Hello from NYC

[Acesneights]

I'm from NY originally but I have always done all my own work. That is half the fun of owning it.\nNice rig...Funny thing is I am contemplating a 600 miles trip with mine this summer wondering if I am asking too much of it and here you go and do 930 miles...Right on !!!

[77Travco]

Yes... disc brakes up front sure are nice.\nThat Travco looks like a unit that was for sale in Florida a few years back. I was going to fly over and drive that one back before I found mine locally. Any chance that it is the one from Florida?\nThat sure is a nice big white canvas... any plans for some custom paint ideas?

[sunnysideup]

Acesneights - yes it was a bit of a leap of faith to drive it that far without knowing too much about it, but thankfully she made it here. I'm not the most mechanically minded individual so will need a pro to have a look over the motor etc.\n\n77Tracco - yes, the people I bought it from purchased it in Florida. I believe the first 2 owners were based in Florida, then the couple in Georgia, now me. I haven't thought too much about designs for it yet but yes, I would like to give a paint job. Your Travco looks very well. Did you do this yourself?

[sunnysideup]

I think I may have added too much tranny fluid to the Travco during the journey home. It was running really well for about 600 miles then I got a bit of a burning smell, which didn't smell like motor oil so I assumed it was the tranny fluid. I took a look underneath and noticed a few drops of red fluid dropping down. I called the guy I bought it from and he said the tranny had never given him any issues but that it may have overheated and that caused the fluid to come out the overflow valve and that caused the drops. Sound reasonable? I think I may have overreacted to the drops so I stopped at a mechanic after that at a gas station and he said the tranny fluid was low. He added 1 and a half quarts of fluid and told me to add a 24oz bottle of Lucas stop slip on top of that, which I did! After adding all that fluid it didn't seem to run as well so I stopped at another gas station to assess again and three guys happened to come over for a chat. Turns out they were mechanics and they had a look at the tranny dipstick and they said it had two quarts too much in it now!! Also, they said I shouldn't have added the Lucas stop slip as it's only a temporary fix and gets in everywhere not just the seals.\nThey suggested I siphon off some of the fluid, which I did(about 1 quart), and baby it up the road for the remainder of the trip, which I did. They suggested flushing the transmission when I got back to Queens. Does this sound like the most logical next step. If so, how many quarts of tranny fluid is the capacity? Do you think I could have damaged the tranny by adding 2 quarts too many? There were no shifting problems even after adding the fluid but I didn't want to push it up to the 65mph that I had been cruising at up until I overfilled it. Thanks!

[77Travco]

Yes, if an automatic transmission gets really hot it can burp out some fluid... especially if it was overfilled in the first place.\nI would just drop the pan, install a new filter and top it off. I doubt very seriously that you did any damage. \nI am not sure how much it will take but someone else may chime in. After a filter change I would just add 5 or 6 quarts and start it. Then slowly add more over time as you check the dipstick. Don't overfill it.\n If you really want to go all out... do a full fluid flush.

[77Travco]

\n77Tracco - yes, the people I bought it from purchased it in Florida. I believe the first 2 owners were based in Florida, then the couple in Georgia, now me. I haven't thought too much about designs for it yet but yes, I would like to give a paint job. Your Travco looks very well. Did you do this yourself?

\n\nMy Travco looked this way when I bought it. I researched it's history and I believe that I am the 4th owner. The 1st two owners were both Korean war Air Force veterans in the Dallas, Texas area. I know the 3rd owner didn't paint it so I guess one of the 1st two owners did. The original paint job was white with multiple red stripes. \nI found receipts from all over the US and Mexico when I was working on the interior. If only this coach could talk!

[sunnysideup]

Thanks 77Travco for that tranny advice. That's what I was hoping to hear!! Also, idea what a custom paint job might cost, ballpark?

[77Travco]

Also - I believe you need to have the tranny in neutral (not park) when filling because the pump doesn't operate when in park? I am not completely sure about that but I was always told to leave old Mopars in neutral with the park brake on when idling.\n\nA paint job could run anywhere from $2k - $10k or more. What kind of shape is your paint in now?\nI personally just bought a new paint gun and am planning to repaint my Travco this summer. I am just gonna do a driveway paint job. The current paint is fading in spots and never really appealed to me. I may just paint the whole thing silver and add a big oversized Travco logo on each side.

[sunnysideup]

I really like that idea of the Travco logo on the sides - it should look great with silver. My paint is a little patchy in places but overall not alot of flaking. The paint job might have to wait a while.....think I'll try to get a few trips in it first. The previous owners did a nice job inside but it's missing the dinette and the folding couch which converts into 2 bunks. I would like to find both of them and re-install it.

[77Travco]

I am thinking a seafoam or mint green with a white Travco logo or maybe silver with a black or dark grey logo for my next paint scheme.\nAlmost any dinette set out of any motorhome should work. There is nothing Travco specific about them.