Free to me Winnebago motorhome project

With the oil leak, it's actually their oil filter line.
The one with the nut on the end

I did some googling and found those filters have a history.
They had a recall for ones that leaked from the welds where they attached the nut to the filter body.
And i found several postings about the rubber seal that seals the filter to the block or filter adapter leaking.

At the auto parts store the guy at the counter said he had issues with them also...

Seems to be a crap shoot...
I have them on two other cars, no issues yet...
 
With the oil leak, it's actually their oil filter line.
The one with the nut on the end

I did some googling and found those filters have a history.
They had a recall for ones that leaked from the welds where they attached the nut to the filter body.
And i found several postings about the rubber seal that seals the filter to the block or filter adapter leaking.

At the auto parts store the guy at the counter said he had issues with them also...

Seems to be a crap shoot...
I have them on two other cars, no issues yet...
I have a K&N oil filter now HP3002.
Going to change oil and filter soon.
Going with a Moroso filter.

Gp has a K&N Hp2003.
Has not leaked yet either.

Noticed some are made in Mexico.
Others South Korea.
Lately Made in USA.

Tahoe has a K&N also.
 
The first time it leaked, it was a hot summer day driving my C4.
Ended up with traffic, took some backroads at low speed.
Oil temps and coolant temps climbing
Coolant temps got near 230f, oil temps nearing 300f as i do not have an oil cooler, and the 84 has a weak radiator fan setup...

Shortly after the filter started leaking, so i just wrote it off.
This time it leaked about 40 miles after an oil change, slowly got worse until i started seeing puddles under the car.
Likely the filter was just an old stock unit...
 
The first time it leaked, it was a hot summer day driving my C4.
Ended up with traffic, took some backroads at low speed.
Oil temps and coolant temps climbing
Coolant temps got near 230f, oil temps nearing 300f as i do not have an oil cooler, and the 84 has a weak radiator fan setup...

Shortly after the filter started leaking, so i just wrote it off.
This time it leaked about 40 miles after an oil change, slowly got worse until i started seeing puddles under the car.
Likely the filter was just an old stock unit...
Does your C4 Corvette have the optional Oil Cooler ?
It was stock on Z51 suspension option 1984-1989.
And Z52 1987-88..they were near most convertibles like mine.

There is an upper O-Ring that seals the oil cooler to the block.
I have not found it new by Fel-Pro gaskets.
Special O-ring.
I had to reuse my original when I damaged the oil cooler and swapped on my spare cooler.
Maybe not the filter leaking.
 
The first time it leaked, it was a hot summer day driving my C4.
Ended up with traffic, took some backroads at low speed.
Oil temps and coolant temps climbing
Coolant temps got near 230f, oil temps nearing 300f as i do not have an oil cooler, and the 84 has a weak radiator fan setup...

Shortly after the filter started leaking, so i just wrote it off.
This time it leaked about 40 miles after an oil change, slowly got worse until i started seeing puddles under the car.
Likely the filter was just an old stock unit...
The radiator is real small in 1984-89 Corvettes.
They improved come 1990.
All the same layout 1990 up including ZR1.
I installed a 1990 up radiator layout in my 87.
Need to find the complete fiberglass airbox I bought mine off of ebay for $40 without shipping.
Had to remove the lower curb guards. They bolt on.
Cut some lower plastic not in view topside.
Splash guards.
Larger airbox and modern Griffin radiator dropped right in.
I used 1990 C4 coolant hoses.
A Moroso inline Top hose radiator cap layout.
Works great. Holds 195-199 F all the time.
Covered the swap on Digital Corvette about 4-5 years back.
Have to go searching for that old thread.
Got pics on my computer How I did it.
 
Nice, and yes it's an 84 with the Z51 package.
Makes it ride like a go-cart. lol
Changes were made to the Z51 package for 85 due to complaints.

The oil cooler was optional, i have not checked for the RPO code to see if it shipped with one, but if it did then someone removed it.

The radiator has been upgraded, and it does well at highway speeds, but i do need to watch the oil temps at higher RPM.
One day I'll add an oil cooler, likely run with an aftermarket setup due to the price of the used OEM units.
 
Back to the motorhome, i made some progress, i found the roof structure relies on blue foam board sandwiched between some 1/4in plywood.
I stuck a 2×4 on the metal sheeting i found in the image below to confirm it poked up on the top.
 

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I see how to remove the storage compartments, but the walls for the bathroom and shower don't show any screws.
Doing a youtube search i found it!
The walls are bult into the motorhome via wall studs, and then 1/4in plywood needs to be laminated onto the studs.

So i need to split the walls via the attached image...
 

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I'm going to rebuild the roof with the same blue foam, but i plan on adding some aluminum to help with the overall roof structure...
However, that might change as i dig more into the project...
 
I'm going to rebuild the roof with the same blue foam, but i plan on adding some aluminum to help with the overall roof structure...
However, that might change as i dig more into the project...
I remember right now talking to a DOT State inspector here in Illinois about 5 years ago. Worked in a garage with a state test lane.
He had a hobby of Fixing up old motor homes and those pull behind Vintage Aero aluminum trailers.
I remember him saying he tore into the walls and rebuiling all.
He liked doing it.

I have ran across a few forums with guys rebuilding restoring those Vintage RV Motorhome trailers.
All I can think of today.
 
Nice, and yes it's an 84 with the Z51 package.
Makes it ride like a go-cart. lol
Changes were made to the Z51 package for 85 due to complaints.

The oil cooler was optional, i have not checked for the RPO code to see if it shipped with one, but if it did then someone removed it.

The radiator has been upgraded, and it does well at highway speeds, but i do need to watch the oil temps at higher RPM.
One day I'll add an oil cooler, likely run with an aftermarket setup due to the price of the used OEM units.
It's stuck in traffic going nowhere.
Traffic jams or accidents.
Happened alot when I was commuting daily to Joliet Chicago for almost 4 years.
90-100 F days. Sit there 1-3 hours.
A real test on engines and cooling systems.
Vette Ok now & Gp with cooling system upgrades.
Trans Cooler puts a terrible heat load into the radiator.
Like stand alone units now.
 
I have been thinking about ditching the lines that go from the trans and then into the radiator, and then upgrade the trans cooler to something with more capacity to see if it helps.
That converter of mine does create some heat...
 
And I'm slowly tearing the interrior out of the motorhome.
I'm attempting to keep things in one piece in order to use as a template when i start the assembly process...
 

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Been a while, during the summer i did little, but when fall came around i started work again.

I used my air chisel and a bit for removing tile sharpened to a fine edge, and got the sealant goo removed and the outside trim pieces removed.

Roof was removed, and some new panels started!

Currently on the motorhome with a strap and a tarp for the winter snow load.
Good chance to test my roof structure before i complete it.

I ended up ditching the aluminum idea due to cost, and opted for solid oak for the structure.
Then steel angle iron to help stiffen it up.

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Snow load is kicking my ass right now, I'm pretty sure I'll have to rebuild some panels this spring...

Also, everything is glued together using west system epoxy.
 
I went to the manufacturer of truck bodies and bought a roll of aluminum that measured 8' 4" wide and was 26' long and replaced the roof on my travel trailer. Screwed to the rafters and sides and sealed with caulk at all openings.
At that time it only costed $180.00 for the aluminum 10 years ago. Never leaked and was strong enough to walk on without using plywood to distribute the load.
 
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