ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

[zmotorsports]

I finished up the overhead on our Cummins ISL in our coach over the weekend.

Friday night I had some time so I commenced the cleaning of the rocker box.


Then the fun part of removing the sealant could begin. I used my carbide scraper to clean the flat ledge and then a cotter pin hook tool to clean the groove out followed by a few passes with a general purpose wire brush. I don't like wire wheels or those abrasive pads for cleaning these as I feel the deteriorate the squared edges of the sealing surfaces and can result in poor sealing.


During removal from the engine, I noted that there was a buildup of oil residue around these two connectors used to carry the electrical signal through the rocker box for the compression brake. I removed them and noted the O-rings were flattenes slightly.


Rocker box thoroughly cleaned and wiped down with brake cleaner.


I removed the O-rings to match them up.


After locating some replacements from my O-ring selection.


I replaced them.


Grabbed the new tube of Sil-Glyde and applied a small amount around the O-rings.


Then reinstalled the connectors in the rocker box.



More pictures to come.....

 

[zmotorsports]

Continuing on.


With some time left before closing up the shop for the night I thought I'd go ahead and install the rocker box and torque it in place. Whenever I use sealant on a component I prefer to let them sit overnight whenever possible, so this was perfect timing as I still had some time before going in for the evening. I applied some sealant, just about a 1/8"-3/16" bead is all that is required. Not too much or you'll end up with a mess both outside or worse, inside the engine.


The rocker box was torqued to 212 in/lbs. and just a small (1/16"-1/8") of sealant squeezed out.


This is about all you should see squeezed out from the sealing surface. Much more than that and you used too much.


Same on the inside.


With time still remaining before closing up the shop for the evening I commenced cleaning of the rocker cover.


Rocker cover came pretty clean but had some powder coating peeling off.


Inside is clean enough to eat off of.


I also made a trip to the glass bead cabinet and blasted the intake elbow. I don't care for raw aluminum in such a dirty environment as the pores get dirty and it is a PITA to clean afterwards. So rather than reinstall as is, I chose to spray some Semour Stainless Steel paint onto the intake elbow. Way overkill I know, but it should be easier to wipe off when I'm in there doing maintenance.


That turned out better than leaving the surface blasted and exposed.


I also used some Power House to clean the hoses and intake duct as well as some Scotchbrite to clean the aluminum tube for the air intake.



Stay tuned for more pictures.

 

[zmotorsports]

Continuing on.

Saturday morning I went out to the shop to finish up by installing the Jacobs C-Brake and adjusting it to the specified clearance of .090".


With the engine already @ cylinder #6 TDC from the last of the valves being adjusted, I adjusted the compression brake on cylinders 2, 4 and 6. Then marked with yellow dot showing that cylinder was complete. After adjusting the first three cylinders, I barred the engine over one full revolution to put the engine @ cylinder #1 TDC where it all began and adjusted the C-Brake on cylinders 1, 3 and 5.


After double checking the jam nuts on the C-Brake housings I installed the rocker cover and torqued the new center bolts with grommets to 106 in/lbs.


Then reinstalled the oil fill cap on the timing cover.


I did a little follow up cleaning around the perimeter before adding the last of the components.


Then installed the freshly painted intake elbow and silicone hose from the charge air cooler (CAC).


Then the air intake ductwork was installed and boost hose connected.


And a final shot before closing the hatch.



Thanks for looking.

 

[zmotorsports]

Also, for anyone interested I posted a video of the overhead process to my YouTube channel yesterday.

Here is a link.

 

[zmotorsports]

Well that *****.

I just received an email from the administration over on irv2.com, an RV forum that I have been a contributing member of since 2009 in an effort to help others maintain and take care of their Monaco coaches. It stated that my posts were deleted because I had posted a link to a monetized YouTube channel, mine.

So much for trying to help others maintain these high maintenance coaches and provide information, especially on a forum where there is so much misinformation pertaining to these older coaches.

 

[Finallygotit]

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Well that *****.

I just received an email from the administration over on irv2.com, an RV forum that I have been a contributing member of since 2009 in an effort to help others maintain and take care of their Monaco coaches. It stated that my posts were deleted because I had posted a link to a monetized YouTube channel, mine.

So much for trying to help others maintain these high maintenance coaches and provide information, especially on a forum where there is so much misinformation pertaining to these older coaches.

So how are you spending those 7 figure utube royalty’s Mike?

 

[zmotorsports]

No good deed goes unpunished.

Ain't that the truth Dan.

So how are you spending those 7 figure utube royalty’s Mike?

Ha ha. Yeah right. That's hilarious right there. I just recently monetized and figured a few bucks here and there is better than nothing. Maybe it will help with supplies once in a while is about all. If there are people getting rich, I'm surely not one of them.

 

[PugetDude]

Now I feel like we're all basking in the aura of a YouTube millionaire.

 

[zmotorsports]

Now I feel like we're all basking in the aura of a YouTube millionaire.

Not even close Scott. Just a few bucks here and there. Definitely nothing worth writing home about, especially with only about 6k subscribers. Plus, I don't upload videos consistently, just as I have time or do an interesting task. I feel so many YouTuber's post up videos with no real content, just whatever their thoughts are for the day so they can get a video posted. Ridiculous if you ask me.

 

[PugetDude]

Please don't ruin my fantasy, Mike.
I have been living vicariously through your project posts for years, cuz I knew you wuz gonna be a star someday.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Yup like that fiddy cent dude. We call Mike, the Buckaroo though…….

 

[Mr.zippy]

On a serious note though, the folks on the RV forum are going to really miss out with many, many good tips for maintenance. Stupid RV Forum…I’d be upset.

 

[zmotorsports]

On a serious note though, the folks on the RV forum are going to really miss out with many, many good tips for maintenance. Stupid RV Forum…I’d be upset.

Yeah, I'm a little frustrated, especially since I've had an ongoing thread with the mods and upgrades I've done to our coach since 2009 when I joined there. After all that I feel that I have contributed I was shocked when I received that email today.

Oh well, I guess I have to look at as their loss and not mine. All I have been trying to do is help fellow Monaco owners.

There's another forum specifically for Monaco owners that I am a member of now so I'll try and contribute there instead, especially where it looks as though we'll be keeping the ole' girl for a while.

 

[Mr.zippy]

As a Monoco owner that frequented the forum, I’d be pissed. Your last project alone would save somebody a lot of time. I guess rules are rules though. I’m just glad you share your other projects here! Thanks Mike!

 

[LXCam]

Damn short sighted and a real loss for them Mike.

 

[Bob Heine]

Mike, it seems hypocritical for a website that has monetized your visits and posts to banish you for following their lead. Every time you went to their site over the past 14 years they got paid by advertisers. Pretty sure they got paid for your information as well. It's like a pickpocket takes your wallet, drops a coin and has you arrested for picking it up.

 

[zmotorsports]

As a Monoco owner that frequented the forum, I’d be pissed. Your last project alone would save somebody a lot of time. I guess rules are rules though. I’m just glad you share your other projects here! Thanks Mike!

Thank you @Mr.zippy . I understand rules are rules but I'm not throwing frivolous videos up to gain revenue. I was honestly trying to assist other coach owners on maintenance items and to instill some pride of ownership if possible. I guess I'm done there. Sad because my thread on the Monaco sub-forum is one of the longest running and highest viewed threads so I'll just quit posting.

Damn short sighted and a real loss for them Mike.

Thanks Cam.

Mike, it seems hypocritical for a website that has monetized your visits and posts to banish you for following their lead. Every time you went to their site over the past 14 years they got paid by advertisers. Pretty sure they got paid for your information as well. It's like a pickpocket takes your wallet, drops a coin and has you arrested for picking it up.

I agree Bob. Every ad that pops up during visits is revenue for them.


Hell, this morning I even got a slap on the wrist again for mentioning site moderation yesterday.

I had made a post mentioning that the video was removed by moderators and all I was trying to so was help fellow coach owners with maintenance items and it was removed plus I got a nice private message saying that is another no-no.

F**k 'em. Kinda ***** the joy out of participating that's for sure.

 

[PugetDude]

When one door closes, another opens.
Since you won't be wasting so much time over on that RV forum we expect more content here on the GJ.
A lot more.

 

[zmotorsports]

When one door closes, another opens.
Since you won't be wasting so much time over on that RV forum we expect more content here on the GJ.
A lot more.

While I appreciate the thoughts Scott, I will probably be restraining some of my posts a bit more going forward.

I've been getting the feeling lately that I may be too vocal about certain things and I may come off as "preachy" at times when it comes to preventive maintenance and performing proper repairs which may have turned some people off.

I will try to stick with just showing a project here or there that I'm working on and maybe less unnecessary commentary.

I'm not what one would call a forum ****. I don't spread myself around on a bunch of sites and only have a couple that I frequent and share content with. That being said here at garagejournal.com as well as over at irv2.com were the two I have been most involved with over the past 14+ years. I was recently invited to a Monaco specific forum and I get the feeling that there are a lot of likeminded Monaco coach owners there so I would like to be of some assistance if possible, helping people advance their pride of ownership of these older coaches. And since RV'ing, specifically diesel coaches, are my passion I think I may have something to offer over there as well as continue to learn myself. I like the sense of community that site has, much similar to the feeling here.

 

[Atlascycle]

While I appreciate the thoughts Scott, I will probably be restraining some of my posts a bit more going forward.

I've been getting the feeling lately that I may be too vocal about certain things and I may come off as "preachy" at times when it comes to preventive maintenance and performing proper repairs which may have turned some people off.

I will try to stick with just showing a project here or there that I'm working on and maybe less unnecessary commentary.

I'm not what one would call a forum ****. I don't spread myself around on a bunch of sites and only have a couple that I frequent and share content with. That being said here at garagejournal.com as well as over at irv2.com were the two I have been most involved with over the past 14+ years. I was recently invited to a Monaco specific forum and I get the feeling that there are a lot of likeminded Monaco coach owners there so I would like to be of some assistance if possible, helping people advance their pride of ownership of these older coaches. And since RV'ing, specifically diesel coaches, are my passion I think I may have something to offer over there as well as continue to learn myself. I like the sense of community that site has, much similar to the feeling here.

Mike,
In my humble opinion you should just keep doing what you are doing, FWIW I do not think that you are being "Preachy".

 

[LXCam]

Please don’t change your ways Mike, we like how you do what you do.

 

[Dodge]

And by all means, continue showing us your Rv'n vacation pictures!!!!!

 

[steves_001]

Mike, don't hold back on posting. While I may never have a Monaco or any of the other machines you work on, being exposed to the things you write about are what is appealing. For one, I never knew what a compression brake looks like. Interesting in itself along with the other things you did there. I appreciate what you do. Please keep it up.

 

[zmotorsports]

Don't get me wrong. I plan on continuing to post various projects that I'm working on, but I'll just refrain from some of my commentary. I'm not going anywhere as I love the community of people here, I think I may have become a bit outspoken on various topics is all.

I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

 

[PugetDude]

You post pictures?

I'm only here for the commentary.

 

[Swanny1953]

Mike, IMHO, you shouldn't change a single thing about what you have/will be doing here on Garage Journal. I, for one, enjoy your musings on non-garage/repair topics as they are always well thought out and intended (here I'm assuming) to share life experiences and perhaps get people thinking and maybe modifying behavior to avoid some of the pitfalls of life you have already experienced. Anyone who takes offense to that, well. . . . . . .
It really galls me that our society has devolved from "let's agree to disagree and we can still be friends and enjoy one another's company" to "you're a piece of (fill in explicative) since you don't agree with my opinion - get out of my life!". In my case, exactly that has happened as my bride lost her BEST friend of nearly 40 years over stupid political ****!!
As for the forum your post has been deleted from, looks like some moderator is a bit power hungry and not looking at the greater good. If you could find a way to get to the forum owner (our Ryan) with the details as you explained above, I'm guessing he would have the foresight to realize the minor remuneration you receive from You Tube is greatly outweighed by the benefit his forum members receive from your content. It's your call as to whether "the juice is worth the squeeze"!!
Just my $0.02!! Thanks for doing what you do, and keep it up!! Please do not fall victim to the politically correct ******** that seems to rule these days!

 

[Finallygotit]

Don't get me wrong. I plan on continuing to post various projects that I'm working on, but I'll just refrain from some of my commentary. I'm not going anywhere as I love the community of people here, I think I may have become a bit outspoken on various topics is all.

I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Mike, I for one do not take anything you say as preachy or outspoken. A majority of your posts are fact filled "how to's". I agree with steves_001 that I may not own some of the things you own but how you go about repairing them and maintaining them is of interest to me. Some of those activities can and likely will be carried over to other aspects of everyday "stuff".

Don't change your approach due to a perceived shortcoming(s) that is not true.

 

[Finallygotit]

Mike, IMHO, you shouldn't change a single thing about what you have/will be doing here on Garage Journal. I, for one, enjoy your musings on non-garage/repair topics as they are always well thought out and intended (here I'm assuming) to share life experiences and perhaps get people thinking and maybe modifying behavior to avoid some of the pitfalls of life you have already experienced. Anyone who takes offense to that, well. . . . . . .
It really galls me that our society has devolved from "let's agree to disagree and we can still be friends and enjoy one another's company" to "you're a piece of (fill in explicative) since you don't agree with my opinion - get out of my life!". In my case, exactly that has happened as my bride lost her BEST friend of nearly 40 years over stupid political ****!!
As for the forum your post has been deleted from, looks like some moderator is a bit power hungry and not looking at the greater good. If you could find a way to get to the forum owner (our Ryan) with the details as you explained above, I'm guessing he would have the foresight to realize the minor remuneration you receive from You Tube is greatly outweighed by the benefit his forum members receive from your content. It's your call as to whether "the juice is worth the squeeze"!!
Just my $0.02!! Thanks for doing what you do, and keep it up!! Please do not fall victim to the politically correct ******** that seems to rule these days!

Here here!

 

[ctandc72]

Don't get discouraged. There are only a few forums left, it seems to me at least, where people actually shared useful info in DETAIL anymore. When car forums first took off - early 2000s maybe? I thought it was GREAT. You had a place to exchange tips / tricks with other gearheads -why reinvent the wheel when you didn't have to? Not only that, you could have project thread. That was always, for me at least, a GREAT way for me to document what I'd done - not for other people so much as myself when a year later I needed to remember what I'd done / what I modified etc when I needed to fix / upgrade something.

Then Facebook entered the fray.

Now most automotive focused groups are filled with "What size wheels / tires can I fit?", "My car is doing this...what is it? Can someone walk me through EXACTLY how to fix it?" and threads of people asking "What do you think of my modifications?" - then getting mad when people actually tell them.

Yeah no thanks.

 

[PugetDude]

Mike, since you have all this newfound time maybe you could get a gig moderating here...

I'll put together a list of members for you to nuke...

 

[ctandc72]

Mike, since you have all this newfound time maybe you could get a gig moderating here...

I'll put together a list of members for you to nuke...

I'm not defending all forum / group moderator actions - but unless they started getting payed to do it - he doesn't want that. I helped with a pretty busy forum back in the day. George Carlin summed it up better than I could

"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

​

 

[Bob Heine]

Mike, like many have said and many more agree with, what you do is educational, entertaining and admired. I would go a step further and say your mastery of the trade you are in is priceless. Most people with your skills don't or can't communicate them in a helpful way. For now, take a break from places that don't appreciate you and know you have fans who do, right here on the GJ.

 

[zmotorsports]

I appreciate very much everyone's kind words. My intention was not to drive so much commentary or gather a "pity party" as much as it was to justify my slacking off a bit.

No one particular comment or person has offended me per se, it's just a vibe I've gotten lately over some comments in various forums and including YouTube. I generally don't respond to negative comments and really do read ALL of the comments from all half dozen of my YouTube subscribers.

I realize I tend to sound one sided when I explain something and say not to do this or don't do that when someone is asking for a quick or easy way to go around something I just spent time explaining the correct or proper way to fix something. It seems like everyone wants the quick and easy way to fix things but seldom are they successful and generally end up costing more money and time. I don't mean to come across as a know it all or preachy but I understand that it may sound that way to the uninitiated who have been told their whole life everything they do is perfect.

Much of what I try to demonstrate and communicate, whether it be mechanical or financial or anything in between, is because I myself have had shortcomings in those areas and learned from them and more than anything I just don't want to see others make my same mistakes.

I for one feel as though I have been so blessed in my life, even when I've made mistakes, that it has been my hope that in some way I can give back to the automotive community in some small way that has allowed me to make a good living and provide for my family.

 

[Monza Harry]

Mike I'll add that self confidence [and 1st hand knowledge] sounds a lot like condescension to the insecure and the unknowing. This is their shortcomings not yours! I know that I rub some (OK, OK, OK, a lot of) people as someone to poke (a preachy know it all) at to bolster their lack of self confidence. Read that as highlighting their [Caution a NON PC comment here] STUPIDITY! They don't want to be helped, because change, and improvement requires WORK and people are LAZY! I too feel that animosity you were describing a post or two back [here and in person] and I too have just refrained from helping, not my go to nature but becoming very necessary. I feel for you, Oh and if you get "TOO" preachy, don't you worry someone will tell way before you get there! Harry

 

[Finallygotit]

Mike I'll add that self confidence [and 1st hand knowledge] sounds a lot like condescension to the insecure and the unknowing. This is their shortcomings not yours! I know that I rub some (OK, OK, OK, a lot of) people as someone to poke (a preachy know it all) at to bolster their lack of self confidence. Read that as highlighting their [Caution a NON PC comment here] STUPIDITY! They don't want to be helped, because change, and improvement requires WORK and people are LAZY! I too feel that animosity you were describing a post or two back [here and in person] and I too have just refrained from helping, not my go to nature but becoming very necessary. I feel for you, Oh and if you get "TOO" preachy, don't you worry someone will tell way before you get there! Harry

Don't you just love it when someone asks you for advice then goes and does some lame-*** roundabout attempted ******* fix that had nothing to do with your suggestion in the first place and then has the balls to ask you again to help them fix their royal F$%K-UP? (I'm winded after that one, whew!)

 

[bowtiguy]

Don't you just love it when someone asks you for advice then goes and does some lame-*** roundabout attempted ******* fix that had nothing to do with your suggestion in the first place and then has the balls to ask you again to help them fix their royal F$%K-UP? (I'm winded after that one, whew!)

Dan,

thats referred to as an “Askhole”, my favorite word of 2023.

 

[bugnut]

Mike, like others have posted. We want you to continue to teach and share with us. Keep up the posting, and to hell with the others.

 

[jbmatth]

Mike, I'm all in with all of the others here, you've taught me a great deal on many topics and much of that was from seemingly unrelated posts. I say don't change a thing the way you post here, you are too valuable of an asset for us all, even in your "unnecessary" insightful commentary there is knowledge to be gleaned. Keep it up and I/we will enjoy following along and learning.

JB

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike I'll add that self confidence [and 1st hand knowledge] sounds a lot like condescension to the insecure and the unknowing. This is their shortcomings not yours! I know that I rub some (OK, OK, OK, a lot of) people as someone to poke (a preachy know it all) at to bolster their lack of self confidence. Read that as highlighting their [Caution a NON PC comment here] STUPIDITY! They don't want to be helped, because change, and improvement requires WORK and people are LAZY! I too feel that animosity you were describing a post or two back [here and in person] and I too have just refrained from helping, not my go to nature but becoming very necessary. I feel for you, Oh and if you get "TOO" preachy, don't you worry someone will tell way before you get there! Harry

Funny you mention that specifically Harry. My wife and I were talking a few weeks ago after I read her one of the comments. I told her I didn't think I was condescending or belittling I just didn't want to see the person make a mistake that I knew was going to happen if they went down that path (been there and knew).

She said she knows what I meant but for those who don't know me some of my responses can sound a lot like arrogance as it is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. I have really tried not to be arrogant over the years and have tried to help others from a humble and sincere point of view. However, I guess it doesn't always come across that way.

Don't you just love it when someone asks you for advice then goes and does some lame-*** roundabout attempted ******* fix that had nothing to do with your suggestion in the first place and then has the balls to ask you again to help them fix their royal F$%K-UP? (I'm winded after that one, whew!)

Dan, this was one thing that drove me up a freakin' wall when I had my speed shop/business. People would come by or call and ask my opinion. Often times my suggestion was not the cheapest or easiest solution but I always tried to shoot straight and provide what I thought was the "best" or long-term solution to their issue. They would go to several other people or shops because those shops would do the easy stuff and take the money for it then send them out the door knowing they'd probably not see them again. Afterwards they would come back to me and ask me to do the job I originally quoted but with the caveat that I needed to "go easy" on them or give them a break because they just spend all this money at other shops. I usually held my tongue but what I wanted to say was "are you shitting me???? You spent unnecessary money doing the wrong things and I'm supposed to take it in the *** and cut you a break???"

I'm not gonna lie, I don't miss that one bit and that was a while ago, the way people are today I think this is much more prevalent of a mindset.