New member, '88 Southwind Motorhome acting a tad "funny"

[88Southwind]

Hi, all. Seems like I've found the right place!

I am just getting started on this new (to me) '88 Southwind Motorhome, on a p30 chassis, 454 engine, 17085212 Q'Jet carb. The coach had been sitting for most of 2 years, although it was started every month or two, during that whole time. I drove it about 175 miles the day I bought it, to get it home, and for the most part, it ran well.

Now, the reason I'm here...

I'm not a very aggressive driver, at least in the MH - I have a Honda Valkyrie for that. But, several times I did have to push the MH a bit, especially in hills, etc. to maintain speed.  I noticed that when I did, it SOUNDED like the secondaries opened up, the "suck sound" turned into a deeper, louder "whaaaa" sound, but the MH seemed to stumble a bit, and actually lose power. This was at 50-55 mph, or so, trying to maintain speed up the hill (Indiana hills are really just that, small hills, nothing serious at all!). It was livable, I just slowed down a bit. However, when I got about 20 miles from home, there IS a pretty steep incline, and it totally bogged down, and I was doing about 30-35, when I got to the top of the hill, which is probably only 1/2 mile or less, and wondering if I'd even make it to the top. Also, not long before that, it seemed to stumble a bit, just maintaining 55 mph., without any hills.

I bought a new carb fuel filter, that can't hurt at all, and the cannister filter, as the P30 has one on the chassis by the tank, but found that it wasn't there, and instead, there was a Holley Fuel Regulator there. Not sure why...

I'm figuring to rebuild the carb, but I haven't messed with a truck carb, for at least 35 years. Most of the carbs I've done are motorcycle carbs, Strombergs, and SU's, usually multi-carbs. I did just finish the carb on my '51 Ford Flathead, but hey, that's pretty darn simple - kind of like a piece of hose! 

the gas is fresh - the gent I bought the MH from's neighborhood kids, made sure of that - they drained his 70 gallon tank over the course of the year. at first he just figured the fuel gauge wasn't working, until it died. After that he'd only put a gallon or two in it, when he started it.

Any suggestions? Things to look for, right off the bat, that might "postpone" a rebuild, until this winter?

I am getting ready to order Cliff's book, but will be needing a kit, and I figure the SR kit will suffice. I AM wondering, though, if I should see if I can find another carb, so that the motorhome isn't down completely while I do the carb. It's running now, and we're hoping to use it a few times, before the fall. The place we intend to camp is only about 20 miles from us, so I'm not too worried about it making it or not.

Thanks, glad to be here...

Roger

[Garyl]

I must be mis reading your text.  There is a fuel regulator on the frame before the fuel pump on the engine.  That should not be.

My gmc bogs on the hills with the 455 and cam.  Most of the problem in mine is the gearing (308) just remember that going up any incline you are lifting a lot of weight. Mine will backshift to second and wind to about 3000 and then is done, again gears are working against me.

[88Southwind]

I must be mis reading your text.  There is a fuel regulator on the frame before the fuel pump on the engine.  That should not be.

Exacto-mundo! That struck me as odd, also, but not familiar with the P30 trucks, thought maybe they have two fuel pumps, one in the tank. I definitely is a regulator, and I'm pretty darn sure, that they just took out the stock fuel filter, and put it in there. For the most part, I haven't found anything that looks cobbled together on the entire motorhome, and receipts for mostly everything that has been done at the dealer, but this one had my stymied. Maybe they got stuck on the road, with a clogged filter, and the ONLY thing whoever worked on it had, that would fit, was the regulator?? I'm hoping to get some motorhome time, this week, and see if I can figure out exactly what is what - it has been 95+ degrees here, since...well, forever, so it has been almost too hot to climb out underneath it. But, in my mind, no matter HOW much the carb is calling for, if the regulator is below that, it won't get the fuel it needs, correct?

My gmc bogs on the hills with the 455 and cam.  Most of the problem in mine is the gearing (308) just remember that going up any incline you are lifting a lot of weight. Mine will backshift to second and wind to about 3000 and then is done, again gears are working against me.

Mine isn't really a "bogging" problem - I know what that feels like, and this isn't an "underpowered" thing. It definitely is a fuel delivery problem, as when you put your foot into it, it actually decreases in speed, and is straining for fuel, and when you back off the pedal, it actually pulls forward more. Basically, it falls flat on it's face, when pushed hard, even on level surface at 50 mph, just more noticable on the hills, obviously.

thanks, I'll see what I can figure out on the regulator, and I'll take a look at the gearing, while I'm under the rig...

roger

[Cliff Ruggles]

I agree, fuel delivery or just needs more fuel from the secondaries right to start with.  Might want to try some smaller secondary metering rods in addition to one of our SR kits.

I certainly start out with a complete rebuild, and also figure out why there is a regulator in place, they can be very restrictive especially if the pressure isn't turned up enough......Cliff

[atikovi]

This setup uses an electric pump in the tank, hence the regulator, and a mechanical pump on the block. If either one isn't working right, it will be down on power from lack of enough fuel in the carb. The canister filter is further up front near the entrance door.



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