Big Thanks to Don in California

Bill in KS · August 02, 2011, 02:22:04 PM

A good friend of mine flew out to S. LA and bought a mid 80's Newell. I told him to take to Don's shop and have him lay hands on it before he left Cali. Don moved things around, got him in and out in one day, found a bad exh. manifold and had another one avail and installed it. Don had the heart of a teacher and treated him fair when it came time to pay for the labor.

I have never met Don nor talked to him , but through my exposure to his posts on this forum and the overall integrity of people on this forum I recommended him.

Thanks Don , I hope to meet ya in person some day

Bill in KS

Busted Knuckle · August 02, 2011, 03:52:14 PM

Bill,
Thanks for sharing your friends good experience with "the Don" with everybody!

I personally know Don and that he goes above and beyond to help any of us he can. (I also know he's been burned doing this too! But still does what he can for any of us that need his help, service, or just advice!)

By the way I saw a Country Coach Concept very similar to Don's in style & age @ my local DD the other day. (it was still there today as well)

It's a REPO from down South and the guy was headed to "somewhere way up North with it when it shut down on him and he left it in the parking lot, over the weekend to be fixed & stored until he can get back down to retrieve it." *that is what Brent the manager of the shop told me when I asked about it.

Also when I inquired today what they had found wrong with it was some switch problems in the rear and a damaged exhaust manifold! (oh yeah and a huge snake skin in a tight place the mechanic had to play contortionist to get into, but flew right out once he saw the snake skin!

)

BK

If anyone is interested I can pass on the # to the shop & Brent can probably put them in touch with whoever had it REPO'd. '93 Country Coach 8V92 DDEC

luvrbus · August 03, 2011, 08:59:17 AM

Bill. just talked to Don this morning about another matter he said Jeff did good with the purchase of his Newell he was very impressed with the Newell first one he worked on plus with Jeff spending a day with Don bet he likes the 8v92 lol

good luck

uncle ned · August 03, 2011, 09:40:39 AM

Be careful praising Don. He might get the big head and not come back to NC again.

Being around rednecks might ruin his reputation.

uncle Ned

PS he is a great guy

happycamperbrat · August 03, 2011, 10:14:27 AM

Don is the bomb!! Really nice guy! Im lucky to live not too far from him

Bill in KS · August 03, 2011, 10:22:22 AM

Luvrbus,

I'm happy for Jeff. I'm not looking forward to eating his dust everywhere we go when our families travel together. I'm going to buy a nice tow rope and have him pull me up the big ones

Bill in KS

Highway Yacht · August 04, 2011, 11:31:46 AM

I agree.. Don seems to be a real genuine nice guy who knows Detroit's like the back of his hand.. I got to meet him in person about a month ago when he dropped by my place here in NC to pick up some windows for Teresa aka happycamperbrat.. I just wish he would move his shop out here to the east side of the country so we East Coasters could take full advantage of his expertise and knowledge..

Jimmy

Lin · August 04, 2011, 11:41:06 AM

It really seems that I know the guy you are talking about, but this "in and out in one day" thing has me really confused.

luvrbus · August 04, 2011, 11:44:19 AM

he sure wastes a lot of wire on Jakes huh Lin lol

good luck

Lin · August 04, 2011, 11:46:20 AM

I can't blame him for that, I did that wiring myself. I don't know why he was foolish enough to trust that iI did it right though.

TomC · August 04, 2011, 11:14:06 PM

Don Fairchild is a wizard with Detroit 2 strokers. If you don't think your Jake brake on your bus works well, let Don adjust it. With my 8V-71 turbo and V730 with 4.56 gears and 11R24.5, pulling my car I weigh in at 34450lbs. Coming north going down the Grape Vine (5 miles of 6% grade) I have to switch between one head and both heads or it slows down to much. Also-Don can precision tune your engine like no other. Don also did my turbocharging, air to air intercooling conversion for me. Good Luck, TomC

luvrbus · August 05, 2011, 06:46:46 AM

2 stage Jakes do work good with your setup TomC but a bus with a 740 and 3:73 or 3:36 gear and a 2 stroke the 2 stage is a waste of good wire,time and money to me on a 92 series or 71 series and I do tell Don the same lol

good luck

TomC · August 05, 2011, 07:16:12 AM

I don't quite know what you mean-a waste of time on a 740. If you're in the mountains geared down to 3rd or 2nd, the 2 stage can be very useful when coming down a lengthy grade, but where you want to keep the bus in the 30mph range. You can always run the Jakes at full operating capability with just an off and on switch, or control it by just gently pushing on the gas pedal-it's just nice to have the additional choice of the 2 stage switch. Good Luck, TomC

luvrbus · August 05, 2011, 07:48:10 AM

I hook the Jakes up both ways but I will never be a fan of the 2 stage Jakes on a 2 stroke lol

viking1 · August 08, 2011, 09:13:34 AM

Where is Don located. Does any one have contact info for him and or his shop here in California