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Old 03-26-2007, 05:45 AM   #1
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
2 weeks a go i didn't know what a Argosy was.

hi all

didn't know where to put this, but this seem like a good spot.
thanks to everyone in here for helping me make a decidsion on
buying one,
2 weeks ago we decided to buy a motorhome to fix up, we are taking the kids camping and i got sick of really roughing it..lol anyway. we were going to rent a RV at the local campground for a few weeks when i found out that the cost
was $1,300 for the week. i hit craigslist and see what i could find if anything.
i saw 3 in our price range, 2 Winnibago's (i'll just call them W's)
and the 1978 24' Argosy. i went out and look at the winninbago's (brand name) not knowing what an Argosy was. until i looked in this site.
all had pictures and said run's find and needs "cleanup".
well for the first two(the (w's) i guess run's find means the door can open
and thank god the Doors open out. becuase these were more of a storage
trailer. I am not one to shy away from project's but if i had burn these 2 to the ground the value would have gone up.
so this past weekend we decided to to look at the Argosy, found these "great" web site and read up. the Argosy wwas on Cape Cod, the person who own's it was on Nantucket. (here come's the joke's) and the argosy was in
Bourne right over the cape cod bridge. after seeing the other 2 i was not
looking forward to seeing this. it had been sitting for 2 years in a RV place
called Major's RV (more on these guy's later) well we pulled up and we both had things to look at. I did mech, and Cathy did the inside,
I could not get it started, abd was bummed becasue the outside was in Very good shape for a 30 year old MH. rubber was great. piant was chipping off
the read top. but in very good shape, inside was dirty and light by the door
was broken and hanging. but it wasn't bad.
but we just could commit until i had it running,, and the rv place couldn't help us at the time. so we decided to come back the next day so they could (thank god we did).. i'll make i long story short here..lol
started up on sat. engine ran GREAT. little hot after 30 min's not prob,
Gen ran great, the mech who helped me get it started was Great. i asked can
i pay you guy's to go over it and tell me what it's needs. he told me you don't have to. it has new plumbing, new heater, new rubber (well 2 years old)
but doesn't have any mile on them. except for the inside cleaning and repair
it in great shape. so called the guy in Nantucket and bought it.
i paid $1,500 for storage fee's and $500 to him. I pick it up next Saturday
BTW i do not know if it O.K but Major RV on Cape COD was Great so if any
of you are out on the cape and need anything give them a call..

also Thank you to Everyone on this site for all the Help you give me
all the information out here.

George
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Old 03-26-2007, 06:02 AM   #2
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Well George first things first...welcome to the forums! Sounds like a diamond in the rough. Pictures please! We love pictures here.

Running hot is relative.... big motor...idle speed. If it's above 220 stop! You might want to have them change out the thermostat before you move. 185 degree for summer... or if you're planning a lot of hills go down to 165. Also did you base temp on the gauge or digital temp at the t-stat housing? The guage may be faulty.

Also it's time to change ALL fluids, and flush the cooling system. For the cost involved go synthetic in the transmission and rear end.

As your end caps are steel the paint seems to leave the ends first. Being able to paint the rig opens up lots of options including a silver paint that makes it look more like it's rich cousin the Airstream.

Enjoy your shakedown cruise home and keep us updated on the progress please.
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Old 03-26-2007, 11:21 AM   #3
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
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thanks

best part of it was finding the service and owner's manual's.
He said he didn't have it but going though the MH found it on the
table.
worst part of it is, the planning. where to start, i am so bad when it comes to
that. the work is fine, just have to make myself finsh one thing before
going on to the next. well i know clean up is first

i will put picture's out there when i get it back up to the house this weekend..

thanks again
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Old 04-02-2007, 06:43 AM   #4
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
what did you do Ray?

Hi all

went to pick up our Argosy this weekend,, and
Oh well, never got out of the RV place.
Decided to make a few spins around the parking lot before going for the test drive
Needless to say we didn’t make it out of the parking lot, Radiator was leaking
So another week’s delay of starting this project, looked up the cost of the radiator
And saw price’s from $180 to $240, not including labor, and i know Labor will cost more than the parts.
also they had to add 4 quarts of Trany fiuld... ,
wondering if they should do a transmisson flush, don't know if a trany that old
it would help or hurt it..
any advice would help
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Old 04-03-2007, 10:47 AM   #5
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
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HELP, information needed

Has anyone had there Radaitor recored, this place is telling me
it will cost $700-800 to recore and i new one will be $1,800
does that sound right?
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Old 04-03-2007, 10:51 AM   #6
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1989 25' Excella
By The Bay , Rhode Island
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Quote:
Originally Posted by claffg
Has anyone had there Radaitor recored, this place is telling me
it will cost $700-800 to recore and i new one will be $1,800
does that sound right?
Who quoted that price?
Is that labor also? How much of a job to get it out?

If you are still at Majors, they do have a good reputation...
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Old 04-03-2007, 11:18 AM   #7
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Hey, George. welcome to the forums!

a bunch of us locals were chatting about your new Argy here a few weeks ago....(saw it on craig'slist). looked almost too good to be true, for that $$$. But it sounds like you got a potential "gem".
Can't help much w/ the mechanicals, but that does sound a bit steep for a radiator. Someone here will know.

anyway, our local wbcci chapter is having our first rally of the season in a couple of weeks up at Salisbury beach. You should come check it out...bring the MH for a good shake-down.
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Old 04-03-2007, 11:34 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck
Hey, George. welcome to the forums!

a bunch of us locals were chatting about your new Argy here a few weeks ago....(saw it on craig'slist). looked almost too good to be true, for that $$$. But it sounds like you got a potential "gem".
Can't help much w/ the mechanicals, but that does sound a bit steep for a radiator. Someone here will know.

anyway, our local wbcci chapter is having our first rally of the season in a couple of weeks up at Salisbury beach. You should come check it out...bring the MH for a good shake-down.
Yes, all Airstream owners are welcome to attend, you do not have to be in the WBCCI to join in our reindeer games. Dates are April 20-22

We also have a Maintenence Rally scheduled May 4-6 in Rhode Island.

PM me if you'd like more information or the sign up coupons.

BTW, the NEU rocks!
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Old 04-03-2007, 12:27 PM   #9
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
hi all

Major's have been great to us so far.. they have been Very helpful
as we have been their regular customer's for last 3 saturdays....lol
I had been looking at Radaitors on line and cost were in the $200-300
dollar range. but i did not know if it was specially made for that year.
i knew the labor cost would be high. but gosh damn.. there goes most of
money i was planning to use to restore.

Chuck

it was well worth the price. although the we had the problem with the Rad.
i knew i was in store for engine work. i had just hoped to get it back. to my place to do it myself.
interoir was what you expect from something sitting around for 2 years
tires are in great shape. gen started right up no problems.
new plumbing.
i only thing i hated was he put in a stereo and cut the S*** out of the dash board. 2 ugly speakers on the dash.
so IF i can get it home this weekend i will post some pictures.
would like to go the the R.I maintance meeting. in may.
no way would we be ready for the apirl 20 but thanks for asking

keep the great information coming
George
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Old 04-03-2007, 03:21 PM   #10
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Veeeeeerrrrrrrry Nice, and your in the area.... Hope to see you and your rig!
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Old 04-03-2007, 07:07 PM   #11
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1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
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Argosy 24 - new in Nantucket

Greetings George!

The price that you mention for the radiator isn't too far from what I paid for a custom 4-row core copper radiator and tanks for my '75 Cadillac Eldorado with the 8.2 Liter V8. Four years ago, the cost of the custom radiator was just short of $900 with two hours labor to remove the old radiator and install the new one adding another $150.

There were cheaper alternatives at the time, but none of the box stock units had four-row cores made from copper; and I wanted to have something that would be as near trouble-free as possible. The shop that did the work was in my neighborhood (only one block from my house), and the owner suggested that the custom copper unit would likely be longer lived in the seasonal use application that I have with the Eldorado. Thus far, his advice has proven correct -- and the extra row in the core has made a tremendous difference in the cooling of the vehicle when towing either of my trailers. As an aside, my father and I chose to go with a less costly box stock aluminum core radiator for his Blazer at the same time, and that radiator split at the seams between the core and tank and had to be replaced last season -- we were told at the time that it should last as long as the truck (it had 135,000 miles at the time and now has just short of 180,000 miles).

You might want to verify the number of rows found in the radiator core as well as its construction materials and that of the tanks. Fluid capacity can also very between replacement equipment radiators depending upon the tanks or core sizes in use. When working with my mechanic on the Cadillac, we chose the radiator with the largest number of rows in the core with the highest fluid capacity -- in the hopes of having the most effective cooling possible as that particular model of Eldorado had a reputation of tending run hot particularly when towing.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin
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Old 04-07-2007, 05:38 PM   #12
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
the pig has landed

hi all

well after a third trip to cape cod, "the Pig" finally made it out on the road.
re-cord of the Radiator, belts,and hose's. they told me the radiator was 20 lbs. lighter after the re-cord. told them as long as it wasn't engine shaving..lol.
started to clean and tear out the inside.. had the idea of telling the kids that the easter baskets was in the MH and they have to clean it out to find it..


i have picture's but they are too large to download
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Old 04-08-2007, 06:15 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by claffg

i have picture's but they are too large to download
Pics are very easy to resize and post on the site. If you have windows xp, there is a free utility that you can download from MS that will quickly resize the pics.
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

"image resizer" is the one you want. just download the file, run the .exe, follow the prompts.

640 x 480 or 800x600 are good sizes for uploading to the site.
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Old 04-08-2007, 07:12 AM   #14
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1978 28' Argosy 28
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pictures of the the PIG

here they are..

thanks chuck
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Old 04-08-2007, 04:27 PM   #15
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1954 26' Romany Cruiser
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Exterior looks in great shape, inside needs some TLC but nice all around!
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Old 05-04-2007, 05:13 AM   #16
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1978 28' Argosy 28
bellingham , Massachusetts
Join Date: Mar 2007
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the pig progress

hi all

after 4 weeks of inside work we seem to be making some progress,
after tearing out alot and repair and ribeting things back together
we have the Bathroom floor in, the new counter top and cabinet
and new plumbing all set. butit really did not seem to look good until
yesterday. finally got my "fuzzy: window channel in. after I removed the screens, stripped them down and spray clear epoxy and new screening,
yesterday i replaced all the "fuzzy".. WOW, just to remove all the gunk
from the windows and actually have them move back and forth..
makes I BIG difference. flooring for the main cabin put everything back this
weekend.

one question: stove/Counter top? want to put a 3/2 burner count top in and the Microwave under that in the cabinet.
stove is not in that bad of shape and I have cleaned it up in case we want to
put it back in..
like to find out what people think about it. stove in or out,
and can i sell (how much)it if i decide not to pu tit back in.

George
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Old 05-04-2007, 05:30 AM   #17
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1974 27' Overlander
1954 26' Romany Cruiser
1960 26' Overlander
Rockingham County , New Hampshire
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Quote:
Originally Posted by claffg
hi all

after 4 weeks of inside work we seem to be making some progress,
after tearing out alot and repair and ribeting things back together
we have the Bathroom floor in, the new counter top and cabinet
and new plumbing all set. butit really did not seem to look good until
yesterday. finally got my "fuzzy: window channel in. after I removed the screens, stripped them down and spray clear epoxy and new screening,
yesterday i replaced all the "fuzzy".. WOW, just to remove all the gunk
from the windows and actually have them move back and forth..
makes I BIG difference. flooring for the main cabin put everything back this
weekend.

one question: stove/Counter top? want to put a 3/2 burner count top in and the Microwave under that in the cabinet.
stove is not in that bad of shape and I have cleaned it up in case we want to
put it back in..
like to find out what people think about it. stove in or out,
and can i sell (how much)it if i decide not to pu tit back in.

George
Sounds like you moving along. It's nice to be able to open the window at a toll eh! I replaced mine as well. the old ones were in tough shape.

How is the stove top? (rusted) If not, I'd keep it. They work great. We put a micro wave in on the counter top, above the frigs.

Not sure of the value.
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Old 05-04-2007, 06:10 AM   #18
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1978 28' Argosy 28
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stove

a little rust (spots) on the chrome top's
but not too bad..
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Old 05-04-2007, 06:15 AM   #19
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1974 27' Overlander
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I forgot to post a link to my 20'

Here ya go

1977 20 Argosy Class A

Post some new interior pics, would love to see em!
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Old 08-11-2007, 08:22 PM   #20
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1975 26' Argosy 26
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Your Coach Looks Really Nice For The Price.i Just Bought A 1975 24' Argosy That Has Been Totally Restore Right Down To 4750 Miles On The New 454.mine Also Sat For 2.5 Years And It Has What We Call "lot Rot" It Will Take Quite A Bit Of Work Even Though It Was Done 2.5 Yrs Ago.good Luck And I'll Post Some Pics Of Mine..
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