My 1979 "New" Apollo 3300 IB !!!

[jwvette77]

A meticulously maintained '79 Apollo.
It's beautiful inside and out!
Dodge M600 Chassis w/ Ford 460/C6
New 19.5 Michelins w/ Alcoas
320 watts of Solar power
Electric leveling jacks
Queen Bed/Full Bath with tub/shower
6.5 Onan
New Norcold Refer
Very"Brady" inside, very clean
All bought for the cost of a very nice Digital BigScreen entertainment system!!!!
Indy 500 here we come...(ok, it's 10 miles away...

[Ed S]

Wow, how "COOL" is that!!!! Very nice. Make many happy memories. BTW I would love to be in the infield myself some day.

[TXiceman]

Congrats. Let's see some interior photos.

Ken

[woody62]

Nice looking older unit. Looks like its in good shape. You got one helluva deal there. woody62

[go6car]

Very Cool!! Enjoy!!!

[John_N_Terry]

WOW!! Very cool!

[FDchief]

Nice job on the purchase, and I am envious of your location.

[Nick-B]

Oh Yeah! LUV those old Apollos!

I gotta ask, though. You say it has the Dodge chassis (typical for the Apollo) but that it has a Ford 460 and C6 tranny. If that is true, then a previous owner must have swapped out the drivetrain. Not a bad thing if it was done right.

Enjoy your 'new' motohome!

[jwvette77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-B Oh Yeah! LUV those old Apollos! I gotta ask, though. You say it has the Dodge chassis (typical for the Apollo) but that it has a Ford 460 and C6 tranny. If that is true, then a previous owner must have swapped out the drivetrain. Not a bad thing if it was done right. Enjoy your 'new' motohome!

Yes, the 440 was swapped for commercial Ford460/C6 combo.
It looks like it was done pretty well, I have a few "extra" wires under the dash- but they seem to be related to the heater and blower which are gone now.
I have records for it for the last 160+ tankfuls of gas, gas mileage/air temp/city/miles logged etc.and every receipt you
could imagine for it. I am glad a former Fire Chief owned it!!!
From what I can the motor is out of another RV off a John Deere Chassis, and has had nothing but synthetic Mobil 1 run thru it. I have every receipt. and, I also have another receipt and I am trying to decipher it- but the 460 may have been bored .030 over and crank kit added so I don't know what that makes it.- a 471/472 ??? I dunno.
I haven't figured out a date code on the engine, but "smog" accessories seem none existent.
Chassis is tip-top, just had chassis serviced, all bearings lubed, brakes checked, oil changed, brakes electronically checked here and Indy Brake and Spring.
It had a slight pull, but they did there computer alignment magic and it really drives very well.
So- The engine swap looks to have been done very well, the only thing I don't have is dash a/c and heat which doesn't phase me too much. I can put that back in if I feel like it, and I'd be using the roof AC's more anyway.

The most major "upgrade" I did, and I only did it because I can get them really cheap are swapping out the original furnaces. The original Coleman 22000btus (2 of them) were junk, so I replaced one with a Suburban 30k BTU and the other with a Suburban 20K BTU and added an extra duct to the 30k unit. Amazing the markup on these things, but when you know someone who works at an RV manufacturer- it helps.

the other "broke" item is two front electric jacks- the rears work. So they are old Atwood units, I just need to find working units that work with my controller....or ignore it.????

It also had an Olympic Catalytic heater, but it needed replaced as I found out it is 18 years old, and it has a bad t-couple. So I will either put in a new Wave 6 heater or a ProComm Heater. (feel free to add in your 2 cents here, on what is a better choice)

All in all, I think it's going to be a fun little toy. My next "stage" is to upgrade the entertainment system to a better head unit, and add a flat screen that isn't to obtrusive.

I will get interior shots up soon.
There is an "Apollo Motorhome" user group on Facebook with some cool shots.

Hey- I see you have a Coachmen Santara 360 MB- that is alot of rig for the money. I like those rigs.

JW

[fkloster]

320 watts of Solar??? WOW!!!! I want to see pictures of your roof top solar grid and what kind of controller do you have?

[jwvette77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkloster 320 watts of Solar??? WOW!!!! I want to see pictures of your roof top solar grid and what kind of controller do you have?

I think I got that wrong, (I was on my 3rd Warstiener) -there's what looks to be (2) 75 watt panels up there now. (you just barely can see the ugly angle-iron rack up top in the photo, (but it does tilt)), and the controller is rated for another 150 watts. Doubt I 'll add any more panels- but I would like to re-mount the panels a little "cleaner"- as this "rack" thing puts my clearance at like 10'6", and messes with the Apollo's smooth lines...

I haven't figured out exactly what 150 watts does for me yet, other than charge the coach batteries. but regardless- I'd like to figure out a better way to mount the panels, and remove the galvanized steel rack thing. (which actually looks to be pretty darn bullet proof). Hey, I am smart enough to know the previous owner was way smarter than me on this stuff and not to jack up his good work!

So any input on a better way to mount the panels is appreciated.

thanks- JW

[mercdeuceman]

Is that the coach that was up for sale south of Indy?
Almost bought it, two different times about 1 year apart.....

[jwvette77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercdeuceman Is that the coach that was up for sale south of Indy? Almost bought it, two different times about 1 year apart.....

It may have been the one. It was out by Greensburg, and that guy had only had it a year. There is also one (1978) out in Fountaintown, IN at corner of SR52 and 9.....sitting of course, not sure if it was ever for sale.
It seems to be in pretty good shape, just needed a really thorough cleaning, and some typical repairs you see on a 32 yr old motorhome.
It's starting to stand tall, then it leaked some pee.....
Found an old patch that needs repaired correctly this time, nothing major.
Haven't done anything to outside yet, it needs a good buffing as well.

JW

[RoamingGr1]

Congrat's --- I just love rigs that have been kept up --- Yours looks great !!! --- Enjoy and travel safe --- Send pictures of inside if you can --- Again good looking motorhome.