<VV> Greenbrier Questions

[Bryan Blackwell]

I'll expand a little on Rad's comments too.  The Deluxe really is a lot 
nicer, it's possible to convert a standard over but you need to swap 
the window regulators.  Brakes are often a point of concern for those 
unfamiliar with FCs, but as Rad says with good shoes they really do 
stop - I've had no issues even fully loaded down a long grade.  We have 
the Underground's high end Kevlar shoes, I'm sure that all of the 
vendors' top of the line shoes would perform just fine too.

On the stick vs PG, bear in mind that mostly we were looking for a 
really solid van more than anything else.  Ours is a fully loaded (such 
as they were) '64 Deluxe.  I'll say that if you're going to drive one 
with a PG and use it as intended (kids, dog, baseball gear, camping, 
appliances, etc.) then you really want a 164 ci engine in it.  The 
smaller engines will work with a stick, but even then the extra torque 
is nice.  If you're going to go up and down a lot of hills, then the 
four speed is better - third is just perfect.  In the rolling hills of 
Virginia it's not an issue, but when you get into the mountains there 
are places where low is too low and high is too high.  For around town 
the PG is great, and you have the advantage of using the middle of the 
front bench for a passenger.

--Bryan

On May 31, 2006, at 11:23 PM, Rad Davis wrote:

> So that's where to look for rust and how to prevent it if you get a 
> creampuff.  Really bad rust in the cab area can get to be a structural 
> problem.  Practically anywhere else a van commonly rusts is not 
> structurally an issue because everything is welded to an open-channel 
> ladder frame under the floor.  Deluxes came with rubber mats, which 
> start to rot the floor when the weatherstripping and dum-dum in the 
> roof joints begins to leak.  OTOH, deluxes are nicer inside - more 
> car-like.
>
> Brakes are fine if good shoes are used and the system is properly 
> maintained.  I prefer a four-speed, but Bryan's been driving a 
> powerglide brier for a long time and seems happy with it.  I think 
> this one comes down to personal preference.