$10,000: fix or sell?

[Greg Young]

On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated.
Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in
Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the
8V92.

Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including cracked
heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental questions
are:
Does anyone have any experience with Britt?
What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it?

I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up selling
it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what might it
be worth and how long to sell for pats?

Background:
On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it was
the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the
switch before this trip expecting it to fix it but there was something else
wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly
thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs.
Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on
and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only
pay to
Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno.
The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop.

Thanks
Greg

[Curt Sprenger]

Greg,
Sorry about your trouble, not good. I know nothing about Britt's. Looked it up, found one - and one +. FWIW.

Pedco in Santa Fe Springs, CA is very good. The name might have changed of late.
Mondo is the man. 

9911 Norwalk Boulevard
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670-3321
(562) 944-3199.

Other 'Brid owners have used their service and were pleased. My buddy, a mobile mechanic, recommends Pedco. They saved one 'Bird owner about $10,000.00 vs what Valley Detroit wanted.


Hope this helps some.

Good luck. 
.
Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:53 PM, Greg Young <"gregy1@yahoo.com"> wrote:

 

On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated. Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the 8V92.



Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including cracked heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental questions are:

Does anyone have any experience with Britt?

What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it?



I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up selling it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what might it be worth and how long to sell for pats?



Background:

On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it was the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the switch before this trip expecting it to fix it but there was something else wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs. Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only pay to

Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno. The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop.



Thanks

Greg

[Markus Meyer]

There was a recent similar situation where the Bird sold for 5K I believe in that condition, another few thousand to have it towed. Towing these monsters isn't cheap.



Having said that, I'd check around for a used motor, you can find one for less than the price you are being quoted, including installation.

Markus

86 PT40 6V92

---

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: gregy1@...
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 20:53:10 -0700
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell?

On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated. Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the 8V92.

Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including cracked heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental questions are:
Does anyone have any experience with Britt?
What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it?

I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up selling it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what might it be worth and how long to sell for pats?

Background:
On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it was the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the switch before this trip expecting it to fix it but there was something else wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs. Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only pay to
Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno. The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop.

Thanks
Greg

[trudylundgren]

We were in a similar situation last year -- engine overheated and had to be
rebuilt to the tune of $20,000. We chose to spend the money because our 1985
PT40 is paid for, we were in Las Vegas and had access to a good repair shop, and
we work and had to get to our next job ASAP.

It was a tough decision -- I was this close to trading it in as is on a used
SOB, but decided I didn't want to take on a monthly payment. Also -- bottom
line, we love our bird and couldn't imagine being in another coach, even if it
did have slide-outs.


Trudy Lundgren
Lisa Wade

1985 PT 40 Ð The Catbird Seat
Currently working in beautiful Glenwood Springs,CO





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Markus Meyer wrote:
>
>
> There was a recent similar situation where the Bird sold for 5K I believe in
that condition, another few thousand to have it towed. Towing these monsters
isn't cheap.
>
> Having said that, I'd check around for a used motor, you can find one for less
than the price you are being quoted, including installation.
>
> Markus
> 86 PT40 6V92
>
>
>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> From: gregy1@...
> Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 20:53:10 -0700
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated.
Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in
Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the
8V92.
>
> Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including
cracked heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental
questions are:
> Does anyone have any experience with Britt?
> What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it?
>
> I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up
selling it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what
might it be worth and how long to sell for pats?
>
> Background:
> On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it
was the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the
switch before this trip expecting it to fix it but there was something else
wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly
thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs.
Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on
and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only
pay to
> Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno.
The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop.
>
> Thanks
> Greg
>

[Ron Thompson]

This does not bode well for Good Sam ERS, which I have recently subscribed to. They won't tow it to the nearest service center which has the ability to do what you need? What is the use of the service then? I think Good Sam should step in here and answer that question? Ron Thompson -Waller, Tx. 1995 WLWB 42' (cockyfox@...) --- On Tue, 9/7/10, Greg Young wrote: From: Greg Young Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell? To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com" Date: Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 10:53 PM On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated. Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the 8V92. Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including cracked heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental questions are: Does anyone have any experience with Britt? What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it? I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up selling it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what might it be worth and how long to sell for pats? Background: On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it was the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the switch before this trip expecting it to fix it but there was something else wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs. Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only pay to Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno. The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop. Thanks Greg

[Dan Williams]

Greg, There should be a way to prevent these engines from overheating. They are just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a coolant line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the bulk oil fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to be addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?

Dan

88PT38

Jackson, MS

---

From: Greg Young
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Tue, September 7, 2010 10:53:10 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell?

On the road to Burning Man two weeks ago our '86 PT-40, Bluefire, overheated. Background and story later, but it is now at Britt's Diesel & Automotive in Bishop CA. It's a family run shop with some mechanics old enough to know the 8V92.

Thus far I have a verbal estimate of around $10,000 to fix it, including cracked heads, cracked liner, cooling system and turbo damage. My fundamental questions are:
Does anyone have any experience with Britt?
What are the economics of selling (broken) it if we chose not to fix it?

I think we will fix it but want to understand the options. If we end up selling it I imagine we'd need to tow it to L.A. to find a customer. But what might it be worth and how long to sell for pats?

Background:
On our trip last year the hydraulic fan started to not come on. I assumed it was the high temp switch and just hit the override when needed. I replaced the switch before this trip expecting it to
fix it but there was something else wrong - relay? - and I had to continue to rely on the override. So I foolishly thought to save a few pennies on fuel by switching the fan off on downhill runs. Of course there was the moment of distraction when I forgot to turn the fan on and we overheated about 17 miles west Of Tonopah NV. Our Good Sam ERS would only pay to
Towto Bishop even though the nearest DD authorized service center was in Reno. The surcharge to tow to Reno would have been $1400. So it's in Bishop.

Thanks
Greg

[Markus Meyer]

The coolant lines are a huge liability, especially the one to the compressor. When I bought my 86 earlier this year, even though it came with records of work done, I had them replaced, and good thing too - as they crumbled when touched. Ticking time bomb. Guess the fleet buses get serviced so often and driven so much this isn't an issue for them. But with our RVs, which sit a lot, age is more of a killer than mileage.

Markus

86 PT40

---

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: dangw@...
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 07:18:42 -0700
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell?

Greg, There should be a way to prevent these engines from overheating. They are just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a coolant line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the bulk oil fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to be addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?

Dan

88PT38

Jackson, MS

[Don Bradner]

There are various reasons for overheating. In this case it was a failure
somewhere in the alarmstat process to start the fan up at its upper temp, and
the solution was known, which was to use the override.

Over on WOG we've been having a long discussion about Coolant temps in the PTs.
Tom Warner has been taking the position that you are better off letting the
alarmstat do its thing, and I've been arguing for constant override. Greg's
terrible situation improves my argument.

On 9/8/2010 at 7:18 AM Dan Williams wrote:

>Greg, There should be a way to prevent these engines from overheating.Â
>They are
>just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a
>coolant
>line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the
>bulk oil
>fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to be
>addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?
>
>Dan
>88PT38
>Jackson, MS

[Robert Johannesen]

Mine was the result of a clogged radiator core - It is hard to inspect without removal and taking the top or bottom off. But the new core would have been only$1700 if I had installed it myself. The hose inlets didn't show any buildup.

---

From: Don Bradner
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, September 8, 2010 10:47:50 AM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] $10,000: fix or sell?

There are various reasons for overheating. In this case it was a failure somewhere in the alarmstat process to start the fan up at its upper temp, and the solution was known, which was to use the override.

Over on WOG we've been having a long discussion about Coolant temps in the PTs. Tom Warner has been taking the position that you are better off letting the alarmstat do its thing, and I've been arguing for constant override. Greg's terrible situation improves my argument.

On 9/8/2010 at 7:18 AM Dan Williams wrote:

>Greg, There should be a way to
prevent these engines from overheating.
>They are
>just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a
>coolant
>line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the
>bulk oil
>fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to be
>addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?
>
>Dan
>88PT38
>Jackson, MS




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[mbulriss]

Don,

+1 on the constant override! I feel much more comfortable with that temp gauge
sitting on 180, than cycling up to 195 and then back down. 195 doesn't leave
much wiggle room for a heating problem.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" wrote:
>
> There are various reasons for overheating. In this case it was a failure
somewhere in the alarmstat process to start the fan up at its upper temp, and
the solution was known, which was to use the override.
>
> Over on WOG we've been having a long discussion about Coolant temps in the
PTs. Tom Warner has been taking the position that you are better off letting the
alarmstat do its thing, and I've been arguing for constant override. Greg's
terrible situation improves my argument.
>
> On 9/8/2010 at 7:18 AM Dan Williams wrote:
>
> >Greg, There should be a way to prevent these engines from overheating.Â
> >They are
> >just too expensive to repair. One thing I have read is if you blow a
> >coolant
> >line and it starts to overheat you can pump in a gallon of oil from the
> >bulk oil
> >fill tank and possibly save the engine. But this oveheating needs to be
> >addressed. Who can afford 20Kplus to rebuild?
> >
> >Dan
> >88PT38
> >Jackson, MS
>