Fleetwood Pace Arrow 36B question 1998

[packerbacker]

I have a question about the engine and chassis of a 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. I have been looking at this model and mostly find V-10 Ford engine and chassis. There is one I am considering that has a Chevy 454 and Chevy chassis. My brother in law who is knowledgeable regarding MH says the Ford V-10 engine is preferred. If there a concern with the Chevy 454 engine and chassis?

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by packerbacker

I have a question about the engine and chassis of a 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. I have been looking at this model and mostly find V-10 Ford engine and chassis. There is one I am considering that has a Chevy 454 and Chevy chassis. My brother in law who is knowledgeable regarding MH says the Ford V-10 engine is preferred. If there a concern with the Chevy 454 engine and chassis?

I had a 98 pace arrow with a ford.... horrible ... no power, horrible ride

front suspension was way to stiff...

the chevy 454 ran circles around it...and rode smooth... the p30 chassis IMO was the best MH chassis ever built

also the 454 is a bigger engine..7.4 vs 6.8

[LVRVLUVR]

I don't remember what year, but work horse widen the front end

those were the best of all

[Gary RVRoamer]

LOL, a Ford vs Chevy debate if there ever was one! The engines are similar in power and in 1998 the transmissions are also about equal. So, while the Ford F53 chassis is more common in the late 90's, I would not be concerned that the one you like is on the Chevrolet P30 chassis rather than Ford. However, check the numbers for carrying capacity, tire sizes, etc. Sometimes the RV maker chooses different chassis options for the different brands and one may be less capable than the other. A larger GVWR and Carrying Capacity, and the larger 19.5" wheels/tires are more desirable. A shortfall there would not necessarily disqualify the Chevy chassis, but make sure you are aware of what you are getting and the alternatives.

[LVRVLUVR]

I remember , I think it was 2000, I WAS DRIVING on a ford chassis v10 1999 I ran the ford for a year .. almost 36k miles.. had the banks kit on it...

I go look at the new wide chassis work horse...couldn't make up my mind if it was gonna be better..

I go back and forth with the sales man...I say that I don't think it will have the power of my ford.... and that it would pull the grades slower..

he says, what if it's faster will you buy it???? I say yeah...

so we go out om the street infront of the dealership....

gonna street race the motorhomes..
I told the salesman , if I win ..i'm gonna keep going back to vegas...

if you win, i'll come back and buy it..


the light drops to green and off we went...

little ford put a 3 length hole shot on the chevy by 2nd gear...ford is screaming and shifting hard @ 5200 rpms..pulling through third I look over and the chevy is right besides me,...I had my foot in it so far it looked like someone tied a shoe to the grille.... by forth gear the southwind was really pulling away...

by 5th it was so far in front that I couldn't make out the flag on the back....

needless to say,... went back and bought the chevy...

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

LOL, a Ford vs Chevy debate if there ever was one! The engines are similar in power and in 1998 the transmissions are also about equal. So, while the Ford F53 chassis is more common in the late 90's, I would not be concerned that the one you like is on the Chevrolet P30 chassis rather than Ford. However, check the numbers for carrying capacity, tire sizes, etc. Sometimes the RV maker chooses different chassis options for the different brands and one may be less capable than the other. A larger GVWR and Carrying Capacity, and the larger 19.5" wheels/tires are more desirable. A shortfall there would not necessarily disqualify the Chevy chassis, but make sure you are aware of what you are getting and the alternatives.

the big problem in those years for me...(I got a new one about every 10 mo.)
was the straight axel front... they rode horrible compaired to the p30 chevy... they had a higher gvw in the front and it was way too stiff... I remember not being able to play cd's it shook so bad..

[LVRVLUVR]

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[packerbacker]

Thanks, now I feel better with the Chevy. I came up with another question but I will post that as it has more to do with the Pace Arrow model instead of the engine.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Please be aware that none of the info that LVRVLUVR quoted applies to the 1998 Chevy P30 chassis with the 454 engine. It is for the post-2001 Workhorse chassis models, and primarily the W20/W22 models at that. Workhorse made a number of major improvements in the P30 after they bought out the Chevy motorhome chassis business, and their all-new W-series chassis has zero in common with the P30 anyway.

[nascar nut]

I traded in a 1997 pace arrow vision 36 ft with a tag axle. Was a great MH. Chevy engine 454 on a p30 chassis. The only issue I had was the suspension. If ya went to fast on some (very few) that are real wavey the front end would bounce off the ground. Scaring sometime because of no control on steering. Other than that my wife n I loved it while we owned it.

[ga traveler]

Originally Posted by nascar nut

I traded in a 1997 pace arrow vision 36 ft with a tag axle. Was a great MH. Chevy engine 454 on a p30 chassis. The only issue I had was the suspension. If ya went to fast on some (very few) that are real wavey the front end would bounce off the ground. Scaring sometime because of no control on steering. Other than that my wife n I loved it while we owned it.

We crossed some railroad tracks that went across the road at an angle. The front end of the P30 chassis went into the "death wobble" My wife was terrified. She said this motorhome will be sold as soon as we get home. It only happened twice in about five years, but it will make your hair stand on end.

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by packerbacker

I have a question about the engine and chassis of a 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. I have been looking at this model and mostly find V-10 Ford engine and chassis. There is one I am considering that has a Chevy 454 and Chevy chassis. My brother in law who is knowledgeable regarding MH says the Ford V-10 engine is preferred. If there a concern with the Chevy 454 engine and chassis?

I chose to go with the Chevy P32 chassis when making my purchase.
Now having said that, if I remember correctly the Ford engine for those years, was the 460V8 with the V10 arriving on the scene with the 1999 model year. Usually you'll find that the chassis year is one and sometimes two behind the house and titled year, so don't see how we're talking V10 here. Having said that, the first V10's were considered to be under powered for the most part. Not so in later years and have proved to be and excellent engine. Fact is and with the new model gas coaches, anything other than a Ford chassis would be an odd rarity in itself.
As for the solid axle ride, one must remember that the WH W chassis that eventually replaced the P32, was a solid axle, as well. There has been some talk with WH returning to the MH market and offering a big block engine, somewhat larger than the GM8.1, but haven't heard as much, in a while.https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...rhome%20market

[PanJH]

Originally Posted by packerbacker

Thanks, now I feel better with the Chevy. I came up with another question but I will post that as it has more to do with the Pace Arrow model instead of the engine.

We had a 1998 PA Vision for 14 years ( It was a F-53 chassis) . If you have anything specific about the coach, let me know. I may be able to help. In general, it was great and I had very few issues with it, especially compared with the Newmar we now have. .

[House Husband]

Originally Posted by LVRVLUVR

I remember , I think it was 2000, I WAS DRIVING on a ford chassis v10 1999 I ran the ford for a year .. almost 36k miles.. had the banks kit on it...

I go look at the new wide chassis work horse...couldn't make up my mind if it was gonna be better..

I go back and forth with the sales man...I say that I don't think it will have the power of my ford.... and that it would pull the grades slower..

he says, what if it's faster will you buy it???? I say yeah...

so we go out om the street infront of the dealership....

gonna street race the motorhomes..
I told the salesman , if I win ..i'm gonna keep going back to vegas...

if you win, i'll come back and buy it..


the light drops to green and off we went...

little ford put a 3 length hole shot on the chevy by 2nd gear...ford is screaming and shifting hard @ 5200 rpms..pulling through third I look over and the chevy is right besides me,...I had my foot in it so far it looked like someone tied a shoe to the grille.... by forth gear the southwind was really pulling away...

by 5th it was so far in front that I couldn't make out the flag on the back....

needless to say,... went back and bought the chevy...

WOW! Your tall tale is beyond belief. That year Ford chassis only had a 4 speed transmission. You must have popped it in neutral when that chebby flew by.

Richard