Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

Fellow Wanderlodgers:

I was looking through the files and found Don's excellent description
of how he modified the radiator on his FC to swing.

I have an 83 FC, and it apparently does not have the swing radiator
option.

I'm about to open the front of my bus to start working on the engine...

Does Bluebird make a kit to install a swing radiator?

From Don's description, he had to go through a bunch of cutting,
welding and fabricating. I'm pretty handy, but don't have any welding
equipment or skills...

The beginning of Don's description mentions bringing it to Holland
Motorhomes to install.

I wonder what my best option is.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Andy Coleman
83 FC-35
Spring Lake Heights, NJ

Andy,

Our 88 Fc has a swing radiator and it is still not easy to open,
when open it only opens to about 45 degrees, still a tight place to
work. I understand the older FC's are more friendly to open and then
open much wider.
Over the last two years I have opened the front five/six times,
because of time or money restrictions and lack of experience. After
the second opening,it is not a fun task anymore.

If I were to do this work again , I would open it once, remove,
repair or flush the radiator, change all belts, replace all engine
and radiator hoses , oil cooler hoses, etc. replace thermostats,
change the coolant, and any another work needed such as steering
pump , Repair the A/C compressor or disconnect it. Check and replace
idler pulleys, replace or rebuild the Alternator. This is money
well spent,sooner or later this work needs to be done.
I understand that the swing radiator modification could be $1200 to
$1500. All the work I noted would be less costly and good to go for
hopefully three or more years.
Check out John Finn's web site. He has great pictures of his
repairs and swing radiator modification.

Bill's opinion in Michigan, 88 FC



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman"
wrote:
>
> Fellow Wanderlodgers:
>
> I was looking through the files and found Don's excellent
description
> of how he modified the radiator on his FC to swing.
>
> I have an 83 FC, and it apparently does not have the swing radiator
> option.
>
> I'm about to open the front of my bus to start working on the
engine...
>
> Does Bluebird make a kit to install a swing radiator?
>
> From Don's description, he had to go through a bunch of cutting,
> welding and fabricating. I'm pretty handy, but don't have any
welding
> equipment or skills...
>
> The beginning of Don's description mentions bringing it to Holland
> Motorhomes to install.
>
> I wonder what my best option is.
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
>
> Andy Coleman
> 83 FC-35
> Spring Lake Heights, NJ
>

Andy,

You might check with Luke at US Coach in Berlin, NJ. It is a lot closer to
home. He does a lot of work on Converted Coaches now and may be able to help
you out.

George Lowry
'06 Alpine Apex - Formerly '95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD - Still in Stockton, CA


-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Andy Coleman
Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:05 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Installing a Swing Radiator on an FC


Fellow Wanderlodgers:

I was looking through the files and found Don's excellent description
of how he modified the radiator on his FC to swing.

I have an 83 FC, and it apparently does not have the swing radiator
option.

I'm about to open the front of my bus to start working on the engine...

Does Bluebird make a kit to install a swing radiator?

From Don's description, he had to go through a bunch of cutting,
welding and fabricating. I'm pretty handy, but don't have any welding
equipment or skills...

The beginning of Don's description mentions bringing it to Holland
Motorhomes to install.

I wonder what my best option is.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Andy Coleman
83 FC-35
Spring Lake Heights, NJ







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