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04 /25/ 24, 4:06am

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Subject: Hi..We are Proud new owners, with a Million Questions Author: Jack & Donna Smith [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 06/ 2/ 02, 1:58pm We are Jack & Donna Smith, located in So.Calif. Last year, I retired, and we purchased a Toyota Micro-Mini, and we travelled across the United States, 22,400 miles in Seven months. We knew we wanted something bigger, and better. We looked at most other motorhomes, (of all types) and finally located a 1973 FC31, and bought it. After we got it home, we looked at each other, and asked, "Did we Really Do this?.....(Our Homeowners Assn. said something also, but this is a family bulletin board).. Well, it is a 31', side Bath, with Twin beds in the rear. It has a Ford 391 engine, with about 600 miles on it. The Ford engine, I can understand. But I am puzzled about the Allison Transmission. I belive it is a 5 speed. I am not quite sure how to drive and operate it. The "Transmission Retarder" is also new to me. It seems to work, but I am not sure just how it operates. The most obvious problem is the "IHOP Blue" & "Navy Grey" paint scheme. That has to go. Where does one get these painted? And where can we find the list of the 'Original' paint schemes? One RV shop near here quoted me $6,500. Seems high..What to do? I have painted a Boat with Imeron paint and it worked out well. Can it be used on the B.B.? The interior needs new carpeting, and perhaps a Pergo, (or similar) floor, with some carpet. New front seats are needed, as reupholstering of the Dinette, and Sofa. Can a second sofa be purchased, to mount behind the passenger?. We are fimaliar with the Dometic Refigerator, but I cannot find the Hot Water Heater. I did see a vent marked "Suburban"... The tires are 9.00X20 mounted on Split Rims. Can the Alcoa wheels be gotten? Where, and at what price??? Is there another, or better choice? One Hubcap is missing.. Can one be bought, and where?? It does not seem to have a spare tire, or perhaps I just couldn't locate it... Both side mirrors seem a bit small, and hard to use.. How is this problem solved? We are anxious to complete these tasks, and set about touring the Southern part of the country, this time towing our Jeep CJ7, for a bit of off-roading. Thanks for any help and suggestions you can give.... Jack & Donna Smith [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: Hi..We are Proud new owners, with a Million Questions Author: DanT [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 3/ 02, 4:38am J&D, The Allison transmission works like any basic automatic. Put it in Drive or the highest gear and it will do the rest. The nice thing about the Allison is it can also be manually shifted if you want to proceed down a long hill in a lower gear or such. I don't have a retarder so I can't comment on that one. I am installing carpet and Pergo in mine as we speak. Works great. Hardest part is removing old. Aound here you can get a coach painted for 2 to 3 thousand. Check the phone book for truck painters too. Imron works fine. I bought new Flexsteel seats for mine and they fit right on the old mounts. You can purchase these from a number of locations depending on where you are. Same with the couch. The wheel situation can be remedied at a truck junk yard. I don't know price since mine had Alcoas but used is ok as long as they are in good shape. BB have basicly a truck chassis and axles so truck parts are readily available. The water heater should be under the drivers side rear bed. All the interior can be removed, changed or recovered at will. Ours was in a flood just before we bought it so everything had to come out. Easy once you get going. Most folks don't care for the 391 Ford as it is low on power and a pig on gas. But you have to start somewhere. Welcome aboard! DanT [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: Hi..We are Proud new owners, with a Million Questions Author: John Glasgow '70fc31 [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 5/ 02, 10:08am Congrdulations on your purchase! I also have the 391 ford engine - it's not fast! Mine hgas about 60 miles on it - Remanufactured engine installed after the original died on the way home after buying it (omen of things to come?) Our homeowners assn is also concerned but we have kept its presence below the 2 week maximum visit (no limit on the number of "visits") I have the 6 speed Allison MT-40 transmission with retarder. The retarder works much better now that I have connected the linkage! It seems to work when the RPMs come up, so I downshift a gear and then press the pedal, it has a definite effect. I notice very little effect when the engine is running slowly. The "suburban" vent is the propane furnace - I haven't tried it; as this is summer, that little voyage of discovery will wait a few months. Let me know what you find out about the wheels as I have the same questions. I use roadside service for the spare tire - I don't know if I could jack it up to change it anyway. How is it towing the Jeep? JOhn G '70FC31 [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: Hi..We are Proud new owners, with a Million Questions Author: L. R. Longcrier [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 6/ 02, 3:00pm For a paint pattern, go to the history section of this site, and click on any of the thumbnail pictures, and it will enlarge. Take your pick of the pattern you wish to use. By all means if you can paint with imron do it, as I understand that is the paint of choice. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: Hi..We are Proud new owners, with a Million Questions Author: Jeff Miller '77FC [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 22/ 02, 8:04pm I heard that Weller Truck in Grand Rapids, MI had bought a batch of surplus parts, which included a set of new Alcoa split 20" rims, their number is 616.724.2000. One caveat, you will need to replace your studs on all wheels and your outer nuts on the rear wheels to go from steel to the thicker aluminum rims. You can also buy 22.5 wheels, they are easier to find and with 11R 22.5 tires you will now be tubeless and out of the old IMO unsafe split rims / lockring rims, the 11R 22.5 tires are also a higher load rating and cheaper, and the same rolling diameter as a 10.00 x 20 tire. Also, you could go to a "low profile" 24.5" tire, the 24.5" wheels are easier to find used in aluminum. When you look for wheels, you need 10-hole STUD PILOTED wheels, the standard for trucks and buses until the '90s, and still used on some new RVs (including Wanderlodges until '01). Tell any used parts man you need the 10-hole stud piloted wheels, 22.5 or 24.5, 7.50" wide will work with 11" tires as will 8.25" wide. 8.25" is easier to find. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]