Looks like Rebel Bird has some competition on the block

[Jon]

Boy that coach on the opening page sure is a thing of beauty. I love
that paint job, someone was very creative when they thought of that
Idea.. Very nice coach inside and I'm sure the new owner is just proud
to drive that unit. Thanks for the great picture and got to love those
older Wanderlodges.

Jon
Rebel Bird

[bubblerboy64]

Thanks for the compliment Jon. I can't take credit for the paint
work. The previous owner designed and had it done. He also did the
engine swap and mechanical restoration. He owned the bus 9 years. I
am the fifth owner since new. I've been working on it since I
acquired it in July and have mostly been working to improve and
update the interior. Lots of odds and ends. It was listed on the
Bill Board about 30 minutes before I e-mailed the owner and made
arrangements to buy it. It was listed reasonably and I did not
attempt to negotiate the price. I am pleased with the coach and have
not had one single problem with it that I was not aware of when I
bought it. It drives very well, gets an honest 10 mpg and other then
being a little noisy its a very nice coach. I am working on getting
the noise situation dialed back. I have insulated the dog house with
a couple layers of carpet and right now the most of the sound is
coming from under the dash and floor area. I intend to get together
with Steve and work over this area ASAP . I also bought a pair of
the Bose noise canceling ear phones which really
help a lot. Once I get the interior completed I will post some more
pictures. In the process of getting new wheels and tires on it. I
did not spring for the Alcoa's. Steel wheels and the wheel
simulators (new hub caps really) will do the job. Can't afford the
Alcoa's right now. Maybe some time. I try to do a little work on it
each week and that way in a couple months it should be completely
finished (if that ever really happens?)
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC






>
> Boy that coach on the opening page sure is a thing of beauty. I
love
> that paint job, someone was very creative when they thought of that
> Idea.. Very nice coach inside and I'm sure the new owner is just
proud
> to drive that unit. Thanks for the great picture and got to love
those
> older Wanderlodges.
>
> Jon
> Rebel Bird
>

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> Thanks for the compliment Jon. I can't take credit for the paint
> work. The previous owner designed and had it done. He also did the
> engine swap and mechanical restoration. He owned the bus 9 years.
I
> am the fifth owner since new. I've been working on it since I
> acquired it in July and have mostly been working to improve and
> update the interior. Lots of odds and ends. It was listed on the
> Bill Board about 30 minutes before I e-mailed the owner and made
> arrangements to buy it. It was listed reasonably and I did not
> attempt to negotiate the price. I am pleased with the coach and
have
> not had one single problem with it that I was not aware of when I
> bought it. It drives very well, gets an honest 10 mpg and other
then
> being a little noisy its a very nice coach. I am working on getting
> the noise situation dialed back. I have insulated the dog house
with
> a couple layers of carpet and right now the most of the sound is
> coming from under the dash and floor area. I intend to get
together
> with Steve and work over this area ASAP . I also bought a pair of
> the Bose noise canceling ear phones which really
> help a lot. Once I get the interior completed I will post some more
> pictures. In the process of getting new wheels and tires on it. I
> did not spring for the Alcoa's. Steel wheels and the wheel
> simulators (new hub caps really) will do the job. Can't afford the
> Alcoa's right now. Maybe some time. I try to do a little work on
it
> each week and that way in a couple months it should be completely
> finished (if that ever really happens?)
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > Boy that coach on the opening page sure is a thing of beauty. I
> love
> > that paint job, someone was very creative when they thought of
that
> > Idea.. Very nice coach inside and I'm sure the new owner is just
> proud
> > to drive that unit. Thanks for the great picture and got to love
> those
> > older Wanderlodges.
> >
> > Jon
> > Rebel Bird
> >




>Thanks for the interesting information on your coach!
That engine noise in nothing unusual for a Forward Control
Wanderlodge. The previous owner install in the doghouse some sound
dampening material and it does keep the noise down but it still a
little nosy. Do you have carpet over the doghouse? my coach has
that and also I place a large fancy pillow over the end of the box on
top of it and that helps a little.

What is your top end? Mine seems to be happy at around 60 but I'm
going to change out my rear gears from 5.29 to 4.88. I have made
contact with a good friend of mine who runs a RV shop and he said
that maybe he could do the whole job for 2,000 dollars. Not only with
this reduce the engine noise at higher speeds but if I want to go 65
I will be able to do that also with not straning the engine.

Could you post some pictures on the photo site? I'm sure allot of us
old Wanderlodge owners would like to check out your rig.

Jipjob
Rebel Bird

[bubblerboy64]

Jon, I will post some pictures as soon as I get thru a project or
two. Right now the front couch is apart getting recovered and I also
have some work to do in the kitchen area. So when I get closer to
done I will post. I took a look at your pictures and I noticed some
similarities in our approach to things. My bus is supposed to be
governed at 72 mph. I generally cruise at between 2200 and 2400 rpm
which is 55 to maybe 62 mph. The spedo is off so an indicated 65 is
about 60. I don't know it it would hit 72 mph or not that would be
about 80 showing on the spedo and that's too fast for me. I don't
know what the gear ratio is but I do know the rear end is out of a
1978 FC so what ever is the stock ratio is I guess what's in there.
My coach being a 31 ft is a little lighter(?) then the 35 ft FC's It
is
running 23500 lbs loaded with fuel and water.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC





>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the compliment Jon. I can't take credit for the paint
> > work. The previous owner designed and had it done. He also did
the
> > engine swap and mechanical restoration. He owned the bus 9
years.
> I
> > am the fifth owner since new. I've been working on it since I
> > acquired it in July and have mostly been working to improve and
> > update the interior. Lots of odds and ends. It was listed on the
> > Bill Board about 30 minutes before I e-mailed the owner and made
> > arrangements to buy it. It was listed reasonably and I did not
> > attempt to negotiate the price. I am pleased with the coach and
> have
> > not had one single problem with it that I was not aware of when I
> > bought it. It drives very well, gets an honest 10 mpg and other
> then
> > being a little noisy its a very nice coach. I am working on
getting
> > the noise situation dialed back. I have insulated the dog house
> with
> > a couple layers of carpet and right now the most of the sound is
> > coming from under the dash and floor area. I intend to get
> together
> > with Steve and work over this area ASAP . I also bought a pair
of
> > the Bose noise canceling ear phones which really
> > help a lot. Once I get the interior completed I will post some
more
> > pictures. In the process of getting new wheels and tires on it.
I
> > did not spring for the Alcoa's. Steel wheels and the wheel
> > simulators (new hub caps really) will do the job. Can't afford
the
> > Alcoa's right now. Maybe some time. I try to do a little work on
> it
> > each week and that way in a couple months it should be
completely
> > finished (if that ever really happens?)
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Boy that coach on the opening page sure is a thing of beauty.
I
> > love
> > > that paint job, someone was very creative when they thought of
> that
> > > Idea.. Very nice coach inside and I'm sure the new owner is
just
> > proud
> > > to drive that unit. Thanks for the great picture and got to
love
> > those
> > > older Wanderlodges.
> > >
> > > Jon
> > > Rebel Bird
> > >
>
>
>
>
> >Thanks for the interesting information on your coach!
> That engine noise in nothing unusual for a Forward Control
> Wanderlodge. The previous owner install in the doghouse some sound
> dampening material and it does keep the noise down but it still a
> little nosy. Do you have carpet over the doghouse? my coach has
> that and also I place a large fancy pillow over the end of the box
on
> top of it and that helps a little.
>
> What is your top end? Mine seems to be happy at around 60 but I'm
> going to change out my rear gears from 5.29 to 4.88. I have made
> contact with a good friend of mine who runs a RV shop and he said
> that maybe he could do the whole job for 2,000 dollars. Not only
with
> this reduce the engine noise at higher speeds but if I want to go 65
> I will be able to do that also with not straning the engine.
>
> Could you post some pictures on the photo site? I'm sure allot of us
> old Wanderlodge owners would like to check out your rig.
>
> Jipjob
> Rebel Bird
>