Hi, I'm Ramzi

[reishiramzi]

Hello forum community!
My name is Ramzi and I have recently acquired a 1973 GMC Canyonlands 23'.
It needs a lot of work, but I'm hopeful I'm up to the task.

It was a long shot getting the one I want in a condition that can get back to my work zone ( my parent's house).
The build log will go into more detail, just wanted to drop by here and introduce myself.
I am a recent college grad from PA looking for a software job while I restore this GMC.
The original plan was to use it for a while and upgrade as I go, but after discovering the entire coach had a prior rat infestation covered up with ozium and was rotten to the core, the plan changed.
To be honest, I'm quite bitter that PO neglected to mention this, among other things, especially after I told him I would be LIVING in this thing. Living in this, as it was, would have made me terribly sick with the black mold/mildew/rat feces.
I received a lot of misinformation from the PO (including the year... yikes!) and probably overpaid, but overall I'm glad to have my dream machine.
Still at my parent's house, the plan now is to do a full resto-mod (bless their patience and support!)
I plan to live in this thing full time, so I want to do the job right.
Here is a pic of the original condition:


It may look nice, but this GMC was severely neglected by the previous owner and suffers from frame/body sag/spread.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to our discussions! Let's bring this GMC from neglected to better than factory!

 

[JSanford]

Welcome!

Sorry that the seller misled you, unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there.

Looks nice on the the outside, hopefully you can get the inside looking nice soon!

 

[reishiramzi]

Welcome!

Sorry that the seller misled you, unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there.

Looks nice on the the outside, hopefully you can get the inside looking nice soon!

Thanks! Luckily, we have a great and supportive community that shares a common vision of seeing these things loved and brought back to service.
Actually, the paint was completely ruined down to bare metal/glass and I've started the painting process with stripping. I didn't get around to starting the build thread yet, probably get to that today.

 

[tmsnyder]

If I could start over on mine today, I'd immediately strip _everything_ off the roof including the rails, clean it up with rags and gasoline, and put everything back on with new black butyl tape and dicor. I did that eventually but it was piecemeal. It would have been a lot easier to just do it all at once.

Then I'd pull off all the windows and redo the butyl between the aluminum frames and the body, clean the glass and reinstall with new rubbers. Same reason; it's easier to do it all at once, once you're set up for the task you just do the same thing over and over it's much more efficient.

Once you do that you should be pretty much dry inside and then you can start reworking the interior. Just my thoughts in retrospect after going through the same thing you are.

 

[reishiramzi]

Yes, I agree. Once I learned I wasn't going to get any use out of it as is, it was gutting time! It took me a while to accept I'd have to remove the rear cap, roof rails, exhaust ports, belt line, windows, bumpers, lights... But you're right that doing it all at once is more efficient. You're already in the flow of things and don't have to find all your tools and supplies and remember what the process is...
You'll see in the build log (once I start it) how far gone the paint was. I don't even understand how it could have gotten so damaged ? probably no wash or wax in 10 years.
Cheers!

 

[tmsnyder]

Gas, paper towels, and a putty knife turned out to be my best friends getting stuff off the outside of the gmc. Gas works great on silicone too, even gets the residue off.

 

[reishiramzi]

Gas, paper towels, and a putty knife turned out to be my best friends getting stuff off the outside of the gmc. Gas works great on silicone too, even gets the residue off.

This is good to know! I was having a lot of trouble getting silicone and other sealants off. Always with the gunk... Thanks!

 

[Sprocket]

Congrats on your purchase. Sorry to hear the seller misrepresented the vehicle. I would advise that removing the rear cap (assuming you mean the part with the rear window) be a choice of last resort, or at least talk to someone that has. I understand that it is alot more difficult than it looks

 

[reishiramzi]

Congrats on your purchase. Sorry to hear the seller misrepresented the vehicle. I would advise that removing the rear cap (assuming you mean the part with the rear window) be a choice of last resort, or at least talk to someone that has. I understand that it is alot more difficult than it looks

Thanks for the tip!
It's already gutted inside, and if I recall that's where the issues come up. Should just be the screws holding it in and the rubber gasket. I read somewhere the gasket can be replaced with a specific diameter of fuel hose. I'll be cautious and bring friends!

 

[tmsnyder]

This is good to know! I was having a lot of trouble getting silicone and other sealants off. Always with the gunk... Thanks!

It's an iterative process, soften it with gas on a paper towel, scrape away what you can. I found my fingernails worked well for this. Then repeat. Silicone is the worst.

 

[tmsnyder]

Thanks for the tip!
It's already gutted inside, and if I recall that's where the issues come up. Should just be the screws holding it in and the rubber gasket. I read somewhere the gasket can be replaced with a specific diameter of fuel hose. I'll be cautious and bring friends!

Post pictures! I've also heard that the rear hatch shouldn't be removed but what the heck, it's yours, do with it as you please.

It wouldn't surprise me if McMaster Carr has a foam seal that would work.

 

[Russell]

Welcome Ramzi! At times it'll get frustrating, but don't give up. You can do it.

Russell