New house

[Hank70SS]

Haven't been around a lot the last few weeks. We've been looking at new homes, actually motor homes. It's the end of the season and there are a lot of them for sale out there.

Maybe a dumb thing but we bought a 1994 Bounder by Fleetwood, 31' 10" long. All the basic stuff, AC, heat, frig/freezer, microwave, generator, tv, blah, blah, blah. Looks like new inside and damn near knew on the outside, only 28,xxx miles. New tires and new rear brakes. Front end is a little sloppy so I have to look at that but you can't find much in our price range that doesn't need some work.

Spent all day yesterday in the heat finishing the parking pad for it. We got some free fill to level out next to the drive way and got a load of crushed stone for the top. Had to trench out 12' by 34' with a 24' long angle at the front edge to box it in with treated lumber to hold the stone in place. That fill dirt was like concrete after the dump truck drove over a few time and leveled with a bobcat. Got it finished but there were a few times I didn't think I was going to make it, I'm getting to old for that kind of shit. My son is on disability from hernia surgery so all he could do was stand around and watch.

So that's what I've been up to. Wasn't a major investment so even if we only keep it a few years I think it will be worth it. Of course I think we'll keep it longer than that.

[Rank]

Nice low miles .... gas or diesel

[grumpy]

Sounds cool. Now thats the way to travel to races :)

[Hank70SS]

It's gas, a diesel would be nice but they're too expensive for me. It's a 454 so at least I know how to work on it. Runs pretty good, drove it home from Ohio, a little over 70 miles. I kept it at around 65 mph but it really wanted to go faster.

[Highway Star]

Nice score Hank......PICS!!!!

[flash]

I cant have a house on wheels as the wife says 1 house is all she is going to clean . Besides we are always driving the Chevelle.Going to the Heart Of Dixie show Saturday in Alabama ,hope its dry this year.

[Ms Grumpy]

I cant have a house on wheels as the wife says 1 house is all she is going to clean . Besides we are always driving the Chevelle.Going to the Heart Of Dixie show Saturday in Alabama ,hope its dry this year.

Just tell her that you can sell the one your in now, that way you can go to ALL the car shows and take your house with you.

[Rank]

I cant have a house on wheels as the wife says 1 house is all she is going to clean . Besides we are always driving the Chevelle.Going to the Heart Of Dixie show Saturday in Alabama ,hope its dry this year.

My wife says "No Motorhome" cuz I dont pay attention whilst I am driving already .... I really do bad driving past colleges and beaches ! LOL

[Rank]

It's gas, a diesel would be nice but they're too expensive for me. It's a 454 so at least I know how to work on it. Runs pretty good, drove it home from Ohio, a little over 70 miles. I kept it at around 65 mph but it really wanted to go faster.


I got a 37' Bounder with 454 sitting in Louisianna thats mine if I want it. My Dad lived in it the past 20 years on the road so its alittle "worn" to say the least. But it does have a gearvendor which is a plus.

I am still kicking it around.

[RBeckman]

Hank,

Do you think we can get in to Frankemuth as pre-78 and set it up next to the cars and put the awning out? Since you have the hotel room Ray and I could stay in it, unless Ray wants to sleep under the table with the tent lowered again.

That would be the best of both worlds. Ha

Will Linda Drive it?

[Hank70SS]

I cant have a house on wheels as the wife says 1 house is all she is going to clean . Besides we are always driving the Chevelle.Going to the Heart Of Dixie show Saturday in Alabama ,hope its dry this year.

Well, when you're in the motor home she doesn't have to clean the house. When you're not using the motor home she doesn't have to clean it. Either way she still only has one house to clean.

I got a 37' Bounder with 454 sitting in Louisianna thats mine if I want it. My Dad lived in it the past 20 years on the road so its alittle "worn" to say the least. But it does have a gearvendor which is a plus.

I am still kicking it around.

That's a big sucker, must a have a tag along rear axle in addition to the drive axle. Sounds like the price is right even if it needs some work.

Hank,

Do you think we can get in to Frankemuth as pre-78 and set it up next to the cars and put the awning out? Since you have the hotel room Ray and I could stay in it, unless Ray wants to sleep under the table with the tent lowered again.

That would be the best of both worlds. Ha

Will Linda Drive it?

Somehow I don't think they'll go for that Ric. I doubt Lynda will drive it, not because I won't let her but because she won't want to. Guess will see.

[Hank70SS]

Nice score Hank......PICS!!!!

I just looked, guy pulled the ad from craigslist so I guess I'll have to dig out the camera.

[RBeckman]

Hank when I was driving thru Brighton today I seen you in your motor home but could not catch you...I did get a picture of you thou with my camera phone....nice motor home by the way. Since you have not had a chance to upload a pic yet...I thought I would help. No need to thank me.

826

[Hank70SS]

Hank when I was driving thru Brighton today I seen you in your motor home but could not catch you...I did get a picture of you thou with my camera phone....nice motor home by the way. Since you have not had a chance to upload a pic yet...I thought I would help. No need to thank me.

826

That be it. Looks even better now since we washed and waxed it! She's a beauty isn't she.

[grandsport]

I love the color combo,very classic. If that thing would ever make it to Latrobe,You are welcome at my house. You can park it at the Walmart,I can drive you from there to my house.:p

[RBeckman]

Gary, why would you not let Hank park in your driveway? I'm picturing the scene from Christmas vaction

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[grandsport]

Gary, why would you not let Hank park in your driveway? I'm picturing the scene from Christmas vaction

827


Exactly. I just thought of something.......MY BEER:eek:

[Hank70SS]

You guys are bad. Last damn time I cook burgers for you Ric and offer you my beer. Guess I better get the camera out and show you how bad it really looks.

[RBeckman]

I'm so sorry Hank, I did not know you were so sensitive about your new home and the picture I put up there. So I thought I would post the real picture of your motorhome. I bet Gary will let you park in his Driveway now. Also...thanks cooking me lunch....it was great.

843

[Hank70SS]

I'm so sorry Hank, I did not know you were so sensitive about your new home and the picture I put up there. So I thought I would post the real picture of your motorhome. I bet Gary will let you park in his Driveway now. Also...thanks cooking me lunch....it was great.

843

Remember Tony's bucket list he was telling us about? Well you're on my list now! :D

[Bowtie-Bri]

Hey Ric,
I think you took a picture of someone elses pos and posted it here to give Hank a hard time. Hank sent me a pic of his new purchase.
Its more upscale than the ones you posted.
Here is the pic he sent me. I was really impressed.:D
844

[prostreet4ever]

OMG...lovin' that !!!Looks to be fairlynew????

[Hank70SS]

OMG...lovin' that !!!Looks to be fairlynew????

It is and it drives like a dream. As soon as I take a power washer to the inside we'll be able to start using it.

[RBeckman]

Remember Tony's bucket list he was telling us about? Well you're on my list now! :D


Great pic Brian.......I'm thinking you are also now on Hank's bucket list.

Hank, are those solar panels on the top? I didn't think you were that much of a environmentlist.

Gary, would you let that park in your driveway now?

[Hank70SS]

Actually it does have a solar panel on top of the AC unit. Keeps the batteries charged when it's not plugged in, like a battery tender.

[Hank70SS]

Here is a link to some pics of the motorhome. It's a mess inside as you can see. We were in the process of replacing some of the switches in the lights and switch for the bathroom vent fan. All the lights and fans work now. I replaced one storage compartment latch, have to go buy some screws to finish replacing one more more.

Need to by some roof coating and take care of that. White top layer is wearing off down to the black, it's a one piece rubber roof. No, cracks, splits or leaks but I want to but a new coat on top before winter.

I replaced the engine temp sensor the other day as the dash gauge wasn't working. Need to replace the donut gaskets between the exhaust manifolds and exhaust pipe. No leak when idling in neutral but it leaks when you put it in gear and the engine torques sideways some.

It has twin beds in it but could have been ordered with double bed. Needs new mattresses so we'll switch to double bed when we get some more money.

Only other thing is the front suspension, a little sloppy. I think it's the driver's side bell crank but I need to check it out some more.

http://www.chevelleforum.net/album.php?albumid=61

[RBeckman]

Very nice Hank...a lot nicer than the pics that we were all posting up here on what we thought was your new house....ha Lets do the HOT ROD power tour next year and have Lynda follow us in the Motor home as a chase vehicle.

Hank...the driveway looks like a lot of work...sorry missed all the fun.

[Hank70SS]

The driveway was a lot of work, of course it was 90 that day which didn't help.

[Bowtie-Bri]

Very nice "dog house"......I mean motor home Hank.:D

[Hank70SS]

Very nice "dog house"......I mean motor home Hank.:D

That self contained dog house may be room next year at Autofest. Free parking across the street from BI. Sounds a lot better than $400 for an okay room at BI.

[grandsport]

Very nice! I can see the wife and daughter taking that to dog shows. Hey,I just realized something. We are hobby poor.:(

[Hank70SS]

Ok, maybe I should have bought a new motorhome. Not that I could afford one but it sure would be a lot less work. This one is in pretty could shape for 16 years old but after 16 years there are lot's of little things that need to be taken care of. Guess I could just use it and not worry about it but that's not me.

Roof was leaking around the skylight over the shower. I cut out all the old sealer there and around other seams on the roof and sealed them up. No leaks this morning and we had a downpour last night.

Pulled all the roof vents apart and cleaned them up. Lot's of crude in them and on the screens.

Scrubbed and scrubbed the awning. It's a little worse for wear and had lot's of dirt and mildew on it from being closed up wet. looks decent now, not great but a lot better than before.

Tried changing the donut gaskets on the exhaust manifolds. Of course one stud snapped. I soaked it with PB Blaster and been soaking it more. Put the other nuts and springs back on, don't want to take it all apart until I can get the broken stud out and replace it.

FedEx delivered 5 gallons of Liquid Rubber today, that's the next project. The roof is a sheet of EDPM rubber. It's flat, no ripples, cracks or tears but the top layer of white is wearing off. The Liquid Rubber is also EDPM rubber, white, that will bond to the existing roof and strengthen it. Not looking forward to that project but it needs to be done while the existing roof is still in good enough shape.

Kind of like buying a Chevelle. Lot's of things you want to do, lot's of work but kind of rewarding as you make progress.

[RBeckman]

Ok,
Tried changing the donut gaskets on the exhaust manifolds. Of course one stud snapped. I soaked it with PB Blaster and been soaking it more. Put the other nuts and springs back on, don't want to take it all apart until I can get the broken stud out and replace it.

Hooker headers with electric cutouts would be real cool on your BIG BLOCK motor home, and don't forget your MSD electronic ignition (I think Tony will give you a good deal on one that has spare parts) and maybe Lynda with get you a nitrous setup for Christmas.

[Hank70SS]

Actually there are a couple of companies that make headers for motorhomes, Gibson, Doug's, Doug Thorley and Banks. They tend to burn up gaskets and even exhaust manifolds. The engines work pretty hard and the stock exhaust manifolds don't do much in the way of moving the heat away.

It's a fuel injected engine with electronic ignition, think I'll stick with that for now.

[Highway Star]

You could still put headers, and do so with no gaskets. For that matter, you could have the late model style spring loaded ball-joint like connections welded in and not ever worry about leaks.

Cutouts on an RV would be awesome.

[Hank70SS]

You could still put headers, and do so with no gaskets. For that matter, you could have the late model style spring loaded ball-joint like connections welded in and not ever worry about leaks.

Cutouts on an RV would be awesome.

That's what I've been looking at. Some of the header kits come complete with Y-pipe which I think would be worth it. That or you have to do a lot of cutting and welding or go dual exhaust which is still custom and more costly. The exhaust system is 20' long and still in good shape, don't want to replace any more than I have to.

[fst64_v8power]

On the road again..... I cant wait to get on the road again...

[Bowtie-Bri]

Mmmmm........I wonder if they make Torque thrust wheels for motor homes. :D

[Hank70SS]

It has 19.5" rims now, 22's would look good.

[Highway Star]

Hank,

Which one of these looks more like your RV?

This one...
http://bp1.blogger.com/_tEXSHwuhg6g/R-iPHtehxrI/AAAAAAAABTk/_5mjwG91xso/s400/motorhome_for_rebels.jpg


or this one?
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4559/stripes664a.jpg

Waving :D

[Hank70SS]

More like a cross between the two Jake.

[Hank70SS]

I may have found the problem with the loose steering, and it was a cheap fix. The steering gear box connects to a bell crank bolted to the frame rail. There is another bell crank on the passenger side that serves like an idler and also attaches to a steering stabilizer.

So while my son cranked the steering wheel side to side I watched the front suspension. At first I thought the bell crank support bearings on the driver's side were shot. From another angle I could see it was the frame rail twisting top to bottom. There is a cross-member between the frame rails right at the bell crank supports. The bolts that attach the cross-member were loose on the driver's side. Tightened them and anything else I could get a socket on and no more flex in the frame rail.

I don't think it's really a permanent fix. The bolts that hold the cross-member aren't that big. If it's better but works loose again I'll tack weld the cross-member to the frame rail. I can always cut the weld if the cross-member ever needs to be removed.

I feel a lot better now. The bell crank supports on these chassis are known for wearing out. This motorhome already had new ones installed, Henderson Super Steer bell cranks with tapered roller bearings, about $300 a piece. I didn't want to have to replace those again.

I know you guy's don't give a shit but I thought I'd share anyway!

[grandsport]

Thought for a while I was gonna have to get me one of them too.:p

[Hank70SS]

Thought for a while I was gonna have to get me one of them too.:p

Just buy a new one then you won't have to deal with all the issues that come with an older one. I suggest a diesel pusher, 34' would be a good size. Then you could tow an enclosed car hauler with the Chevelle in it. $250,000 should get you into a nice unit.

[Highway Star]

Oh, that's it?

Hank, have you ever seen this one?

http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/sitebkgd/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/rv_afloat.jpg

http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/sitebkgd/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/rv-amphib-rear.jpg

http://www.motorhomeplanet.co.uk/sitebkgd/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/rv-landing.jpg


Or...
"New Yorker Rick Dobbertin built the amphibious Surface Orbiter out of a milk truck in order to cross the world via land and sea. It took him 4 years, $175,000 and 14,000 man hours to complete."


I saw this thing on tv a few years ago...the guy drove it almost pole to pole, from North America to South America.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/466755545_55e79cfc41_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/466755589_a127006a37_o.jpg

[Hank70SS]

That first one looks sweet, I'm sure it cost a few bucks.

[Highway Star]

I think I read 1.2 mil.

[grandsport]

Hank,why don't you make a weinermobile out of it?

[RBeckman]

I could see Hank driving the wienermobile.

884

[Hank70SS]

Okay, I checked into the wienermobile idea. Just too expensive, maybe in a few years.

Worked on the exhaust some more the other day. Soaked the stud I broke with PB Blaster for a week. Used a stud remover on it and started twisting on it. :mad: It snapped again only this time it snapped off flush with the end of the manifold. I went ahead and replaced the donut gaskets, the driver's side one was pretty burned. Of course the new one leaks because it only has 2 of 3 bolts holding it.

Now it's try to drill it out, not an easy thing, hard to get to or say forget it and just leave it until I install a set of headers. You would think in a big ass motorhome you'd have plenty of room to work on the engine, not so. It's packed in tighter than the 454 in the Chevelle.

[Hank70SS]

Latest update on the wiener mobile. Replaced the front swaybar bushings. The one attached to the frame on the drivers side came out in pieces. It was so dry and brittle it just fell apart. It doesn't use end links, the bushings on the controls arms are just like the ones attached to the frame.

Spent an hour on the web looking for a source for the bushings on the rear swaybar. Finally found them, apparently 1 3/4" swaybars aren't that popular.

Replaced the hose between the fuel inlet and the pipe running to the tank. I helped my uncle replace his, he only needed about half the hose he bought so I got the rest. Figured I had it and the original was a little mushy.

Finally got the distributor lockdown bolt loose, what a pain. I soaked it for week with PB Blaster and still couldn't get it loose. The fuel line wraps around it and the only thing that fit was a stubby thinwall socket on a 3/8 breaker bar. The bar had to go in from the back of the engine due to other crap in the way. That meant the bar was under the floor so I couldn't get any leverage on it. Yesterday I got underneath and sat up in between the frame rails and outside of the MH and was able to pull it loose.

Timing it was fun too. The timing tab is near the bottom of the engine on the driver's side and uses #5 cylinder instead of #1. Timing was only 5 degrees advanced, I pushed it up to around 11-12.

Tomorrow is the maiden voyage. We're going to a campground near Kalamazoo with my uncle and another friend. He has a membership to some campground thing so it only costs us $10 a day for full hookup. Wish us luck, I hope we don't need but you never know.

[RBeckman]

Good luck and have fun. It's not that far of a trip so it will help you get to know it.

[Highway Star]

We will soon see if that thing is a beef frank, pork frank, or turkey frank, won't we?


Hank, have fun bud...good luck with that beast, it is pretty on the lakes outside k-zoo, been there myself. :D

[Hank70SS]

Good luck and have fun. It's not that far of a trip so it will help you get to know it.

Thanks, you get better. That's idea, start with a few short trips until we figure this thing out. We'll probably take stuff we don't need and forget stuff we do. Plus I want to check out the handling and see if it needs anymore work.

We will soon see if that thing is a beef frank, pork frank, or turkey frank, won't we?


Hank, have fun bud...good luck with that beast, it is pretty on the lakes outside k-zoo, been there myself. :D

Thanks, supposed to be decent weather, maybe rain on Wednesday. The colors should be pretty good, I hope.

[FlintTony]

Have a good trip Hank. I hope it goes without a hitch.

[Hank70SS]

Have a good trip Hank. I hope it goes without a hitch.

There'll be a hitch, a few cuss words, a couple of beers and a smoke or two to chill out. It'll be good, there is always s*** to deal with, just part of life I guess. You guys take care I may be able to check in, they're supposed to have wifi in the lodge. Lynda is bringing here laptop so I'll let you know how it's going. I'd take mine but that seems too much like work I think. Well it was when I use to work all day on 'puter. When I go away I want to get away from it, not you guys, just the pc in general.