Community Forums

oldbeek · 11-09-2014, 08:55 PM

My son just got a 1988 Bounder 34ft, chevy 454,auto. What speed works best? New fan clutch roaring all the time at 65 mph and 80 f. Does it need the radiator routed out? Removing radiator looks impossible. We moved it 200 miles after sitting for years.
Are air bags in front springs stock? or after market, They are shot.
Many questions coming, I am sure.

BFlinn181 · 11-09-2014, 09:31 PM

The front springs do have air bags in them, it's stock. Because the engine is almost under your feet, the fan will sound very loud. What's the engine temperature? A clogged radiator will usually show in the temperature gauge. You could try a radiator flush, but it might start leaking after that.

halftimer · 11-10-2014, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldbeek

My son just got a 1988 Bounder 34ft, chevy 454,auto. What speed works best? New fan clutch roaring all the time at 65 mph and 80 f. Does it need the radiator routed out? Removing radiator looks impossible. We moved it 200 miles after sitting for years.
Are air bags in front springs stock? or after market, They are shot.
Many questions coming, I am sure.

think that 454 fan clutch can be replace with a theme or non theme and use to be a big difference in$$$ non thermo will stay engaged look and see if it has a coil sping on the front of clutch a thermo ha a sprin non does not

oldbeek · 11-10-2014, 10:28 PM

We changed the fan clutch before starting the trip home. It is thermal. I think we were just pushing it to hard. Backing off to 55mph and it cycled in and out. Temps stayed a just above thermostat setting.
Have since been told that 65mph takes a lot more HP and fuel than 55. Thanks for the replys.

JiminJersey · 11-11-2014, 05:59 AM

The TH400 in those models (I have an '88 as well) is a relic of the 55-mph speed limits of the time. I hold us between 58-63 or so most of the time and we are lucky to squeeze 7 mpg out of her. It's running almost 3000 rpm at that speed. I don't tow either.

Our supplementary electric fans come on with a roar, run for a minute or two, and then shut off. There's not a lot you can do about the noise. I lined the underside of my doghouse lid with some stuff called "Ultra-Touch", it's a car/truck/rv headliner/sound deadener/insulator. It helps a bit with the heat and noise. You can get it at Home Depot.

We replaced our factory airbags back in the spring of 2012. They are a pain in the butt to remove, even when shredded. But new ones are definitely worth it - they eliminate most of the "porpoising" the coach does. Check the rears too.

Put in two good coach batteries. Check your converter, an upgrade to a more modern unit is easy, relatively cheap, and well worth it.

spritz · 11-11-2014, 09:12 AM

Ours is pretty similar I think. Our's is a 82 Pace Arrow P-30 Fleetwood Workhorse. Powered by the 454/4 barrel. Ours didn't have air bags when I bought it. The previous owner had it for 28 years.
I had the Airbags added after we bought her front & back's. The shocks had springs on them. I replaced them with Bilstiens (wish list Koni's) with no springs on the new Bilstiens. Rides soo nice now. I need tires though.
I get around 8 mpg. with toad or not. I drove her @ 55 almost all the time, but now with the new shocks and airbags I have been running her @ 6o and haven't noticed much difference in mileage.
Tim