Wanted 87 to 89 FC

[Stephen Birtles]

because its newer

Stephen 77fc35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner wrote:
>
> I am interested in why you want an 87-89 FC? Answering could be a
> great help for others that are in the same boat you are and look
ing
> for a Bluebird. Is it because of the added power, and what you
> envision as a faster FC, ie 300HP? The 87-89 is set back farther in
> the chassis so you lose more room for the doghouse. In addition it is
> more labor intensive to access the front of the engine since you have
> an added intercooler to contend with.
>
> Each and everyone of the Bluebird models and years has pros and cons
> and they change in importance depending on the individual. I wonder
> how many buyers actually have thought the whole experience thru
> before deciding on a specific year and model? My guess .....not
> many. I know I didnt. All I did know is that I wanted an FC so I
> could see how they were constructed and how difficult they were to
> repair and upgrade. I did know I wanted one with air suspension and
> without a turbocharger. Wasnt it Benjamin Franklin that said "make a
> decision in haste and repent at your leisure"?
>
> I now have a 1982 FC35 and a 1985 PT40. They are vastly different
> machines. There are now some places that I love to go to that the PT
> will not be able to get into. I have done a lot of work on the 1982
> and started to do some upgrades on the PT that will make it like my
> wife and I want. But I still wonder if I made a mistake in getting
> the PT. The 82 FC has no mysteries for me now and I feel very
> comfortable taking it anywhere at any time knowing it will get me
> there and back with no troubles. Its under powered but thats not a
> big negative as far as I am concerned. When we get there is fine. I
> dont have that familiarity with the PT, so dont know yet what has to
> be done to it to make it reliable. Should know that shortly though.
>
> The questions that I would ask anyone looking for a Bluebird are:
>
> 1. whats your total budget. You need enough to buy the coach and
> some more to fix the things you discovered need fixing after you
> bought it. Trust me either your wife or someone else in your family
> is not going to like something about any coach.
> 2. Are you going to do the majority of the work on the coach yourself
> and if so do you have the experience, tools and skills to do it?
> 3. If you are not going to do the work yourself, do you have the
> money to pay for oil changes, repairs and upgrades on the coach? If
> you are going to pay someone else be ready for some good size bills.
> Labor rates are out of sight now. Anyone had a total brake job done
> on an FC lately, brake shoes, S cams, drums and slack adjusters?
>
> 4. In my experience the FC models are far easier to work on then the
> PTs or SPs. I can get to the alternator to change a belt within a
> few minutes on the 1982 FC. Same with access to the air compressor or
> A/C compressor, easily accessable on my 1982 FC35...........and
> absolute terror on the PT40. Still doable but no where as easy. And
> the FC models are not loud if they are properly insulated. I have
> insulated my doghouse with 2# per sq ft composite insulation. If I
> had it to do over again I would have used the same weight but used
> the lead barrier instead of vinyl. Diesels need the lead barrier to
> really quiet them down.
> 5. Are you going to use the Vintage bird check list along with the
> coaches owner when you go over the coach. This single thing will
> answer a lot of questions about what kind of condition the coach is in.
>
> Tom Warner
> Vernon center,NY
> 1982 FC35
> 1985 PT40
>
>
> At 07:03 PM 4/15/2006, you wrote:
> >After looking at an 85 we have decided that the newer FC is what we
> >want. Have cash will travel. No "project vehicles" Thanks.
> >
> >
> >Bruce still a wanabe
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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