Will the Engine Work Ever End????

It seems.... no, it is a long time working on this engine but remember that the work that is done now will save time when the engine finally is installed on the "Long Hauler". This very HOT weekend (but low humidity so it wasn't that bad at all.) of 95F and just about 100F today was too hot for the paint to cure correctly and ironically the more heat the slower the paint hardens up. Go figure!

Anyways, here are a few pictures of the progress over the last few days. Videos of my raspy voice clumsily explaining what I'm doing are on YouTube for all to see. Just type in "The VintageRV'er" and my channel will show up. Please subscribe. There are no pop-ups or other sponsored content on my channel. Don't need it and don't know how that junk works so have fun without the ads popping up on you.

Here is the latest YouTube video link!: I've added the alternator swap. The camera ran out of memory!
https://youtu.be/Szm1QEc8Zvo

Starting to look like an engine! Richard says that it looks like one of those museum engines you see on display. Thanks!

This is the seldom-seen underside of the intake manifold. It's the thing that bolts onto the top of the engine and holds the carburetor... okay, it was crappy and we cleaned it up and it looks all blue and pretty now.

This awful mess is the thing that lets you steer your car with one had. The power steering pump. It was in the way and so why not remove it and paint it? Always good to have things fresh and clean to see any leaks.

Have Engine, Will Travel.... that's the card of a crazy man....

OK, I'm dating myself using that opening line but hey, this is all about working things out and fixing what has gone wrong.

I've been posting lots of information about the donor RV and the 440 V8 engine work going on here. With the "Long Hauler" stuck in Daytona Florida in outdoor storage (yeah, monthly storage fees!) until I can travel down and do the second swap this engine work is the focus of the project.

Visit my YouTube channel and subscribe to keep up with the shenanigans. Just type in "Vintage RV'er" and you'll get there. This is the latest video. The future ones will deal with swapping out the small 65 amp alternator and more.

Goodby old friend... we hardly knew you.

Trouts Auto Recycling has arrived to pick up what was left of the Dodge Coachmen RV chassis. The rear wheels locked up but Jimmy did a good job with the flatbed tow truck. Didn't even harm the daisies!

We'll find out how much that hulk was worth in scrap when I go to get the receipt.

Goodby heap, hello driveway!

I stripped all that might be useful for the RV retrieval / repair project and that was what was left to tow away.
Not much but boy it was still pretty heavy!

Next is clean up of the engine, re-gasketing, re-painting and putting on a pallet to get to FL! I'll post some videos of this on the YouTube Channel  this weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdgb2L7-3PdFa2TprgsaaVQ?view_as=public

Man, that's one big motor!

The deed of removing the Dodge 440 V8 has been accomplished!! I pulled the transmission as well since it was easier than trying to unbolt the transmission at this point. Had to use the Camry battlewagon to move the RV chassy, then use it to help pull the hoist one the engine was free from the mounts.

Wow. The next engine hoist I get will have better wheels!

The next step is to clean and replace gaskets on the engine and prep it for transport to FL. Whew!
Trout's recycling will be getting what's left of the RV and my driveway will somewhat return to normal. For now....

Body shell cut away fully and ready for the extraction, but first a little help from the Camry to move it.

It's late and the engine/transmission is out!

440 V8 with Tourqueflight Transmission out on the hoist.

RV Engine Removal Project

This is a video of the final steps in removing the 440 V8 from the donor RV! This will happen on Saturday and the engine will be palatalized and strapped down, ready for the trip to FL!