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A New Member to the Family! - Printable Version +- Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum (http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com) +-- Forum: Yahoo Groups Archive (/forumdisplay.php?fid=61) +--- Forum: WanderlodgeForum (/forumdisplay.php?fid=63) +--- Thread: A New Member to the Family! (/showthread.php?tid=2338) Pages: 1 2 |
A New Member to the Family! - Henry Jay Hannigan - 04-04-2006 10:56 ---Billy Dawson put an additional intake airhose on my ole 77FC and it improved performance about 10 to 20%..Recommend all FC owners consider having two intakes on the air cleaner. Regards, Hank Hannigan 90SP36 former 77FC33 owner Still in Australia In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" <MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote: > > PA has mountains, not hills. I was down to 35/40 on the route Andy took pulling my Honda Civic. Improving the air inlet delivery is a good thing and I plan on going up to 5" exhaust and losing the muffler, Dupree told me it wouldn't be too loud. I believe every thing Randy tells me. > MH > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Scott Forman > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 1:27 PM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: A New Member to the Family! > > > Andy, > > I have an 82 FC with your same engine, and while it is certainly not > quick, it performs much better than what you have described. Mine > will cruise comfortably 60-65 mph. Grades will slow it down, no > doubt about it, but I've never had one drop me below 50. Now, > granted, I have never crossed mountains, but it doesn't sound like > you did, either. Sounds like there may be a power reduction problem > your mechanic will need to find. Does the engine smoke under load? > Check your air cleaner element, too, I changed a severely clogged one > out last year and there was a noticable change in performance. > > Also, keep in mind that there is a bit of driving technique required > when driving these busses through hills, have to run hard downhill to > build up momentum to make it back up. > > Scott Forman > 82 FC35RB > Memphis > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > > > > Hello Everyone, > > > > Proud to say that I've just officially joined the Wanderlodge > Family. > > I'm now the owner of a 1983 FC-35 with a 225 HP turbo 3208. Bought > > it Sunday. Drove it 500 miles from Malta, Ohio to my home in > Central NJ. > > > > I wonder what the neighbors think about the new, brown addition to > my > > backyard! > > > > Bought the bus from a family that did not use it much. Only a few > > thousand miles of driving over the past 3.5 years. > > > > The power steering pump leaked fluid all the way home. Had to re- > fill > > several times. > > > > The worst problem I had, however, was speed. I averaged under 50 > MPH > > through the 500 mile journey. Some of the Pennsylvania hills on > Route > > 70 & 76 slowed my coach down to 25 MPH in the right lane with the > > emergency flashers on. Any upward elevation change, even slight > ones, > > slowed my coach down into the low 50s. It was the long climbs that > > choked it. And the only excess weight in the bus was my girlfriend, > > tool box and 100 gallons of gas! > > > > A good friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. He is going to take a > > look at the bus for me shortly. I told him about this great forum, > > and he recommended that I ask experienced folks like yourself if > this > > performance is normal, or an indication of a problem. > > > > I realize that they are heavy buses, but are they really that slow? > > Even with the turbo? Creeping along in the right lane is dangerous! > > > > My friend and I are going to change the fuel and air filters, adjust > > the valve lash, replace the belts. Anybody else have suggestions? > > They will be greatly appreciated! > > > > Andy Coleman > > Wanderlodge Virgin No More! > > 83 FC - 35. > > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > > > > > > > > > SPONSORED LINKS Recreational vehicles Wanderlodge Automotive maintenance > Recreational vehicle dealer Used recreational vehicles Automotive radiators > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > a.. Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web. > > b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > A New Member to the Family! - George Lowry - 04-04-2006 12:20 FWIW, I have been told that the turbo was originally sold as a noise muffling device. When I installed the Cummins 903 in my GM bus (with a shoe horn), there was not room for a muffler, so I had the 5" exhaust going straight out. It was not any louder than many motor homes or diesel pickups. Go for it... George Lowry '06 Alpine Apex - Formerly '95 WBDA 4203 Spearfish, SD - on the road to soggy Norcal. -----Original Message----- From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Mike Hohnstein Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:45 AM To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: A New Member to the Family! PA has mountains, not hills. I was down to 35/40 on the route Andy took pulling my Honda Civic. Improving the air inlet delivery is a good thing and I plan on going up to 5" exhaust and losing the muffler, Dupree told me it wouldn't be too loud. I believe every thing Randy tells me. MH ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Forman To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 1:27 PM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: A New Member to the Family! Andy, I have an 82 FC with your same engine, and while it is certainly not quick, it performs much better than what you have described. Mine will cruise comfortably 60-65 mph. Grades will slow it down, no doubt about it, but I've never had one drop me below 50. Now, granted, I have never crossed mountains, but it doesn't sound like you did, either. Sounds like there may be a power reduction problem your mechanic will need to find. Does the engine smoke under load? Check your air cleaner element, too, I changed a severely clogged one out last year and there was a noticable change in performance. Also, keep in mind that there is a bit of driving technique required when driving these busses through hills, have to run hard downhill to build up momentum to make it back up. Scott Forman 82 FC35RB Memphis --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > Hello Everyone, > > Proud to say that I've just officially joined the Wanderlodge Family. > I'm now the owner of a 1983 FC-35 with a 225 HP turbo 3208. Bought > it Sunday. Drove it 500 miles from Malta, Ohio to my home in Central NJ. > > I wonder what the neighbors think about the new, brown addition to my > backyard! > > Bought the bus from a family that did not use it much. Only a few > thousand miles of driving over the past 3.5 years. > > The power steering pump leaked fluid all the way home. Had to re- fill > several times. > > The worst problem I had, however, was speed. I averaged under 50 MPH > through the 500 mile journey. Some of the Pennsylvania hills on Route > 70 & 76 slowed my coach down to 25 MPH in the right lane with the > emergency flashers on. Any upward elevation change, even slight ones, > slowed my coach down into the low 50s. It was the long climbs that > choked it. And the only excess weight in the bus was my girlfriend, > tool box and 100 gallons of gas! > > A good friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. He is going to take a > look at the bus for me shortly. I told him about this great forum, > and he recommended that I ask experienced folks like yourself if this > performance is normal, or an indication of a problem. > > I realize that they are heavy buses, but are they really that slow? > Even with the turbo? Creeping along in the right lane is dangerous! > > My friend and I are going to change the fuel and air filters, adjust > the valve lash, replace the belts. Anybody else have suggestions? > They will be greatly appreciated! > > Andy Coleman > Wanderlodge Virgin No More! > 83 FC - 35. > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > SPONSORED LINKS Recreational vehicles Wanderlodge Automotive maintenance Recreational vehicle dealer Used recreational vehicles Automotive radiators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS a.. Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web. b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.5/300 - Release Date: 4/3/2006 A New Member to the Family! - Chuck Wheeler - 04-04-2006 14:02 Andy, I too bought a coach that had not been driven a great deal before I purchased it. I immediately had a full PM including the transmission done on it and the changed the belts and power steering hoses myself. The mechanic doing the work said that it just needed to be driven and to get some miles on it before I started spending money. For the first few tanks of diesel I added fuel conditioner/injector cleaner to the fuel. After we had put about 7000 miles on it I half filled the RACOR with conditioner to give the pump and injectors a good cleanout. Each two or three thousand miles I would suck all the transmission fluid out of the filler and replace it since the converter cannot be drained during service and that is where the majority of the oil is. As we put on the miles the coach became noticeably more responsive. The two items that made the most difference were adjusting the throttle cable and cooling down the intake air.. The cable had stretched enough that it was not obtaining wide open position. After reading the posts about modifications to the intake system I measured the amount of vacuum in the air cleaner. It was barely measurable but, I discovered that the air was very hot. Diesels like cool combustion air! I discovered that warm air was flowing around the radiator into the air intake. I insulated around the radiator and the temperature dropped close to the ambient temperature. I don't doubt the results other have seen modifying their air intakes, I just wonder how much in to reduced restrictions and how much is due to the induction of cooler air into the intake. I have a NA so the turbo 3208 may be a different beast. Our coach will now run 60-62 pretty easily and with a 5.29 rear end I don't push it much over that for any period of time. Hills are a time to enjoy the view! - Chuck Wheeler - 82 FC 31 SB Fort Worth, TX -----Original Message----- From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andy Coleman Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 1:15 AM To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] A New Member to the Family! Hello Everyone, Proud to say that I've just officially joined the Wanderlodge Family. I'm now the owner of a 1983 FC-35 with a 225 HP turbo 3208. Bought it Sunday. Drove it 500 miles from Malta, Ohio to my home in Central NJ. I wonder what the neighbors think about the new, brown addition to my backyard! Bought the bus from a family that did not use it much. Only a few thousand miles of driving over the past 3.5 years. The power steering pump leaked fluid all the way home. Had to re-fill several times. The worst problem I had, however, was speed. I averaged under 50 MPH through the 500 mile journey. Some of the Pennsylvania hills on Route 70 & 76 slowed my coach down to 25 MPH in the right lane with the emergency flashers on. Any upward elevation change, even slight ones, slowed my coach down into the low 50s. It was the long climbs that choked it. And the only excess weight in the bus was my girlfriend, tool box and 100 gallons of gas! A good friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. He is going to take a look at the bus for me shortly. I told him about this great forum, and he recommended that I ask experienced folks like yourself if this performance is normal, or an indication of a problem. I realize that they are heavy buses, but are they really that slow? Even with the turbo? Creeping along in the right lane is dangerous! My friend and I are going to change the fuel and air filters, adjust the valve lash, replace the belts. Anybody else have suggestions? They will be greatly appreciated! Andy Coleman Wanderlodge Virgin No More! 83 FC - 35. Spring Lake Heights, NJ SPONSORED LINKS Recreational <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Recreational+vehicles&w1=Recreational+v ehicles&w2=Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehicle+dea ler&w5=Used+recreational+vehicles&w6=Automotive+radiators&c=6&s=163&.sig=DAU kCKkU7Dzhn_ObWmSYTw> vehicles Wanderlodge <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Wanderlodge&w1=Recreational+vehicles&w2 =Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehicle+dealer&w5=Use d+recreational+vehicles&w6=Automotive+radiators&c=6&s=163&.sig=Z-8HJdysB3QLP j9U0JvqYQ> Automotive <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Automotive+maintenance&w1=Recreational+ vehicles&w2=Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehicle+de aler&w5=Used+recreational+vehicles&w6=Automotive+radiators&c=6&s=163&.sig=IF 4u_5wI8Pmy34cC1O9CxA> maintenance Recreational <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Recreational+vehicle+dealer&w1=Recreati onal+vehicles&w2=Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehic le+dealer&w5=Used+recreational+vehicles&w6=Automotive+radiators&c=6&s=163&.s ig=z6_XahaeYHfELr6o72IW1A> vehicle dealer Used <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Used+recreational+vehicles&w1=Recreatio nal+vehicles&w2=Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehicl e+dealer&w5=Used+recreational+vehicles&w6=Automotive+radiators&c=6&s=163&.si g=UGEY5km4L-kXbDI4ZSadEw> recreational vehicles Automotive <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Automotive+radiators&w1=Recreational+ve hicles&w2=Wanderlodge&w3=Automotive+maintenance&w4=Recreational+vehicle+deal er&w5=Used+recreational+vehicles&w6=Automotive+radiators&c=6&s=163&.sig=ePNV MmISsCWgTnMq_4GlXA> radiators _____ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS * Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum> " on the web. * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> . _____ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] A New Member to the Family! - Jay Darst - 04-04-2006 14:11 learn to manually downshift early so that you maintain 2,300 or more RPM on FC's and 1,750 RPM on DD's. Keeps the engine making a lot of boost, thus more HP. Jay Darst 85PT40 Springfield, IL after a 1,802 mile run(roundtrip) to Maxton, NC to THE funnest Bird group rally EVER! --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...> wrote: > > Andy, > > I have an 82 FC with your same engine, and while it is certainly not > quick, it performs much better than what you have described. Mine > will cruise comfortably 60-65 mph. Grades will slow it down, no > doubt about it, but I've never had one drop me below 50. Now, > granted, I have never crossed mountains, but it doesn't sound like > you did, either. Sounds like there may be a power reduction problem > your mechanic will need to find. Does the engine smoke under load? > Check your air cleaner element, too, I changed a severely clogged one > out last year and there was a noticable change in performance. > > Also, keep in mind that there is a bit of driving technique required > when driving these busses through hills, have to run hard downhill to > build up momentum to make it back up. > > Scott Forman > 82 FC35RB > Memphis > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > > > > Hello Everyone, > > > > Proud to say that I've just officially joined the Wanderlodge > Family. > > I'm now the owner of a 1983 FC-35 with a 225 HP turbo 3208. Bought > > it Sunday. Drove it 500 miles from Malta, Ohio to my home in > Central NJ. > > > > I wonder what the neighbors think about the new, brown addition to > my > > backyard! > > > > Bought the bus from a family that did not use it much. Only a few > > thousand miles of driving over the past 3.5 years. > > > > The power steering pump leaked fluid all the way home. Had to re- > fill > > several times. > > > > The worst problem I had, however, was speed. I averaged under 50 > MPH > > through the 500 mile journey. Some of the Pennsylvania hills on > Route > > 70 & 76 slowed my coach down to 25 MPH in the right lane with the > > emergency flashers on. Any upward elevation change, even slight > ones, > > slowed my coach down into the low 50s. It was the long climbs that > > choked it. And the only excess weight in the bus was my girlfriend, > > tool box and 100 gallons of gas! > > > > A good friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. He is going to take a > > look at the bus for me shortly. I told him about this great forum, > > and he recommended that I ask experienced folks like yourself if > this > > performance is normal, or an indication of a problem. > > > > I realize that they are heavy buses, but are they really that slow? > > Even with the turbo? Creeping along in the right lane is dangerous! > > > > My friend and I are going to change the fuel and air filters, adjust > > the valve lash, replace the belts. Anybody else have suggestions? > > They will be greatly appreciated! > > > > Andy Coleman > > Wanderlodge Virgin No More! > > 83 FC - 35. > > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > > > A New Member to the Family! - Andy Coleman - 04-04-2006 18:27 Hello Jay, Thank you for your post. My "new" 83 bird does not downshift until it hits 1,700 RPM. I should probably adjust that somehow. You are right - I noticed that once I dropped below 2,000 or so, I lost most of my power. I could not recover until the hill ended. I did manually downshift quite a bit on my trip home. On one hill, I was going so slow in 3rd, I actually had to downshift into 2nd. Is 2nd bad for the trans? Also, since the 647 Allison does not lock the torque converter until 3rd gear, was I slipping the transmission and making matters evern worse? On the bigger hills, it seemed as though all the factors compounded themselves into a speed so slow I could have jumped out and ran faster! I have much work to do, and much to learn! Andy --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jay Darst" wrote: > > learn to manually downshift early so that you maintain 2,300 or more > RPM on FC's and 1,750 RPM on DD's. Keeps the engine making a lot of > boost, thus more HP. > > Jay Darst > 85PT40 > Springfield, IL after a 1,802 mile run(roundtrip) to Maxton, NC to > THE funnest Bird group rally EVER! > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" > <sforman@> wrote: > > > > Andy, > > > > I have an 82 FC with your same engine, and while it is certainly > not > > quick, it performs much better than what you have described. Mine > > will cruise comfortably 60-65 mph. Grades will slow it down, no > > doubt about it, but I've never had one drop me below 50. Now, > > granted, I have never crossed mountains, but it doesn't sound like > > you did, either. Sounds like there may be a power reduction > problem > > your mechanic will need to find. Does the engine smoke under > load? > > Check your air cleaner element, too, I changed a severely clogged > one > > out last year and there was a noticable change in performance. > > > > Also, keep in mind that there is a bit of driving technique > required > > when driving these busses through hills, have to run hard downhill > to > > build up momentum to make it back up. > > > > Scott Forman > > 82 FC35RB > > Memphis > > > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > > > > > > > Hello Everyone, > > > > > > Proud to say that I've just officially joined the Wanderlodge > > Family. > > > I'm now the owner of a 1983 FC-35 with a 225 HP turbo 3208. > Bought > > > it Sunday. Drove it 500 miles from Malta, Ohio to my home in > > Central NJ. > > > > > > I wonder what the neighbors think about the new, brown addition > to > > my > > > backyard! > > > > > > Bought the bus from a family that did not use it much. Only a > few > > > thousand miles of driving over the past 3.5 years. > > > > > > The power steering pump leaked fluid all the way home. Had to > re- > > fill > > > several times. > > > > > > The worst problem I had, however, was speed. I averaged under > 50 > > MPH > > > through the 500 mile journey. Some of the Pennsylvania hills on > > Route > > > 70 & 76 slowed my coach down to 25 MPH in the right lane with the > > > emergency flashers on. Any upward elevation change, even slight > > ones, > > > slowed my coach down into the low 50s. It was the long climbs > that > > > choked it. And the only excess weight in the bus was my > girlfriend, > > > tool box and 100 gallons of gas! > > > > > > A good friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. He is going to take > a > > > look at the bus for me shortly. I told him about this great > forum, > > > and he recommended that I ask experienced folks like yourself if > > this > > > performance is normal, or an indication of a problem. > > > > > > I realize that they are heavy buses, but are they really that > slow? > > > Even with the turbo? Creeping along in the right lane is > dangerous! > > > > > > My friend and I are going to change the fuel and air filters, > adjust > > > the valve lash, replace the belts. Anybody else have > suggestions? > > > They will be greatly appreciated! > > > > > > Andy Coleman > > > Wanderlodge Virgin No More! > > > 83 FC - 35. > > > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > > > > > > |