Hey Gang, Brad Ocock, aka Brad54 is just east of Albuquerque and had a connecting rod decide it needed to see daylight. Anyone in the area that can help? He's driving a 61 C-30 Motorhome from Cali to N. Georgia. His cell is (706) 424-5035 if you can be of assistance. Not sure how aggressive his troubleshooting philosophy is right now, but I am sure he would appreciate a tow off the highway and a place to park it while he figures it out. If you have a spare BB Chevy under the bench, maybe you can strike a deal. Anybody in New Mexico that can offer assistance is appreciated.
Alright, looks like he has a tow off the highway. yay State Farm. If you guys want to follow their misadventures, he's making youtube vlogs. (11) Part 5; Cross Country Road Trip in a 1961 Chevy Camper - YouTube
Episode 1. "We have everything except a lift to do engine or transmission changes". Hoping they get it sorted and back on the journey soon.
Pity to see it end that way but they sure gave it a red hot try! Thanks @Brad54 for taking us along on the journey.
I don't know what kind of heavy duty trailer is going to be needed, what kind of heavy duty tow rig is required and what it would end up towing like with the weight and shape of the bus on it but I'd be seriously leaning towards returning with a known healthy engine, we certainly know all the bolts on the bus are not seized and are aware of what tools etc are required to do the swap once again Sorry, just thinking out loud ...
A couple of people from Resurrection Garage (I believe was the name) drove a long way, bringing a 396 and an engine hoist with them. The 396 had "good compression" but was apparently untested. They installed the new engine and it had a lifter tick. They hoped it would clear up but it didn't. They didn't throw a rod in this engine but I think they got something like 8 miles along then decided this wouldn't work. They got a trailer from somewhere, got the front of the bus up on the trailer and showed us the ramps now look like angle brackets. Seems the weight of the bus crushed the loading ramps. They then decided to leave the bus, return home, come back in a week with a better trailer. I am wishing they had pulled the 396 back out, dragged it home, did a rings/bearings/cam/lifters/timing chain/gaskets/lap the valves/dingle-ball hone deal and brought it back but, as I can well understand, at that point had had enough and just wanted to go home.
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