Well I finally got my towing sorted out - 1966 MCI 8v71

aussiesmg wrote: Mongo is being a butthead, pulled him in to check on fluids etc prior to departure and found a badly leaking inner wheel seal. Not good. Found and ordered the seal thanks to part number supplied by US Coach, that will arrive tomorrow, so yet again a last minute thrash prior to the challenge. Dammit

I was about to say something about the previous history of road trips and the damn seals..but then I remembered the previous PITA was an outie instead of an innie.

Take lots of pix at the Challenge for those of us who can't go!!!

I have the seal in hand, heading to the shop to get it installed, we should be en route by 8pm......ish

Stay tuned for pics.

Seal repaired, adjusted more slack out of the steering, Challenge bound for 2012

Hail Mongo!!

This will take some effort but it seems I have come into possession of a Cummins M11 V+ 335hp Celect Plus engine

Just a simple 1350 ft lbs at 1200 rpm.

Low mileage

Bruised donor

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/cummins-m11-auto-trans-question/60770/page1/

how do you, as you say, "come into possession" of such a truck...geeze of man haha

aussiesmg wrote: Meet Mongo the new means of getting from A to anywhere < 1966 MCI 8v71 Detroit Diesel, manual trans, 35 feet long, full bathroom, kitchen, Onan generator, 2 AC units, furnace, oven, microwave and more. Needs fresh paint on top, tires and a little TLC but generally she runs nice, had her at 70 mph on US71 for a mile or so with no dramas

8V71 Detroit, as in 2 stroke diesel. Well, rust won't be an issue, neither will insects.

Just top it off with oil at every stop and you should be good to go.

The old Detroit is fine when the highways are flat but when you hit an incline, it drops rpm like a Detroit engine drops oil.

Oh wait...

In reply to aussiesmg:

We do a really good business swapping out old Detroits out of Push Boats, don't have to worry about the engine room rusting, ever.

Flight Service wrote: In reply to aussiesmg: We do a really good business swapping out old Detroits out of Push Boats, don't have to worry about the engine room rusting, ever.

I believe that is the case on US75 from Gaineville to Lima as well

aussiesmg wrote: The old Detroit is fine when the highways are flat but when you hit an incline, it drops rpm like a Detroit engine drops oil. Oh wait...

Good luck, aussie! Cheering for ya..

Flight Service wrote: Just top it off with oil at every stop and you should be good to go.

I joined along for this years trip to Gainsville. You have no idea how much oil that really is!

Hail Mongo!

That license plate picture shown above is clearly taken before this years Challenge (Mongo's most recent run.)
You should a more recent version.

JohnRW1621 wrote:

Flight Service wrote: Just top it off with oil at every stop and you should be good to go.

I joined along for this years trip to Gainsville. You have no idea how much oil that really is! Hail Mongo! That license plate picture shown above is clearly taken before this years Challenge (Mongo's most recent run.) You should a more recent version.

I think that's actually from Mitty the year before last. I haven't been around much since the severance ran out.

A step in the next direction was made this weekend

1st rent a hauler, 220 miles on this 3/4 ton Dodge Ram when I picked it up.

Drive it 220 miles and pick up a small item

Go have steaks with PeteGossett in Illinois, oh and pick up something for Tim S.

Ram runs great and hauls like its nothing, built on haul/tow mode, factory installed brake controller, XM radio, nice ride, but likes a drink or two

Now where do I put this

That might work

uh no, unloading might be an issue

Unload the trailer and remove it, drive to a friends and pick up his flat trailer, unload the engine via forklift due to the height on the truck bed, move the engine onto the flat trailer, tow it back to the compound and then some light work with a Cherry Picker. Unloading this took as long as the 500 mile round trip to get the damned thing.

Quick clean up

haul it to the Compound and then E36 M3 myself doing this

"No Sean, it is not going in there"

I wish photobucket wasn't blocked at work....I'm missing cool things I am sure.

Did Dans have the trans and harness?

"Dammit I said no, well maybe.."

I wonder how many people thought that engine was going in the Europa while you were driving by.

CGLockRacer wrote: I wonder how many people thought that engine was going in the Europa while you were driving by.

We encouraged that thought, it was a fun drive, lots of thumbs up and nodding on our part.

Of course the engine sitting on the ground is at least 18" taller than the Lotus, and if you mounted it in the rear, the drivers seat would be over the front axle.

Sort of flies in the face of Chapman's theories.

This thread makes me want a bus.

Has the new transmission for Mongo been located yet ?

Wheeling and dealing, have a guy with a Allison MD3060 who is going to swap it for the original 8v71 and 4 speed manual. This should be perfect and he's in Indiana.

Another adventure pending.

Now to find an intercooler that fits.

aussiesmg wrote: Wheeling and dealing, have a guy with a Allison MD3060 who is going to swap it for the original 8v71 and 4 speed manual. This should be perfect and he's in Indiana. Another adventure pending. Now to find an intercooler that fits.

Think outside the box, Steve. No seriously. Mount that E36 M3 on the top of the back of the bus, make it look like a Nascar wing. Make it huge. Remember, the cooler the temps, the more you can twist the boost controller.

Or something.

I had visions of a wing already, that is a great idea, anybody have an 8 foot, wing shaped, intercooler spare.

Seriously I can make that work.