT date codes on the tires. Examine the tires carefully for any signs of weather checking on the sidewalls. If the tires are 7 years or older they are suspect and you should seriously think about replacing them. Do a search and you will find many threads on this site about tires.

The bell crank you pictured is a replacement for the original. The Henderson crank you pictured is the preferred replacement, much better than the original. Have a qualified mechanic double check the front end components to insure it is safe.

Your photo shows what appears to be delamination at the corners of the front and rear windows. Looks like it is time to remove the windows and reseal them. Do a search here for ideas on how to correct the delamination.

Looks like you have a good project ahead of you. Stop by here often and ask your questions.
One tire has cracks on the side wall. I will check the dot codes.
Thanks
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Old 05-17-2014, 10:03 AM   #10
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Tools

Here is what I pulled out of my dad's old tool box. It's the tool box my dad had in his motorhome (almost the same as the one I have now) back in 1991!

Maybe the mufflers are leaking...



Found the valve the stem on the inner dually.



Rear and front shocks





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Old 05-17-2014, 10:05 AM   #11
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Tools

Here is what I pulled out of my dad's old tool box. It's the tool box my dad had in his motorhome (almost the same as the one I have now) back in 1991!



Maybe the mufflers are leaking...



Found the valve the stem on the inner dually.



Rear and front shocks





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Old 05-18-2014, 12:06 AM   #12
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I have an '89 Cobra Newport Ford 460 "Bessie" and my ignition problem even with a new battery was related to a faulty ignition module or starter solenoid (I replaced both but I think it was the solenoid) - give that a try. Also, if the manifold is cracked you might want to check the pipes coming out of it for leaks too. Assume the manifold bolts will snap and cut them off ahead of time so that you have something to hold onto to get 'em out. If you have to heat the block to remove a stuck bolt you'll likely melt the head gasket and run into a much more time consuming project. I was excited to get the last stuck bolt out of my block only to find coolant leaking minutes later from a cracked head gasket from heating the block.
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Old 05-18-2014, 08:04 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus68 View Post
Here is what I pulled out of my dad's old tool box. It's the tool box my dad had in his motorhome (almost the same as the one I have now) back in 1991!



Maybe the mufflers are leaking...



Found the valve the stem on the inner dually.



Rear and front shocks





Your lucky to have the inner air nozzle lined up with the outer hole, mine are not.
I had good mufflers on mine but the piping from the mufflers to just in-front of the tires was shoty and didn't match from either side so I had the guys @ the shop re-do it in stainless and ran them to behind the rear tires and leveled @ the same both sides. Bummer though, the chrome tips they put on already have rusted , Tacky but will ask them to replace both of them.
Again I would check air pressure you really don't want to drive around with a flat inner-tire, good or bad. Did you find the dates?
Only you will know about the shocks, how does she ride? rough? bottom out when you hit a bump in the road? Mine are near shot but can't afford the Konis just yet but hopping soon. I had the Air Bags installed in the front springs and rears to prevent bottoming out.
Your Supersteer looks like it might have a leak. It appears to be wet @ the top. Or is something above it leaking ?
Sounds like your having fun.
Takeing her out over the first long weekend?
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