steering box

[bubblerboy64]

Pete, Shane and I got air pedestal seats about six weeks ago and that
helped so much I gotten greedy wanting more. I need to drive a
couple newer buses and have guys who are in the know drive mine.
Until I do that I really can't set long term goals. My goal is to be
able to drive all day if needed and be reasonably comfortable. My bus
is greatly improved but not there yet. If I can get to that point
then I don't have a problem spending the money. If my goal is
unrealistic then I would be better off trading up. So experience is
needed and of course opinions considered. In the end I will have to
decide what is right for me, I know that. Too bad I can't go to a
used BB lot and drive two or three like you can a car. Maybe at a
Rally?

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> Your idea of having others, with similar old coaches, give it a
drive
> and give you an opinion is probably a good one. When I was first
> considering a coach, I was looking at bus conversions (not just
BBs)
> and I recall reading a web site that suggested that the Blue Birds
> with air suspension were "much preferred" over the metal spring
> suspension coaches -- so I'd expect that a somewhat hard ride
might
> be normal. (Years ago, I drove a few heavy trucks with spring
> suspension in the Army -- they rode hard, but we didn't go very
fast,
> either.) I think one member got an "air ride seat" in his bird...
it
> might be a more cost effective choice to improve ride comfort.
About
> all I can say about my coach is that "it rides like a bus...."
>
> You might call the factory and see if you can get some opinions
> there... if there's anyone around who remembers the spring-
suspension
> models. (I suppose that the school busses have the air suspension
> these days, so knowledge about spring suspension may be lost by
now...)
>
> Over $3000 is quite a price to pay for potentially only a small
> incremental improvement....
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO
>
>
>
> On Aug 28, 2008, at 12:44 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > Hi Pete, The springs are pretty flat especially the back ones.
One
> > poster commented about wheel clearance. I have plenty of that.
The
> > shop thinks that when the engine was switched over to the 3208 the
> > springs were modified by adding additional springs leaves which
would
> > make sense. The bus doesn't porpoise at all, the opposite it
bangs
> > pretty hard over bumps. The shop feels that the springs would
> > function better if they were graduated from top to bottom and
matched
> > to the weight that the bus is being ask to carry now. So there is
> > some reason to speculate that the bus would ride better with new
> > springs under it. The question remains HOW MUCH. I can spend the
> > money to find out. I might gain a lot I might gain just a little.
> > The fellows at the shop didn't think the bus rode too badly. They
> > objected to the loose steering more then the ride. I of course
became
> > some what used to the steering. But it is much better now I will
> > grant you that. The shop obviously knews their stuff.
> >
> > There are other issues as well. Currently the they can buy the
> > springs off the shelf. If they become unavailable then they are
have
> > to be custom made at about twice the cost. I have to factor all
that
> > in with considerations as to how long I will keep the coach. I
think
> > I will let a couple of the fellows drive the bus when we get
together
> > at Hershey and see if there is a consensus of opinion.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I would suspect that the shocks, if they show signs of being,
worn
> >> might offer a modest but cost-effective improvement in handling.
> >> (Does the coach bounce excessively or porpoise?) Unless the
> > springs
> >> and shackles, etc. are clearly displaying out-of-spec sag or
other
> >> bent components, that you'll get much less benefit from making
any
> >> changes to them.
> >>
> >> Pete Masterson
> >> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> >> aeonix1@
> >> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Aug 28, 2008, at 9:16 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
> >>
> >>> <snip>
> >>> There still remains the issue of the springs,shackles and shocks
> > with
> >>> respect to ride quality. To replace all of that stuff will set
me
> >>> back pretty big bucks. Likely about $3500. Now the question is
> > how
> >>> much improvement, or how much bang for my buck will I get. At
> > this
> >>> point I am going to hold tight until I get to a rally so that
> > some of
> >>> you other fellows can drive my bus and see how it compares to
> >>> others. I would not mind spending the money if I was going to
get
> >>> real value. I have nothing to compare to. So plan to head to
> >>> Hershey in Oct lets see if some of you guys can take'r out for a
> > spin
> >>> to see where I am at and where I should be going.
> >>> John Heckman
> >>> central Pa
> >>> 1973 FC
> >>> <snip>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>