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Ragingbull · 08-29-2011, 02:47 PM

I have a Winnebago but due to the huge amount of work it still needs I am now in the process for a barter/cash trade for a 1978 Pace Arrow. Ceiling needs alot of work and one small part of the floor. Its a P30 chassis,454 etc. It has dual ac and a 6.5 onan gennie. I'm curious about the sidewall roof construction on Pace Arrows for this model year. Also manuals, guides etc.

ga traveler · 08-29-2011, 03:09 PM

Almost every medium priced MH in the 70's had wood construction.

4Knights · 08-29-2011, 05:12 PM

Call Fleetwood with the FIN and VIN numbers
http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/

Ragingbull · 08-29-2011, 09:26 PM

Confirmed the deal this evening and wife gave me the go ahead. Lots of work to get it back on the road but nothing like my Winnebago. I'm considering turning it into a mobile office for jobs out of town that will probably be more often now. here are a few photos.

Ragingbull · 09-04-2011, 12:56 PM

Yesterday and today both my wife and I went over to do some work and got quite a bit done towards the asking price of the MH. The very sweet lady whom we are trading out both labor and cash for this Pace Arrow asked me to do some more work around her house which brings the cash amount down considerably. She also gave me all the original manuals and the original brochure from fleetwood/pacearrow which shows all steel structure from the frame up. Needless to say this really got me much more excited about this MH. So to share my enthusiasm I have more photos to share. Last photo shows some water damage from broken vent covers. But this looks to be a easy repair.

Ragingbull · 09-04-2011, 01:01 PM

West Texas Dust everywhere! This TV works too! Its black and white and does not have a remote. What to replace that with?

Ragingbull · 09-04-2011, 01:05 PM

BTW anyone needing a copy of the original Pace Arrow owners manual, 6.5 kw Onan NH series or other original equipment including the 1978 Chevy chassis owners manual just shoot me a message and I'll be more then happy to scan and send them.

Ragingbull · 09-10-2011, 06:27 PM

At this rate I should have this ole gal at my home within 2 weeks. Here are a few more photos.

Ragingbull · 09-10-2011, 06:31 PM

Yeppers alot of cleaning and work but its worth it

Ragingbull · 09-21-2011, 12:05 PM

I'm nearly finished with the barter. All thats left is some cash and about three days work.

To Date I've pulled the plugs and oiled the cylinders and turned the motor over by hand several times. Oil in crankcase looks clean and all other fluids are full. I've bled the brakes and have new fluid in them but have found that both rear brake cylinders leak. I think I can make them hold up the 16 miles home. Emergency brake works fine and I'll take the back roads and go it easy and slow.

Today I'm going to get started working on this Pace Arrow. Batteries show a date of 2007 so they may take a charge but I'm not holding my breath. They are Genuine AC Delco and have a little juice left in them. I have a smart charger which will attempt to bring them up to full charge then cycle/trickle.
This weekend I plan on rebuilding the carb and changing out plug wires and plugs. I'll also have all 6 tires replaced with some that I'll feel comfortable with for the short time. I'm going to have to remove the overhead bunk above the cockpit to be able to drive it. The wooden structure gave way when I attempted to lower it. Bad idea in retrospect.
I'll get more photos this evening. I've looked at all the receipts given to me and the refer had the cooling unit replaced in 1994 and has the spark type starter like you would find on a propane grill. I took a chance and turned the propane on and it lit up. Within about 5 hrs I could definitely tell it was cooling down very well.
I don't have an extension cord long enough to carry the amps to test everything else out until I get it moved home.

Ragingbull · 09-21-2011, 06:35 PM

Water damage is much more extensive then I'd imagined. All repairable but much more costly. 1rst, Bunk attached to wood and not steel, Pic of damage over drivers door. After that mostly random photos.

Ragingbull · 09-21-2011, 06:40 PM

More showing cracks from years of west Texas sun. Lots of work but motor feels free and gennie has 730 hrs on it. Receipts show excellent maintenance on drive train!

Sammie · 09-21-2011, 07:20 PM

Ragingbull, I've really got to hand it to you

You have quite a project on your hands and I feel with your willingness to work hard, you will end up with a really nice vintage coach that should serve you well. I got started RVing back in the early 1960's when my Dad bought this early 60's GMC step van and converted it into one of the first ever motorhomes. He removed the straight six cylinder engine and installed a Pontiac 389 cu. in. V8 with a three speed hydromatic tranny. It's hard to see, but he mounted our surfboards on the side so we had them wherever we went. Yeh, I was a "California Surfer" . Now I'm too old for that.

Good Luck and keep us posted

Sammie

jedmundson · 09-25-2011, 08:28 AM

Looks like the one I picked up last year. We have had great success getting ours back together and functioning. We spent about a month rebuilding and fixing stuff, the whole month I don't think we slept at all. Then it was off to the race in Talladaga with the beast. Only had to stop for repair once, threw the water pump belt.