Another Classic Newell Coach Getting Repowered!

[NewellCrazy]

Originally Posted by MrE

I think you ought to go with the ISC, that way if my engine isn't a rebuildable core I can get the cheaper one.

Help your Newell Brother out and take the ISC.

[Randy J]

Looking good Keith. When your coaches are all done what will you do with your new free time?

[rellick]

Originally Posted by Randy J

Looking good Keith. When your coaches are all done what will you do with your new free time?

Hey thanks Randy!! Ill just do what i have always done, find more projects before the last ones are done!! I think its an addiction!!
Just like taking the diamonds in the rough and making them diamonds again!!

[JustDustin]

Originally Posted by rellick

Hey thanks Randy!! Ill just do what i have always done, find more projects before the last ones are done!! I think its an addiction!!
Just like taking the diamonds in the rough and making them diamonds again!!

That's a good answer Keith. Now only if our wives could see it that way. Finding more projects before the last ones are done is my specialty.

[JustDustin]

Oh and yes, Newells are an addiction!

[Neweller]

Okay, here's the update. We are using an 8.3 engine and Allison 3060 trans out of a burnt '97 Bluebird VIP donor coach. The engine has reasonable miles on it and purrs like a kitten. The engine has been removed from the Bluebird and sitting on the ground. The Newell is currently in the shop getting sized up for the radiator and the air to air unit etc.... We already prefit the engine and trans and everything looks to be going to fit. I'll follow up with some photo's of the progress. I'll also post pics of the burnt coach under another section.

[Newell Attack]

Looking forward to pictures Ken.

[Neweller]

Here is a picture of the donor Bluebird VIP with the engine now removed. The bus looks too good from this view to be borrowing the engine out of her.

[rellick]

Ken, that one is a 98? it would be a 24 valve then? Awsome!!

[Neweller]

Sorry Keith, my mistake it got to be a '97 and it's the last year of the 12 valve. I don't think we could go with the air throttle on the electronic ISC. For some reason in my mind I have '98 on the brain. I must be do to this '98 Newell I just passed on.

[rellick]

The 12 valves are great engines too, the one in my 77 is like it was made to fit, was there enough height clearance for the turbo? its great the rad and air to air fit in nicely, it took a bit of fabricating to get the one in the 77, the C on the donor bus frame was the opposite way of the newell so the brackets had to be cut and angled differently, we wanted all the tubes and hoses to match up how they should. The bird frame is likely the same as the newell.

[Neweller]

Keith, the frames in the rear engine compartment are very similar. The Newell appears to have a thicker frame rail though. We plasma cut out the pans on both sides of the engine compartment and threw away some extra not needed junk. It was easier to make and weld a couple additional radiator mounting brackets on the frame and then bolt the main portion of the radiator into the compartment in separate pieces. The radiator is longer than it is high. But after assembly it looks like it belongs there. It will be amazing to have so much better access to the engine than with the herky V8's. And the turbo will clear no problem. The closes thing is the tube going over the engine. I'll get a couple of more pictures coming here soon, of the radiator install and the actual engine prior to clean up or any paint etc....

[rellick]

I like the idea of having the rad on the left side vs the right, th 77 has the right side, after the power steering tank went in with all the tubes and hoses it does make it a little tight to get into that side of the engine, the wiring, injector pump and starter are all in there as well, the left side doesnt have that many things to access.

[Neweller]

Yeah, having the rad on the left looks to be a good choice. There will be plenty of room on the right for any maintenance of the fuel injection pump and throttle area. With things opened up and unneeded old school garbage, there seems to be a whole lot more space for a lot of things. It will be a dream to change belts and such now. Thinking seriously about yanking all the wiring and starting over. There are so many not needed wires now. Imagine converting the dash over to electronic and only needing maybe 13-20 wires total? Wouldn't that be nice. Don't know if we will go that far on this old girl but if we get our hands on a later model victim it will be almost certain.

Here is a couple of shots of the radiator installed and not painted or anything. She looks to be in good condition other than cosmetics which will come along when necessary.

This is from the left side looking through the small access door.

Complete side view. She's fitting nicely and like her new home. Of course we'll either vent this left side door or maybe do a flip flop with the door on the right.

[rellick]

Right on!! It fits in there good, that engine bay is going to look nice and clean, I like the rad in the left side, any plan of mounting an air dryer? would be nice to put the discharge into the exhaust. Man this is going to be a sweet classic with the new powertrain!!

[Neweller]

Here is a shot of the engine with air throttle tacked in place. I think I need to size the photo's a little larger. I didn't know what I could get away with on the current settings. But some are still showing up a little larger.

Realize this engine was a cable throttle and now it is an air throttle with modified linkage.

[Neweller]

Here is another shot of the rest of the air throttle linkage on the 8.3 Cummins with the modifications. Not too difficult, just a little thought.

You can see where the cable use to hook. It's now a push linkage instead of a pull via cable.....

[Neweller]

Here is a picture of the 8.3 Cummins engine on the floor behind the coach. It has already been put into place twice in the Newell Coach at this point and removed while the engine mounts and some other bracketry are being built.

[rellick]

Looking good Ken, cant wait to see some more pics!

[NewellCrazy]

Nice Pics Ken, Keep them coming, Nothing like progress!