Newby owner

Topic: Newby owner (Read 1121 times) previous topic - next topic

Newby owner

July 22, 2013, 05:47:34 pm

Hello everyone,
My wife and I just became the owners of a 79 ForeTravel with 40K miles showing. I had to put the top of the motor back together first in order to make it operational. The previous owner had discovered a small amount of oil sitting on the valley cover under the manifold and decided to investigate. Anyway, he soon discovered that he was not mechanically inclined and instead of putting the motor back together, that he would just sell it as is. The leak, as some have already assumed was from a valve cover gasket which he had also removed from the motor.
I am a bit confused though as he states that it is a 33 foot model yet the vin tag has M60 on it. In my searching of numbers, I learned that the M60 models were 36 ft or 35 depending on where I read. I have not physically measured the length to know as of yet.
The coach seams to be in really good condition and it appears that the original owners took great pains to record and note all repairs as well as other little notations as to wrench sizes needed for this and that and torque values for various bolts.
It has a vary large set of disc brakes on the steer axle and what appears to be a brand new set of Bilstien shocks on all four corners. As far as I have been able to tell, everything seems to work just fine with the exception of the roof AC units but it may be that they have lost some freon over the years.
Anyhow, just thought I would share our find and will probably post some pictures as soon as we remove a few years worth of dirt and grime. What a beast!

The Clarks

Re: Newby owner

Reply #1 – July 22, 2013, 06:01:29 pm

I feel that you are very lucky, finding a nice coach, I should have started like you, but instead my first experience was a MCI Bus that I converted.
We feel very happy for you and wish you well. Do not e a stranger, ask questions.
Dave M

Re: Newby owner

Reply #2 – July 22, 2013, 06:07:39 pm

What is the motor in your coach? When you get situated, consider adding your coach info to your signature, and for extra credit you could add photos of yourself and coach too... Welcome!

Re: Newby owner

Reply #3 – July 22, 2013, 06:10:32 pm

With the M 60 chassis from Dodge, suspect it is the 440.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #4 – July 22, 2013, 06:23:48 pm

Yes, my guess due to the age would be the 413 CID Truck version, not auto, it is my guess the 413 would be the best choice for a gasoline engine.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #5 – July 22, 2013, 06:43:27 pm

Quote from: dclark – July 22, 2013, 05:47:34 pm

I am a bit confused though as he states that it is a 33 foot model yet the vin tag has M60 on it. In my searching of numbers, I learned that the M60 models were 36 ft or 35 depending on where I read. I have not physically measured the length to know as of yet.

Welcome to ForeForums!

If you post some of the details, like the VIN, it's possible that our friends at the Foretravel factory can provide some of that info. I know they helped another new owner figure out the build number/etc. of their older coach.

And yes, please, we all want to see pictures!

Michelle

Re: Newby owner

Reply #6 – July 23, 2013, 12:02:59 am

Thanks for the warm welcomes from all.

The VIN on this MRAP is M60DA8T518873. Now that is what's stamped on the metal tag that says Dodge Fargo Chassis. I guess I'm a bit confused as to why only 13 digits but I'm sure it has to do with the coach numbers or final assembly or something of that nature.

I have not crawled under the engine to see if it's 413 or 440 cast into the block but I'm pretty sure she's the 440 backed up by a Loadflite gearbox. I've been a MOPAR man all my life so I know these guys inside and out and also the trans. I can strip that down to nothing and rebuild it with no problems also.
I am curious as to whether or not this old girl has a limited slip axle though. I live in WA State and we do get some snow now and then and we camp year around. We also have a 2011 39 foot Jayco Eagle fifth-wheel that we pull with a class seven single axle Harvester that sports the Cummins L10 and a 13 speed Fuller. I'll post pictures of that setup also if ya'll want to take a peek. Gets lots of 'thumbs up' wherever we roll.

Keep smiling

Re: Newby owner

Reply #7 – July 23, 2013, 12:07:03 am

Hope these come through. These are the Brand X photos to be PC on this board.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #8 – July 23, 2013, 12:08:29 am

Another shot.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #9 – July 23, 2013, 12:18:46 am

That coach would be a 33 foot unless it has the tag axle, then would be a 35 foot, but don't think they made the 35 until 78 or 79. The engine should be a 440 -3 which is the heavy duty engine. It may say 440-3 on the side of the block or maybe 440-7 or 8. The m60 had 6 bolt wheels and the m50 had 5 bolt wheels. I had a set of hubcaps all painted with the foretravel orange until about a week ago.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #10 – July 23, 2013, 10:14:45 am

OK, that makes sense on the wheel lug thing. They are Six lug. Appreciate that input. There is no tag axle so it must be 33 then.
This thing has the hub caps on the rear wheels but the front just has those chrome lug nut covers. Don't think that's original but it's no game changer.

It will probably be two weeks before I can post any pictures as I have to do a little more work to get it home. After that, let the fun begin.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #11 – July 23, 2013, 10:33:20 am

Welcome to the Foretravel world, and the foreforums.
I too am a Mopar man. I have a couple of old Mopars I restored.
You will find a wealth of knowledge and information on this site. Alot of people willing to share with you.
OH, The Int'l is a nice ride.
Jerry

Re: Newby owner

Reply #12 – July 23, 2013, 01:04:48 pm

No limited slip. 440-3. As don"boney" Moore said. (One of the original Foretravel founders) said on day on my sales office porch.

"Those old dodges could be run flat out. More so than the sorry chevrolets."

Gm blocked some coolant passages in the 454 head which made the engines run hotter in 83 or so.

Bad for rv's that were getting bigger at the same time.

Straight axle had more capacity and the 8" frame rail helped rigidity.

Exhaust valves rusted and starters slung lead was the issues if memory serves me.

Bob

Re: Newby owner

Reply #13 – July 23, 2013, 06:48:35 pm

Green99 and Caflashbob, and all the rest, Thanks for all the great input.

Yep Mopars are hard motors to beat. Lots of Nickel in the castings makes em tough as nails. They need a little help in oiling the rear main but a supply line run from an oil filter adapter to the rear blocked off port next to the sending unit will make sure that the rear main gets as much oil as the rest of the motor. It's not a big issue really but the more oil you can pump through that guy the cooler and happier he'll be.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #14 – July 23, 2013, 07:30:53 pm

And people thought us Detroit Diesel motor heads were fanatics...

Re: Newby owner

Reply #15 – July 23, 2013, 08:20:16 pm

I spent the better part (40 years) of my life steering 18 wheelers down the road. I owned and operated three trucks at one time till fuel, insurance, and everything else went beyond it's worth. Oh well, fun while it lasted.

My last truck was a 95 IH Eagle with the N14 Cummins set at 500 HP. The gears were 167-18 Fuller and 46K rear axles. A real good horse she was. I'd always heard good things about the 60 Series Detroit motors but never actually drove one. I had the old 6-71 in one of my smaller trucks though. You always new it was low on oil when it dried up on the outside. Not much power but a hell of a lot of noise.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #16 – July 25, 2013, 05:59:59 pm

Question for the experts out there...What the heck is with the electronic dipsticks? One on the trans and some other kind of something on the engine apparently.
The unit on the dash (left of the steering column) says 'PRESS AND HOLD FOR 15 SECONDS" with a trans temp gauge in the same cluster. I press and hold and ain't much happening.
I'll investigate but just wondered if any of you have had prior experience with these gadgets.

Re: Newby owner

Reply #17 – July 25, 2013, 06:22:50 pm

That is supposed to show temp and fluid level of the transmission, I never was to impressed with that system. I would always remove the engine cover and pull the dipstick to check the fluid level to make sure it was right

Re: Newby owner

Reply #18 – July 25, 2013, 07:07:04 pm

With the Dodge just remember to keep a spare ballast resister on board.Gam

Re: Newby owner

Reply #19 – July 25, 2013, 07:13:56 pm

Bob>

you bring back memories of these coaches as I lived in Nacogdoches and I knew Don "Boney" Moore quite well. I have seen him go up to the orange Foretravel and take his foot and kick flat out on the side on the motorhome to show how rugged they were. If he had lived I believe Foretravel would be bigger today. These 440 units were the pride of Foretravel in the day. DAN

Re: Newby owner

Reply #20 – July 25, 2013, 08:09:07 pm

Do consider that someone needs to calibrate the tranny steel dipstick. If you did not calibrate it how do you know if it's correct? This is necessary because the length of the steel dipstick varies depending on its route.

The electronic dipstick will be correct unless it's broken.

Don't ask me how I know this can be a problem ;o)

best, paul

Re: Newby owner

Reply #21 – July 26, 2013, 12:15:05 am

Quote from: Dan J. Stansel – July 25, 2013, 07:13:56 pm

Bob> you bring back memories of these coaches as I lived in Nacogdoches and I knew Don "Boney" Moore quite well. I have seen him go up to the orange Foretravel and take his foot and kick flat out on the side on the motorhome to show how rugged they were. If he had lived I believe Foretravel would be bigger today. These 440 units were the pride of Foretravel in the day. DAN

He copied don shipes boot kick. I also used that many times. Make sure to hit flat and no rocks on your shoe bottom. Coach rocked. Anyone inside if at a show came running out. Funny...

I did chin ups on the cabinets also. Bony was the best bass fisherman in town and the good old boys would always mention his fishing skills. And the factory had a boat store around its edge at that time. And the bass tournament signs were all over town...

Re: Newby owner

Reply #22 – July 28, 2013, 07:29:36 pm

You guys are a hoot !!
Love the great stories and it's really nice knowing these old girls were built so well. Not something we see much of today anymore.
I'll take a look at those lectric dip sticks and see if I can figure them out but I agree that pulling them and looking is the best route.
I am still working out the trade on it at the moment. Probably didn't mention before but the fella I'm getting this from has this 1977 Chevy El Camino that needs new floor pans installed and since I do that kind of work on the side we made the agreement to trade my labor and time for the Foretravel. After getting the car to the shop it has become apparent that the car must have been discovered on a beach at low tide as there is a lot of rust. But it will get new floor pans as agreed and I will pick up the coach. And I promise to post some pictures of it here both before and after pressure washing. I would say two weeks and she'll be here.

AL

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