| phone : (215)679-8943 |
| 9 am to 5 pm eastern time |
Repower an MC-5 with a 8V-71T turbo engine
It all started when Loren came with his MCI-5 to us complaining about
horsepower.
horsepower.
He said he was tired of crawling up hills at 25 MPH and asked if we have some ideas to
either increase horsepower on his existing engine or replace it with a higher horsepower
engine.
either increase horsepower on his existing engine or replace it with a higher horsepower
engine.
To be sure of actual horsepower the coach was run on a chassis dynamometer and we
found horsepower to the rear wheels was only 145. At this point we determined that it was
wiser to just replace the engine with a higher horsepower engine.
found horsepower to the rear wheels was only 145. At this point we determined that it was
wiser to just replace the engine with a higher horsepower engine.
We had bought a number of government surplus 8V-71 turbocharged engines that were
rated at 385 horsepower. The turbocharger mounts on the left exhaust manifold on the
side of the engine.
rated at 385 horsepower. The turbocharger mounts on the left exhaust manifold on the
side of the engine.
We thought that the engine would be Loren's answer and we
removed his existing engine/transmission package.
removed his existing engine/transmission package.
After removing his engine/transmission package we stripped various accessories and we
also had to remove his bell housing and accessory drive gear train and reuse it on the new
engine. At this time we reinstalled his transmission and various accessories (alternator, air
compressor, power steering pump, starter and so on).
also had to remove his bell housing and accessory drive gear train and reuse it on the new
engine. At this time we reinstalled his transmission and various accessories (alternator, air
compressor, power steering pump, starter and so on).
One obvious advantage of using the 8V-71 turbocharged engine was that the engine
mounting was the same and didn't need any modification. Before reinstalling the
engine/transmission package we removed the muffler on the driver side of the coach and
removed the hump in the accessory compartment and made it a flat floor.
mounting was the same and didn't need any modification. Before reinstalling the
engine/transmission package we removed the muffler on the driver side of the coach and
removed the hump in the accessory compartment and made it a flat floor.
Now Loren can open his electric compartment door fully to service any electrical problem.
He also has better access to the alternator plus gained enough room to install his Webasto
heater in the same compartment.
He also has better access to the alternator plus gained enough room to install his Webasto
heater in the same compartment.
| Now we installed the engine/transmission package back into the coach and we were surprised how much more head room we had between the top of the engine and shelf that his squirrel cage sits on. |
Now the only thing left was to install the air cleaner and the muffler. The air cleaner
housing we found in a local junkyard. We installed the air cleaner housing in a
horizontal manner and the air cleaner element can be changed easily. The muffler is of
an oval shape and is mounted in the floor on the passenger side.
housing we found in a local junkyard. We installed the air cleaner housing in a
horizontal manner and the air cleaner element can be changed easily. The muffler is of
an oval shape and is mounted in the floor on the passenger side.
| The whole installation looks real clean and with the turbocharger sitting off to the side made it a relatively easy installation. |
| It also surprised us that there was still room on the passenger side to service the back of the engine at the air compressor area. |
Now the next step is to take the coach and retest it on the chassis dynamometer for
horsepower and various other tests.
horsepower and various other tests.
If you have any questions or are interested in this project on your coach feel free to contact
Bernie at (215)679-8943.
Bernie at (215)679-8943.
| Here is a rear view after the engine was just slid into chassis |
| Here is a view from the right side before mounting the turbocharger. |
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