Crazy RV ?

[turboaddict]

so i have been looking for a small rv (approx. 20 ft) and my results have been limited to smaller transvans , until today when i came across a 83 winnebago lesharo. its a small unit with good fuel mileage. only issue is ...... it has a 57 hp diesel renault engine and 3 speed transmission. clearly alittle underpowered for its 20ft size. and i would need to tow with it when it went anywhere.
i did some digging and i found 2 popular coversions for it. the chrys lh series v-6 and trans. and the gm 3800 series w/ trans. see here.....
http://www.lesharo.com/conversion.php
and here...
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/jniekamp/conversion/Lesharobattery.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lesharorv.com/viewtopic.php%3Fp%3D3%26sid%3Df219f3e5a406da598f89 9d6b10ab8823&usg=__5BJci1YLLKvX3EpvVJhWl6s-HRk=&h=480&w=640&sz=58&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=jUtuOrTtfyUpuM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlesharo%2Bbuick%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dof f%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

so what do you think of putting a 2.5 and auto in it? :evil: or would a v-6 be better?

[Vigo]

I think a v6 would be better. To be honest, the reason our turbo engines arent blowing up all the time is that they arent in boost most of the time. We'd need better heat management and cooling capacity to run a turbo 4 in boost MOST of the time pulling a 20ft box.

And between those two motors.. i would pick the GM motor. I love the lh 3.5 and 3.3, think the trans is 'ok' (but becomes questionable to me in a vehicle that size), but the GM has a slight edge i think because of its lower-rpm powerband vs the 3.5 and similar powerband but just MORE power than the 3.3. And, the stock gm tranny is not great either, but there are enough people out there who broke them with gtps and such that parts and methods have been developed to 'build them up', which has never happened for the LH trans.

There is plenty of additional power potential for the 3.8 too, via roots or turbo, and while you would still have to be thinking about heat management if you went that route (especially intake temps out of a roots) , you probably wouldnt be in boost much of the time in relaxed driving.

[butchsuppe]

Just my .02, way to many motorhomes for sale cheap to get into a project like that. It's ALOT of work just swapping out the syock eng. Been there done that.

[Big_P]

GM FTW.

Those are some cool sites btw. Shoulda used the supercharged Buick engine though ;)

[amcpacer]

Is it possible to boost the stock diesel engine a little bit more?

[turboaddict]

in 83 the diesel was n/a , but its a moot point now. it turned out to be a centuari not a lesharo. so basically it was a conversion van. i need something with a stove, sink, and shitter !!

[turboaddict]

Just my .02, way to many motorhomes for sale cheap to get into a project like that. It's ALOT of work just swapping out the syock eng. Been there done that.

yeah i know its alot of work, but being a out of work auto tech i could knock it out pretty quickly, and that is the perfect size for 1 person and a dog. finding a smaller motohome is harder than it sounds. basically looking for a self contained class b.

[JDAWG]

is it fwd? then you are kind of beat on a 2.2/2.5 as a 3.5 engine is mounted like a rwd and the trans is like a fwd. The 3.5 can make some serious power though, dig around dodgeintrepid.net and lhforum.net and you can find some upgrades like changing to newer intake stuff and putting prowler gears in the trans

[black86glhs]

Either setup would work fine. The NA 3800 with the 4T65-EHD(SC trans) would be damn near bullit proof.

[iTurbo]

My brother has a pretty big RV, with a GM 454 C.I. carbed motor and propane conversion. We've been thinking of replacing that with the '96 fuel injected 454 in our old work truck. Seems like the fuel economy would likely be a lot better as well as drivability.

[karlak]

Just my .02, way to many motorhomes for sale cheap to get into a project like that. It's ALOT of work just swapping out the syock eng. Been there done that.

I second this. I bought an old motorhome cheap one time. Its like buying a TD. Worn out and parts are scarce. If you have a good truck get something to tow. Cheaper, newer, get more space, and you can drop your trailer and drive when needed.

[RoadWarrior222]

I see one of those Renault Winnebagos around here... the cab is cut off and there's a towbar on it.

[capev86]

you can get a stroker kit to turn the buick 3800 into a 4.2 liter engine. i'd have gone this route with my 89 lesabre if i'd kept it for better trailer pulling ability. they have both n/a and supercharged compression pistons with the kits and have them custom tailored for all more than one generation of 3.8 also.