1070 31ft Wanderlodge

[Jerry Thompson]

Howdy!

I'm a newbie and looking at a 1970 WL. And like any newbie have a lot
of questions.

Below is a description of an Ebay listing.

Seems to me that this maybe a gas to diesel conversion.

As it has the older 6 speed allison.

Don't know why it has a clutch pedal....I think that some of the older
units offered a 2 speed axle with the old big block gas engines.

I like the older units.

Its located in St. Louis Mo., and listed on Ebay (which may or may not
be a good thing!) It sounds to me like it may have been in storage
prior to this owner.

1) Is any one familiar with this unit?

2) Any thought about bidding or buying on bay or this unit?

3) Any good bus shops in the St. Louis Mo. that could go over it and
give a good safety check and let what really needs to be done?

4) if I got the build number would BlueBird be able to give me any info?

5) Can the old Allison 6 speeds handle the torque of a 3208?

6) Is my fantasy hitting a wall of reality?

6) All comments gratefully received

Thanks

Thanks

Jerry

Hers the link

<<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...rd=1&\
sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1>>



Heres the discription:

This is a 1970 Bluebird wanderlodge that has a 3208 catapiller diesel
engine and a Alison 6 speed automatic transmission.The odometer reads
29975 and it seems to work fine,I am not the original owner so i can
not verify.The bus has a clutch pedal in it too,not sure if it had a
standard shift some time.I just had a new injector pump installed
($1100.00) also a fuel pump installed ($150.00).The batters are lass
then a year old as well. The bus starts and runs great shifts
great.The brakes seem ok,the radiator has a very small leak towards
the bottom,shouldn't be too much to fix or just keep water in it.The
coach sleeps 6 has central heat,2 roof air conditioners.4 burner
stove,refrigerator,freezer,hot water heater,toilet stainless shower
,stainless double sink,onan generator (gas) electric start.Have NOT
had generator running this year yet,The chassis has 2 diesel tanks and
1 gas tank for generator.The rear tank (diesel) is Not hooked up now
It had old fuel in it ,so it was disconnected til it gets flushed
out.The roof a/c have not been checked either.I really don't know much
about the bus ,I bought it with intentions of doing a total
restoration,but seem to have lost interest in project.The interior is
all solid wood not vynl and plastic like all the newer coaches seem to
have.It is also built on a blue Bird Bus Chassis not a beefed up pick
up chassis like some of the other rv's out there.I would not hesitate
to drive this anywere.The entry door needs a small piece of glass
replaced and the door needs a key made too.The awning will need a
replacement vynl but the rest of it seems fine.There are some slite
signs of water marks on ceiling but seems like the problem was already
fixed ,just needs to repaint ceiling.Roof looks fine,it also has a
spare tire and wheel, there is a large luggage rack with railing
around it wih ladder..see pics and e mail me for any other pics you
may want.

[mbulriss]

Jerry,

Welcome to the forum and good luck in your search. If you have not
spent time looking at the history section over at
http://www.vintagebirds.com, that's a good place to start the learning
experience. That Bird certainly has an attractive starting price and
doesn't look back in the pictures, but I guess I would have expected
it to have a 391 Ford gas engine. Hopefully Jeff Miller will see your
message and address your questions. Jeff is one of the Wanderlodge
community's resident experts on the older Birds.

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

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry Thompson"
wrote:
>
> Howdy!
>
> I'm a newbie and looking at a 1970 WL. And like any newbie have a lot
> of questions.
>
> Below is a description of an Ebay listing.
>
> Seems to me that this maybe a gas to diesel conversion.
>
> As it has the older 6 speed allison.
>
> Don't know why it has a clutch pedal....I think that some of the older
> units offered a 2 speed axle with the old big block gas engines.
>
> I like the older units.
>
> Its located in St. Louis Mo., and listed on Ebay (which may or may not
> be a good thing!) It sounds to me like it may have been in storage
> prior to this owner.
>
> 1) Is any one familiar with this unit?
>
> 2) Any thought about bidding or buying on bay or this unit?
>
> 3) Any good bus shops in the St. Louis Mo. that could go over it and
> give a good safety check and let what really needs to be done?
>
> 4) if I got the build number would BlueBird be able to give me any info?
>
> 5) Can the old Allison 6 speeds handle the torque of a 3208?
>
> 6) Is my fantasy hitting a wall of reality?
>
> 6) All comments gratefully received
>
> Thanks
>
> Thanks
>
> Jerry
>
> Hers the link
>
>
<<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...rd=1&\
sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1>>
>
>
>
> Heres the discription:
>
> This is a 1970 Bluebird wanderlodge that has a 3208 catapiller diesel
> engine and a Alison 6 speed automatic transmission.The odometer reads
> 29975 and it seems to work fine,I am not the original owner so i can
> not verify.The bus has a clutch pedal in it too,not sure if it had a
> standard shift some time.I just had a new injector pump installed
> ($1100.00) also a fuel pump installed ($150.00).The batters are lass
> then a year old as well. The bus starts and runs great shifts
> great.The brakes seem ok,the radiator has a very small leak towards
> the bottom,shouldn't be too much to fix or just keep water in it.The
> coach sleeps 6 has central heat,2 roof air conditioners.4 burner
> stove,refrigerator,freezer,hot water heater,toilet stainless shower
> ,stainless double sink,onan generator (gas) electric start.Have NOT
> had generator running this year yet,The chassis has 2 diesel tanks and
> 1 gas tank for generator.The rear tank (diesel) is Not hooked up now
> It had old fuel in it ,so it was disconnected til it gets flushed
> out.The roof a/c have not been checked either.I really don't know much
> about the bus ,I bought it with intentions of doing a total
> restoration,but seem to have lost interest in project.The interior is
> all solid wood not vynl and plastic like all the newer coaches seem to
> have.It is also built on a blue Bird Bus Chassis not a beefed up pick
> up chassis like some of the other rv's out there.I would not hesitate
> to drive this anywere.The entry door needs a small piece of glass
> replaced and the door needs a key made too.The awning will need a
> replacement vynl but the rest of it seems fine.There are some slite
> signs of water marks on ceiling but seems like the problem was already
> fixed ,just needs to repaint ceiling.Roof looks fine,it also has a
> spare tire and wheel, there is a large luggage rack with railing
> around it wih ladder..see pics and e mail me for any other pics you
> may want.
>

[pattypape]

Jerry,

I would look at as many Birds as possible, before I would tackle
this project. If you are considering this project you must have the
necessary skills, (as I do not and could not).

There are about eight Birds on ebay, There are many on the
Vintage Bird Site , http://vintagebirds.com/
There is a good price on an 84 FC, with lots of newer and up-dated
parts , It seems the owner is a forum member.

Also Look at http://www.birdconnection.com/ These sites will
give examples of ASKING prices.

Check out the picture album at

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/FC_W...d=51123124

message # 413, This is a great renovation project.

Any old Bird will need atleast
10,000, some a lot more. Do not give up there is a Bird out there
for you.

Bill's Opinion, 88 FC Michigan



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry Thompson"
wrote:
>
> Howdy!
>
> I'm a newbie and looking at a 1970 WL. And like any newbie have a
lot
> of questions.
>
> Below is a description of an Ebay listing.
>
> Seems to me that this maybe a gas to diesel conversion.
>
> As it has the older 6 speed allison.
>
> Don't know why it has a clutch pedal....I think that some of the
older
> units offered a 2 speed axle with the old big block gas engines.
>
> I like the older units.
>
> Its located in St. Louis Mo., and listed on Ebay (which may or may
not
> be a good thing!) It sounds to me like it may have been in storage
> prior to this owner.
>
> 1) Is any one familiar with this unit?
>
> 2) Any thought about bidding or buying on bay or this unit?
>
> 3) Any good bus shops in the St. Louis Mo. that could go over it
and
> give a good safety check and let what really needs to be done?
>
> 4) if I got the build number would BlueBird be able to give me any
info?
>
> 5) Can the old Allison 6 speeds handle the torque of a 3208?
>
> 6) Is my fantasy hitting a wall of reality?
>
> 6) All comments gratefully received
>
> Thanks
>
> Thanks
>
> Jerry
>
> Hers the link
>
> <<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&item=4648731419&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1>>
>
>
>
> Heres the discription:
>
> This is a 1970 Bluebird wanderlodge that has a 3208 catapiller
diesel
> engine and a Alison 6 speed automatic transmission.The odometer
reads
> 29975 and it seems to work fine,I am not the original owner so i
can
> not verify.The bus has a clutch pedal in it too,not sure if it had
a
> standard shift some time.I just had a new injector pump installed
> ($1100.00) also a fuel pump installed ($150.00).The batters are
lass
> then a year old as well. The bus starts and runs great shifts
> great.The brakes seem ok,the radiator has a very small leak towards
> the bottom,shouldn't be too much to fix or just keep water in
it.The
> coach sleeps 6 has central heat,2 roof air conditioners.4 burner
> stove,refrigerator,freezer,hot water heater,toilet stainless shower
> ,stainless double sink,onan generator (gas) electric start.Have NOT
> had generator running this year yet,The chassis has 2 diesel tanks
and
> 1 gas tank for generator.The rear tank (diesel) is Not hooked up
now
> It had old fuel in it ,so it was disconnected til it gets flushed
> out.The roof a/c have not been checked either.I really don't know
much
> about the bus ,I bought it with intentions of doing a total
> restoration,but seem to have lost interest in project.The interior
is
> all solid wood not vynl and plastic like all the newer coaches
seem to
> have.It is also built on a blue Bird Bus Chassis not a beefed up
pick
> up chassis like some of the other rv's out there.I would not
hesitate
> to drive this anywere.The entry door needs a small piece of glass
> replaced and the door needs a key made too.The awning will need a
> replacement vynl but the rest of it seems fine.There are some slite
> signs of water marks on ceiling but seems like the problem was
already
> fixed ,just needs to repaint ceiling.Roof looks fine,it also has a
> spare tire and wheel, there is a large luggage rack with railing
> around it wih ladder..see pics and e mail me for any other pics you
> may want.
>