1978 GMC 403 engine and final drive for sale

R

roger umber

New member
Feb 10, 1998
17
0
0
On eBay, I saw the following item up for bid.

New 1978 GMC 403 (motorhome) engine, transmission and final drive, long
block,
complete and ready to install. In factory crate. For GMC Classic
motorhome
(front-wheel-drive). Purchased in 1978 and maintained regularly, by
squirting oil into
cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
factory to protect seals.
Engine is complete with Carb, distributor, plugs & wires, all
polution equipment, water
pump, etc. Misc parts also included i.e. water pump, 4 wheel
covers, muffler, cruise
control transducer, cvt joint seal kits, brake shoes, oil &
transmission pans (all new).
Will deliver within 200 miles.

If anyone is interested, it is at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=52181687

Roger Umber
'78 Birchaven
Albuquerque, NM
 
>
>On eBay, I saw the following item up for bid.
>
>New 1978 GMC 403 (motorhome) engine, transmission and final drive, long
>block,
> complete and ready to install. In factory crate. For GMC Classic
>motorhome
> (front-wheel-drive). Purchased in 1978 and maintained regularly, by
>squirting oil into
> cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
>factory to protect seals.
> Engine is complete with Carb, distributor, plugs & wires, all
>polution equipment, water
> pump, etc. Misc parts also included i.e. water pump, 4 wheel
>covers, muffler, cruise
> control transducer, cvt joint seal kits, brake shoes, oil &
>transmission pans (all new).
> Will deliver within 200 miles.
>
>If anyone is interested, it is at:
>http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=52181687
>
>
>Roger Umber
>'78 Birchaven
>Albuquerque, NM
>
>
>

I took a look. It was posted today with a minimum bid of $3000.00 Seems like a pretty rich starting point for an engine not
turned over in the last 20 years. What do you guys think?

Henry

Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (408) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (408) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com
 
I agree, 500 to 600 dollars would be a good starting point.
J.R. Wright

>

> >
> >On eBay, I saw the following item up for bid.
> >
> >New 1978 GMC 403 (motorhome) engine, transmission and final drive, long
> >block,
> > complete and ready to install. In factory crate. For GMC Classic
> >motorhome
> > (front-wheel-drive). Purchased in 1978 and maintained regularly, by
> >squirting oil into
> > cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
> >factory to protect seals.
> > Engine is complete with Carb, distributor, plugs & wires, all
> >polution equipment, water
> > pump, etc. Misc parts also included i.e. water pump, 4 wheel
> >covers, muffler, cruise
> > control transducer, cvt joint seal kits, brake shoes, oil &
> >transmission pans (all new).
> > Will deliver within 200 miles.
> >
> >If anyone is interested, it is at:
> >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=52181687
> >
> >
> >Roger Umber
> >'78 Birchaven
> >Albuquerque, NM
> >
> >
> >
>
> I took a look. It was posted today with a minimum bid of $3000.00 Seems like a pretty rich starting point for an engine not
> turned over in the last 20 years. What do you guys think?
>
> Henry
>
> Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
> PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
> Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
> ph: (408) 462-5199 / full service marketing
> fax: (408) 462-5198
> http://www.henry-davis.com
 
>
> I took a look. It was posted today with a minimum bid of $3000.00
> Seems like a pretty rich starting point for an engine not
> turned over in the last 20 years. What do you guys think?

I'd pass.

Patrick
- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailto:patri63

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com
 
Gentlemen
In the past I have questioned on having a 425 trans. rebuilt and
kept in storage until required. The plan was to have it rebuilt,
placed in a crate, and readied for shipping with everything set to go
except for the address. Obviously, I would have someone at
"homebase" ship the thing to me, where ever I had fried my tranny
while on the road. I was told to forget this idea!
Now I see the following:> >squirting oil into
> > cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
> >factory to protect seals.

Is this really an option, or just bull droppings from someone trying
to get 3+grand for a drive train.?

Mike Beaton in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where Rain is falling on his
' 77 Kingsley.......what kind of winter is this ?
 
Its bull dropping. I think he may have done more harm than good. The thing
has been sitting for 20 years! There is a special spray that can be sprayed
on the cylinder wall during shut down after the dyno and run in test of the
new engine, that preserves it for a very long time.

However I plan to do the same thing as you are thinking about. I will
build a new engine, transmission and final drive shortly and pack them
seperately on a pallet ready for shipping. In the case of the engine there
are ways that it can be preserved so it can be kept almost indefinetly.
Transmission and final drive same thing. I would get a plastic boat wrap
and vacuum seal each one. Have them in my large garage and friends can ship
them the same day.

Now that someone has broached the subject I think it would be a good idea
for each GMC club to have these built and stored so that anyone in the club
that breaks down could have it shipped immediately if wanted. Sure would be
a lot cheaper and you know what you are getting installed. If all GMCers
are going to support each other why not? Any ideas?

>
>Gentlemen
>In the past I have questioned on having a 425 trans. rebuilt and
>kept in storage until required. The plan was to have it rebuilt,
>placed in a crate, and readied for shipping with everything set to go
>except for the address. Obviously, I would have someone at
>"homebase" ship the thing to me, where ever I had fried my tranny
>while on the road. I was told to forget this idea!
>Now I see the following:> >squirting oil into
>> > cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
>> >factory to protect seals.
>
>Is this really an option, or just bull droppings from someone trying
>to get 3+grand for a drive train.?
>
>Mike Beaton in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where Rain is falling on his
>' 77 Kingsley.......what kind of winter is this ?
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
> I was told to forget this idea!
>Now I see the following:> >squirting oil into
>> > cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
>> >factory to protect seals.
>
>Is this really an option, or just bull droppings from someone trying
>to get 3+grand for a drive train.?

IMHO: everything I've read on the subject of keeping things on
longterm storage of machines, say just that same.
Even the Field museum turns over and fires up the engines on the
captured submarine U-505 , to keep it from rusting down.
(according to the guidebook anyway)
>
>Mike Beaton in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where Rain is falling on his
>' 77 Kingsley.......what kind of winter is this ?
>

La Nina El Nino's big sister.

John & Brenda Szalay
73 Painted Desert
In Kentucky with 20 degrees F weather and ice storms to SOUTH of us..
 
Firing up an engine to circulate the oil can be one of the most disasterous
things you can do for an engine. a by product of combustion is water and
certain acids. it circulates in the oil and crankcase until the oil gets hot
enough to distill it off. if you are doing it in a motorhome, the exhaust
has to get hot enough to do the same. If not you are really going to get a
lot of corrosion.

>> I was told to forget this idea!
>>Now I see the following:> >squirting oil into
>>> > cylinders and turning crankshaft. Transmission overfilled at
>>> >factory to protect seals.
>>
>>Is this really an option, or just bull droppings from someone trying
>>to get 3+grand for a drive train.?
>
> IMHO: everything I've read on the subject of keeping things on
>longterm storage of machines, say just that same.
>Even the Field museum turns over and fires up the engines on the
>captured submarine U-505 , to keep it from rusting down.
> (according to the guidebook anyway)
>>
>>Mike Beaton in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where Rain is falling on his
>>' 77 Kingsley.......what kind of winter is this ?
>>
>
> La Nina El Nino's big sister.
>
> John & Brenda Szalay
> 73 Painted Desert
> In Kentucky with 20 degrees F weather and ice storms to SOUTH of us..
>
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
As long as there's discussion about this engine, why not check out eBay
under Miscellaneous:Automotive. Go to the auction for the 1970 Chevelle with
TWO 455 Olds engines! Not two Olds engines sitting there on the ground next
to the Chevelle - two Olds engines in the car - one in the front, and one in
the back! Using the 425A transmissions!
Move over and make room for this fella!
Robin
 
This "packrat" couldn't pass up the opportunity to have more surplus parts
"just in case". I purchased the entire offering, for $1,250 delivered.
This is the complete engine/drive train that was still in the factory crate.
Included were new OEM brake shoes (Asbestos), muffler, exhaust pipes, cvt
boot repair kits, cruise control transducer, hub caps, and spare cast iron
water pump, engine & transmission oil pans. Background - the original owner
was a pilot who believed in spare parts and scheduled maintenance. The
engine has a December 1978 mfg. date, and he acquired with a 1978 Royale.
The next owner acquired the inventory, and after an accident/sale of the
coach, no longer had need for the items. This is the same offering that
graced our net several months ago for $5,000.

I removed the top of the crate, gaining access to the air cleaner which
hadn't been touched in 20 years. The original AC Delco filter was there,
and the quadrajet is spotless - it doesn't appear that it ever had fuel in
it. This engine is factory complete, right down to exhaust manifolds, fuel
pump, distributor, wires, spark plugs and oil filter.

I will remove valve covers this weekend and see what the upper innards look
like. Will then remove final drive and transmission plan, and replace all
fluids.

If any "Cavemen" are interested in hubcaps (4), please contact me directly.
The caps are labeled on the inside, "Front" (2) and "Rear" (2). They are a
different style than the ones that were on my Kingsley. I will also sell
the spare engine and transmission oil pans, and exhaust items. The engine
pan has the windage tray; don't know if it will fit a 455. The factory
exhaust parts are the "Y" piece, one muffler in the original GM box, the
rearmost 90 degree tailpipe, and one header pipe.

I'm a poorer but happy squirrel.

Chuck
'77 Kingsley (w/'78 spare)
North Idaho

- -----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Flowers
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Thursday, December 31, 1998 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: 1978 GMC 403 engine and final drive for sale

>>
>> I took a look. It was posted today with a minimum bid of $3000.00
>> Seems like a pretty rich starting point for an engine not
>> turned over in the last 20 years. What do you guys think?
>
>I'd pass.
>
>Patrick
>--
>Patrick Flowers
>Mailto:patri63
>
>The GMC Motorhome Page
>http://www.gmcmotorhome.com
>
>
 
> This "packrat" couldn't pass up the opportunity to have more surplus parts
> "just in case". I purchased the entire offering, for $1,250 delivered...

> ...I'm a poorer but happy squirrel.
> Chuck

Anytime I can buy for 30 to 50 cents on a dollars value I don't feel
poorer, just slightly less liquid for the next steal of a deal.
Timothy
 
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