![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
Back to the gasahol issue. He bored out the accelerator needles a little to make the RV behave a little better on ethanol since we can't get real gas in our Nazi state.
'73 Concord 20' Class A w/Dodge 440 - see profile for photo
Ballenxj wrote:
This looks like a god place to ask. I am currently looking at an older 23 ft class C Dodge to possibly buy. Anything I should watch out for?
This looks like a god place to ask. I am currently looking at an older 23 ft class C Dodge to possibly buy. Anything I should watch out for?
Hello Ballenxj
There are a number of things I could think to tell you, and there's
plenty of good folk on here to help as well. I'll toss out a few things that come to mind for me:
If you have a friend or family member that's a good reputable mechanic, ask him or her to go with you. It's a little harder for a seller to B.S. two people or more. Ask plenty of questions. The first one should be- "How long has it been sitting? And why?"
Make sure to start it up and drive it. Check the fluids before cranking it up, and note the condition- is the oil/trans fluid black? Is the coolant level low, or just water in the radiator? Check the brake fluid, and how the brakes work. Don't forget the park brake. Check the tires- are they aired up? What shape are they in? Let it warm up where it's parked, and look for leaks before you drive off. Check your lights, turn signals, flashers, low/high beams, markers and brake/back up lights. Notice smells and sounds inside and outside the vehicle, and any smoke or burning odors. If you have a mechanic with you, let him or her ask questions too, and check things. Two heads are better than one. Look where the RV is parked, and make sure no limbs have fallen on the roof. Also look inside the RV for signs of leakage and rot, insects or critters. There's nothing more disenheartening than to warm up the engine and discover the mother of all wasp nests in the doghouse, and all of its occupants buzzing all around you in the cab while you're driving...! Pack a can or two of hornet spray- the kind that lets you blast 'em from 15-20 feet away.
If you're allergic to stings, best let someone else do this, and keep your epi pen handy!
Don't expect folks to tell you things. Ask specifically what maintenance has been done while they have owned the RV, and what issues they have had. This is an investment, and it's only right that you are well-informed of all the risks that go with it. Go with your gut feeling about things. If something doesn't seem right, keep asking more questions. If there are things that will need repaired, and the price asked doesn't seem to take that into account, bring it up. Haggle. If they're really motivated to sell, they will.
That's the most I can think of for now. Keep us posted about what you find and how it goes. Good luck with it, and hope it all turns out very well!
Mark/whiteknight001
1972 Mobile Traveler 20' Dodge B300 Class C
"The Kobayashi Maru" Trans- Prarie Land Craft
"Requiescat in pace et in amore..."
Leeann wrote:
Mark, that truly is funny. My hubby's is also red...and we bought it in June for $1300. He'd had a 1982 KZ550 D (the LTD is a C-3), black, that died right before I met him and he'd been missing a motorcycle ever since - been riding since he was 12. I found this one on Craigslist about 45 mins away and he drove it home. It was a slightly late wedding present to him
Back to the gasahol issue. He bored out the accelerator needles a little to make the RV behave a little better on ethanol since we can't get real gas in our Nazi state.
Mark, that truly is funny. My hubby's is also red...and we bought it in June for $1300. He'd had a 1982 KZ550 D (the LTD is a C-3), black, that died right before I met him and he'd been missing a motorcycle ever since - been riding since he was 12. I found this one on Craigslist about 45 mins away and he drove it home. It was a slightly late wedding present to him
Back to the gasahol issue. He bored out the accelerator needles a little to make the RV behave a little better on ethanol since we can't get real gas in our Nazi state.
Leeann,
That is really wild... I can relate about being 12 and riding. Had a bike then, and went everywhere, including a buncha places I shouldn't have, but never got caught! If it ever gets in your system it's there for good, at "submolecular level" lol...
Good thing he can use those files and drill jets. That's a lost art these days. The gas problem ain't going away anytime soon. It'll only get worse.
best regards to y'all!
Mark/whiteknight001 "Old Fat Guy on an Old Kaw"
whiteknight001 wrote:
There are a number of things I could think to tell you, and there's
plenty of good folk on here to help as well. I'll toss out a few things that come to mind for me:
There are a number of things I could think to tell you, and there's
plenty of good folk on here to help as well. I'll toss out a few things that come to mind for me:
Hi Mark, thanks for taking the time to give ideas about what to look for. I sure hope I don't run into that mother of all wasp nests.
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
Downsizing ">
Phantom59 wrote:
Upgrade to a 4 barrel for the best of both worlds economy & performance. I have been very happy with the Edelbrock I installed 10 years ago. Runs great and haven't touched it since bolting it on. They are a copy of the old Carter that came on my 59 caddy.
Upgrade to a 4 barrel for the best of both worlds economy & performance. I have been very happy with the Edelbrock I installed 10 years ago. Runs great and haven't touched it since bolting it on. They are a copy of the old Carter that came on my 59 caddy.
Sounds worth checking out. Thanks
Regarding your LOT in Life: Build something on it ... or park your Dodge on it.">
Bill & Laurie
1976 Dodge Sportsman Midas Mini 226
The combination of an Edelbrock 4-barrel intake and carburetor is just about ideal for motorhomes. If you stay out of the secondaries (!!!), you'll get slightly better gas mileage. The Carter/Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetors have smaller primaries than the old Carter BBD 2-barrel carburetors, In a nut shell, the BBD (and other brand) 2-barrel carburetors had/have to be sized for the maximum engine demand. The primaries on 4-barrel carburetors are sized for typical (cruising) demand and the secondaries kick in when the demand goes up (during acceleration and hill climbing).
Remember, you're driving a big truck, 1-ton or larger. If you want sports car performance, you're in the wrong vehicle. Also, steady, gradual acceleration -- like most sensible truckers use -- is much easier on the gas consumption.
Dual exhaust, especially sized correctly with an H- or X-crossover, will improve performance and fuel mileage. If you want to try headers, find a set of Tri-Y headers. Most of the ones on the market are designed for power at lower RPMs and better gas mileage, which is just what a motorhome needs. They're out there but kinda hard to find and usually have to be special ordered.
Do not, repeat DO NOT, use performance headers of any kind! The stock OEM exhaust manifolds are actually better for motorhome applications. (Almost all headers, except Tri-Y, are designed for high RPMs that you'll never reach.)
An air intake hose from the air cleaner to a source of cool air, like modern vehicles, will also help. (I'm getting older and forgot what they call them ... cold air induction?) If you have a fancy, aftermarket air cleaner, throw it away and get an OEM air cleaner or something similar.
Another trick is to use one or two boat bilge blowers to pump cool air into, or suck hot air out of, the dog house. The carburetor (and fuel) needs to be kept relatively cool for best operation and most doghouses don't provide enough air flow.
1970 Explorer Class A on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis with 318 cu. in. (split year)
1972 Executive Class A on a Dodge M375 chassis with 413 cu. in.
1973 Explorer Class A on a Dodge RM350 (R4) chassis with 318 engine & tranny from 1970 Explorer Class A
Jerry & Gerry, our pets (dogs), Byron, Coco
1976 Monaco, 440 ci. Dodge Sportsman chassis