Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum - Cat 3208-powered FCs

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Did most of the FCs with factory 3208NA/3208T motors use MT643
trannies? Or more likely the AT545?

The critter I'm looking at (the blue 6BT engine critter) apparantly has
an AT545. I suspect the lockup 643 might net be a bit better milage and
be better suited to the eventual 24,000lb travelling weight I might hit...

Thanks!

Jim

No lock on 545 converter, usable for school bus or urban stop and go
service. Low HP limit. Won't work for hiway use.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, WI
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim March"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 10:29 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Cat 3208-powered FCs - which tranny was stock?

> Did most of the FCs with factory 3208NA/3208T motors use MT643
> trannies? Or more likely the AT545?
>
> The critter I'm looking at (the blue 6BT engine critter) apparantly has
> an AT545. I suspect the lockup 643 might net be a bit better milage and
> be better suited to the eventual 24,000lb travelling weight I might hit...
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Mike Hohnstein wrote:

>No lock on 545 converter, usable for school bus or urban stop and go
>service. Low HP limit. Won't work for hiway use.
>Mike Hohnstein
>Germantown, WI
>83FC35
>

Let's ask the question a different way: the Bluebird conversion I'm
considering was almost certainly a gasser when shipped in '73. I now
know from the owner that in non-visible areas like the door frame there
are a few traces of schoolbus yellow paint so despite the "adult size"
roof clearance of 6'4", this *was* a skoolie at one point. We also know
it had 5.36 rear gears when stock and had an auto tranny all it's life.
It now has a 6BT Cummins which *can't* be stock, it's vintage late '80's
or so.

So the question is, what are the odds the auto tranny that's in there is
a 545 or other NON "locker" tranny, stock from the critter's gasser days?

Probably pretty good?

What trannies were in the Wanderlodge gassers of the '70s?

What tranny was in the early to mid-era 3208 based FCs?

Understand, I'm not looking for opinions on what tranny is any good, I'm
trying to figure out what's in there now.

Jim

I would more likely ASSuME that the tranny was installed with the Cummins. I
believe that most Early 70's Gassers had the old six speed allison. Most low hp
6BT-5.9's had the 5-series allison, unless they were optioned for a heavier
application (trash truck?) in which case they would have the 6-series. However,
i would also expect that those heavier applications would have been intercooled
for the additional power. So I would assume it to be a 5-series.
Another drawback to the 5-series, an exhaust brake will not be very useable as
there is too much slippage.

The seller doesn't know which tranny is in there?
If not, did they ever service it? hmm.

Good luck.

ken

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim March
So the question is, what are the odds the auto tranny that's in there is
a 545 or other NON "locker" tranny, stock from the critter's gasser days?

What trannies were in the Wanderlodge gassers of the '70s?

Ken Sann

Jim I have watched this discussion of your interest in a converted
"schoolie" with interest. Unless you have really got your heart set on this
particular coach, and unless you are getting it dirt cheap, $5000 or so,
then I would run away from it like it has the plague. These types of
conversions that have been done by individuals are becoming harder to
ensure, and if you want to ever trade up........no one is going to want it
in trade.

If your budget is around $15,000 you can buy a FC model and have all of the
headaches like waste tanks and insurability already taken care of.

Why are you considering this coach anyway?

Just trying to help

Tom Warner
1982 FC35
Vernon Center,NY

At 09:32 AM 5/11/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>Mike Hohnstein wrote:
>
> >No lock on 545 converter, usable for school bus or urban stop and go
> >service. Low HP limit. Won't work for hiway use.
> >Mike Hohnstein
> >Germantown, WI
> >83FC35
> >
>
>Let's ask the question a different way: the Bluebird conversion I'm
>considering was almost certainly a gasser when shipped in '73. I now
>know from the owner that in non-visible areas like the door frame there
>are a few traces of schoolbus yellow paint so despite the "adult size"
>roof clearance of 6'4", this *was* a skoolie at one point. We also know
>it had 5.36 rear gears when stock and had an auto tranny all it's life.
>It now has a 6BT Cummins which *can't* be stock, it's vintage late '80's
>or so.
>
>So the question is, what are the odds the auto tranny that's in there is
>a 545 or other NON "locker" tranny, stock from the critter's gasser days?
>
>Probably pretty good?
>
>What trannies were in the Wanderlodge gassers of the '70s?
>
>What tranny was in the early to mid-era 3208 based FCs?
>
>Understand, I'm not looking for opinions on what tranny is any good, I'm
>trying to figure out what's in there now.
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Ken Sann wrote:

> I would more likely ASSuME that the tranny was installed with the
> Cummins. I believe that most Early 70's Gassers had the old six speed
> allison. Most low hp 6BT-5.9's had the 5-series allison, unless they
> were optioned for a heavier application (trash truck?) in which case
> they would have the 6-series. However, i would also expect that those
> heavier applications would have been intercooled for the additional
> power. So I would assume it to be a 5-series.
> Another drawback to the 5-series, an exhaust brake will not be very
> useable as there is too much slippage.
>
> The seller doesn't know which tranny is in there?
> If not, did they ever service it? hmm.
>
> Good luck.

Yeah, but he's only had it a year and a half. One of THOSE situations.
He's changed the oil...

Question: is there a decent manual that will plug in behind a 6BT? I
realize it'd be a painful conversion but damn, a Roadranger would be SWEET.

Jim

Tom Warner wrote:

> Jim I have watched this discussion of your interest in a converted
> "schoolie" with interest. Unless you have really got your heart set on
> this
> particular coach, and unless you are getting it dirt cheap, $5000 or so,
> then I would run away from it like it has the plague. These types of
> conversions that have been done by individuals are becoming harder to
> ensure, and if you want to ever trade up........no one is going to
> want it
> in trade.
>
> If your budget is around $15,000 you can buy a FC model and have all
> of the
> headaches like waste tanks and insurability already taken care of.
>
> Why are you considering this coach anyway?
>
> Just trying to help
>
> Tom Warner

Basic idea here is that if I start with a factory Wanderlodge FC35, the
only way to do an inboard motorcycle garage/shop area is to throw a
skoolie-type door on the rear and hollow out the rear bedroom, living in
the area forward of that.

Now that IS doable.

But the blue critter with that short area behind the rear axle can be
extended back and a real garage 6' long and 8ft wide can be tacked on -
I've priced it out at around $7k. For my needs, that would be very
valuable. This will be (among other things) a mobile political activism
center driven in urban areas, and in some cases doing "urban
dry-camping" where the security of having a single enclosed unit (vs.
rig and trailer) will be invaluable.

Second point: if I go with a factory conversion I run smack (literally)
into problem #2. FC35 roof heights seen to range from 6'2" to 6'3".
Damned if I know why. At 6'4" personally, that's an issue.

This blue beastie has the "adult size" roof same as the military
transports, prison transports and other special-use Bluebirds of the era.

Finally, I am *not* purchasing for long-term resale value. I'm not
dumb, I'm well aware that will be an issue. I'm looking for a rig for
MY needs for the next 20 years. This can be adapted in that direction.

Jim

At 5/11/2005 04:12 PM, Jim March wrote:
>... This will be (among other things) a mobile political activism
>center driven in urban areas, and in some cases doing "urban
>dry-camping" where the security of having a single enclosed unit (vs.
>rig and trailer) will be invaluable.

I'm afraid this would be a budget buster :-( but talk about a single
enclosed unit! I've been fascinated by this for a while. You can talk about
our Bluebirds being built like tanks, but they still aren't quite up to the
scale of this:

http://www.steelwheels4x4.com/

--
Dennis Nichols
'88 WB40 XXV
"Priscilla"

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.8 - Release Date: 5/10/2005

OK now I get it. My next door neighbor just bought a new Freightliner with
some kind of camper do dad on the back. Its actually a long wheel base
diesel cab and the front half is living quarters and the rear is for his
two motorcycles and a snowmobile, with a ramp to drive them in on. That to
me would seem like a better choice since the freightliner would always be
sellable. I suppose you could use any long wheel base diesel truck for it.
If you are thinking about the schoolies then there are literally 1000s of
them for sale every year. But then have you thought of a used Greyhound
bus or a transit to start with?

tom
1982 FC35
Vernon Center,NY

At 02:12 PM 5/11/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>Tom Warner wrote:
>
> > Jim I have watched this discussion of your interest in a converted
> > "schoolie" with interest. Unless you have really got your heart set on
> > this
> > particular coach, and unless you are getting it dirt cheap, $5000 or so,
> > then I would run away from it like it has the plague. These types of
> > conversions that have been done by individuals are becoming harder to
> > ensure, and if you want to ever trade up........no one is going to
> > want it
> > in trade.
> >
> > If your budget is around $15,000 you can buy a FC model and have all
> > of the
> > headaches like waste tanks and insurability already taken care of.
> >
> > Why are you considering this coach anyway?
> >
> > Just trying to help
> >
> > Tom Warner
>
>
>Basic idea here is that if I start with a factory Wanderlodge FC35, the
>only way to do an inboard motorcycle garage/shop area is to throw a
>skoolie-type door on the rear and hollow out the rear bedroom, living in
>the area forward of that.
>
>Now that IS doable.
>
>But the blue critter with that short area behind the rear axle can be
>extended back and a real garage 6' long and 8ft wide can be tacked on -
>I've priced it out at around $7k. For my needs, that would be very
>valuable. This will be (among other things) a mobile political activism
>center driven in urban areas, and in some cases doing "urban
>dry-camping" where the security of having a single enclosed unit (vs.
>rig and trailer) will be invaluable.
>
>Second point: if I go with a factory conversion I run smack (literally)
>into problem #2. FC35 roof heights seen to range from 6'2" to 6'3".
>Damned if I know why. At 6'4" personally, that's an issue.
>
>This blue beastie has the "adult size" roof same as the military
>transports, prison transports and other special-use Bluebirds of the era.
>
>Finally, I am *not* purchasing for long-term resale value. I'm not
>dumb, I'm well aware that will be an issue. I'm looking for a rig for
>MY needs for the next 20 years. This can be adapted in that direction.
>
>Jim
>
>
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