Help Needed !

[chriscraw]

Hey boys, enough with the doorbell!!!..hey PeterH..good to know you're in the Austin area with a 345. Current plan, assuming the deal goes through is to head to Austin from Seattle in mid-Jan via California, Arizona and New Mexico. By the time I hit southern California, I should know if the 350LE is good for the rest of the voyage don't you think ?

[wxbuoy]

Originally Posted by chriscraw

Hey boys, enough with the doorbell!!!..hey PeterH..good to know you're in the Austin area with a 345. Current plan, assuming the deal goes through is to head to Austin from Seattle in mid-Jan via California, Arizona and New Mexico. By the time I hit southern California, I should know if the 350LE is good for the rest of the voyage don't you think ?

Will be glad to give you my cell number for anything NOT engine or transmission related in route..... For that there are far better resources here!

For my last trip I had BKahler and Keyair on speed dial.... Almost hit the send button several times...

Oh and get Good Sam road side if you don't have it already. All it takes is one call and it pays for itself!!

Keep us posted enroute!

[gaiaenviro]

Chriscraw:
I'm in Dripping Springs with a 325 if you need help in the Austin area consider me a backup....


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[tevake]

Ahoy Chriscraw. Congrats on your new motorhome. I'm located in northern Az
Chino valley. And would be happy to assist in any way I can on your trip thru the area.
I've had my 345 for just over a year now, and am full timing aboard.
Have been mostly DIY on getting things sorted. So have been on a steep learning curve. But it is fun to move forward with the needs of the Moho.

That offer from Peter in Austin is golden. I stopped in at his place on my way from Fla heading this way just after getting my unit. Last year, and received great Aloha and help while there.

Best of luck in getting ready to start your trip, PM me for contact info. For your contact list.

Cheers Richard

[chriscraw]

Thanks to for all these supportive posts and some comfort on the long haul back to Austin.
The Compression test on the 454 just came back. The cylinder PSI#'s are;-
#1 158
#2 155
#3 157
#4 153
#5 154
#6 155
#7 156
#8 149
Anyone care to comment on these results ? My best and perhaps ill-informed guess is that they look pretty good both in psi ratings and variance for a 60,000 mile 1991 vintage 454 ?

[Vycan]

It is more important they are all similar than anything else. Your greatest disparity is 9psi, with about 154 average. That puts you at +-5psi from average.

For the geek in me: What altitude, ambient temperature, and humidity occurred during the test?

[Kota]

Originally Posted by chriscraw

Thanks to for all these supportive posts and some comfort on the long haul back to Austin.
The Compression test on the 454 just came back. The cylinder PSI#'s are;-
#1 158
#2 155
#3 157
#4 153
#5 154
#6 155
#7 156
#8 149
Anyone care to comment on these results ? My best and perhaps ill-informed guess is that they look pretty good both in psi ratings and variance for a 60,000 mile 1991 vintage 454 ?

I'd say they look acceptable. Be nice if that 149 was a bit higher. Did they comment on the look of the plugs?

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by chriscraw

Thanks to for all these supportive posts and some comfort on the long haul back to Austin.
The Compression test on the 454 just came back. The cylinder PSI#'s are;-
#1 158
#2 155
#3 157
#4 153
#5 154
#6 155
#7 156
#8 149
Anyone care to comment on these results ? My best and perhaps ill-informed guess is that they look pretty good both in psi ratings and variance for a 60,000 mile 1991 vintage 454 ?

Not surprised that 8 is the black sheep with all the congestion of the starter motor/solenoid and heat shields being right next to #8 exhaust.
Same place where you often find the exhaust manifold cracked. Working on one as we ponder 149 ...

[chriscraw]

Peter H..funny you should mention location of cylinder #8 as the inspection noted "an exhaust leak" but was not seen to be coming from from around the exhaust manifold..I'll double check. Thanks

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by chriscraw

Peter H..funny you should mention location of cylinder #8 as the inspection noted "an exhaust leak" but was not seen to be coming from from around the exhaust manifold..I'll double check. Thanks

I would suspect that many of the chevy 454's have cracked stock passenger side manifolds, some owners know it others don't.
Talking about #8 and starters, back in 2001 Curtis from Alaska bought a 79 280 in Seattle and he asked me what to take for the long trip home. I told him to take a replacement starter and the tools to install it (its a 1 hour job). He later told me that up in Yukon Territory he stopped for gas and then click, click..no starter. Sometimes thats just heat related but in his case the starter died right there, with no replacement for hundreds of miles, except the one he brought.
As others have suggested, get Road service like Good Sams before you leave and once you get there, buy a $60 starter and a craftsman tool set.
And if you have to get towed INSIST on a Flatbed, even if you have to wait all day. DO NOT have the 350 towed with the front axle raised, you will destroy your tag axle, guaranteed!
Thats why a spare starter can make your day..

[Waipio Rim]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

I would suspect that many of the chevy 454's have cracked stock passenger side manifolds, some owners know it others don't

If it doesn't already have headers, just add that to the list of stuff that you will eventually want.

[chriscraw]

Does anyone know the difference between an Airstream motorhome branded "Silver Bullet" to one branded "Classic". Both lo0k identical in the pics ?

[chriscraw]

BTW..am infinal stages of the 1991 350LE "Classic" purchase. More commentary to follow but again thanks to all for guidance and support

[streamquest]

Originally Posted by chriscraw

Does anyone know the difference between an Airstream motorhome branded "Silver Bullet" to one branded "Classic". Both lo0k identical in the pics ?

Chris,

To the best of my knowledge, the term "Silver Bullet" is universally applied as a nickname to any aluminum Airstream trailer or motorhome, and probably to many other vintage aluminum trailer brands as well. I'm not under the impression that the Airstream Corporation ever used this term as the actual name for any particular model.
The term "Classic" is what differentiates aluminum Airstream motorhomes from those that were produced later. The last of the "Classics" came off the line in 1995 or 1996 in very small quantities. These last models feature the "sloped nose" front end.

Of course everyone knows that a silver bullet is the only thing that can be used to kill a werwolf.….and then there's that beer from Golden, Colorado.

[Isuzusweet]

Chris

I wish you luck on your purchase and we're looking forward to pics.

Originally Posted by streamquest

.and then there's that beer from Golden, Colorado.

The only beer is Guiness, served at room temp......everything else is water.

Charly is right, Silver Bullets are all Airstreams, except diesels, who are Silver Not So Fast Bullets.
Argosy motorhomes, even though they are the same shape as a Classic are not Silver Bullets, even if you paint one silver.
I refer to the slope nose Classics as Anteaters.

Merry Xmas all.
Cheers
Tony

[Vycan]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

I refer to the slope nose Classics as Anteaters.

I refer to them as gorgeous, beautiful, perfection... or some other synonym.

[Kota]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

I refer to the slope nose Classics as Anteaters.

Merry Xmas all.
Cheers
Tony

I prefer "uncircumcised".

Merry Christmas!

Dave...

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Kota

I prefer "uncircumcised".

Merry Christmas!

Dave...

Uncircimcised (I can't remember another word with three C's in it)....that's a new one. I guess they have a better feel for the road when it's a humping and a bumping.

Cheers
Tony

[chriscraw]

Well, someone has produced a cast decal to attach to the side of this 350LE as you can see from the attached link!
Whilst I agree that Guinness (note two nn's) should and must be consumed at room temperature preferably draught in Dublin. However, as an Australian, I could never agree with the statement "everything else is water" as, having tasted large quantities of Victoria Bitter ice cold from the tap in the middle of an Aussie summer, I rest my case!
I'm now planning the route from Seattle to Austin in mid-January. what is the best way to post a "thread' request for comment on Air Forum asking commentary on the route, RV parks, eating establishments, friendly dealers/mechanics, places to avoid etc?
Airstream Silver Bullet Express Class A RV Classic Aluminum Motorhome | eBay

[Waipio Rim]

I guess you just start a thread, like you did this one...

If I were going to do that route this winter, I would head due south to Phoenix before going east. Lotsa snow on the Rockies this year.