The story of our summer was our major breakdown in remote Montana, and the subsequent full engine rebuild we carried out at Interstate PowerSystems in Billings, MT. The question we have been asked a million times since we first posted about the breakdown has been – “just what went wrong?” The symptoms defied a clear […]
Engine Rebuild
Rebuilding an 8V-71 Detroit Diesel Engine
It took longer than any of us imagined it might. When we broke down on June 14th, the thought that we might still be in Billings when Cherie’s 40th birthday rolled around on August 4th seemed like something to joke about. That was over a month off! Even considering the time it took us to […]
On the Road Again!!!!
We can’t thank the team at Interstate PowerSystems in Billings, MT enough for their efforts this past week during our engine re-install after the rebuild. They all put in long hours. They tackled each obstacle head on. All with one goal – to get us back on the road in time for my birthday yesterday. […]
We Can See the Light!
Lots of progress this week, and we’ve been super super busy. Our team here at Interstate Power has been pulling extra full days to get this job completed while still being meticulous. We’re working overtime trying to keep on top of everything, especially trying to stay ahead of the shop with our own projects. Our […]
Art of the Diesel Engine
“Art without engineering is dreaming; engineering without art is calculating.” – Steven Roberts, the original technomad – Microship.com
Vroom Vroom!
It took a little longer than expected, but yesterday morning we got to see and hear our engine fire right up on dynamometer (aka ‘dyno’). For those who have been wanting MORE video of the momentous occasion, here you go: Direct link to the video There is nothing like that sweet sweet sound of a […]
Disassembling and Dissecting a Detroit Diesel 8V-71
What to do with a broken down 40 year old Detroit Diesel engine? After pondering our options, we decided to give Interstate PowerSystems the go-ahead to pull Zephyr’s engine for a full dissection with intention to rebuild. We had grown comfortable with their expertise, openness, and professionalism – and felt that they were the right […]
To Repair, Replace, Rebuild or Repower our 8V71?
So there we were – broken down and ending up in Billings, MT – pondering our options to get back on the road. Last Monday morning the techs at Interstate PowerSystems (where we had been hauled to over the weekend) confirmed what we already suspected – that the overheating almost certainly had caused non-trivial damage to […]
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Just a quick update for those not following along in real time on Facebook and the Bus Conversion Forums… On Monday the mechanic here in Billings did some initial diagnostics with us, and confirmed what we already pretty much knew – there’s considerable damage to the engine. The words ‘cheap’, ‘quick’ and ‘easy’ are officially […]
Just a Bump in the Road
We’ve said it over and over again, building a nomadic lifestyle does not get you out of “bad stuff” happening. It still happens. Life on the road is still “life”, and it is not all beautiful sunsets and 50Gbps LTE. Sometimes the unicorns fart rainbows, and sometimes they just plain fart. At the end of […]
