Should we even be looking at Old Birds?

[Jack & Donna Smith]

Old Bird or Newer?? Well, as some say, "You Pays Your Money, and
Takes Your Choice"...
Our 1973 Bird lacks some of the items that are standard on Newer
coaches, but also lack some of the headaches..What is a "Sporlian
Valve", anyway, or "Air Operated Sreps"?
As my old pappy said, "What ain't there, cant break".
Some costs are less, such as my yearly DMV fee of $67,(even here in
the Land of Arnold), and lower Insurance costs, and it afforded me
my unique method of financing, One Payment & walk away with the Pink
Slip..
But make no mistake, repairs may be necessary, and as Jeff Miller
said, "Pay Now, oor Pay Later".
The old coaches are much simpler and therefore easier (read Cheaper)
to maintain.
The great thing about Bluebirds is that they practically never wear
out. A lot of the original items on our coach are still working,
while I imagine my old "Sticks & Staples Tioga is probably in that
Big KOA in the Sky...
We also like to visit the various RV dealers and look over the
current crop.. It is real interesting to see the look on the
salesmans face when he asks us if we have an RV and we reply, "Yes,
a Bluebird". We are usually left alone after that......
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Michael" <mike.putz@...>
wrote:
>
> I also agree with everything I've read here. I own a 63 Bluebird
> conversion and just recently purchased a 78FC35. I choose this
bus
> to upgrade to a diesel, leveling jacks, bigger generator, etc.. I
> did not want air bags as I like to go off road often with a
trailer
> full of quads and dirt bikes. I wanted something tough with
ground
> clearance. I had the pleasure of driving my friends 90SP36 from
> Texas to Arizona not long ago. It was very nice, plush, fancy,
and
> strong with the 300 HP Cat. However, it was just not for me. So
old
> or new.. you can't go wrong with these busses. I'm a "bang-for-
buck"
> kind of guy on a small budget so the FC's were perfect!
> Just another 2 cents...
>
> Michael
> 78FC35 "Putz'n Around"
> Mesa, Az
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> wrote:
> >
> > Leroy, I think everything that has been said is on target. You
> > certainly want the best that you can buy. No doubt the later
FC's
> > are considerably improved and being newer should in theory at
least
> > be in better condition. That being said there is always the
debate
> as
> > to how much a guy should spend on an FC before he considers a
PT. I
> > have never ridden in or experienced a late model FC but my
thoughts
> > are if I was going to spend upwards of 50K would I add to it a
> little
> > (or a lot) and go with a PT. These are things you have to
decide.
> I
> > was there a year ago and I am certain all of us would agree that
> you
> > should invest in some travel and time to investigate a number of
> > these coaches before you buy. I think personal preference and
how
> > you are going to use the coach are the critical things to
> consider.
> > I love my old 1973 but if I was intending to make a lot of long
> runs
> > I would consider moving up. My coach is also smallish for more
then
> > two. I consider it like buying any vehicle you want to match it
to
> > your use as well as your pocket book.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "michaelhohnstein"
> > > <MHOHNSTEIN@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "campingleroy"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I have experience with quite a few mid 80s Birds, buying
> selling
> > > > and "fixing on." My 83 rear bath suits the wife and I real
> well
> > > and
> > > > I wouldn't trade it for a triple slide anything. Not even a
> > Newell.
> > > > That being said, I recommend 87 and newer FCs for those who
> wish
> > to
> > > > get into a vintage Bird. The engine and accessories are much
> > easier
> > > > to maintain due to improved design engine cover and swing
> > radiator.
> > > > 86 and older are a pain to adjust valves on, and that's not
> good.
> > > > Moreover the 87 up has a charge air cooler and 300 hp., a
very
> > > > welcome feature when trying to get down the road. The ZF
trans
> > is
> > > a
> > > > great piece and features OD.
> > > > My 83 has been upgraded to 87 specs. Fiberglass engine
cover,
> > > > charge air cooler and inlet air enhancements. The Allison
is
> > > backed
> > > > by a drive line OD transmission in front of the Jake
retarder.
> > > > I was able to do all this 'stuff' to my Bird due the line of
> work
> > > > I'm in. Much easier to just pay a little more and get the
> newer
> > > > version, and it's all done for you.
> > > > MH
> > > >
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > My wife and I really like a lot of things about vintage
> birds,
> > > > > including the safety, reliability, and durability. I
think a
> > mid
> > > > 80s
> > > > > FC would be about the best fit for us and our budget. The
> one
> > > > with a
> > > > > double bed in the back, and 2 couches up front.
> > > > >
> > > > > I dont mind tinkering and working on a lot of projects.
Our
> > > > current
> > > > > coach is a 1989 Class C, I had to rebuild the entire cab
over
> > on
> > > > that.
> > > > > But I'm by no means a mechanic. I do consider myself to
be
> > very
> > > > > mechanically inclined though. I can follow directions
really
> > > > well, if
> > > > > there are procedures on doing projects though. And based
on
> > what
> > > > I
> > > > > know or believe things to cost, I can't afford to have a
> > mechanic
> > > > do
> > > > > every bit of maintenance these things need. The
electrical
> > > > problems
> > > > > concern me much less than mechanical ones.
> > > > >
> > > > > My question is, should I steer away from these old birds?
Is
> > the
> > > > > majority of the work something that an average person
could
> do
> > > > given
> > > > > patience and research/reading? Don't want to get myself
in
> > over
> > > > my
> > > > > head.
> > > > >
> > > > > I would DEFINATELY want to hire someone to look at a unit
> > before
> > > > > purchasing, to make sure I understood what I was getting
> myself
> > > > into.
> > > > > If I get to that point, I'll be asking here for
> recommendations
> > > on
> > > > who.
> > >
> > >
> > > I would just say this and that is buy from a person who loves
his
> > old
> > > coach! Pay a little bit more but then most of the work has
been
> > done.
> > > As far as Vlv adjustment that only happens every 50,000 miles
and
> > my
> > > coach has only had that done two times. Yep and beside my old
> coach
> > > gets 10 mpg (1978) and the newer ones well we all know they
were
> > made
> > > for cheap fuel prices in mind. Jon
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>