Bird of the Week

[Kurt Horvath]

Tommy

Had to do a double take.

My coach looks almost the same.

Kurt Horvath
95 PT 42
10AC

[mbulriss]

As always, we can use new Bird of the Week photos. Remember to send them in
with descriptive content, year/model, where the picture was taken, etc. Click
on the link below the Bird of the Week feature on the front page to submit your
favorite picture.

This week's entry is from a long-time owner member on his second Bird. The
email he sent in was interesting enough to provide it here as more information
on this week's Bird of the Week. Also, he would appreciate any information from
anyone that knows this Bird. See below.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

Michel,
Picked the bus up last year back in Indiana just about 30 miles north of
Louisville. The bus has some unusual things on it It has a rooftop davit, and an
after market factory installed turbo. Drove the rig cross country to the west
coast. Service it in St. Louis made it to Mojave replaced steering box and pump
at Mojave Truck reasonable and good mechanics. The bus has a Thelma brake but
never used it. The motor has enough compression to hold in back on the steep
hills. If that was aftermarket it wasn't necessary. It seemed to average 10 - 12
MPG cruising highway 40 for 2800 or so miles. I'm in Santa Barbara County right
now on the Gaviota coast on a private 5 acre parcel. I have a place in Tulalip
Washington for the summer and a place in Mulege Baja California. I don't know
the history of the bus. I have a lot of paper work for the service over the
years which was way more than I paid for it. Any information will be helpful.
Picture was taken in Indiana posted on E Bay. When I got to Calif. I started to
go through the bus. Re did the interior, re supported the ceiling, fixed
plumbing, changed out light to LED, changed out converter, on and on. If you
have a bluebird you know. This is my 2nd bird. The last bird was a 1975 31' FC
and had it for 12 years. Went through every system Bluebird had to offer those
years. I love the way there built and rebuild able a fine quality product. I
joined Wanderlodge forum but I can't seem to log in. I have lot of experience in
building and mechanical systems that I could share. Jim Beraldo and family

[ronmarabito2002]

Unless you have a gasoline powered engine, you have no compression to hold it
back on hills. If you are slowing on hills, it must be a braking system.
Either your Thelma is actually working or you have another engine brake such as
a Jacobs compression brake.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...> wrote:
>
> As always, we can use new Bird of the Week photos. Remember to send them in
with descriptive content, year/model, where the picture was taken, etc. Click
on the link below the Bird of the Week feature on the front page to submit your
favorite picture.
>
> This week's entry is from a long-time owner member on his second Bird. The
email he sent in was interesting enough to provide it here as more information
on this week's Bird of the Week. Also, he would appreciate any information from
anyone that knows this Bird. See below.
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
> Michel,
> Picked the bus up last year back in Indiana just about 30 miles north of
Louisville. The bus has some unusual things on it It has a rooftop davit, and an
after market factory installed turbo. Drove the rig cross country to the west
coast. Service it in St. Louis made it to Mojave replaced steering box and pump
at Mojave Truck reasonable and good mechanics. The bus has a Thelma brake but
never used it. The motor has enough compression to hold in back on the steep
hills. If that was aftermarket it wasn't necessary. It seemed to average 10 - 12
MPG cruising highway 40 for 2800 or so miles. I'm in Santa Barbara County right
now on the Gaviota coast on a private 5 acre parcel. I have a place in Tulalip
Washington for the summer and a place in Mulege Baja California. I don't know
the history of the bus. I have a lot of paper work for the service over the
years which was way more than I paid for it. Any information will be helpful.
Picture was taken in Indiana posted on E Bay. When I got to Calif. I started to
go through the bus. Re did the interior, re supported the ceiling, fixed
plumbing, changed out light to LED, changed out converter, on and on. If you
have a bluebird you know. This is my 2nd bird. The last bird was a 1975 31' FC
and had it for 12 years. Went through every system Bluebird had to offer those
years. I love the way there built and rebuild able a fine quality product. I
joined Wanderlodge forum but I can't seem to log in. I have lot of experience in
building and mechanical systems that I could share. Jim Beraldo and family
>

[freewill2008]

Hey, we've been wasting time gearing down our 3208s on those 6-7% downgrades.
Might as well leave it in 4th? ) Ron - were you thinking of the difference
between 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines rather than gas vs. diesel?

Jim - When we had our Telma installed there was the option to have it activate
with a hand lever and/or by stepping on the air brake treadle. We chose the
hand lever only. If yours was installed with the brake treadle interface then
the retarder deploys from step 1 through step 4 as you step down harder on the
pedal.

But then a lot of WL owners get along using the gearbox and back pressure from
the 4-stroke 3208. I don't think Telma (Jacobs) electric retarders started
showing up in stock WLs until the early 80's.

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII (finally back in) WA

>
> Unless you have a gasoline powered engine, you have no compression to hold it
back on hills. If you are slowing on hills, it must be a braking system.
Either your Thelma is actually working or you have another engine brake such as
a Jacobs compression brake.
>
> R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@> wrote:
> >
> > As always, we can use new Bird of the Week photos. Remember to send them in
with descriptive content, year/model, where the picture was taken, etc. Click
on the link below the Bird of the Week feature on the front page to submit your
favorite picture.
> >
> > This week's entry is from a long-time owner member on his second Bird. The
email he sent in was interesting enough to provide it here as more information
on this week's Bird of the Week. Also, he would appreciate any information from
anyone that knows this Bird. See below.
> >
> > Mike Bulriss
> > 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> > San Antonio, TX
> >
> > Michel,
> > Picked the bus up last year back in Indiana just about 30 miles north of
Louisville. The bus has some unusual things on it It has a rooftop davit, and an
after market factory installed turbo. Drove the rig cross country to the west
coast. Service it in St. Louis made it to Mojave replaced steering box and pump
at Mojave Truck reasonable and good mechanics. The bus has a Thelma brake but
never used it. The motor has enough compression to hold in back on the steep
hills. If that was aftermarket it wasn't necessary. It seemed to average 10 - 12
MPG cruising highway 40 for 2800 or so miles. I'm in Santa Barbara County right
now on the Gaviota coast on a private 5 acre parcel. I have a place in Tulalip
Washington for the summer and a place in Mulege Baja California. I don't know
the history of the bus. I have a lot of paper work for the service over the
years which was way more than I paid for it. Any information will be helpful.
Picture was taken in Indiana posted on E Bay. When I got to Calif. I started to
go through the bus. Re did the interior, re supported the ceiling, fixed
plumbing, changed out light to LED, changed out converter, on and on. If you
have a bluebird you know. This is my 2nd bird. The last bird was a 1975 31' FC
and had it for 12 years. Went through every system Bluebird had to offer those
years. I love the way there built and rebuild able a fine quality product. I
joined Wanderlodge forum but I can't seem to log in. I have lot of experience in
building and mechanical systems that I could share. Jim Beraldo and family
> >
>

[mbulriss]

C'mon little Birdie, I know you are out there..... send 'em on in!

I was furiously typing!>

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

[ciao70@...]

. First and foremeost it is excellent condition inside and out. The outside is very understated with no dings or rust and the paint is in very good condition. It has 8 new tires, less than 2 years old with about 3000 miles on them and the Alcoa wheels are all polished. I've just replaced the tail light lenses and they look new. The roof is covered with channel aluminum and I've replaced all of the holddown screws with new screws and sealant. I've replaced all exterior screws with stainless screws. The interior is understated as well. The drivers seat and passenger seat are grey leather as is the couch. The rest of the interior is grey and black with grey formica cabinets and light grey Corian countertops. The bathroom is a walkthrough with a extra large shower and Jacuzzi tub. The bedroom is grey and black and has a pocket door that seperates it from the bathroom. Upgrades..Two new flat screen TV,s in the bedroom and living room..New am, fm, xm, cd player in the pilots position. new Cobra CB with external speaker. In motion sat receiver. Built inam, fm clock radio in bedroom. Galley has a convection/microwave oven, instant hot water, garbage disposal and Nutone blender system. Entire coach is completely carpeted and the carpeting is in excellent condition. Engine and transmission..8v92 with 105000 miles..starts and runs good..gets about 6mpg pulling an Chevy HHR..Transmission is an Allison 5 speed with a retarder..Two years ago I changed all of the fluids..coolant, power steering/fan system, transmission fluid and jacking system oil. I've changed engine oil 5 times in the 10000 miles we have driven..Rotella 40 weight...got a thing about clean oil. I''ve done all of this myself. House batteries were replaced 18 months ago. 8 group 31 sealed. Genset 15kw std Bird gen with about 1200 hours. Starts and run good. We don't use it while driving and only sometimes at wally world. New 1200 watt inverter gets us through the night. Getting tired of the hunt and peck typing. call me at 256 67 3
0501 or 256 673 4532 if I can answer any further questions Please call 256-673-4532 or 256-673-0501 Thanks, Jim











-----Original Message-----

From: mbulriss <mbulriss@...>

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thu, 28 May 2009 7:36 pm

Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Bird of the Week

C'mon little Birdie, I know you are out there..... send 'em on in!







Mike Bulriss

1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"

San Antonio, TX

---

Pillsbury® - Sign Up Now and get tasty recipes, meal ideas, coupons and more.

[mbulriss]

Anyone notice the converted Wanderlodge on the front page? More pictures of it
in the Photos section. The prior owners even left their FMCA 'egg' on it and
the new owners kept it. Looks like FMCA #124308 if anyone has an old membership
guide handy. I wonder if they donated it to the EMS?

Want to see your Bird on Bird of the Week? Please send in a picture with some
descriptive information, using the link on the home page to submit.

Thanks,
Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

[mbulriss]

Any good holiday travel pics out there for Bird of the Week?

Mike Bulriss
San Antonio, TX
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" - current location Georgetown, TX

[mbulriss]

Yes, I am always in need of new travel photos! Keep sending them in please.
Check out this week's flock of Birds.

I enjoyed seeing Mike Putz's Bird picture as last week's Bird of the Week.
Seems like he has new updates every time he sends in a picture. It also
reminded me some of the rough and rustic camping places I used to not even think
twice about going to in Stagecoach, my 83 PT40. I am more cautious about
off-road adventures in the Texas Minivan. Maybe it's all that fiberglass around
the wheel wells and no more chrome bumpers, or the extra tonnage.

Hat's off to Don Bradner for catching an incorrect pointer on the Bird of the
Week caption that pointed to the wrong archive file, only for a few years now
with no one else noticing apparently, including me. At least I know Don looks
at the weekly update! It's fixed now. So if you missed Mike Putz's Bird last
week or just want to see all of the prior Bird of the Week entries, just go to
the Bird of the Week Archive Photo Albumn.

Keep those travel photos coming!

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" - no off-roader
San Antonio, TX - 58 days of triple digit temps so far this year

[mbulriss]

In addition to the great front page photo from the Birds and Bears Rally in NH, you can go to
http://casabillisa.posterous.com/ for more photos from the event.

NH Bill (aka Bill Garamella) reports that theyhad a great time and will try to do it again next year. He says all are welcome so
come on up!

If you would like your Bird featured as Bird of the Week, please send in your favorite travel photo using the link on the forumfront page.

Thanks,

Mike Bulriss

1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"

San Antonio, TX