Ambulancia
Posted by Dave  on June 1, 2014, 5:04 pm|
Can anyone post any news on the Ambulance? if it is in service? Who are on the Crew? and how to contact them ? Gracias
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Posted by Goerge on June 2, 2014, 5:58 am, in reply to "Ambulancia"
201.151.183.2|
Sounds like your money got taken
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Posted by cruz on June 2, 2014, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Ambulancia"
187.146.131.114
Hi, hi. I needed to have responded to this request sooner. Dan Crosby had asked me to bring us up to date on the ambulance but I've been busy with kids and gym changes.
Well there is good news and not so good news. Which first?
Well, first, service continues. Francisco and crew are at your service by calling 315-108-4048 or 315-100-7934. Young Francisco speaks English. They have temporarily retrofitted a van to transport people and they have not stopped providing service. This is the good news.
The other news is that our ambulance is back in town and, since I'm not motor literate, all I can say is that it is very sick. The ambulance needs lots of expensive attention, something like a new or rebuilt motor. Several mechanics looked at it and gave us differing diagnoses. Since we didn't have the funds on hand to fix what was being described as the problem, we finally just decided to bring it home and to find the exact problem here.
We continue to look for a solution to getting the ambulance back on the road. Maybe, if needed, Dan will find a motor or as has been suggested, we may change it to a gasoline motor from a diesel one. Diesel is no longer cheap nor are the parts. But you should know that we are not just sitting.
It has taken us months to get to this point. We don't know how it happened except that this is Mexico and you would not believe the run-a rounds that we've been through. I can't even begin to tell the story because it would take volumes and sometimes I can't even believe some of the incidents. I hope that tomorrow Dan and I can laugh at it all because it has been frustrating with all its ups and downs. La Huerta has been helpful but delayed every step and then some.
I'm grateful that Dan hasn't given up although it would be understandable if he did.
The good news is that LM still has emergency service with trained drivers  . We just don't have our nice, more comfortable and equipped ambulance  . Cruz
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Posted by Scott on June 2, 2014, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
24.56.202.43|
Not sure if I can help, but let me throw in my nickel's worth. Do you have a specific diagnosis for the engine? I have a diesel ambulance right now I use as a camper and know a bit about diesel ambulances. It is pretty hard to kill most properly maintained diesel ambulance engines, with a few exceptions (Navistar). You say that you have differing diagnoses. Usually it is something simple that makes it sound like death or keeps it from starting all together, but it can be a pain to diagnose. You will think the engine is blown - smoke, loud noise, no power - and it can be a simple injector or fuel problem. Unless there is a blown head or major internal problem for sure, which almost never happens if maintained properly, don't give up hope. Some properly maintained diesel ambulances can make half a million miles without a rebuild. If I wasn't 5,000 miles away I would look at it. What year and make is it? How hard did the mechanics try? Did they disassemble the engine at all? BTW, a well-running 8,500 lb diesel ambulance will still get 18 mpg, but a 460 V8 only gets 7 or 8 mpg in an ambulance. That is the main diesel advantage.
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Posted by cruz on June 3, 2014, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
187.146.131.114
Thank you for your response, Scott, and I am sorry that you are so far away and not here in LM. We could surely use you.
The engine/motor, whatever, is apart and that in itself took forever. Now we are looking for trustworthy diesel mechanics to tell us what is wrong and what is needed.
The reason we went diesel in the first place was that diesel vehicles go for a long time. Was this one not maintained properly or was it driven too hard or maybe it is just a lemon? Everyone agreed at first that it was in great shape. Now we have gone from a turbo charger/valve problem to a worn out valve lifter; and everything in between.
We'll keep us posted on our finds. Some good energy and/or finger crossing would be appreciated. And Scott, at least Dan knows about engines and stuff. He'll be helping from the States but any information or suggestions could be helpful. Thank you again.  Cruz
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Posted by Scott on June 3, 2014, 8:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
24.56.202.43
Ouch. I'm guessing it is the 6.0 Navistar turbo diesel, but that is a guess. Quite a few ended up in ambulances. Lots of problems with that engine including a class action lawsuit. Google it for the identifying info. If it is the 6.0 - I recommend you swap it out. Don't fix it. Lots of info online as to potential donor engines and why this engine is poorly designed. But check. I'm just guessing
Many diesel issues lately seem to be fuel related - pump, injectors, or contaminated/old fuel. The newer low sulfur fuels are hard on the engines and the newer blends of diesel fuel seem to not like sitting for long periods of time. Make sure you use an additive like Sea Foam (yes, it is really called that) to make up for the lower lubrication factor of the newer fuels - especially if it sits for longer periods of time. In the old days you just used additives for freezing weather. Now it is mandatory all times. Critical to start it at least once a week and drive it for some distance. Try not to let the fuel get more that 6 months old.
For future reference: When you blow an injector it resembles a blown engine (common event with older diesels especially if it has Delco injectors). It will smoke in the worst way, rattle like death, and be low on power. Injectors are under tremendous pressure usually creating a sudden failure. Rookie mechanics will often start prematurely stripping the engine or write it off as dead assuming it is a major mechanical failure. I always start troubleshooting mysterious diesel problems with the fuel system. Surprising how many times it is something simple and cheap.
Good luck. Around here the best diesel mechanics work on construction equipment. Those guys understand the bush-fix. You might want to look that direction.
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Posted by Scott on June 3, 2014, 8:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
24.56.202.43-----------------------------Re: Ambulancia
Posted by dave on June 4, 2014, 2:58 am, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
76.9.58.204
Cruz Thanks for the detailed update, AND a big thanks to you, Dan and ever-body involved in this project, Many of us understand how challenging a mission like this can be and commend all for staying the course to help provide such valuable emergency response and pre-hospital care and transport.
Sounds like their is some good info and advise coming forward, Hang in there, like a mechanic buddy often said, its mostly nuts and bolts.
Gracias
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Posted by Ron Goodspeed on June 4, 2014, 4:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
75.19.156.20
If the engine is NOT a Navstar, and it is disassembled, now might be a good time to have an engine builder put a micrometer to all the parts and see what we have. The Zuazos, Enrique and sons, run a lot of diesel equipment of various brands and are very professional. Could someone ask them if they have a trusted diesel expert? Said expert might have access to a good replacement engine if needed.
Keep your head up Dan! We will get that thing running!
Ron
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Posted by M. Rafter on June 4, 2014, 6:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
108.184.63.130|
Just remember that switching from diesel to gas engine means you also need another type of trans. High torque to low torque.
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Posted by Scott on June 4, 2014, 8:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
24.56.202.43
Switching to gas is possible, but impractical. Not cost effective. Too much to change. If you want gas, better to sell this one and buy a gas version.
If you have a choice, avoid a turbo if possible considering what the environment of LaManz is really like. While incredibly nice when new, a turbo is a precision item that costs more than a thousand USD just for the part and it is prone to failure in harsher conditions and extremely failure prone as it ages. When a turbo blows it can take out the rest of the engine too.
Most people think the '96-'98 Cummings with the 5.9L P7100 pump 12-valve engines are the best - sort of the small block Camaro of diesel engines. You will get 500K+ miles on a well maintained engine. Easy to rebuild. Not sure if will bolt in your rig. It would help to know some more details like make and model.
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Posted by Goerge on June 4, 2014, 10:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
201.151.183.2|
rough doing business in another country that the people think all gringos are rich. Stay strong and maybe get a point person that is a native (native but not local)that you can trust. Just my PO..
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Posted by Lyn on June 4, 2014, 10:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Ambulancia"
184.20.29.180
Just want to say thank you to Dan. You're the best! Let us know if there's any thing we can do- driving again next Jan.
L
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