Ctgriffi

Looks like a great time! I know FL is warming up fast so makes sense to head North. Was it hard to get into campgrounds down there—hard to find places with available sites? What was the going rate for a campsite where you stayed? I’ve never had an awning on my rig but thinking about adding one still… how much do you think that adds to the whole experience?

A couple of initial thoughts: Do you have a repair manual yet for your 89 pickup (88 chassis, possibly)—the Toyota Factory Service manual is the best, but anything would be better than nothing if you're going to do the work yourself: Chilton's or Haynes. After it sat for a year with old gas, did you replace the fuel filter too? Good idea to listen for the injectors firing on that bank; even a long-handled screwdriver can work with your ear pressed against the handle. How's the distributor cap looking, especially the condition of the contacts inside of it? When was your timing belt last replaced, and is it in good condition? (Wondering if it could've slipped on the camshaft that drives the valves on that bank...?) There is a specific procedure for setting base timing correctly on a warm engine. Typically, on these old 3VZE's, you jumper TE1 and E1 in the little diagnostic connector box, set your idle speed to 800 (big flathead screw on the throttle body), and then use a timing light while carefully rotating the distributor to make sure the little divot on the crank pulley is pointing right at 10º BTDC, as seen on the little indicator mounted above the pulley. See below:

Looked high/low for a T-style seal that might fit the bill, as well as an L-style (which also seems workable for the application), but without much success on either. I think I will just buy a better-quality and better-fitting d-bulb style for now, make it work, and call it good enough.

Here's a dumb question: any thoughts about what part of the door the T-Seal is meant to attach to, specifically... and with what orientation? Any chance somebody has a similar door (possibly another Warrior) with this kind of seal that might be able to offer a photo or two? (Lichtsinns RV had nothing they could recommend, by the way, dangit.)

Great info and thanks, Linda! I recently reached out to WinnebagoParts.com, and they had nothing to offer, except to confirm that it is a "Lazy T" style seal like you just said. I will try contacting the other place you mentioned, Lichtsinns RV, and see if they can help.

I do not know what the original seal looked like that went around the perimeter of the main entry door. The rig came with a worn-out, poorly fitting seal and I’ve tried a couple solutions over the years that have not been great either. The seal needs to allow the door to close and latch fairly easily, without allowing tons of wind to enter while driving. Anyone know what seal was originally used by Winnebago or have a good, modern solution to recommend for this specific application?

Not sure where you're located, but lot of places have a shop that will rebuild/repair your existing steering gear. Cost might be similar (or cheaper), and at least you know you've got the right one.

Tons of info on this site obviously… I could try and recommend some things but it’s going to all depend on what you can get your hands on for that budget—you should be able to find a decent running/driving rig but will likely need some work and renovation. (Really nice, turn-key rigs are more like 10-12K and on up… in my opinion.) Big questions are DOES IT HAVE THE FULL FLOATING REAR AXLE (plenty of info here on the forum), and which engine do you prefer, 4-cylinder or 6, and opinions abound on that front—the Four is well-loved and easier to work on, but even more underpowered compared to modern vehicles. Transmission is another big consideration, as you noted (I believe all V6 models have the automatic, and are very easy to drive); in terms of reliability, the MTs and ATs seem to both do very well. Water damage is the biggest problem with these old motor homes; it can be difficult and costly to repair, especially in the roof and overcab areas. Also, best to check and test ALL appliances carefully (as Linda, our den mother, always reminds) because many of them are expensive to replace. Tires will need replacement regardless of wear by the 7-year mark so check your date codes (many modern tire shops don’t know what to make of the obscure size needed, so many of us find/research our own tires online, take them in to be mounted). People here are happy to answer specific questions and to provide feedback on potential purchases. Welcome to the forum and good luck in the search!

It’s not a bad job usually as long as you have some access underneath, and it doesn’t require special tools to change a faucet. RV faucets are very similar to small household fixtures, although often built more lightweight. I tend to buy a lot of stuff from Amazon and RecPro: https://recpro.com/search.php?search_query=Faucets&section=product

Gorgeous work! Really enjoy seeing this excellent project come together.

Probably not the answer you're looking for... but every time I come across something like this, I start thinking, "3D Printer to the Rescue!" If you've got a good part intact to use as a template, and if you know somebody who has some skills + printer, I'm sure they could make you a bunch of these brackets, in the event you can't find any NOS. Good luck!

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Found a good solution, thanks to 3D printing: I bought the closest-sized extinguisher that I could find (similar to the old 90s version, but significantly wider cylinder) and then designed a new strap to fit it perfectly, printing it in TPU (flexible, rubbery substance). The strap is fairly simple but, like usual, I had to test-and-tweak several versions to get a nice, snug fit—yet something that opens and releases easily when needed. Here are some photos of the new strap and how it works with the new extinguisher and the factory-provided recessed mount:

I like the desire to do it RIGHT—can get behind that mentality all day long. Maybe you’ve landed on a good approach already, but I wonder if you could make a mini test cushion or two to get a feel for what works, without blowing through a bunch of material until you’re confident?

Nice work and, dang, that leather is beautiful. Perfect way to stay productive in the winter months, too! (I am also thankful for a mom that taught me some sewing, though it wasn't her forte, bless her heart! A skill that comes in handy at every stage of life.)