Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

At this point on the curve of learning here is what I think I would
like to own. I know it doesn't exist but I am interested in what you
think of my "ideal"
1) 31 ft seventies FC with rear bath (I know there are none)
but I like that floor plan and I like the shorter buses. Just don't
need more and I like the looks of the older buses especially the 31's.
2) I want a replaced drive line and would prefer maybe a
Cummins motor and of course a retarder. I feel I need the additional
power and the engine braking for the hills I expect to encounter
3) I would like the bus fully restored and better then new
4) I would like to pay a bunch of money LESS then it's worth.
I said Perfert Bird didn't I?

Now in truth. I realize I have to get as close as I can to this
without out going over the actual retail value. Can I do it? I
guess that's the next chapter in the novel. Oh and I would like to
see at least 10mpg. There appear to be no newer 31 footers around.
Likely the price difference for longer was not that much and people
order the longer coaches.
So I guess I will try to find a 1984 or newer RB that I can afford.
Seems like that is as close as I will come.
I could buy an older 31ft and redo it but that is not going to be
workable do to the cost. But that would be the perfect Bird for me
or at least that's what I think at this point in time. JEH

In a message dated 5/24/2007 12:51:13 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
billpatty@... writes:

click on Before and After, then the 77 FC 31, I have seen this
Bird. This is the only one and beautiful. Maybe you can track it
to the present owner and convince him to give it away,,


I sold my 35FC a few years ago to the fella that felt my 35 was too long. He
traded that coach for Jeff Millers 31. He still is driving that coach and he
is in his 80's!! More power to him!! and that is one sweet coach.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Mt




************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My Opinion........ Your dream is next to impossible,,,,,

But you can see your dream on the Jeff Miller web site.

http://www.millercoachworks.com.

click on Before and After, then the 77 FC 31, I have seen this
Bird. This is the only one and beautiful. Maybe you can track it
to the present owner and convince him to give it away,,
Very very, Doubtful. Another opinion

Then look at the 83 FC 33 it is for sale now, at $38500,
Very real price and a very real bargain. also another opinion

Bill 88 FC



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> At this point on the curve of learning here is what I think I would
> like to own. I know it doesn't exist but I am interested in what
you
> think of my "ideal"
> 1) 31 ft seventies FC with rear bath (I know there are none)
> but I like that floor plan and I like the shorter buses. Just
don't
> need more and I like the looks of the older buses especially the
31's.
> 2) I want a replaced drive line and would prefer maybe a
> Cummins motor and of course a retarder. I feel I need the
additional
> power and the engine braking for the hills I expect to encounter
> 3) I would like the bus fully restored and better then new
> 4) I would like to pay a bunch of money LESS then it's
worth.
> I said Perfert Bird didn't I?
>
> Now in truth. I realize I have to get as close as I can to this
> without out going over the actual retail value. Can I do it? I
> guess that's the next chapter in the novel. Oh and I would like to
> see at least 10mpg. There appear to be no newer 31 footers around.
> Likely the price difference for longer was not that much and people
> order the longer coaches.
> So I guess I will try to find a 1984 or newer RB that I can
afford.
> Seems like that is as close as I will come.
> I could buy an older 31ft and redo it but that is not going to be
> workable do to the cost. But that would be the perfect Bird for me
> or at least that's what I think at this point in time. JEH
>

Bill, I agree completely. There are two listed right now that I
would like to check out. One is the one you mentioned the other is
the RB Dan has for sale at $42k I have the first week off in August
and I plan to get around to look at a couple of these coaches if
still available. I can't get away before then and I understand the
realities of waiting. I figure if I am patient I will eventually get
close to what I want. I will have to compromise some I am certain.
And then you never know. Might just get lucky. That 77 in Millers
before and after is just the ticket. John
>
>
> My Opinion........ Your dream is next to impossible,,,,,
>
> But you can see your dream on the Jeff Miller web site.
>
> http://www.millercoachworks.com.
>
> click on Before and After, then the 77 FC 31, I have seen this
> Bird. This is the only one and beautiful. Maybe you can track
it
> to the present owner and convince him to give it away,,
> Very very, Doubtful. Another opinion
>
> Then look at the 83 FC 33 it is for sale now, at $38500,
> Very real price and a very real bargain. also another opinion
>
> Bill 88 FC
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> wrote:
> >
> > At this point on the curve of learning here is what I think I
would
> > like to own. I know it doesn't exist but I am interested in what
> you
> > think of my "ideal"
> > 1) 31 ft seventies FC with rear bath (I know there are
none)
> > but I like that floor plan and I like the shorter buses. Just
> don't
> > need more and I like the looks of the older buses especially the
> 31's.
> > 2) I want a replaced drive line and would prefer maybe a
> > Cummins motor and of course a retarder. I feel I need the
> additional
> > power and the engine braking for the hills I expect to encounter
> > 3) I would like the bus fully restored and better then new
> > 4) I would like to pay a bunch of money LESS then it's
> worth.
> > I said Perfert Bird didn't I?
> >
> > Now in truth. I realize I have to get as close as I can to this
> > without out going over the actual retail value. Can I do it? I
> > guess that's the next chapter in the novel. Oh and I would like
to
> > see at least 10mpg. There appear to be no newer 31 footers
around.
> > Likely the price difference for longer was not that much and
people
> > order the longer coaches.
> > So I guess I will try to find a 1984 or newer RB that I can
> afford.
> > Seems like that is as close as I will come.
> > I could buy an older 31ft and redo it but that is not going to be
> > workable do to the cost. But that would be the perfect Bird for
me
> > or at least that's what I think at this point in time. JEH
> >
>

Here's my template for the Perfect Bird:

FC: Detroit Diesel 6V53T (225 HP) with Allison MT-643R or Cummins
6CTA8.3 (240 HP) with Allison MT-643R
PT: Detroit Diesel 8V92TA DDEC (440 or 475 HP) with Allison HTB-748
(actually this particular template is for real)
PT (if pre-1982): Detroit Diesel 8V71N (318 HP) or 8V71T (350 HP)
with Allison HT-740

What do you think?



Ben

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> At this point on the curve of learning here is what I think I would
> like to own. I know it doesn't exist but I am interested in what
you
> think of my "ideal"
> 1) 31 ft seventies FC with rear bath (I know there are none)
> but I like that floor plan and I like the shorter buses. Just
don't
> need more and I like the looks of the older buses especially the
31's.
> 2) I want a replaced drive line and would prefer maybe a
> Cummins motor and of course a retarder. I feel I need the
additional
> power and the engine braking for the hills I expect to encounter
> 3) I would like the bus fully restored and better then new
> 4) I would like to pay a bunch of money LESS then it's
worth.
> I said Perfert Bird didn't I?
>
> Now in truth. I realize I have to get as close as I can to this
> without out going over the actual retail value. Can I do it? I
> guess that's the next chapter in the novel. Oh and I would like to
> see at least 10mpg. There appear to be no newer 31 footers around.
> Likely the price difference for longer was not that much and people
> order the longer coaches.
> So I guess I will try to find a 1984 or newer RB that I can
afford.
> Seems like that is as close as I will come.
> I could buy an older 31ft and redo it but that is not going to be
> workable do to the cost. But that would be the perfect Bird for me
> or at least that's what I think at this point in time. JEH
>

On 5/24/07, Benjamin Edge wrote:
>
> Here's my template for the Perfect Bird:
>
> PT: Detroit Diesel 8V92TA DDEC (440 or 475 HP) with Allison HTB-748
> (actually this particular template is for real)

Hey, that's my Bird exactly. Good that someone else recognizes MINE is
the perfect one! LOL!! ;-)

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92 475hp / Allison HTB-748 (I think that's the right
tranny number - going off memory since I don't have the docs in front
of me)
Tri-Cities, WA