Soon to be owner of an older BlueBird '78-'83

[Hugh Turner]

Mo
Number one you have found one of the best sources of information on
birds in this group. It took me two and half years to find "my bird".
Like you I first looked at the FC's, went to the Rally Across The Street
(RATS) last year just for the tour of birds and to meet in person the
people here that had answered many of my questions. When everything
was right money,timing etc I was able to get an 84 Pt40 for the cost of
some of the FCs. You also need to check out vintagebirdes.com there is a
wealth of information on different years and changes. Now for your
questions from a another new owner

> > 1. Are they easy to drive?--for a vehicle this size, if all
components are working
> correctly, I think yes. I like the fact that they have a relatively
short wheelbase which
> makes them a little easier to handle on narrow city streets, which is
where I live.I agree with David and everyone else you have to get use to
driving a bus. I christened mine here at the house trying to get turned
around in close quarters without a spotter (stupid light pole) Find a
vacant lot to practice driving. Get your wife use to being your spotter
our cell phones work great no shouting from 40 feet over a diesel.
>
> > 2. Are they usually trouble free?--No. They are a mechanical
device. They need
> preventive maintenance and regular upkeep. They are mechanically as
trouble free as
> other motorhomes I have owned and from a structural standpoint they
are a quantum leap
> above many other designs. Got to our campsite could not put 50 amp ac
on hot to neutral short. Call to tech support free all day getting to
possible problem still not 50 amp
>
> > 3. Is maintenance costly?--If you pay someone to do it, it could be.
If you do it yourself,
> not really. new tires $325.00 x 9 spare wheel $75.00 front end
alignment $155.00 new batteries 4 12 volt truck 1 deep cycle for
genset , filters , oil, transmission fluid, all about $900.00 at
O'Rielies. Have a service call to repair brake airline under bus at
campground $220.00 Since I live close to the plant there is a former
employee that charges $40.00/hour at his place.

4. Are the control panels easy to read and to understand?--I still have
have no idea what
my Digitell does but I don't have much interest in learning. Apart
from that, I can
understand oil pressure and water temperature along with air pressure.
My digetell does not work told by former Bluebird employee do not worry
about it it is only a voice system for what you can look at or have
another form of warning. Our 5 year old granddaughter helped me find the
hot water heater switch when I was showing her the bird. The dash
take a little bit of time to learn what switch does what. I agree with
on gauges.

5. What's a good preventive maintenance suggestion?--Grease, oil,
change fluids. Crawl
around underneath and look closely. PLEASE MAKE SURE THE BUS IS BLOCKED
SO IT CAN NOT FALL ON YOU

Be prepared, my wife does not like the fact that we get stares wherever
we drive. Yes you will get stares and comments hopefully all good. On
our way home when that new Prevost blew by us at about 80 with toad, my
wife made the comment "let's see what you look and act like when you are
23"

Hugh Turner
84 PT 40 "Our Dream"
Thomaston, Ga



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