Painting and updating an '84 PT-40

[pt40wl1]

Hey Team,

We have an '84 PT-40 Wanderlodge. We are in the process of toing a
total restoration/update on the classic bird.

First of all, these birds are very well built and somewhat eccentric
in some aspects. I am learning stuff every day and having fun in
the process.

Tires are necessary so check the date code (see the codes in the
files section) and I found two cracked aluminum rims on mine when I
pulled off the rims for new tires and polishing the rims. The
original rims were not the alcoa brand. The rims had cracked around
the bolt-hole in a circular pattern.

Check for mud-dauber nests in all the vents and furnace vents to the
outside, Check the air intake system for wasp nests that will block
airflow to the engine, plan to change all the fluids and filters
including the axle gear oil, the belts and the hoses. Your coach
should have the 6V92 TA engine. It is a two cycle and the engine
manual is available from Detroit Diesel service facilities for about
$175.00 If you do your own maintenance it is a big help. Otherwise
Have Ralph Fullenwilder do a pre-buy inspection. He is an expert.

Check for corrosion on the electrical connections and especially all
ground connections since it has been outside. Corrosion will cause
all sorts of weird electrical problems.

This forum has a large group of excellent Bluebird people who have a
vast wealth of knowledge and advise. Just listen to what they have
to say.

The cost of paint will be as much as you want it to be and will
depend on what you want to change on the paint. Plan about $5,000
as a starting point.

Good Luck!
Roger
'84 PT40WL, Little Rock


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, TeamConfuzed@... wrote:
>
> We've been taking a look at a PT-40 that has supposedly been
sitting outside
> for some time. If we get involved deeper with this one there
will be PLENTY
> of questions for this group, but my first questions involve
external
> appearance.
>
> I have seen one or two of the '83-'84 Birds that were advertised
as being
> updated to the 1987 style (lower set rectangular headlights).
What is
> involved, money-wise and reconstruction-wise, in doing this update?
>
> Secondly, what is a ballpark figure for a good quality repaint of
the entire
> coach? I'm not sure that a complete repaint would be necessary
with this
> Bird -- maybe some serious cleaning and buffing would do the
trick, and
> replacing the vinyl tape that is peeling. But I would be
interested in knowing in
> case a repaint begins to look like the way to go.
>
> Thanks for your help, and thanks to those nice folks that ave
answered my
> questions in the past.
>
> --PirateJohn--
> Directeur Sportif, Team Confuzed_ http://www.TeamConfuzed.com_
> (http://www.teamconfuzed.com/)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>