Hail and Good Morrow from Wyoming!
04-20-2009, 09:39 PM
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Hail and Good Morrow from Wyoming!
Ave' und Wie Geht's Y'all!
I'm a bona fide Noob, crippled up, old, and your basic Neanderthal, just trying to learn as much as possible about the planned Conversion of my Sweet 'Blue Streak' from gas to diesel this year (I hope).
Blue Streak is a sweet 1972 Ford E300 Econoline Motor Home of the 'Explorer' model. She's the Top of the Line, which means she's got a real live Custom In Dash Air Conditioner (which I'm gonna pull out, so I'll have more dash room and which will also get rid of the power drain on the engine when I 86 the air conditioning pump), and a Lifetime guaranteed Onan Generator underneath the full size bed in the back of my rig.
Sadly, they put a 302 V8 in her, which means she's a 'Gutless Wonder' but a GW which averaged 17mpg on the trip back from Rochester, NY to Midwest, WY!!! Hills on the other hand, are not her best suit, as I had to gear down 99.9% of the time to 2nd and all too often to Granny.
The Blue Streak's most blissful item is her 3 on the Tree 3spd Manual Tranny (it only too me 5 years to find the config in a Motor Home), but the more that I learn about the 4BT models, the more I'm becoming aware that I'll probably have to let go of my emotional attachment to the 3 on the Tree and switch over to a 5sp/6spd manual tranny.
Sad but true.
I've been looking at the ISB 170 over the 4BT models, but haven't found a single solid source for what an ISB actually costs (new/remanned) compared to a 4BT (new/remanned). Like you, cost is the key aspect of which engine series I can afford, and for me, being physically impaired, it's even more crucial, as the money for my conversion will be coming from the sale of my home.
I also want to convert my Blue Streak from 2WD to 4WD, and so far only Salem Kroger seems the place that will do the conversion (apparently, the Quigley people are too 'good' to be bothered by those of us with Used Rigs), though I haven't confirmed that nor the actually cost of conversion......does anyone here know the general prices?
Lastly, I intend to convert some of the goodies inside my Blue Streak, ie, the toilet, from the conventional electric flush using lots of water, to a Macerator style (which I am also researching), which would allow me to cut my water usage and black water dumping to a very great degree.
I also intend on making my own Wind Generator for auxillary power supplies, swapping out my propane stove/oven for electric models.
On a personal note, I live in the Middle of Nowhere Wyoming, the Oil Patch, 40 miles North of the nearest Albertson's/Safeway/Latte Shop, am getting my house/wood shop/RV parking place ready to sell, getting my garden ready to plant (and hopefully protected from being robbed this year by Pronghorn Antelope and Mule Deer!), all the while trying to herd my waterfowl into an orderly line.
Should any of you have the time and inclination, I'll gladly receive all constructive input, ideas, and pointers, so that I can minimize my mistakes on the upcoming Conversion to an absolute minimum.
Cheers from Wyoming.
Neanderthal75
I'm a bona fide Noob, crippled up, old, and your basic Neanderthal, just trying to learn as much as possible about the planned Conversion of my Sweet 'Blue Streak' from gas to diesel this year (I hope).
Blue Streak is a sweet 1972 Ford E300 Econoline Motor Home of the 'Explorer' model. She's the Top of the Line, which means she's got a real live Custom In Dash Air Conditioner (which I'm gonna pull out, so I'll have more dash room and which will also get rid of the power drain on the engine when I 86 the air conditioning pump), and a Lifetime guaranteed Onan Generator underneath the full size bed in the back of my rig.
Sadly, they put a 302 V8 in her, which means she's a 'Gutless Wonder' but a GW which averaged 17mpg on the trip back from Rochester, NY to Midwest, WY!!! Hills on the other hand, are not her best suit, as I had to gear down 99.9% of the time to 2nd and all too often to Granny.
The Blue Streak's most blissful item is her 3 on the Tree 3spd Manual Tranny (it only too me 5 years to find the config in a Motor Home), but the more that I learn about the 4BT models, the more I'm becoming aware that I'll probably have to let go of my emotional attachment to the 3 on the Tree and switch over to a 5sp/6spd manual tranny.
Sad but true.
I've been looking at the ISB 170 over the 4BT models, but haven't found a single solid source for what an ISB actually costs (new/remanned) compared to a 4BT (new/remanned). Like you, cost is the key aspect of which engine series I can afford, and for me, being physically impaired, it's even more crucial, as the money for my conversion will be coming from the sale of my home.
I also want to convert my Blue Streak from 2WD to 4WD, and so far only Salem Kroger seems the place that will do the conversion (apparently, the Quigley people are too 'good' to be bothered by those of us with Used Rigs), though I haven't confirmed that nor the actually cost of conversion......does anyone here know the general prices?
Lastly, I intend to convert some of the goodies inside my Blue Streak, ie, the toilet, from the conventional electric flush using lots of water, to a Macerator style (which I am also researching), which would allow me to cut my water usage and black water dumping to a very great degree.
I also intend on making my own Wind Generator for auxillary power supplies, swapping out my propane stove/oven for electric models.
On a personal note, I live in the Middle of Nowhere Wyoming, the Oil Patch, 40 miles North of the nearest Albertson's/Safeway/Latte Shop, am getting my house/wood shop/RV parking place ready to sell, getting my garden ready to plant (and hopefully protected from being robbed this year by Pronghorn Antelope and Mule Deer!), all the while trying to herd my waterfowl into an orderly line.
Should any of you have the time and inclination, I'll gladly receive all constructive input, ideas, and pointers, so that I can minimize my mistakes on the upcoming Conversion to an absolute minimum.
Cheers from Wyoming.
Neanderthal75
04-21-2009, 11:17 AM
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Welcome to the DTR!
Sounds like you have your work cut out for you...
My suggestion to you is to start a new thread in the Cummins Conversion forum...
Post up some pictures of what you have to work with, and what you plan on doing with them all.
You will get some great suggestions to help spend all your money here.
Sounds like you have your work cut out for you...
My suggestion to you is to start a new thread in the Cummins Conversion forum...
Post up some pictures of what you have to work with, and what you plan on doing with them all.
You will get some great suggestions to help spend all your money here.
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