Todd Jones
09-09-2006, 04:53
1978 FC 33' SB
My first Blue Bird and first RV since the mid-eighties.
Purchased first of August this year.
4 trips, ~3,000 miles, including driving it home to Nebraska from Florida.
And happy to say........ no problems ;-)
Simply put......... Love it!
I joined 3 forums a few months ago when I decided to get a Wanderlodge.
FC Wanderlodge (202 members), Wanderlodge (528 members), & WanderlodgeForum (944
members).
When asking general or specific questions regarding my 78FC is there any
specific reason I should post on any other Forum then this one?
With the WanderlodgeForum with 944 members I'm guessing the other 2 Forums with
528 & 202 members........ most are also on this one.
Correct or wrong assumption?
Anyway..... I don't want to be repetitive unless there is a good reason.
I'm getting ready to drain/flush/refill the radiator.
From speaking to people locally I've gotten conflicting reports on anti-freeze
types.
Regular (ex.. Prestone, Peak), Diesel (CAT brand), Extended life.
Any more opinions out there to help confuse me........ ;-)
Also...... what is a good procedure to drain/flush/fill correctly?
Since I haven't dealt with coolant running the length of the vehicle before.
Sometime in the future (probably next year) I want to go....... faster ;-)
Either with a ratio change (currently has the 5.29) or adding an overdrive
unit/box (which I didn't know about till brought up on this list).
Going 50-55 with the 3208 NA is fine for now but in the long run this is an
upgrade I would like to do since I do plan on keeping this BB.
My guess today would be to go with the OD box.
Though I plan on keeping my eye open for a less expensive gear ratio change if I
can find a way to get it done at a reasonable/cheap cost.
Any input in this area would be helpful.
Such as.... what ratio can I go to?........... 4.88, 4.65, 4.63
Sounds like in some ways I got lucky (though I don't know if my purchase price
was cheap, fair, good or over paid, but it doesn't matter now), since I
purchased the first Wanderlodge I actually looked at ..... that was for sale.
It ended up being from people on the Forum (James DeAngelo & David Hollis prior)
and kept in excellent shape...... Thanks!
I plan on every year I have it, for it to be even better!
I have gotten the few things fixed that didn't work.... lights, speedometer etc.
Changed fluids, air & oil filters on engine and generator.
Saving the tranny fluid & filter change for last..... hate that job ;-(
Took off the aluminum drip rail both sides (looked like they've never been off),
took care of small rust underneath, new stainless screws & caulk.
Replaced roof rail bolts with stainless, caulked and minor rust taken care of.
First upgrade will be the 3 roof vents.
I'm looking at the Fan-Tastic brand, are there any others I should consider?
I know this is lengthy and a lot of questions..... but I hope they all can be
answered.
Plus I'm sure I'll have many more questions in the future.
Thanks
Todd Jones
Lincoln, NE.
78 FC 33' SB
.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My first Blue Bird and first RV since the mid-eighties.
Purchased first of August this year.
4 trips, ~3,000 miles, including driving it home to Nebraska from Florida.
And happy to say........ no problems ;-)
Simply put......... Love it!
I joined 3 forums a few months ago when I decided to get a Wanderlodge.
FC Wanderlodge (202 members), Wanderlodge (528 members), & WanderlodgeForum (944
members).
When asking general or specific questions regarding my 78FC is there any
specific reason I should post on any other Forum then this one?
With the WanderlodgeForum with 944 members I'm guessing the other 2 Forums with
528 & 202 members........ most are also on this one.
Correct or wrong assumption?
Anyway..... I don't want to be repetitive unless there is a good reason.
I'm getting ready to drain/flush/refill the radiator.
From speaking to people locally I've gotten conflicting reports on anti-freeze
types.
Regular (ex.. Prestone, Peak), Diesel (CAT brand), Extended life.
Any more opinions out there to help confuse me........ ;-)
Also...... what is a good procedure to drain/flush/fill correctly?
Since I haven't dealt with coolant running the length of the vehicle before.
Sometime in the future (probably next year) I want to go....... faster ;-)
Either with a ratio change (currently has the 5.29) or adding an overdrive
unit/box (which I didn't know about till brought up on this list).
Going 50-55 with the 3208 NA is fine for now but in the long run this is an
upgrade I would like to do since I do plan on keeping this BB.
My guess today would be to go with the OD box.
Though I plan on keeping my eye open for a less expensive gear ratio change if I
can find a way to get it done at a reasonable/cheap cost.
Any input in this area would be helpful.
Such as.... what ratio can I go to?........... 4.88, 4.65, 4.63
Sounds like in some ways I got lucky (though I don't know if my purchase price
was cheap, fair, good or over paid, but it doesn't matter now), since I
purchased the first Wanderlodge I actually looked at ..... that was for sale.
It ended up being from people on the Forum (James DeAngelo & David Hollis prior)
and kept in excellent shape...... Thanks!
I plan on every year I have it, for it to be even better!
I have gotten the few things fixed that didn't work.... lights, speedometer etc.
Changed fluids, air & oil filters on engine and generator.
Saving the tranny fluid & filter change for last..... hate that job ;-(
Took off the aluminum drip rail both sides (looked like they've never been off),
took care of small rust underneath, new stainless screws & caulk.
Replaced roof rail bolts with stainless, caulked and minor rust taken care of.
First upgrade will be the 3 roof vents.
I'm looking at the Fan-Tastic brand, are there any others I should consider?
I know this is lengthy and a lot of questions..... but I hope they all can be
answered.
Plus I'm sure I'll have many more questions in the future.
Thanks
Todd Jones
Lincoln, NE.
78 FC 33' SB
.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]