Hi all, Happy Labor day.

I know Im crazy and risk having anyone who learns about my plan to loose all respect for my intelligence but Im compelled anyway and know I will best accomplish what I want to do with help form you all. The rig is NOT a Ford its actually on a one ton maybe actually a ton and a quarter Dodge Chassis but its powered by a DIESEL...An Isuzu Diesel.

At the end of this month I will fly to Utah and retrieve a 50 year old Superior Motor Coach. Its the short 20 foot rig that I have always liked. These are made of galvanized steel so they dont turn to dust from termites or just plain wood rot. I already have purchased non refundable plane fare.

The elderly family member who owned it died early this year. He bought this rig brand new in 1973. Bob was a machinist by trade so he was no dummy. I have never seen this rig except in photos. The rest of the family cant give me any information on it. They are all non mechanical office worker/academic type of folks. They know zippo about this rig. His son told me it last ran on a 200 mile trip 2 years ago and did so well. Then I had him text me a copy of the title and the registration and found out it was last registered FIVE years ago. So it was determined it did that 200 mile trip FIVE years ago. just before that trip the automatic transmission was rebuilt so there is that.but even that has no paper documentation.

About 1992 Bob removed the Dodge 413 V8 in favor of an Isuzu Diesel Engine of some iteration. NO one in that family can tell me ANYTHING about that engine I dont know what model or how many cylinders it has or anything other that it is an Isuzu Diesel that was installed about 1992. Ive asked that these folks and the son handing over this rig to me look for the repair/maintenance file his dad the machinist must have kept but so far that file has not been produced. I would love to send oil filters and fuel filters ahead of me but cant because I dont know what the engine is other than "its an Isuzu"

The son swears it runs and drives. But he had to admit it must have done so Five years ago and has been sitting since/ To complicate things some more the rig sits at a vacation home which is an hour and a half from where the son lives. His sister lives closer but she is totally unwilling to do anything to help me get information..Well that is not actually true she did take pictures of the tire side walls so I could read the Dot number and know the tires are 7 year old tubeless Firestone 235/85R 16 common non split rim tires. I had to fight to get her to do THAT. I told them good luck finding anyone else for this rig if it had split rims and the tires were some 17.5 size...so she reluctantly got pictures to me for that. She apparently went inside to check ia few months ago and no rodents or other critters were present.

I am preparing for a weeks worth of work to be able to drive it home a 1000 miles from Utah to San Diego. I have sent every brake part it takes except for brake drums and wheel bearings ahead of me preparing for the worst with the brake system. I even have steel brake tube and flare tools in that container I shipped. I shipped a brake bleeder too. I sent a gang load of tools ahead of me also. I plan to address the cooling system also. Hopefully the radiator and water pump are ok.

Im not that savvy with diesel. I am expecting the fuel system to need attention. 1st question will a Isuzu diesel circa 1980-1992 run on a NON PRESSURized 5 gallon plastic can filled with diesel? I expect the fuel tank to be dirty and full of old fuel. I have sent as part of my tool arsenal a "SHAKER SIPHON HOSE" to drain the tank but am concerned about muck that probably will sit on the tank floor that wont drain out. I have never had luck with any of the other similar condition gasoline gas tanks I have delt with by just being able to remove the old fuel and not have to also remove the gas tank to have it boiled out and then most of them also needed to be coated so Im expecting that also here. I wont be able to do that gas tank work while its where it is.That will have to wait until the rig is here in San Diego.

I want to use a known clean fuel holding container for my trip home. Im thinking 5 gallon gas cans or CLEAR plastic Bottle watter jugs so I can see when the fuel is getting low and be able to pull the fuel supply hose out and put it in the next full of fuel jug in time not to skip a beat...Any other suggestions here? I just need to get this rig home as safely as possible under these crazy circumstances.

Any tips or tricks/techniques/chemical flushes etc that you can suggest and if you would offer why you suggest those things all of this would be valuable to me

Please guide me guys...I know this isnt a Ford chassis or a Powerstroke diesel but you guys are very smart and I know I can learn from you to minimize what could happen....

 

Diesel fuel isn't like gas, you shouldn't have any issues there. Basic fuel filters should be all you need. Look for some YouTube videos of guys rescuing big trucks that have sat for 20-30 years. Of course it will run better on fresh fuel, but don't get too worked up about it. Unless they are rusted tight, brakes should not be bad.. but it is something to look at..They are nice to have. A set of batteries. some starting fluid. Use sparingly. Seems to be a fairly common tire size, thank goodness they aren't split rings! Make sure you have trans fluid. Again if it doesn't have water in it the fluid should get you home..Sounds like your well prepared.. Update when you get there 5 years isn't too bad...I've dealt with much worse.