[whatsnewell]

Hey guys, I have a friend who owns a '61 GM bus conversion with a DD series 71. He was going down a long grade near Ashland, MT when the engine began to overheat. This, obviously, is not what one would expect. The engine shut down, but he was able to restart it when it cooled down and move it more off the road. Coachnet will be coming in the morning to tow him to a repair facility. What I am looking for is any recommendations in the Billings, MT area (nearest big town) for repair facilities. My phone # is 951-236-5312, or e-mail me directly at [email protected].

He says he had just topped off the coolant this morning before they started out. I'm thinking it must be one of a few things......water pump failed, blown water hose, bad thermostat, or lost fanbelt.

Anyway, if you are familiar with the area and can recommend a repair facility that would be great!

[LynnJeff]

Clark

These guys used to be good when I used them in the past (it has been several years so no guarantees)
Interstate Detroit Diesel
www.istate.com
1140 Main Billings
406-254-1945

[whatsnewell]

Thank you all for your help....he is being towed to Interstate Detroit Diesel in Billings this afternoon. While they wait for the tow they are attending a small rodeo in a small local town.

[whatsnewell]

Here's the latest from Chris and Cherie's Facebook page on their 8V71 problems...:

"Well folks - this confirms it. The words quick, easy and inexpensive are officially out of the repair vocabulary. Any one have a spare 8v71 laying around?

The lower bank of cylinders is where the damage is - they are running 100 degrees cooler than the top bank, and oil flows freely into the blower drain and even into the exhaust. There is however no coolant getting into the oil, and the engine still has "good compression"."

[Flick]

When I was dealing with my engine issues I talked with Tom's mechanic. He in turn gave me the name and a contact for a company in Missouri I think it was that rebut Detroit Diesels and resold them. He had very good reviews and his website was dry reassuring. Now he was selling them for like $18k I think. Anyway when you start adding in shipping and everything else we determined it would be about the same as having interstate rebuild ours. Clarke drive ours to the campground where he and Elaine are staying and he thought our engine ran very well. So they do a good job I think. Course this was the first diesel I have ever owned so I have no baseline.

[whatsnewell]

Our friends, after exploring a lot of different options from a replacement 8V71, a rebuild of the existing 8V71 to upgrading to a 6V92, have opted to rebuild their existing 8V71. The rebuild has started.