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Topic: 1986 Grand Villa (Read 2153 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 1986 Grand Villa

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
The Oshkosh is great for that vintage .  It does not suffer from the rust issues that the Foretravel chassis does .
 If it has metal springs it may be the 817 and you may have spring issues esp if it has sat with flat tires or  non leveled .
 Check the rear body support s, esp on the driver side . If the radiator cap sits on the body, it has drooped and the rear end needs a new support. That was the only rusty spot on mine and it is due to faulty design. 
 The Simple  Cat will run for 400K with some love as will the Allison. 
 The wedge brakes can be problematic but if it has 200K and no front end damage they must be OK :) 
 The air bags are a PITA  but doable  for about 2K total . 
 FWIW I paid about 9K for mine and had a major redue on the inside due to PO  abuse , 6 new tires,  4 new airbags , 100% fresh fluid and brake service. LED lights.    Muffler delete, super tune  and careful trans cable adjustment  allows upshift to direct 4th gear at 46MPH and 10 plus MPG. 
 They are very happy at  60MPH cruise and less so at 72MPH .

I think that mine is  worth  about 22K$ ready to run  at this point .  I just enjoyed it as race support bus for the team  over the weekend.  Of course, It's value is determined  by your use .
Pita?
Bob and Carol Cox
1987 gv 36 ft dp
Cat 3208t
2013 tundra crew cab lift

Re: 1986 Grand Villa

Reply #27 –
Oshkosh/cat/Allison mistook my alterations of the trans servo too much.

Original settings in the trans had the upshifts at 2300 rpm on the 300.  Same as the 250 ho cat.

Corect was 2600 rpm.  The Allison guys readjusted it after calling me.

Next was 2600.  Last were 2800 and wrong.

Hanging in gear was an incorrect adjustment of the Servo(?)

Was made for a 45000 pound fire truck not a 20000 pound rv.

All the shift points are adjustable in the valve body as is the servo thing(modulator?)

A experienced Allison shop will be able to fix this for 3?  Hours labor?

You are taxing my memory but that's a good thing. 

Hope this helps.  Keep it coming.  I and Foretravel needed the biz and the owners liked a fixed coach.  Win win
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4