84 FC Salvage Report

[Eric Johnson]

Just got home from visiting Thomas Eastham in Houston to pick some parts off
Rick & Rosy's
wrecked coach. It was amazing to see first hand what that bird had gone through
and how
well it had held together. Something to be said for steel body and caps! The
old bird's
getting pretty well picked over but some quality parts remain.

While I performed a radical hornectomy, I checked out the upper and lower dash.
The
electroluminescent panels are still working and very bright. I was sorely
tempted to take
them (just in case I might need them some day) but left them behind. If anyone
needs to
replace their dash panels, this would be a great chance.

The coach was a Wanderlodge II and didn't have all the instruments of a full
bird, but the
panel is the same as for a regular Wanderlodge. The vinyl cover on the dash is
printed with
all the same information and layout as the full Wanderlodge, but some of the
spaces aren't
filled. All you'd have to do to install additional gauges or lights is to cut
through the vinyl
sheet. The underlying panel already has been cut out.

I found Thomas an easy guy to work with and an enthusiatic Bird owner. He let
me keep my
coach in his warehouse and spend the night which was appreciated in that
neighborhood.

Regards, Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2