New Vintage Bird Owner First Post

[Gregory OConnor]

John, might be an idea to hit Portland (hood-River)Sears or even
homedepot with the bus for a complete mechanics tool set that you
can dedicate to the bus. save you from shipping tools thru the
airport. I dont think an engine swap can be cost effective with the
give away prices the FC's go for. If you want a diesel, they have to
be close to the gasser price and less than any swap will cost to
complete . Pepboys does a good thirdperson ebay inspection (since
its gas). their list is most subjective and campingworld can do the
same.

On long distance purchases I gather information on the seller by
googling their phone numbers, email address, and unique advert
phrases. and I do a flyover on Maps.live .com. I have been burnt in
the past $7,000.00, Barrister Wallamungongo or something.

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John" wrote:
>
> Thanks for all of the kind words, sorry I have been away from my
computer for a bit.
>
> Still moving forward with the purchase. Deposit has been sent and
having someone local do a quick inspection for me. Unless something
major is wrong we will be making arangements to fly there and drive
back.
>
> Don't know when we will be traveling allot so I will rely on my
AAA towing if needed. crossed fingers for sure.
>
> I am just a bit older than the Bird by 7 years, my wife just 4.
>
> It has the 391 gas, so I know it will be very slow. Have thoughts
of an diesel transplant to help with the power.
>
> Starting to put a tool kit together that I can put in one bag.
Will make a trip to walmart for some paper plates ect when we get
rolling.
>
> Might be having a relitive making the trip up to portland befor we
do, if that is the case I will be sending sleeping bags and a bunch
of other stuff that way so the flight will be a little lighter
>
> The bird is a 1968 version. It has been redone inside a few years
ago and looks pretty nice. No idea on miles, but not sure if it
really matters for something that old. Tires are new so
that "should" not be an issue. Hope to have time in portland to
swap belts and check fluids.
>
> Can I put pics in the post or do I need ot open a folder?
>
> Will let everyone know where we are at on this adventure. Wife
and myself are really looking forward to flying in the Bird. May
have even come up with a name.......... OLD & SLOW ment in
the most loving way.
>
>
> for now
>
> John
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bubblerboy64
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 15:05
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: New Vintage Bird Owner First Post
>
>
> 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.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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