Motorhome as a donor vehicle?

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Flipper_1938

He recycles the right way
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
2,993
Location
Kentucky
Can the engine, transmission, and rear end from a diesel pusher motorhome be used in a standard RWD configuration?

I have a chance to get one with a cummins 8.3, Allison 6 speed, and huge rear diff. ....and 4 wheel disc brakes.
 
I don't see why it couldn't. From what I hear that Cummins is huge, it takes a lot of engine bay space so keep that in mind.

I forgot to mention that the pieces and parts were going into one of my Seagrave firetrucks. Right now, it looks like it will be the 1952 one.

Body will stay weathered. Turbo diesel, 6 speed automatic, power steering, and power brakes in a big roadster should be fun.

The price was right...just the $800 tow bill.
 
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I forgot to mention that the pieces and parts were going into one of my Seagrave firetrucks. Right now, it looks like it will be the 1952 one.

Body will stay weathered. Turbo diesel, 6 speed automatic, power steering, and power brakes in a big roadster should be fun.

The price was right...just the $800 tow bill.

Ah, that makes sense. Should have a bunch of room!
 
Here are some old pics...maybe the day I bought this one. It was the last one...and it is a 1950, not a 1952.

The one wih the model a-ish bumper is a 1938 it was our first firetruck.

There is also a 1940 and a 1947 in the barn.

The most expensive one was $650. The cheapest one was $1

Three of the four spent time on a playground during their lives. My daughter really loved them.
 

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Customizing with photoshop MANY years ago.
 

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Going through old firetruck pics was fun. The purple/yellow one was the first attempt at a big hotrod. The motor is a 1,790 cubic inch korean war era tank motor. Also has big and little Alcoas.

The 1938 is in the background of the first pic.
 

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Anybody have any knowledge of "pusher" rear axles?

The drivetrain in the RV is engine, normal looking RWD transmission, 18" driveshaft, and then a RWD looking axle that looks like it was rolled over to point backwards (think RWD schoolbus sized axle).

I know I will need to modify fill points, vents, and swap brake calipers (or at least bleed port locations. Will I have to rotate the center section too once I roll the housing?
 
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Ah, I spaced on the axle being ahead of the engine.

We had a discussion about a backwards drivetrain on here a while back, I can't remember who started the thread exactly.

As I'm sure you're aware, the issue is simplified in that the pinion gear is on the wrong side of the ring gear. If you can change this by simply removing the center section and flipping it over, that would save you a ton of work. Otherwise, all the changes you mentioned will apply, and you need to hope you've addressed all the design changes.
 
I hope the boltholes line up so you can rotate the rear-end pumpkin 180*. There are the things that Sno-pro said, to contend with and then if the pinion is low down in its present position, when you flip the housing over the pinion will be on the high half and will starve for oil.
The whole assembly will probably be a known brand so you could get a big truck pumpkin and put it in there, if the bolt holes don't line up for the rotation.
Good luck.
 
One thing to add. In the current position, the center section looks like it is upside down. The pinion is above the axle centerline.

Also, this thing is big...as in 15 inch ring gear big. I haven't put a tape measure on anything, but it looks really heavy duty.
 
Here are pics of the rear. The center section sure looks upside down. Rear calipers are massive!

The power steering box looks useable behind the axle.

The rv axle has a fair amount of drop and disc brakes.
 

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