Itasca Phasar

[patschum]

Anyone familiar with Itasca Phasars with the GM 3.8 V6  conversion I've got a line on one for 4500 dollars.  Good buy?  OK rig?

 

[SoulRaven]

I like the Phasar's but the only acceptable conversion I've seen was a 3.0 Dodge Caravan engine conversion. Don't like the engine swap you mention, nor the 3.3 or 3.8 Dodge conversions.

If I remember correctly those engines were recalled do to a fire hazard. They also had a lot of over heating problems.

 

[LeeRevell]

Found this website discussing these mods on the sister vehicle, the Winnie Lesharo:

http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showthread.php?24997-84-Renault-2.2-TD-in-Winnebago-Lesharo

"Again - I don't get it. I've got nothing against Lesharos/Phasars. I've had a few and still have one now. You cannot find hardy any parts in this country. And swapping in other stuff? The most popular swap seems to replace the entire engine-trans-cradle-drive-system and fit in a V6 and trans from a Dodge minivan. Same with the rear axle. And then - what do you have? A 6000-7000 lb. motorhome with light-duty minivan drive-axles and wheel-bearings? The motorhome is based on a somewhat HD commercial French van. Nothing close in the USA that shares its parts. And if you wanted to swap in something designed for that kind of weight with a front-wheel drive format? Nothing out there anymore that I can think of. Maybe an old Cadillac Eldorado?
I can't imagine how it can be worth the bother. You can buy a Toyota motorhome just as cheap and then have something with great parts support. And - after Toyota et. al. got sued for the 1/2 ton rear axles breaking off - they came out with a dual-wheeled full-floater rear as a bolt-in fix."

S it could be a maintenance nightmare......?

 

[highdesertranger]

so this is a fwd motorhome? based on a French design? good luck. highdesertranger