Fun finds on craigslist

[Zephod]

https://greenville.craigslist.org/rvs/d/winnebago-chieftain-for/6209080518.html

I'm sure there might be something usable with this motorhome. By the sound of it though... no title... and the looks of it, whatever is usable would need to be stainless steel. It kinda looks like they bought a house and weed whacked the back yard to find a camper hidden in the jungle.


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[CrabbyMilton]

I see some dead motorhomes parked around here while doing my routes.
I have to wonder about the back story if they just got tired of them and didn't think they would get much for it if they sold it or just use it for storage or a guest room. Or the owner passed away and the new owners found it after cutting the grass. Indeed, you may be surprised what you may find behind houses, garages, barns, or when you cut the brush down.

[Iceni John]

I would just call the local scrapper and have them tow it away, and keep whatever scrap money is left after their towing charges.   Personally, I wouldn't want to even step foot inside something like that, and unless it contains the Crown Jewels or sacks of $100 bills it's worth absolutely nothing to me.   Yuk!   I can't imagine there's anything of value in it for even the most impecunious of converters.

John 

[CrabbyMilton]

Elvis might be living in there

[DoubleEagle]

There is value there for a handy person of modest means. I had an Onan generator like that in an old RV many years ago, it is probably a 2.3 kw. Heavy cast iron, and it vibrated a lot, but it was dependable. There are useful items inside, and chances are it has a 318 Dodge V8 with a 727 transmission.

[CrabbyMilton]

I always thought those were built on GM or FORD chassis?

[Zephod]

I'd look at the sink, toilet, black tank, grey tank, stove, refrigerator, fuses, wiper motors, generator, electrical and water/sewage connectors etc. Things that still might be ok given a darned good cleaning. Of course I'd want to haul it out in the open and expend a few cans of Raid before entering while keeping a .22 ready to deal with rats and snakes etc.


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[Dreadnought]

There is value there for a handy person of modest means. I had an Onan generator like that in an old RV many years ago, it is probably a 2.3 kw. Heavy cast iron, and it vibrated a lot, but it was dependable. There are useful items inside, and chances are it has a 318 Dodge V8 with a 727 transmission.

440 and now you're talking ;-)

The later 400 low deck blocks were the strongest but even the later 440s had sturdier web/ribbing on the mains!

[bigred]

It was a 1975 20ft Brave that got me hooked on this crap!!!!! The 20 ft had a hd 318 engine but the bigger ones had a 440 engine .I notice this one has two gas tanks. Mine only had one 40 gallon I think it was .You filled it up ,got back on the interstate and immediately started looking for your next gas station..Manifolds on these things Ran red hot all the time.I really have fond memories of that old coach though .It had these thick drapes that sealed of the couch in the rear which could be made into a bed .It had those large Slider windows on each side .You could crawl back in the bed room ,pull those drapes and open the windows on each side .You never needed AC ,but boy!! I could do some serious sleeping in that thing'Only 20 ft but it slept 6, The bath and shower were combined .The commode sat right in the middle of the bath room with this circular curtain that surrounded it for privacy in case someone else wanted to brush their teeth while you were on the throne .Thanks Guy's for the stroll down memory lane !!By the way!In those days they built these things with flat roofs that would sag in the center from the weight of that big old heavy ac unit so stopping leaks was a constant issue.

[HB of CJ]

I believe one of our work buddies years ago had one.  His nickname for it was, (if memory serves) "The Winded Baggo".

He bragged about the big 440 and HD 3 speed auto with no lock up.  He did not brag about the 5 mpg.  Topped at 75 mph.

But ... everything worked.  Long ago far away. 

[brmax]

My brother and me had a 71 exactly like the cl ad. It sounds like they kept everything the same. I recall the wrenching getting it ready annualy for hunting seasons. This one ran the 413. We had a good time with it, picked it up from our uncle. As mentioned before, dependable and some great times. Im trying to recall a best of 7 mpg after my best super tune, and i was the one with a light foot 😆😎

Good day there
Floyd

ps: that 7 mpg was likely the winded part with our goodtimes

[TomC]

What I see here-our family rented a brand new 1972 22ft Winnie (just like here). Since it has 5 big bolt wheels, this is a Dodge 375 chassis and since it is a Chieftan, is most likely a 413 with 727 trans. The generator is a 4kw 2 cylinder (2.5kw was a single vertical cylinder) with brush type alternator that uses the alternator to spin the engine. If the side walls have not come un glued (delaminated), this would be worth fixing up. Good Luck, TomC

[DoubleEagle]

440 and now you're talking ;-)

The later 400 low deck blocks were the strongest but even the later 440s had sturdier web/ribbing on the mains!

Yes, the 440 was strong, but it sucked gas like it was a milkshake on a hot day. I compromised and put a 440 air cleaner on the 318 with a Carter AFB 4 bbl with the linkage adjusted so that the secondary barrels would only open up with advanced throttle. Looks like Zephod stirred up a lot of memories of old RV's. 

[m-werx]

Hi had one back in uk , installed t6 Perkins with Alison three speed , changed diff, went all over uk & Europe with trailer & race bike , had fun on motor ways flashing lights to move slow cars out the way : called it the flying brick ,     

[bigred]

I always thought those were built on GM or FORD chassis?

In the 70ties ,98 per cent of the mh's were on Dodge chassis.Been a long time ,but I believe they were called M30's