Community Forums

Unplanned Tourist · 02-25-2021, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM Art

WOW... Banks seems to now be off the table for us. Purchased "Sweetie" our 96 RV couple years ago. Has great running 454 tbi with only 37K miles; i.e. a 1995 model before efi became the norm in 96 - must have been in overstock when RV was built. Was thinking of going full-on Banks... sounds like not available any more!

Check Summit, they might have some still in stock.

RM Art · 02-25-2021, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist

Check Summit, they might have some still in stock.

Thanks... Just thinking... even if they do, any part of the system that might need replacement in future would be a no go. Guess I'll settle for keeping the original units on engine. They are working fine!

Sales must have slowed on the packages for Banks to stop production. Banks in financial trouble?

Nearly every thing I've read/heard about Banks packages flourished praise upon the equipment.

Unplanned Tourist · 02-25-2021, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM Art

Thanks... Just thinking... even if they do, any part of the system that might need replacement in future would be a no go. Guess I'll settle for keeping the original units on engine. They are working fine!

Sales must have slowed on the packages for Banks to stop production. Banks in financial trouble?

Nearly every thing I've read/heard about Banks packages flourished praise upon the equipment.

If you just get the headers, they are stainless steel, so should last the life of your rig. BB Chevys really like to breath. Headers are likely the single best improvement you can make for them.

I think Banks are concentrating on the newer stuff coming out and phasing out older products. Typical of many small companies.

rcnuts · 02-26-2021, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Gardiner

Telephone called Banks Power Products, in Huntington Beach, CA this morning, to order a 49069 1988-1995 454 TBI Power Pack Kit. They regrettably informed me that kit is discontinued. It also appears the 49070 Power Pack kit for the 1996-2001 is also discontinued.

Doubly sad is that both the 49069 & 49070 kits were CA smog legal. Banks is still manufacturing the special 52410 muffler and the 49073 ('96-2001 Vortec 454) for now. But, I believe the writing is on the wall for these 20+ year old product numbers.

Also checked with Doug Thorley regarding the THY-306Y2-C & THY-306Y2-S-C headers, for the 1990-2000 Chevy 454. They too are out-of-stock. My suspicion is that their 454 motorhome headers will not be making a come back either.

Id keep on searching. Just an FYI regarding exhaust, when we replaced the motor (ford 460) on our 93 Holiday Rambler we put headers on it. Had no problem finding them. The 454 is still out there and will be for awhile.

RM Art · 02-26-2021, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcnuts

Id keep on searching. Just an FYI regarding exhaust, when we replaced the motor (ford 460) on our 93 Holiday Rambler we put headers on it. Had no problem finding them. The 454 is still out there and will be for awhile.

rcnuts...

Sounds as though you may have owned your 93 HR for a while. Did you notice any difference in mileage or available power with the headers compared to stock exhaust manifolds?

rcnuts · 02-27-2021, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM Art

rcnuts...

Sounds as though you may have owned your 93 HR for a while. Did you notice any difference in mileage or available power with the headers compared to stock exhaust manifolds?

As far as power increase I can't say for sure as the motor was replaced with a Ford factory reman unit at the same time the headers were installed. The hole pattern in the old cast iron manifolds were slightly different than the reman motor, so they couldn't be used. All the smog crap was removed and headers installed. We were hoping for a jump in milage but dang that never happened. The power increase was tremendous though. Not loud but throaty sounding and on the open road its a great ride. I wanted duel exhaust but no practical way to "shoe horn" that in so the headers converge into a single 4" collector then a 4" stainless steel exhaust pipe and high flow performance muffler.

Unplanned Tourist · 02-27-2021, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM Art

WOW... Banks seems to now be off the table for us. Purchased "Sweetie" our 96 RV couple years ago. Has great running 454 tbi with only 37K miles; i.e. a 1995 model before efi became the norm in 96 - must have been in overstock when RV was built. Was thinking of going full-on Banks... sounds like not available any more!

I have a friend that has a 1997 Holiday Rambler with the 454. I put a set of Banks headers on it for him and he is very happy with the power increase.

No other changes and he can drive up the hill to his place in the next gear! It's about a mile at around 10% grade.

If you can find a set of Banks headers, go for it, you won't be disappointed.

Old Ranger · 03-02-2021, 08:38 PM

On our 83 Brougham, E-350 chassis, I removed front disc brake calipers, pads, and hub. Tomorrow new calipers, pads and grease. Two days ago finished doing the same on the rear brakes but drum and dually! Actually took me three days...

D Gardiner · 03-05-2021, 06:46 PM

Finished a small project today, while I wait for my new rear leaf springs to arrive from PA. Have been working on (on & off) fabricating this middle position visor for some time. The 3rd visor was hand made to hook onto the existing sun visors allowing for easy on - off. It is clearanced to fit around the light below the TV cabinet.
Decided we needed a middle position visor for those early morning and evening drives. Was not able to find an exact vinyl color match, but it’s close enough for us.

Ericb760 · 03-08-2021, 09:43 PM

My wife repurposed some curtains that were replaced in to a nice privacy curtain.

AnotherMike · 03-10-2021, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM Art

WOW... Banks seems to now be off the table for us. Purchased "Sweetie" our 96 RV couple years ago. Has great running 454 tbi with only 37K miles; i.e. a 1995 model before efi became the norm in 96 - must have been in overstock when RV was built. Was thinking of going full-on Banks... sounds like not available any more!

I'd check the RV salvage places.

When I got my 454 based Fleetwood the stock exhaust manifolds were loud... I thought they were cracked. Turned out they just needed new exhaust gaskets. But before I found the gaskets solved the issues I discovered that the local junkyards had a few header sets and both Visone and Colaw had headers available.

Mike

hewebb · 03-12-2021, 04:39 AM

Ours got detailed yesterday. It looks like new again.

D Gardiner · 04-13-2021, 07:51 PM

Been working on a few spring projects, but got the water pump finished today.

For those of you who have a P30 chassis with the 7.4L (454) the water pump. The water pump can be accessed through the bottom. Chevrolet allowed for the cross member, between the fan shroud and crank shaft pulley, to be removable. Removing the cross member only took 7x bolts and disconnecting the two oil cooler hoses. (Used ziplock bags to capture the oil drips.)
This allowed me to split the shroud by removing 5x staples. The two halves of the shroud can be bolted back together using 5x nuts and bolts. Our shroud did have alignment guide pins. (Just drill the bolt holes before splitting the shroud.) This gave me pretty good access (see photos). While the job was not super fun, it wasn’t the worst either.
Just finished a 32 mile test drive and no more coolant smell from the weeping water pump. I was also able to repaint a few items while I was in there.

udid · 04-13-2021, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Gardiner

Been working on a few spring projects, but got the water pump finished today.

For those of you who have a P30 chassis with the 7.4L (454) the water pump. The water pump can be accessed through the bottom. Chevrolet allowed for the cross member, between the fan shroud and crank shaft pulley, to be removable. Removing the cross member only took 7x bolts and disconnecting the two oil cooler hoses. (Used ziplock bags to capture the oil drips.)
This allowed me to split the shroud by removing 5x staples. The two halves of the shroud can be bolted back together using 5x nuts and bolts. Our shroud did have alignment guide pins. (Just drill the bolt holes before splitting the shroud.) This gave me pretty good access (see photos). While the job was not super fun, it wasn’t the worst either.
Just finished a 32 mile test drive and no more coolant smell from the weeping water pump. I was also able to repaint a few items while I was in there.

Great job. Can you point out to those who are wondering which (7) bolts to remove for the crossbar access?