Like To Learn More About The SP36

[Eric Johnson]

As some of you know, I'm currently the happy owner of an 84FC35SB. I like the
size of our
coach and the fuel economy of the 3208 but have to admit it's a bit slow. I
recently started
taking a closer look at a low mileage 1991 SP36 and would appreciate any info
folks can
share on performance and reliability of the rear mounted 3208 and 5 speed ZF
transmission.
These coaches had a fairly short production run and I'm curious why. Did they
have any
warts I should know about?

Appreciate your thoughts,
Eric in San Antonio

[Gregory OConnor]

the 91 has a intercooler. I think the 88 FC 300hp is intercooled. the
3208TI gets 20% more power. a 3208 Na naturally asperated just sucks
in air for the fulemix when the piston draws down. The 3208t Turbo has
a fan that is powered by exhaust air. In the exhaust is a fan blade
that spins as exhaust passes. On the axis of that fan is another fan
that pushes fresh air into the piston. The more air you can pack in,
the bigger the explosion. The problem with a turbo is when you pack
air in and compress it, you heat up the air and it thins out. the
added intercooler cools the compacted/compressed air making it denser
and allowing more air to be packed in a small piston space. that gives
a 300 hp explosion. you have to design the valves and injectors around
the amount of burn so aftermarket is not as easy as just adding a
turbo or intercooler.
Gregory O'Connor
500hp looking for 700hp, but why? when your on vacation

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
>
> As some of you know, I'm currently the happy owner of an 84FC35SB. I
like the size of our
> coach and the fuel economy of the 3208 but have to admit it's a bit
slow. I recently started
> taking a closer look at a low mileage 1991 SP36 and would appreciate
any info folks can
> share on performance and reliability of the rear mounted 3208 and 5
speed ZF transmission.
> These coaches had a fairly short production run and I'm curious why.
Did they have any
> warts I should know about?
>
> Appreciate your thoughts,
> Eric in San Antonio
>

[Dave]

Eric,
I have owned a 1990 36sp since January of this year. Thus far it has
exceeded my expectations. This is my first and only motorhome, so I
don't have a lot to compare to, but thus far I see no warts. The only
negative I have is access to the engine, it has a swing our radiator
in the rear and you get to the top from under the bed. I had to change
and exhaust manifold gasket, and it was no easy task. I don't know if
it any better or worse than any other disel pusher in that regard. As
far as the Cat 3208 turbo, it is still no speed demon, but the power
is adequate for my needs.
Regards,
Dave

[bluebirdsp36]

Eric,

We made the transission from a FC-33 to a SP-36 two years ago and for
the most part, are very satisfied. One of the engineers at BB told me
it was one of the best coaches they ever built. They ride and handle
well, plenty of power, and are very quiet. There's an abundance of
storage outside and inside.

The things I don't like about them are the difficulty of accessing
the engine, and availibility of service for the ZF transmission. We
had a ZF control module go bad. They no longer repair/exchange the
module so a new one is about $7,000. I ended up taking mine to a very
good TV repair shop and had it fixed for $85. This won't always be
doable though. ZF should continue to service their products when used
in $300k motorcoaches that last thirty plus years.

Paul Cunningham
Virginia
1990 SP-36



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
>
> As some of you know, I'm currently the happy owner of an 84FC35SB.
I like the size of our
> coach and the fuel economy of the 3208 but have to admit it's a bit
slow. I recently started
> taking a closer look at a low mileage 1991 SP36 and would
appreciate any info folks can
> share on performance and reliability of the rear mounted 3208 and 5
speed ZF transmission.
> These coaches had a fairly short production run and I'm curious
why. Did they have any
> warts I should know about?
>
> Appreciate your thoughts,
> Eric in San Antonio
>