Got my own Crown

[flattracker]

Hi all,
I know of another re-powered Crown that got retired back in 2019. When a good friend of mine found my new Crown in Salinas Ca. Its owner also had one of the re-powered Crowns. I tried to buy it but the owner wanted to keep it and make it into a toy hauler. The re-powered Crowns were done at Edward's Truck in Salinas. My good friend was involved in the re-power effort. I was able to purchase spare parts for my "old Crown" from the removed Detroit engines before the blocks were destroyed under state supervision. My understanding was that the re-powered Crowns were much faster. Good to see they aren't going to scrap.

[Iceni John]

Originally Posted by UFO pilot

Well I have an update finally. The shop has the engine back to a longblock after months of parts locating drama.

There was good news and bad for this classic Cummins. The good was the 220 heads were redone by a guy thru R&J, a name that should be familiar to Detroit Diesel owners and enthusiasts. Ironic I know, a Detroit shop helping out on saving a Cummins.

You mean J&R in Riverside CA? That's where my 6V92 is being lovingly rebuilt now by Dustin after it ate a camshaft last year. He does some head machining in-house, but for the bigger jobs he sends them out.

John

[UFO pilot]

Originally Posted by Iceni John

You mean J&R in Riverside CA?

Yes, J&R, sorry. The other name combo is a completely different business that got stuck in my head. Anyway I am grateful to J&R on a few fronts, they have helped with my engine a few times due to their friendly relationship with Smittys.
Parts for old engine overhauls are truly where you find them.
On another note I have the original Spicer 5 speed out of the bus if anyone needs it. Just want gas money for it, hate to see it go to scrap.

[UFO pilot]

The 220 has been together and test running for about a month now, shop owner says it has almost an hour of runtime for testing, but at this point she is about ready to hit the road and seat the rings. Just a dozen smaller issues underchassis to deal with before that, but the work continues.

Speaking of underchassis, the first mechanic was sent under the bus to check the airbags condition......and ran into a dozen Black Widow spiders. For our international friends not familiar with North American arachnids, Black Widows are not considered particularly dangerous to humans, but their bite is about as welcome as a bee sting. So a "bug bomb" as set off and the next mechanic will be sent in with a shop vacuum to clean the little buggers out so the work can be done.

Pics of the engine here with new belts and hoses, and spin on fuel filter conversion! I can plan on changing that filter a few times in the next year with all the crud comming loose from the fuel tank......looking forward to it!




Finally, I could not resist comissioning some artwork for trades with other skoolies or bus fans I may meet. These are 3" magnet versions of the below image. The artist is a member of the Crown FB groups and I think here too.


Please, no judgement on "wasting money" on silly things, this project was doomed to be a money pit from day 1, so I embrace a little silly..........while I roll wheelbarrows of money to the truck shop every few months.

[flattracker]

Glad to see your Crown is running! I like your tenacity in doing what it takes to get it fixed. Your project will be interesting to watch as you progress through your conversion.

[Crown_Guy]

Looks like you're going to need to carry a LOT of spare belts of the proper sizes..... just in case. Holy cow. Two different voltages? That why two alternators?

For a conversion you can probably eliminate the second non-12V system. I suspect they added a 110V AC alternator for the interior lights so they could use standard house incandescent lamps, much brighter output than 12VDC automotive lamps. The varying frequency output from the alternator as the engine speed changed wouldn't bother an incandescent lamp, but you can't use any type of appliance without stable 60Hz and voltage. That means an Inverter fed from the 12VDC system and batteries.

This will all be part of your design challenge for the conversion and your ultimate goals as you proceed. Should be fun. I look forward to helping you out and providing any input as you take on the many hurdles to come.

[UFO pilot]

Originally Posted by flattracker

Glad to see your Crown is running! I like your tenacity in doing what it takes to get it fixed. Your project will be interesting to watch as you progress through your conversion.

Thanks, but the truth is all the tenacity is from the shop doing the work, lots of time on the phone chasing down 220 parts getting harder to find by the day. Interestingly enough, most of what was needed was found within about a ~10 mile radius of the shop.

[Iceni John]

Originally Posted by UFO pilot

Thanks, but the truth is all the tenacity is from the shop doing the work, lots of time on the phone chasing down 220 parts getting harder to find by the day. Interestingly enough, most of what was needed was found within about a ~10 mile radius of the shop.

Dustin at J&R was telling me that he helped find some of the needed parts, even though old Cummins 220s aren't his forte! I'm glad that he and Smitty cooperate together! Between Smitty and Dustin, there's not much those two don't know about old Crowns' engines. We are lucky that both of them are in business close to each other.

John

[UFO pilot]

Originally Posted by Crown_Guy

Looks like you're going to need to carry a LOT of spare belts of the proper sizes..... just in case.

LOL got it covered!

Originally Posted by Crown_Guy

Holy cow. Two different voltages? That why two alternators?

Twin 12 volt alternators @100 amps each AFAIK. This is my first 220 so I didn't know this engine might be different. I kinda like the twin look also so if it works it stays until something expen$ive goes out.

Originally Posted by Crown_Guy

For a conversion you can probably eliminate the second non-12V system. I suspect they added a 110V AC alternator for the interior lights so they could use standard house incandescent lamps, much brighter output than 12VDC automotive lamps. The varying frequency output from the alternator as the engine speed changed wouldn't bother an incandescent lamp, but you can't use any type of appliance without stable 60Hz and voltage. That means an Inverter fed from the 12VDC system and batteries.

I will investigate further when I get back to the bus

Originally Posted by Crown_Guy

This will all be part of your design challenge for the conversion and your ultimate goals as you proceed. Should be fun. I look forward to helping you out and providing any input as you take on the many hurdles to come.

Thanks for everything so far Mike, it was your passion for Crown and selfless sharing of info that has encouraged me to take this old mail hauler on. More hurdles to come and more victories to be........victored! Forward.......ad nauseam!

[UFO pilot]

Originally Posted by Iceni John

Dustin at J&R was telling me that he helped find some of the needed parts, even though old Cummins 220s aren't his forte! I'm glad that he and Smitty cooperate together! Between Smitty and Dustin, there's not much those two don't know about old Crowns' engines. We are lucky that both of them are in business close to each other.

John

Absolutely! I finally went by J&Rs on my last visit and thank him in person for all the help, and before that thanked him on the phone.......it definitely would not have happened otherwise!

Um, and I am also incredibly lucky Smitty's took this on in the first place!

All that said, its not over yet, but the finish line is closer all the time!!

[UFO pilot]

Brief update on the HPO: her Cummins 220 is running but she has a shutdown issue, turn the key at the drivers seat and she winds down to a sort of rump....rump....rump....sputter sputter. So the shop is still figuring it out when a mechanic can be assigned to it. I am taking the "Good thing come to those that wait" stance because thats about all I have for now.
Still at it!

[flattracker]

could this be a fuel system issue? does your fuel tank have good venting? old fuel filter? Sometimes the simple stuff is the cause.

[UFO pilot]

Originally Posted by flattracker

could this be a fuel system issue?

Sure, engine is getting fuel when it should not. The shop wants to pull the injectors and have a look, they were rebuilt last year and one may have a weak spring. Or the electric fuel shutoff is not working right. Or some combination of both.

does your fuel tank have good venting?

Definitely, its the old flip cap style like on a gerry can, and the gasket is pretty shot

old fuel filter? Sometimes the simple stuff is the cause.

Spin on filter conversion completed and in place. I will probably be changing this filter a few times in the future as all the crap in the tank comes up thru the fuel line.

[flattracker]

I guess I misunderstood your post. You were actually stating that shutdown wasn't correct vs. idle situation. I would look at shut off solenoid.

[Crown_Guy]

Careful. That's not the fuel filter. It's the coolant water conditioner and, maybe filter, thus the WF and its small size. It's also the normal location for the water conditioner in all Crowns. I don't have anything to suggest other than you've got the best team possible working on the problem. I'm sure Smitty will get it fixed eventually. Like you say one step closer to the goal.

[UFO pilot]

Originally Posted by Crown_Guy

Careful. That's not the fuel filter. It's the coolant water conditioner and, maybe filter, thus the WF and its small size. It's also the normal location for the water conditioner in all Crowns. I don't have anything to suggest other than you've got the best team possible working on the problem. I'm sure Smitty will get it fixed eventually. Like you say one step closer to the goal.

Yep, water filter. Crown_Guy is spot on as usual. A quick search on the part number would have reminded me of that. Ugh! I am thinking I don't have a pic of the oil or fuel filters on my phone for now.

As far as current status, I will be heading back down to the shop within a few weeks for a visit and updates. More to come......and more money to go out........until its done!

[UFO pilot]

Hey all, just a brief note for anyone wondering whats happening with this Crown. Short answer, shop owner Smitty has had a health issue, so he has taken some time off. His wife (she handles the admin and usually answers the phone) and crew are running the shop and keeping things going with OTR truck work. My hobby bus project is a side burner deal, so the Crown sits for now. No rush, I am firmly comitted to THIS Crown. Good things come to those that wait, but still push for a goal, right?

I have a backup plan in case I need to activate it, but for now the bus stays at this shop, until the owner and I speak on where we are at.

In brief here are the current issues:

Resolved:
Engine overhaul complete, ready for breaking in

Outstanding issues:
Tires (including swapping on Alcoa rims)
Brakes
Bearings
Air Bags

Secondary issues:
Bus won't start at drivers key, starts from engine bay switches (will be blowing up Crown_guy phone on this one)
No idea what kind of shape the clutch is in, or the air shifter guts, PO hinted at linkage needing adjustment
Want new driver air seat with seat belt

Teritary issues:
Wipers
A lot of other stuff

And maybe:
Skoolie conversion?

Pic of the Crown in her current parking space, she has been taken off jacks and is sitting in outdoor storage awaiting the next step. I need to get with Smitty when he is back to work and figure out what that step is, so for now, we wait. Funny to note how small the Crown looks amongs these modern OTR rigs, right?

[nikitis]

That's basically been me. Fixing all the mechanicals and skoolie comes last. I've had a lot of them on my bus. Most of which are fixed I think. I still have rear air brakes to replace. Plan on doing those myself. And potentially a transmission upgrade to remove the 545, but it's a bit of a conversion process as the bus wasn't designed to run a more modern trans. Meanwhile I have the bus and am working on prepping the body, sealing up every square inch to protect the body for another 30-60 years.

I treat my 3box like a classic because most people aren't buying them today, and she needs a bit more love than if I were to just buy a 2008 pre-emissions bus.

I'm like you. This body or bust.