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Topic: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions] (Read 3177 times) previous topic - next topic

Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Hi, we're new owners of a fine vintage 1987 36ft Grandvilla. It appears to be well kept and it's Ford 460 looks pretty clean and ran good on the test drive. I found it was an option when it was built and know large Ford commercial trucks use them..... Anybody that could share their experiences with this vintage and model would be much appreciated. Things like how you found the power, comfort, mountain driving Dos and Don'ts..... Etc.
TIA
GOLDHOUND



[edited topic title for clarity and moved topic from Fire Ring to Discussions for visibility - Michelle]

Re: Newbies

Reply #1 –
Welcome to the forum.  You will find a wealth of help and info here.  It will help others to help you if in your profile you include information about your coach including the build number.

Here is a link to a wealth of info about our coaches:  FORETRAVEL Motorhomes service and Repair Information

Good luck with it.

Keith

Re: Newbies

Reply #2 –
I have owned a couple vehicles with the 460 Ford.
I owned a 85 34' Winnebago Elandan. The 460 moved it OK, but in the mountains it struggled and got HOT. Hot means the exhaust manifolds warp and leak. I eventually had them replaced with a Banks Power Pack system with headers. Its a strain on a gas engine to move that much weight. Also the C6 trans is good but at its threshold when moving that much coach.
Your wallet will find its way out of your pocket frequently to pay for gas. You will not see a high mileage 460 and trans in a heavy duty application with out a rebuild or one that needs a rebuild.

The other 460 Ford engine I had was in a Ford E350 Pathfinder Quadravan 4x4. It actually ate up more gas than the Motorhome did. I would always change the subject every time my Wife would ask me what kind of mileage I was getting with the Van.

Re: Newbies

Reply #3 –
Yes, fuel mileage is poor and you really have to watch temps on grades. We had a Dodge 440 in a 29 foot SOB that only got about 5 mpg. The key is keeping the engine and transmission cool with aux coolers if necessary and not being in a hurry on the grades. Having the heat exchanger for the transmission in the radiator puts too much load on the cooling system. I kept the heater on with the fan on high on grades.

I eventually put a  7.3 turbo Int/Ford  diesel with a Getrag 5 speed in the old coach and that doubled the fuel mileage.

Pierce

Re: Newbies

Reply #4 –
In 1997 we, the family - 2 adults- 2 boys, and 2 Labradors, took a little trip with our one ton 460 Ford van and a 30 foot travel trailer. We drove 7,300 miles in 42 days. The trip average was 7.3 mpg.

Without the trailer the van, as a daily driver, averaged 10 mpg.

I talked with number of people pulling smaller trailers with small block engines at 5 to 6 mpg.

It was a great trip!

Tim

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #5 –
Post exterior/interior photos when you can.... we own an 1986  Grand Villa with a 454 Chevy gas motor..  42,000 original miles.  We live in Colorado and have taken the coach over a few of the Continental Divide passes... we watch (2) engine temp gauges, we downshift when we need to keep RPM's high and we move to the right lane and take our time...

Once your out of Colorado... its all downhill from there to anywhere.. LOL

We average 6.5 to 7 mpg on our trips.  We do not tow a vehicle, rather we have a motorcycle rack on the back receiver for our Yamaha 750 ( 500 lbs)

We have auxiliary double fans that auto turn on with temp readings and hold steady 195-205 degree operating temps for our big block Chevy truck motor..

After almost 4 years of ownership and thousands of miles on the hwy.. we have replace tires and an alternator...

Good luck.... see you on the road...

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #6 –
Our first Foretravel was a 1987 GV with a Ford 460. Loved that beautiful coach until our first trip that crossed high terrain. On the flatlands, no problem even towing a small Honda. Climbing mountain grades was slow with high engine temps requiring frequent pull overs to cool down. After that first western trip, a new exhaust manifold was required. We then purchased a 2001 GV with a Cummins 8.3liter 250hp engine. As long as you could keep the transmission in lock up, the transmission and engine temps would remain in the normal range and mountain climbing was no problem.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #7 –
Quote from: JimO –
We then purchased a 2001 GV with a Cummins 8.3liter 250hp engine.
No such model exists - I think either model year or engine rating must be a typo.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #8 –
If it is the rear engine coach. You should consider top speed around 55. Also like has been said it will not like mountain driving.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #9 –
I had a 1988 F350 flatbed dump. Used during building our house. Great running truck for my application. Hauled hundreds of loads of tailings out of our basement. Ice cold air conditioning. Great low end torque. Seemed it was always out of fuel never leaving the property. Used for compaction with probably four tons on it. Never did anything but routine maintenance and once had to replace the fuel pressure regulator. Was pumping fuel into the intake. Still ran fine. Lots of fuel, lots of tires. Overloaded and driving over rocks.
Welcome to the forum. Endless amounts of information. Search function is priceless.
Scott

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #10 –
My first RV was a 3/4 ton Ford and camper. It had a 360 engine. At first is seemed gutless and so I advanced the timing and
that fixed it. The specs were 6 degrees advanced and I moved it up to 10 to 12 degrees advanced and that made it go. Never had
any trouble with the engine.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #11 –
Our 1989 Class C had the 460. The exhaust manifold studs stripped out the threads in the SPECIAL!! (Note I emphasize SPECIAL) Ford heads. Fortunately this happened after we traded the C. New owner ended up breaking down and the dealer here had to search the U.S. for replacement heads.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #12 –
We had a  1988 Winnebago 32' Superchief for 20 years. Built on a '87 John Deere chassis, later became Oshkosh.

Front engine, Ford 460 with 3 speed transmission.

40mph uphill. 6mpg with or without a tailwind. No overheating. Narrow set leaf springs top heavy, narrow tires. Very poor handling, especially with cross winds.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #13 –
To Chuck & Jeannie,

We owned that coach for 15 years and it had a 250hp Cummins engine. It was a perfect marriage...10mpg towing or not, and completely trouble free.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #14 –
Quote from: JimO –
To Chuck & Jeannie,

We owned that coach for 15 years and it had a 250hp Cummins engine. It was a perfect marriage...10mpg towing or not, and completely trouble free.

I saw you had a 1991 GV 250hp - perhaps that's what you meant instead of 2001?

Looking for a Grand Villa

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #15 –
Sorry Chuck, super senior moment. You were probably correct. Our coach was a 1991.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #16 –
I have a couple brand new 460 exhaust manifolds and gaskets if you need them. Also an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold and Performer 4bbl carb, yours might be fuel injected.

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #17 –
Lon and Cheryl.... Thanks.... I think new manifolds are probably gonna be needed. Im in Palmetto FL, where y'all?

Re: Newbies [with a 1987 Grandvilla Ford 460 and questions]

Reply #19 –
I'm thinking about these shorty block hugger headers..... Any thoughts from the group? Anybody done these on a rear engine 460? Sorry I don't see how to upload pics of an.