New to Me '84 Allegro - Good Old RVs2024-03-28T18:26:48Zhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/forum/topics/new-to-me-84-allegro?commentId=2093474%3AComment%3A193662&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks! I put it on the road…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-05-20:2093474:Comment:2184552014-05-20T22:43:31.267ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>Thanks! I put it on the road a couple of weeks ago. It's a lot of fun and should have some life left in it.</p>
<p>Thanks! I put it on the road a couple of weeks ago. It's a lot of fun and should have some life left in it.</p> From your pictures it is sure…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-05-20:2093474:Comment:2185482014-05-20T22:38:57.851ZStephen Mosshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/StephenMoss
<p>From your pictures it is sure looking good. Hard to believe you got it so cheap. Should have a lot more years on it.</p>
<p>From your pictures it is sure looking good. Hard to believe you got it so cheap. Should have a lot more years on it.</p> Yes, taking it down to a shor…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-17:2093474:Comment:1991552014-02-17T16:30:57.220ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>Yes, taking it down to a short block is a pain but at least I know it will have new gaskets and seals, plus I can take a peek inside to make sure everything is okay. This is not a job I want to do more than once.</p>
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<p>I was looking at the radiator and decided not to mess with it. I'm sure it comes out somehow, but even with the engine stripped down to a short block it looks like a pain to remove. Once the engine is out I'll look at it again.</p>
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<p>I finally got around to…</p>
<p>Yes, taking it down to a short block is a pain but at least I know it will have new gaskets and seals, plus I can take a peek inside to make sure everything is okay. This is not a job I want to do more than once.</p>
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<p>I was looking at the radiator and decided not to mess with it. I'm sure it comes out somehow, but even with the engine stripped down to a short block it looks like a pain to remove. Once the engine is out I'll look at it again.</p>
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<p>I finally got around to removing the 3-4 feet of snow that accumulated between the limo and the RV. Must have been a wind-tunnel type of affect. We "only" got about 18-20" of snow but it was waist deep or higher the length of the limo and RV. My snow thrower broke so I had to borrow a smaller unit. When I finally got enough snow removed to back the limo out, it wouldn't move. Trans cooler line had popped off and it puked all the fluid out into the snow. Of course the hood was under 4 feet of snow (I had planned to back it out of its snow tomb). After another half hour of digging around the nose of the Caddy I was able to get the hood open and the line fixed. This, by the way, is why I can never find time to work on the RV! There's always something else needing fixed. But anyway, I got some fluid back into it and I was able to back it out. I then cleared the snow from the side of the RV. It was above the bottom of the entry door and had covered the storage doors completely.</p>
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<p>It will be nice when I can move this 31-foot paper weight around. I would have put it out of the way ahead of the storm if I could have. The tow truck put it exactly in the middle of my driveway and there it sits!</p>
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<p>Anyway, the new engine is out of an '85 motorhome (mine's an '84). It's complete with all accessories and exhaust manifolds. It's worth paying a little extra for one that's complete and from the same vintage vehicle. The others on Craigslist and elsewhere weren't as complete or were from different applications. I'm waiting on the guy to call me to come get it. He's excavating his stuff from the snow, too, and was hopeful to get to it by this weekend.</p> Turns out those 15-lb. propan…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-14:2093474:Comment:1988072014-02-14T12:53:48.269ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>Turns out those 15-lb. propane cylinders go fast! I need to use the heat more sparingly. But it's good to have the option anyway.</p>
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<p>I got 2 new group 27 deep cycle batteries for it. My brother needed his back (I had "borrowed" it a little while back) so I figured what the heck.</p>
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<p>The guy with the engine won the staring contest. I blinked and gave him what he was asking. When looking at the Chevy 454 inventory within a 100-mile radius, his was the best deal even at…</p>
<p>Turns out those 15-lb. propane cylinders go fast! I need to use the heat more sparingly. But it's good to have the option anyway.</p>
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<p>I got 2 new group 27 deep cycle batteries for it. My brother needed his back (I had "borrowed" it a little while back) so I figured what the heck.</p>
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<p>The guy with the engine won the staring contest. I blinked and gave him what he was asking. When looking at the Chevy 454 inventory within a 100-mile radius, his was the best deal even at his asking price. I was just hoping to do a bit better. The bonus is that he's 5 miles from my house which is a bonus considering time, gas and wear and tear on my truck.</p>
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<p>The "new" engine only has 47k on it. I hate breaking the seals on good-running engines, but I need to break it down to a short block to fit it through the door. All new gaskets aren't necessarily a bad thing anyway.</p>
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<p>So, tripping over the "new" engine every day in my garage will be an incentive to get the project moving again.</p> It may have but it doesn't lo…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-03:2093474:Comment:1966272014-02-03T01:55:14.993ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>It may have but it doesn't look bent up - just unbolted and thrown in the storage compartment. Although when I replaced the converter I found a box with new vacuum step parts in it so I don't know what the story is. </p>
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<p>I need vacuum to diagnose it - preferably from a 454 Chevy engine :)</p>
<p>It may have but it doesn't look bent up - just unbolted and thrown in the storage compartment. Although when I replaced the converter I found a box with new vacuum step parts in it so I don't know what the story is. </p>
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<p>I need vacuum to diagnose it - preferably from a 454 Chevy engine :)</p> My RV had a vacuum step also.…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-03:2093474:Comment:1967842014-02-03T01:43:29.199ZRichard W. Cobbshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_32z78dfy6wa5w
<p>My RV had a vacuum step also. When I bought it, it was bent six ways to Sunday. I suspect that there was a vacuum leak and that the step extended when it wasn't supposed to. I rigged up a power seat motor instead and it's still working, but you do need to put it on your preflight check list.</p>
<p>My RV had a vacuum step also. When I bought it, it was bent six ways to Sunday. I suspect that there was a vacuum leak and that the step extended when it wasn't supposed to. I rigged up a power seat motor instead and it's still working, but you do need to put it on your preflight check list.</p> The shore power line and gene…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-03:2093474:Comment:1968572014-02-03T01:35:52.426ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>The shore power line and generator power both come into transfer switch in a cabinet near the AC/Microwave switch. Was thinking if I got another switch like the one that's currently installed, and installed it to the A/C side of it, I could make it happen. But then what happens when I switch to the generator? I'll have to examine the wiring diagrams. It's pretty far down on the "to-do" list but it will bug me that the rear a/c will only run on generator power.</p>
<p>The shore power line and generator power both come into transfer switch in a cabinet near the AC/Microwave switch. Was thinking if I got another switch like the one that's currently installed, and installed it to the A/C side of it, I could make it happen. But then what happens when I switch to the generator? I'll have to examine the wiring diagrams. It's pretty far down on the "to-do" list but it will bug me that the rear a/c will only run on generator power.</p> It may be possible to run a c…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-03:2093474:Comment:1966202014-02-03T01:25:19.907ZRichard W. Cobbshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_32z78dfy6wa5w
<p>It may be possible to run a connecting wire to that switch, but it may be a hassle. On my RV, I found the wires going to both AC units under the fridge. I went to an electrical supply place thinking to get a twenty amp on-off-on switch so I could choose which AC I wanted at any time. When I was informed that the switch would be $550.00!!!!!!!! I decided to go a different route. I installed Two short cords and two 20 Amp boxes. Marked the cords front and rear and the boxes shore and…</p>
<p>It may be possible to run a connecting wire to that switch, but it may be a hassle. On my RV, I found the wires going to both AC units under the fridge. I went to an electrical supply place thinking to get a twenty amp on-off-on switch so I could choose which AC I wanted at any time. When I was informed that the switch would be $550.00!!!!!!!! I decided to go a different route. I installed Two short cords and two 20 Amp boxes. Marked the cords front and rear and the boxes shore and gen. With gen, both ACs, with shore either. Costless than $10.00! BUT!!! I do have to stoop down to switch from one to the other. With the switch only, you would be restricted to one AC at a time without some additional wiring.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p> I broke my "don't spend a dim…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-02:2093474:Comment:1968462014-02-02T23:27:05.132ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>I broke my "don't spend a dime on anything other than the engine" rule again.</p>
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<p>The 30-year-old power converter was falling behind. Lights were dim and furnace fans were slow. The battery was being discharged even with the converter plugged in. It was a 40-amp unit and was like a cinder block. I replaced it with a 55-amp unit that's 1/2 the size and 1/4 the weight.</p>
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<p>So, no mobility yet but I have nice, bright lights and happy furnace fans. Also it seems like the…</p>
<p>I broke my "don't spend a dime on anything other than the engine" rule again.</p>
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<p>The 30-year-old power converter was falling behind. Lights were dim and furnace fans were slow. The battery was being discharged even with the converter plugged in. It was a 40-amp unit and was like a cinder block. I replaced it with a 55-amp unit that's 1/2 the size and 1/4 the weight.</p>
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<p>So, no mobility yet but I have nice, bright lights and happy furnace fans. Also it seems like the systems monitor (for the fresh water, gray, black and LP levels) is sensitive to voltage. I was getting readings all over the place even though I know everything is empty. With the new converter, everything reads a solid "E" like it should.</p>
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<p>With regard to mobility, the local guy won't budge off of his price for that 454. I might have to suck it up and give him what he wants. There's one more with only 30k miles on it about 65 miles from here that I'm haggling on. FedEx guy brought my new 1-ton chain hoist yesterday so I plan to get going on removal soon.</p> You know I just noticed this…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-02:2093474:Comment:1968442014-02-02T23:18:52.933ZJim Stoltzhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JimStoltz
<p>You know I just noticed this post now.</p>
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<p>There is a 3-position switch above the microwave that switches between A/C and the microwave. It says "A/C----Microwave". With the switch all the way to the left the front a/c runs. With the switch all the way to the right, the microwave runs. With the switch in the middle nothing runs. The rear a/c only runs with the generator. It would be really cool if I could switch between the 2 a/c units with that switch. The rear on is in the…</p>
<p>You know I just noticed this post now.</p>
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<p>There is a 3-position switch above the microwave that switches between A/C and the microwave. It says "A/C----Microwave". With the switch all the way to the left the front a/c runs. With the switch all the way to the right, the microwave runs. With the switch in the middle nothing runs. The rear a/c only runs with the generator. It would be really cool if I could switch between the 2 a/c units with that switch. The rear on is in the bedroom/bath area so I'd prefer that that one run at night on shore power.</p>
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<p>I'll have to add that to the 'to-do' list. Can't be too hard to wire it up that way.</p>