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martin300662 · 07-25-2015, 04:57 AM

It seems the VINs in these units are not always expected. For example after I bought mine, and tried to register, we found the VIN was recorded incorrectly on the RMV data base and I had to bring it from Florida to Massachusetts to be inspected (basically have the RMV actually look at the stamped VIN) before they would issue the title and registration.

bkahler · 07-25-2015, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanKlein

Hi Brad,
I do have the 454 badges, I measured the engine (since I'm not that familiar with big american engines and I don't have the ability to recognize a 454 just by looking at it) and it matches a 454's. Now I am out of topic but I don't understand my VIN which has 2 anomalies: CPY3763310083.
The ''Y'' should be a ''L'' and
the ''3'' should be a letter???

The 3 indicates it was fabricated in Detroit.

Here's a vin decoder for 76 GM vehicles.

vincard76.pdf

Since yours has the 454 badges my guess is the 350 was changed out for the 454 either by GM before shipping the chassis to Airstream or else Airstream changed it out once the go the chassis. I'm betting it was swapped by Airstream due to the fact you have the 454 badges. I would be surprised if a previous owner would go to the effort of adding the badges when he did a swap from the 350 to the 454. The badges would seem to be a factory touch.

Unfortunately you'll probably never know when the swap occurred. Now you're down to just one anomaly!

Brad

DanKlein · 07-25-2015, 11:11 AM

Thanks Brad,

Your decoder has actually solved all anomalies. Indeed 3 = Detroit and for 1976, Y = 454.

bkahler · 07-25-2015, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanKlein

Thanks Brad,

Your decoder has actually solved all anomalies. Indeed 3 = Detroit and for 1976, Y = 454.

Sure enough! I didn't even notice the Y on the chart. Gotta get stronger glasses

martin300662 · 07-25-2015, 01:54 PM

Certainly shows why there was issues with my VIN because my 'Y' was registered as a 350 in 1975 and comes out as such if you put it in the online decode....this was what caused the issue with the RMV.

bkahler · 07-25-2015, 04:04 PM

Martin,

I'm not sure what your issue was. If I remember correctly your Argosy has a 350 and that's what the Y stands for. Why would the RMV have issue with that?

Here's the 75 decoder.

vincard75.pdf

Brad

Gregsch · 07-25-2015, 06:37 PM

I suspect your MH came with 16.5" wheels and someone swapped them for the 19.5" wheels. When I first got my MH I did some research into upgrading to the 19.5" wheels, thinking it would help to reduce RPM's at highway speeds. Several sources led me to believe that the smaller MH's have smaller wheel wells than the larger ones that came with 19.5" wheel originally, and that I would have clearance problems. I would like to park side by side with a 325 and measure the wheel wells to confirm if there are any differences. I ended up buying 16.5" Firestone Transport tires. I have been very pleased with them.

bkahler · 07-26-2015, 09:02 AM

I currently am storing a 310 and also have my 20' Argosy. I think I'll take some time this next week and do some quick measuring to see if the wheel wells are different.

My first inclination is to say the fronts are probably the same but there could be a difference in back.

I'll report back.

Brad

martin300662 · 07-26-2015, 09:43 AM

My 20ft definitey has much smaller wheel wells than my 28ft

20ft originally had 16.5" wheels (29.5" diameter including tires), now changed to 16". I have 225/75r16 tires installed and they fit the wheel wells (29.3" diameter) but I tired 235/85r16 tires (31.7" diameter) and even though they are still 16" they rubbed the rear side of the wheel well (when under load). I have a set of 19.5" wheels (33.6" diameter with tires) on the 28ft and they would not even fit within the wheel well of the 20ft so couldn't be fitted.

Maybe this is specific to my 20ft as it has a new frame (supposed using the original as a pattern) and also the wheel sits closer to the rear side of the well.

DanKlein · 08-15-2015, 06:19 PM

Quick update...

Vacation was coming soon and it was crazy rush for me, so I had no time to do anything myself. I could not find the right coil springs for my front end so I decided to go with the mechanic's suggestion: air bags.

Job was over and done on the second day of my vacation. Result... Better, stiffer, about 1/2 inch higher (he told me it would lift the front end, 1/2 inch is not what I call lift) so the wheel is still rubbing (much, much less but still). It was just enough to take it out to my in laws' cottage ( 240 miles roundtrip ) and make the kids happy (Dad too).

Off topic:
Driving around shopping for a mechanic: 32L/100km (7.3 MPG)
Trip 50% flat at 60 MPH and 50% hilly at 45-60 MPH: 25,8L/100km (9.1 MPG)

DanKlein · 10-14-2015, 02:31 PM

Fall update1- I should have trusted my guts... Air bags were not the right fix. The left side (lowest side) blew up. So back to square one. I found another shop (45 min. away). They were also back from vacation and had work backed up for 5 weeks worth. He did not have time to work on my MH but after hearing my case, took it in for inspection. His conclusion:''I can fix this, done it before, but it's gonna cost you and you'll have to wait until work clears out. Or, I can sell you the parts and you can do it yourself.'' I bought 1400$ worth of suspension and steering parts.2- I finaly had a couple of hours for myself on monday and decided to start working on ''Le Boyouss''. Now I remember why I wanted to have the job done and not do it myself like in the old days. I started with the left side. I got the coil spring and ball joint out and I am having a very hard time getting the new ball joint back in even with the ball joint press.I will keep you posted