hello from Barstow

[sputnik]

Hi everyone. &nbsp;I'm surprised to see that anyone reads these hellos, but apparently you do so I thought I would introduce myself here.<div>I've been living in a 1973 20' Winnebago Brave I bought about 3 years ago, slowly refurbishing, it's about done now except for mechanical, engine great, needs transmission. &nbsp;It should get close to 10 mpg&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif"></div><div>I'm in Barstow, CA, better known as the "potty stop to Vegas". &nbsp;Currently in dry-dock in a friend's backyard.</div><div>This is truly the most enjoyable site I have found in my years of searching the net for info, hats off to you. &nbsp;I have really enjoyed reading how some of you out there do things, right after my own (cheap) heart.</div><div>I also did not quite realize until I adopted this new lifestyle how very green it really is. &nbsp;From the outside looking in, like most people I think, I felt it was just the opposite, those big, fat, fuel-hungry things. &nbsp;But then you find that in reality, you are really using much less in spite of the fuel (well, I haven't used ANY yet, but I will).</div><div>I have learned a few things also I would like to share, in fact, that was my reason for registering. &nbsp;I hope they may help someone.</div><div><br></div><div>Mike</div>

 

[Suanne]

<P><FONT size=3>Welcome Mike.&nbsp; I look forward to hearing what you have to say ... love new perspectives and ideas.&nbsp; Suanne</FONT></P>

 

[4x4tour]

Hey Mike, <br><br>Welcome... Let's hope YOUR launch goes just as well as the Sputnik... <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br><br>Don't forget to start a "build thread" so others can learn from your progress. <br><br>AJ<br><br>

 

[stude53]

Welcome, Mike<br><br>What engine/transmission does your RV have? Someone here may be a source of information on your transmission problem.<br><br><br>Bob<br>

 

[sputnik]

Hi Bob, love your sites!<div>It's Mopar, not sure if the engine is the stock 318 on the nameplate, a hopped up 318 with 361 heads (as that is the size of the sparkplug holes and a common hop up back in the day), or a full-fledged 361. &nbsp;Anyhow, that is in great shape, so doesn't really matter.</div><div>The transmission is an A-727-A, apparently the cream of the crop from Detroit back then. &nbsp;I have spent some time researching, there is a famous race transmission place that sells a rebuild kit that most recommend as top of the line, about $250 or so. &nbsp;Can't remember their name currently as it's on the backburner. &nbsp;Truthfully, you may find this silly, but I am dragging my feet on the mechanical 'cause #1. &nbsp;had about enough of that stuff, have done lots and am capable (neither the mind or the body are willing), but more importantly #2. &nbsp;Wishing &amp; a'hoping that some of that battery stuff will save us all, especially Winnie. &nbsp;Then I can throw that power train in the garbage, where it belongs.</div><div>EEstor is most promising vaporware, and even the Thundersky, etc. batteries are getting reasonable, they will be my house batteries for sure. &nbsp;Like the fellow with the Air-X wind gen you did the article on, I was going to buy 4 Trojan T-105's (doesn't everybody?). &nbsp;But if you look really closely, you really don't have all those storage amps available to you. &nbsp;They look real impressive on the specs, but if you start draining those batteries down lower than 70% of their charge, they gonna die soon. &nbsp;So take that 450A (20hr rate for 2 parallel 12v systems), multiply by .3, that's what you've really got. &nbsp;135A. &nbsp;Not so with the LiFeYPo4 batteries, you can drain them quite low, they don't mind. &nbsp;And they are going to last longer than the Trojans. &nbsp;So they are viable, in fact, the better buy, right now, today IMHO. &nbsp;And they're going to get cheaper, which is why I drag my feet on batteries also. &nbsp;They also work with lead-acid charging setups, so you don't have to change any of that. &nbsp;The only downside is they require sophisticated "battery-nannies", don't wanna overcharge or overdraw that expensive bank. &nbsp;That's no problem for me though, I will build my own, ready for that.</div><div>But anyhow, of course I am interested in what knowledgeable people have to recommend regarding the transmission. &nbsp;Who knows what tomorrow brings?</div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">

 

[cyndi]

<P><FONT size=3>Hi Mike! Glad you found us!&nbsp; I'm looking forward to your adventures!</FONT></P>

 

[Butternut]

<font size="3"><font face="Georgia">Welcome!! Of course we read the introductions, we love new people!<br><br>-Ash<br><br></font></font>

 

[sl1966]

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Privyet sputnik, Welcome and so so so sorry you're in CA still.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div>

 

[stude53]

Sputnik, you may already know this, but ...<br><br>There is a great article/manual on the A-727-A transmission at<br><br><A href="http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmissions/torqueflite-tom-hand.html" target=_blank>http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmissions/torqueflite-tom-hand.html</A><br>

 

[sputnik]

WOW!!!<div>Thank you so much stude53, great is an understatement, everything there is to know about it. &nbsp;Haven't researched on it in quite a while, but that's gotta be top rung right there. &nbsp;Gonna d/l that right now just in case my Tesla electric engine &amp; EEstor super capacitor don't come along in the next 6 months or so.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Georgia">спасибо sl1966. &nbsp;CA's not so bad if you hang in the backwaters &amp; lay low. &nbsp;At least they can't mess up the weather. &nbsp;</font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Georgia">Hey, is it getting warmer or is it just me?</font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Georgia"><br></font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Georgia">Mike</font></span></div>

 

[sl1966]

I kind of was, but it was a little too low ... Unemployment, rising rent, and cost of living is what did me in. I moved (after 30+ years) to the upper midwest, and wound up back in the southwest. It's a lil hotter down here in south Texas but I'm not gonna be here much longer.<div><br></div>

 

[sputnik]

Yes, sorry, I know how that goes also. &nbsp;<div>But Texas! &nbsp;Spent a few days in Electra, typical dying town. &nbsp;Are y'all really goin' to secede from the Union?<div>How y'all doin'? (is that a mantra or something?)</div><div>Just funin' ya a little. &nbsp;After all, we hire low I.Q. actors here to solve our economy problems&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/bawl.gif"></div></div>

 

[Seraphim]

Welcome to the group Sputnik ( sorry - Mike). A group of decent people here, and it's difficult even for an introvert like myself not to get involved with them lol. I'm guessing your Winnie is a Class C, at 20 feet. Not many A's that small around.

 

[sputnik]

Hi Seraphim. &nbsp;Ditto on the introvert thing. &nbsp;No, she's a class A. &nbsp;And in fact, I know another fellow in town that has a 16 or 18' class A. &nbsp;Have seen 16' models too. &nbsp;Anyhow, she's a Winnebago Brave 20'.

 

[blars]

I'd guess it's even older&nbsp; than my 27' Rexhall class A.&nbsp; (a "96")&nbsp; At some point I&nbsp; expect some manufacturer to realize some people want the advantages of a small&nbsp; class A without slides&nbsp; and start making them again.&nbsp; Only a couple of weeksuntilI&nbsp; start fulltiming.<br><br><br>