New Foretravel Owner...

Topic: New Foretravel Owner... (Read 2375 times) previous topic - next topic

New Foretravel Owner...

June 06, 2018, 07:38:53 pm

Hello.... we are new forum members and new Foretravel owners. We have just purchased our very first RV.... a 1986 Foretravel Grand Villa... one owner since delivered new to Paul Newman and Bill Freeman... actor and race drivers... 40,000 miles on a 454 Chevy Front Engine Gas... lightly used as a Hospitality Suite for the team's West Coast races.... gently used and very well maintained....we will pick up the coach next weekend. ( June 15) and take our very first drive back to Boulder CO... seller is having all systems and mechanicals checked out as a benefit to new owners.... we will see you on the road....

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #1 – June 06, 2018, 09:03:55 pm

Welcome. Go easy on the 454 in the hills. Big fan of Paul Newman racing stories and his Hole In The Wall Gang legacy.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #2 – June 06, 2018, 09:23:17 pm

Congratulations and welcome to the forum. It is always nice to know the history of ones coach and what a special history yours has had. I am also a Paul Newman fan and a 240Z fan.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #3 – June 06, 2018, 09:52:47 pm

Love Newman and had a bunch odf Datsun Z's - welcome to the Forum

Gassers like yours tend to be a quite a lot underpowered - heat is your enemy, head and valve problems will surface and cost a lot of $$$ if you push to hard. Slow down and enjoy the scenery! Expect 4-6 MPG, and a grand time with your coach- everyone will ask about it and be shocked at how old it is.

Good luck and welcome to the group!

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable generator-gas-prod - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #4 – June 06, 2018, 10:20:11 pm

Welcome . That coach looked very nice in the add. I have the same body MOL and the single best upgrade is the LED headlights. They dont just bolt in tho as you have to open up the corners of the buckets for heat sink room.
I hope that yours is as good to you as mine has been to me.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #5 – June 07, 2018, 12:01:30 am

V ERY affordable engine to build/ improve!

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #6 – June 07, 2018, 12:22:46 am

If my dim memory still serves me my store sold that coach new.

Chevys had exhaust manifold issues. Something after the late 70's Chevy changed the head gasket to block some of the coolant passages that cooled the head. Helped the NO2 smog compliance.

Head got hotter. Exhaust manifold grew longer. Broke the end bolts off. Leaked. Noisy.

Replace with nodular iron.

Std trade in appraisal then was to have the owner start the Chevy engined coach. If you heard the leaks new manifolds were needed.

Don Moore(boney) cm's partner stood on my ca store porch and said. "Wish we still had the Dodges. You could run them flat out. Not so the sorry Chevrolet's." Word for word.

Later I took in a 1973 30' super luxura yellow coach with the rare Chevy in it. $1000 option new. Four wheel disk brake chassis, aftermarket a/c as the factory gm a/c was too expensive. Soft floor in the hallway. Yes my memory is that good. At least for some things.

100k miles. Ran perfect. WTH?

At that time a old friend from gm showed up from my Chevy factory rep showed up to verify a warranty axle housing change out warranty and he (Jed Ellis) confirmed the head gasket NO2 required change.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #7 – June 07, 2018, 08:14:41 am

As Caflashbob said don't push the 454--had one in another brand and replaced 3 exhaust manifolds one on the road "coach bucks"
and 2 at home --my shop-- much cheaper the first replacement also broke bolts off in head (on road fix) the next 2 were from me getting in a hurry and pushing the coach too hard these both cracked in the middle.
You have a very unique coach with a great history. Always a fan of Paul Newman, Great actor and Great individual. When you buy "Newmans Own" salad dressing the profits go to help disadvantaged people.
Chris

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #8 – June 07, 2018, 03:01:17 pm

I had a 454 in a 84 Winnebago, cracked the exhaust manifolds on my first trip up a mountain side going west.
I had a Banks system installed in Calf. HUGE improvement. The only problem is the Banks headers will eventually rust out.
I also had a 454 in a 70 Corvette, the problem there was not the exhaust manifolds it was my right foot.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #9 – June 07, 2018, 04:16:04 pm

WELCOME to the Family!!!!!

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #10 – June 07, 2018, 04:28:35 pm

Drove a rebuilt 454 all over the country in a 1984 Southwind. Did fine. Hard starting sometimes, depending on how long it set, pitch of the campsite and temperature. Enjoy the heck out of it.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #11 – June 08, 2018, 12:14:25 pm

Thanks for the words of encouragement and the words of caution.... we pick up next weekend. 6-15 in San Diego and drive back to Boulder CO. It's a debate whether to take the southern route without much serious elevation issues but with summer temperatures or take the I-70 route thru Utah and CO Mountain passes wth cooler weather but serious elevations...our first year uses will be just in CO nearby RV parks and getting mechanical updates and more.. see you on the road..

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #12 – June 08, 2018, 12:49:08 pm

All the route choices at this time of year involve grades and heat. after much thought about a new to me coach I might drive the desert extremely early morning versus daytime hot.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #13 – June 08, 2018, 04:01:18 pm

I had a 454 chevy engine in a 1989 Airstream MH. Had exhaust manifold problems. The fix that worked for me was to double up the exhaust manifold gaskets. We drove that motorhome from Ohio to Cheyenne WY then down through Colorado to Pikes Peak and on to Florida, Key West without any major problems. As I remember the alternator went out somewhere in Colorado. Made it back to Ohio just fine. Put another 10000 miles on after that.
Your coach looks great enjoy the ride...

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #14 – June 08, 2018, 05:17:20 pm

Think they made some aftermarket exhaust manifolds,one thing I would do is switch to syn oil,will help with the heat.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #15 – June 08, 2018, 05:37:13 pm

The old Gmc motorhome crowd used to switch to these on the 455's because of manifold leaks.
They might make one for your 454. Best Performance Headers | Truck Headers | Vehicle headers | Motor home...

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #16 – June 08, 2018, 05:50:17 pm

Had a Southwind with the 454 and never had the slightest problem with it. Everything else went to hell, though. No more Fleetwoods.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #17 – June 08, 2018, 06:47:46 pm

Ole Paul had some big bucks,he may have had some engine work done,if anyone did it was him.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #18 – June 08, 2018, 07:12:52 pm

In our former coach with the 454, I found that if you pull a good hill and then pull over at the viewpoint.... iDO NOT immediately shut the engine down....due to differing cool off rates you will bust a manifold or at least pop the manifold bolts....
While I'm thinking of it...
Do Yourself a favor and pull the left front tire (for access) and re-secure the main wiring harness inside the left frame rail where it passes the left exhaust manifold, and then cover it with a heat shielding of some sort......
I had the exhaust leaks and melted the main wiring harness going up Cabbage Hill (Dead Man Pass) in Oregon....
There is "dead in the water" and then there is "dead and rolling bassakkerds DAMMIT!" dead in the water..

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #19 – June 09, 2018, 08:12:30 am

One nice thing about having a GM big block gas engine in your coach - if you ever decide to upgrade, there are some "crate" candidates!

502 HO Big Block Crate Engine | Chevrolet Performance

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #20 – June 10, 2018, 01:55:34 am

I saw that for sale, cool history. As other have said, 454's are a good inexpensive engine. Just like most older gassers, just need to treat her nice and have a full wallet on standby. Good luck, hoping for the best!

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #21 – June 11, 2018, 12:05:23 am

Thank you... have received great advice , warnings and good luck wishes from so many people. We fly into San Diego to meet with Bill Freeman, ( Newmans racing team owner partner) .. Freeman has taken the coach to the RV Center of SD to have a week long checklist done... our Shake Down Cruise will be a 1000 miler back to Boulder CO... we have upgraded our AAA membership. Have plenty of cash on hand for the trip and we have 3 days allowing us to take our time and not push this gem across the desert to our foothills home... see you on the road..

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #22 – June 11, 2018, 11:08:42 am

I would add my welcome to the club! We rented a 34' 1990 Bounder with a 454 when Bounders were fairly new. We also experienced the lack of power on the hills (we drove up the coast to Olympia). This was before they were fuel injected, which I understand made a big difference. You might consider talking to Banks or have a reserve fund if you decide to upgrade to a newer crate engine. One of the advantages of the diesel engines is the turbo at altitude - it doesn't suffer the power loss of the normally aspirated engine.
On the other hand, you found a great source of advise and there always seems to be some here that will stick with you through the issues you will encounter. Good luck!

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #23 – June 12, 2018, 07:40:24 am

Cool coach and welcome ! New to Foretravels as well. Would love to the interior pics of your coach when you get a chance.
Piece of history there.
See you on the road sometimes.

Re: New Foretravel Owner...

Reply #24 – June 12, 2018, 08:09:11 am

I would suggest installing a heat shield on the starter. It is almost touching the exhaust manifold and will get cooked quickly. Might replace the starter while you are at it. Pay attention to the tag axel air pressure and if it has air springs on the front they may need replacing. It's a great coach....enjoy.

Wantabe
1986 Grand Villa 33' Chevy 454

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