440 from motor home

[jimt1971rr]

Is it internally stock motorhome pistons and heads or has it had work done to it? I was just wondering how it felt on power thats all.

The p.o. said it was "refreshed" what ever that meant. I can tell you it doesn't burn any oil so something was done to the internals. I think the power is good but since my previous mopars only had 318s in them, I can't really say how it feels vs. a high performance big block. I have no complaints.

 

[magvan]

I've done 2 of them one from a 1976 van front and one from a 1976 full size motorhome.
1. the van front uses a rear sump truck oil pan, full size uses the front sump oil pan.
2. They both have 452 heads. the van front has standard spark plugs, the full size has small plugs.
3. They both have a pcv valve and an egr valve
4. the both have passenger side water pump
5.full size has 1 truck center dump and 1 rear dump exhaust manifold . van front has unique van manifolds that are kinda under the floor.
6. full size motorhome has standard late taller valve covers. van front has the flatter valve covers like earlier big blocks but have different holes in them for oil fill tubes, etc.
7. the van front has the low mount power steering bracket, full size has regular high mounted pump
8. the heater hose connections are extra extra tall/long on full size mh engine, van front are regularge car ones
9.compression ratio is between 7.5 and 8 to 1
10. transmissions have 4 gear planetaries, short tail housing and bolt on u joint not a slip yoke.
11. both engines have cast cranks
12. full size mh engine has a 4 groove crank pulley

 

[Moparsmitty]

What's aluminum scrap going for right now? There's a lot of it on and in that motor home if you're wanting to do some work plus the steel that's in it. Does it have a roof top AC unit? Those ain't cheap especially if it's runs. Refer? Those are really expensive....but.....everything is pretty old by now.

The reason that you usually have to pay to have an old RV scrapped is because there is not much metal in them and a lot of worthless wood, plastic and other crap that has to be hauled away or burned. It's generally not worth the trouble. A guy I know used to scrap RVs but he quit when scrap prices dropped and his neighbors started complaining about him running a business without a license.

 

[Cranky]

The reason that you usually have to pay to have an old RV scrapped is because there is not much metal in them and a lot of worthless wood, plastic and other crap that has to be hauled away or burned. It's generally not worth the trouble. A guy I know used to scrap RVs but he quit when scrap prices dropped and his neighbors started complaining about him running a business without a license.

Figured it's a pita to part one out.....

 

[Moparsmitty]

Looks kinda fun to do it this way but it's still a hell of a mess to clean up and get rid of.

 

[Cranky]

I wonder how many check to see if the roof AC is worth fixing if it's not running. Those things are expensive and sometimes it's a simple fix. Same for the refer. Years ago I bought a older travel trailer and it had a brand new refer in it along with the AC....

 

[mopar 3 B]

I wonder how many check to see if the roof AC is worth fixing if it's not running. Those things are expensive and sometimes it's a simple fix. Same for the refer. Years ago I bought a older travel trailer and it had a brand new refer in it along with the AC....

While watching was thinking the same thing. Also water, waste tanks, water heater and inverter. They are just expensive if you have to buy them new.

 

[magvan]

on the $450 van front motorhome i got my engine from.
i sold the
dualie rear end for $100
all of the roof vents and covers for $50 (had recently been replaced and were still new) the wheels and tires for $300 (only about a year old),
saved all of the van parts as im also into vans.
the dash pad for $50
sold the generator for $100
the front seats $50
i still have the water tank, pump and 12v/110v power converter to sell
the fridge and other appliances were already gone when i got it
peeled all of the aluminum off of it and window frames got $20 at the local recycler (not worth it)
sawed the wood carcass up and gave the rest of the metal chassis to a scrap guy to haul away for free

so i ended up with a motor & trans, A/C to put in my van and $220 back in my pocket after a weeks worth of work when it was all done

 

[mopar 3 B]

Tax man wants money if I hook up to main utilities for a shop restroom. So the plan is out side hydrant with RV dump station add tax 0. Holding tank in rafters filled with temp garden hose, rv toilet and sink with holding tank. Waste will dump to RV dump ststion out side when needed with drain hose. This can all be put in a portable unit if they get real crappy about it.
So if you have a similar situation it maybe worth looking into.