Drinking the Koolaide... 😊

[Tybalt39]

Any chance anyone knows the resistance and power rating for the rheostat in the headlight switch? I'm contemplating changing it out with a more modern headlight switch from a later GM vehicle. As I'm upgrading the dashboard anyway, this will take it just one more step into the current century.

The information is most likely out there if I research it, but perhaps someone knows it off the top of their head?

 

[RF_Burns]

Any chance anyone knows the resistance and power rating for the rheostat in the headlight switch? I'm contemplating changing it out with a more modern headlight switch from a later GM vehicle. As I'm upgrading the dashboard anyway, this will take it just one more step into the current century.

The information is most likely out there if I research it, but perhaps someone knows it off the top of their head?

The resistance depends on the current draw of the lamps you are wanting to control. Since you are thinking about changing the dash you will either have a different number of lamps or more likely they will be LED. So you should look at a PWM controller. They can do either and handle a wide current range. Google PWM light controller. You should find modules from a number of electronic sources. One rated at 2 amps should work for the existing lamps and lots of LEDs in the future.

 

[Tybalt39]

Just filled the gas tank. It should have taken 40 gal at the most. The attendant kept going. I looked away for a moment and fuel started coming out the bottom of the charcoal canister. It is no longer dripping. The vehicle has been pushed well away from the spill. Is it safe to start? I see no more fuel leaving the vehicle.

 

[werewilfs]

Hi Luther,

Yes it's safe to start. You've just discovered an issue with your vent system. Many of us have been there and it's always a fun discovery to see gas coming from under the passenger. There's a fuel/vapor separator in the driver side rear wheel well that connects from the tops of the tanks to that charcoal canister that likely has malfunctioned and is allowing liquid through the vent lines and out the front.

That part is repairable but easier to just replace it. It's a corvette part I believe. not too hard to find.

 

[Tybalt39]

Hi Luther,

Yes it's safe to start. You've just discovered an issue with your vent system. Many of us have been there and it's always a fun discovery to see gas coming from under the passenger. There's a fuel/vapor separator in the driver side rear wheel well that connects from the tops of the tanks to that charcoal canister that likely has malfunctioned and is allowing liquid through the vent lines and out the front.

That part is repairable but easier to just replace it. It's a corvette part I believe. not too hard to find.

Thank you! Didn't want to go up in flames.....

 

[tmsnyder]

Just filled the gas tank. It should have taken 40 gal at the most. The attendant kept going. I looked away for a moment and fuel started coming out the bottom of the charcoal canister. It is no longer dripping. The vehicle has been pushed well away from the spill. Is it safe to start? I see no more fuel leaving the vehicle.

We've all been there.

I fill mine until it starts gurgling and spitting fuel out the fill hole and clicks off the hose. I let it settle for a minute until the gurgling stops, then pump again until it clicks off a second time and that's it, no more gas or it might end up running out the carbon canister.

The high vent Tee is on my long list of things to do....

 

[Tybalt39]

Just purchased this to solve the issue (I hope!).

 

[Matt Colie]

Luther,
That is the right part, but the only difference that makes is that you won't have the gas puddle under the passenger seat.
Matt_C

 

[Tybalt39]

Luther,
That is the right part, but the only difference that makes is that you won't have the gas puddle under the passenger seat.
Matt_C

Well, considering that scared me, I can live with solving that issue. Also, there was a small puddle behind the drivers middle tire; probably around where this valve is mounted. When filling, if fuel starts coming back out of the fill tube, the attendant may notice and stop filling.

The fill neck is loose in the cutout under the drivers window; it can move up and down. Another issue to solve....

Kelvin tells me he doesn't even have his charcoal canister connected; the hose is just clamped-off.

 

[RF_Burns]

Well, considering that scared me, I can live with solving that issue. Also, there was a small puddle behind the drivers middle tire; probably around where this valve is mounted. When filling, if fuel starts coming back out of the fill tube, the attendant may notice and stop filling.

The fill neck is loose in the cutout under the drivers window; it can move up and down. Another issue to solve....

Kelvin tells me he doesn't even have his charcoal canister connected; the hose is just clamped-off.

I just did the "High Tee" Aux tank vent. I also bought a new charcoal canister and electric purge valve so my EFI EBL can control the canister. You paid good money for that vapour, why not capture it and burn it!

Another thing I found while doing the high Tee was the vent hose behind the wheel well cover was almost disintegrated. I had the fill hoses changed, but they didn't do the vent hose. Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Tybalt39]

I saw in a thread somewhere (no idea how I found it) that someone was compiling a list of previous owners (or perhaps they just wanted to see if any were registered on this forum).

The POs for this coach, along with approximate dates of ownership compiled from service receipts:

Lance Deal 2020
Russell Cahill 2014-2015
Charlie Anderson 2004
Thomas Lee 1996-2001
Robert McCrourry 1995

Nothing from earlier

 

[Tybalt39]

Coach going in for alignment today. (UPDATE BELOW) Then out for its first camping trip next weekend. Not far, just about 30 minutes from my home. Far enough to test it on the highway with a full tank, new tires, and a fresh alignment on the re-clocked steering box. AAA coverage is updated for an RV, just in case....

Lumina APV arms installed along with 4-way spray-nozzles.

---

UPDATE!
Alignment DENIED!!
Left Idler Arm 1/16" play (barely within tolerance)
Left Lower Ball Joint 1/8" play (out of tolerance)
Drag-Link boot missing (not critical, but noted)

Apparently, this coach was in this same shop in 2020 (I have records, as do they). They performed an alignment but with no warranty as there were multiple parts needing replaced. Most of those appear to have been replaced since then (I have documentation, and they noticed the replacements too).

Getting a quote for the required updates.

Is there a difference between "Left Idler Arm" and "Steering Idler Arm"?
Looking at Applied and others as a source.

 

[Matt Colie]

I saw in a thread somewhere (no idea how I found it) that someone was compiling a list of previous owners (or perhaps they just wanted to see if any were registered on this forum).

The POs for this coach, along with approximate dates of ownership compiled from service receipts:

Lance Deal 2020
Russell Cahill 2014-2015
Charlie Anderson 2004
Thomas Lee 1996-2001
Robert McCrourry 1995

Nothing from earlier

 

[Matt Colie]

<snip>
Another thing I found while doing the high Tee was the vent hose behind the wheel well cover was almost disintegrated. I had the fill hoses changed, but they didn't do the vent hose. Out of sight, out of mind.

People think I like working on my stuff. Well, I don't, but at least it gets done right the first time.
Matt_C

 

[Tybalt39]

Back on fuel system questions...

Is there an updated fuel-fill opening that fits inside the space provided in the coach, but is a better match to modern fill nozzles? As in, unattended filling with a self-supporting nozzle?

I realize modifying the vent system should improve the fill-rate, but it seems the current gas-pump nozzle still isn't a good match for the 50 year-old port.

 

[pvfjr]

Back on fuel system questions...

Is there an updated fuel-fill opening that fits inside the space provided in the coach, but is a better match to modern fill nozzles? As in, unattended filling with a self-supporting nozzle?

I realize modifying the vent system should improve the fill-rate, but it seems the current gas-pump nozzle still isn't a good match for the 50 year-old port.

It gets even worse when you travel to CA, and they have those slinky tubes that need to detect a proper seal to your fill port so they can do their fume extraction or whatever. There have been some folks making PVC adapters of a certain shape that aid in filling, and others that just cut up a pool noodle to help make a seal. I don't think I've seen a "typical" mod for making the fill port itself better. I've seen quite a few people talk about it, but I can't recall ever seeing an end result.

 

[Rdenney]

I nibbled out the filler opening to move the filler neck as close as possible to the outer edge of the filler alcove. That has allowed most fill nozzles to fit reasonably.

Rick “also needs to install the high vent tee” Denney

 

[Tybalt39]

My vapor valve arrived. I probably need to install it before my next "full" fill....

I see something sticking out of the rear wheel well on the drivers side, with two rubber hoses attached to it. It's behind some kind of cover. Is this the location of that valve?

 

[Rdenney]

My vapor valve arrived. I probably need to install it before my next "full" fill....

I see something sticking out of the rear wheel well on the drivers side, with two rubber hoses attached to it. It's behind some kind of cover. Is this the location of that valve?

Yup. The cover is just a bit of sheet metal to deflect road spray.

Rick “replaced his four years ago” Denney

 

[Tybalt39]

Onan issues...

I'm off to search the pages. It was working reasonably well for the last few months. Went camping for the first time this weekend. Onan would start, run for a few seconds, then start to sputter, cough, and run rough with black smoke and a non-burnt fuel smell. It continues to run, it will handle an air-conditioner load, but something is very wrong, so I shut it down.

Found this thread