New Vintage Bird Owner First Post

[Curt Sprenger]

John,

Well said, nice post. Thank you.

And welcome to our new members.

On Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 3:05 PM, bubblerboy64 <"jehdds@hotmail.com"> wrote:

Hi John, Welcome to the forum. I will be very interested in

following along with ya on your adventure. Tell us about what you

bought. The old ones have character and deserve good homes and care.

Just think what you were doing when the coach was built. I was just

finishing college and here I am almost 62 years old. You might not

have even been close to being born who knows but the nice thing is

the old bird will still work well for you.



As to what to take along. That's difficult because as soon as we

make a list for you you can figure that you will have everything

except the one thing you need. I might suggest that you don't take

anything along and once you get there perhaps pick up some basic hand

tools just to keep in the bus at all times. Now if you already have

a couple of everything then take just the basics along.



Most important thing to do is to go over the coach fairly carefully

before you take off and look for things which can cause trouble such

as loose belts hoses and tires (especially if they are very old and

have obvious weather cracking) Check the fluids and do the stuff you

would do on a car. I always worry about tires on these old and very

heavy buses so don't forget if you have trouble a flat or worse off a

blow out is not a good thing to have happen in a car but a lot worse

in a motor-home. If the tires are really bad get new ones before you

even start out and if they are respectable just keep the speeds way

down. Maybe 50 mph tops.



If the motor-home starts up and runs and shifts gears as it should I

would just stop often and check the fluid levels and use common

sense. It takes a while to "get on to" driving the older FC's so go

slow and let them pass you. Worn your wife that there is a learning

curve and that most of us who have older coaches have had to learn to

drive them. The wheels are 4 ft or so behind you and these buses do

tend to wander a little (0r a lot depending). My heart was in my

throat for the first couple hundred miles and especially if the roads

are bad. I would suggest not driving a night because you need to see

the roads. Try not to frighten the wife too badly first time out.

You'll be Ok if you take your time



Post a bunch of pictures as soon as you can and welcome to the ole

bird club.



John Heckman

central Pa

1973 FC

>

> A deal has been made on "our" Vintage 1968 Bird. Will be driving

it

> home apx 600 miles. We will be flying in and driving home.

>

> What I am looking for is an idea of what I can take on the plane to

> make the trip home as easy as possible. I will try to take some

> basic tools that I will have to check in on the plane.

>

> Coach will be inspected by 3rd party before we go, but I have not

> seen it in person.

>

> Any suggestions.

>

> would it be worth it to join Good Sams or something similar for

> towing protection?

>

> Both my wife and myself are really looking forward to this.

>

> Thanks

> John

>

> Penryn Ca.

>

--
Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA