Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

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Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

July 06, 2020, 07:12:53 pm

I just sold my 1976 FMC 2900r (that I repowered to a Duramax/6spd Allison) and I'm doing the legwork on what I'd like to be my next coach. I'm very interested in the 1989 (double bumper) 36ft (that's max length for me) Grand Villa's. I'd like some input on what to watch out for, what options to look for, and what are the "must haves". I'll only be looking at Western/Southern coaches, I live in San Diego and won't deal with a snow belt coach. I'd also be interested in if anyone has done a modern repower to this era Grand Villa and what donor they went with.
Thanks
Len

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #1 – July 06, 2020, 07:34:52 pm

Double bumper coach you're going to be dealing with a 3208 Cat or a 2-stroke Detroit (40') and a 4 speed Allison.
For a little more of an investment you get a more modern drivetrain...

Beautiful 1994 Foretravel U280 Unihome 36ft diesel pusher the Rolls...

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #2 – July 06, 2020, 09:35:49 pm

Well I have a 1990 Double Bumper 40 ft. and it is a hybrid of 1990 and 1991 features. 6V92 Detroit 4 spd Allison with retarder. You are looking for a very rare bird. I have only personally seen 1 other on the road and it was at Quartzite last January. Less than a handful here on the Forum. Don't box yourself in. ALL the GrandVilla series coaches are great rigs. Depending on the previous owner, you may be spending some bucks on infrastructure upgrades. The running gear is the key component for your search. And of course rust , rust, rust. The silent killer of great coaches. Be sure to read the article by Brett Wolfe titled Bulkhead Replacement here on this site. This is stuff you need to know before you start your search for your vintage rig.
If you find something out there, run it by us. Take lots of pictures, we like pictures and directions on how to post pictures are here on the site. You have found the right place to look for advice and help. I simply can not state how much I have learned and how much help is on here. Learn to use the search function in the upper right hand corner.
Don't get discouraged if you don't find one tomorrow. If there is a Foretravel for sale no matter what the year and what the style anywhere near you, do yourself a favor and go check it out. You never know, love at first sight.

Good luck, hope to hear from you soon

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #3 – July 06, 2020, 10:22:29 pm

The Diesel powertrains for the 87-90 GV are plenty stout. The weakest statistically will be the gassers, either front or rear mounted. The Fuel pincher DD will be a close second. IMHO.
The Cat 3208 and the 6 V92 have been really solid. Very few rebuilds mentioned on any forums. I have not heard of any power swaps.
The Fortravel 8 bag chassis is really nice and should drive better than the Oshkosh 4 bag system . The Oshkosh is very rust resistant. The 8 bag chassis is prone to rust .

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #4 – July 06, 2020, 10:25:55 pm

Quote from: Doug W. – July 06, 2020, 07:34:52 pm

Double bumper coach you're going to be dealing with a 3208 Cat or a 2-stroke Detroit (40') and a 4 speed Allison.
For a little more of an investment you get a more modern drivetrain...

Beautiful 1994 Foretravel U280 Unihome 36ft diesel pusher the Rolls...

But Mercedes/Detroit is still making the 6V-92TA 2-stroke. Wonder why that is?

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #5 – July 06, 2020, 10:44:14 pm

For those mechanically inclined and asking for a project a good one would be a early U280 unihome 250 cat.

Locate a marine 375hp twin turbo 3208 marine top end. Bolt it on. May need more fuel. No ideas of the details.

Keep your foot out of it until in fourth gear. Torque converter locked up.

Large enough radiator. Drove one. Climb all the 6% interstate grades at warp speed.

Has enough chassis and disk brakes

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #6 – July 06, 2020, 10:52:46 pm

Quote from: Doug W. – July 06, 2020, 07:34:52 pm

Double bumper coach you're going to be dealing with a 3208 Cat or a 2-stroke Detroit (40') and a 4 speed Allison.
For a little more of an investment you get a more modern drivetrain...

Beautiful 1994 Foretravel U280 Unihome 36ft diesel pusher the Rolls...

Does anyone on here know/seen this coach up close? 8.3 Cummins and 3000 series Allison is a great powertrain..

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #7 – July 07, 2020, 09:30:03 am

Also, is there a good resource for comparing model differences...in particular...for say 1994, what are the differences between a U300 and a U240 (beyond the obvious) is the chassis/brake system dramatically different? It appears they held the narrower chassis width on the U240 through 1994, that is something that I like, I find myself in tight spots a lot and prefer the older "narrow track" coaches.
Thanks again.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #8 – July 17, 2020, 01:59:50 pm

I've readjusted my target years to 1993-1995...if I feel ambitious enough I can always retrofit the double bumper look on to one of those a lot easier than re-powering..

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #9 – July 17, 2020, 04:33:04 pm

I would be willing to put our "snow belt" state coach up against any coach of similar age and mileage anytime when it comes to being rust free.
Our coach, to the best of my knowledge, only saw one--ONE--17 mile drive on a Wisconsin winter road, and I hosed it down when we got home.
Rust? Better look at the frame, the engine, and even the interior when looking at coaches. You can still read the labels on our engine and the wood interior shows no sign of neglect or weathering.
While at HWH and having a new hydraulic pump installed Lon the leadman insisted that his guys roll under our coach and look at the chassis. He told them it looked like it just came out new from the Foretravel factory.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #10 – July 17, 2020, 05:20:05 pm

Quote from: len.barron – July 17, 2020, 01:59:50 pm

I've readjusted my target years to 1993-1995...if I feel ambitious enough I can always retrofit the double bumper look on to one of those a lot easier than re-powering..
[Wd /quote]
Not really the double bumper is a 96" narrow body coach. 92 they went to 102" wide bodies0

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #11 – July 17, 2020, 07:14:04 pm

I will admit, that being from Wisconsin, RUST is our favorite color!!

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #12 – July 17, 2020, 07:31:06 pm

Any state or country that salts the roads gets their vehicle pulled aside by Homeland Security when they go to sell it. Nitehawk, you are one of a low percentage of RV owners who does right by their coach. Good for you. If I were in the market, I would have to get a lot of high resolution photos before I would think about flying to inspect the typical Craigslist coach from a northern state.

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #13 – July 17, 2020, 07:50:21 pm

Quote from: stump – July 17, 2020, 05:20:05 pm

Not really the double bumper is a 96" narrow body coach. 92 they went to 102" wide bodies0

The metal fab portion is (for me) the easiest.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #14 – August 12, 2020, 11:15:34 am

I'm looking at an 88 GV U280, indoor kept, seemingly well maintained, under 50k miles. This is the 3208T/MT643 combo drivetrain. I know to inspect for bulkhead issues, is there any other model specific issues to watch for on these? I'll be inspecting windshield glass fitment and general systems functional/leak checks. The owner has good maintenance records.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #15 – August 12, 2020, 12:29:10 pm

Looks nice from the single photo. Glass fitment is always a potential problem. Ours moves a lot but never has cracked (fingers crossed) Where do you live and plan to use it? Not a northern coach is it? More high res photos would help members do a long range inspection.

Pierce

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #16 – August 12, 2020, 12:44:25 pm

It's a southern coach, verified indoor storage for the past 20yrs, I'm in SoCal so no environmental concerns on my end either.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #17 – August 12, 2020, 12:58:18 pm

mechanicals, newly re-cored radiator last year, needs tires (aged out) needs voltage regulator on the onan 6.5lp genset (only stays running in "start" position. Windshield weatherstripping leaks small amount. Owner reports small gear whine noise in 4th gear before the converter locks, allison tech told him it's pretty typical and not a problem but I haven't dug into that, I do know that some allisons are know for that type of gear noise. Batteries are recent, all appliances working well, about half interior lights converted to LED. Engine driven dash A/C performance poor.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #18 – August 12, 2020, 01:19:10 pm

Are you "handy" and do you like to fix stuff? Check roof carefully, as well as any othe signs of delamination elsewhere

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #19 – August 12, 2020, 01:25:02 pm

should have some rooftop pics tonight along with the genset...yes...I've built multiple project vehicles and recently repowered a 76 FMC motorhome from the stock 440 mopar gas V8/727 trans to an LBZ Duramax with 6spd Allison...If I buy one of these GVs it will likely end up with an ISL 400hp Cummins and 3060 Allison (couple years down the line).

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #20 – August 12, 2020, 02:05:36 pm

Len,

Don't think you will be disappointed in the performance of the Cat 3208.

Look forward to welcoming you to the Foretravel family.

Re: Grand Villa Pre-Purchase Research / Advise

Reply #21 – August 12, 2020, 02:10:34 pm

Is the dry/curb weight for these listed anywhere? I haven't been able to track that down...some anecdotal stuff that suggest 20-22klbs is all I've seen.

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