1978 Kingsley mid-restoration/renovation

[KenTexian]

Caution up front: this one is a project that at present would need to be towed but for the right person it’ll be a steal.

I am selling my 1978 Kingsley. It had 78k miles on it when it was parked. Check my build post for status…it’s located in Greenville Texas. As a western coach the frame is in great shape.

Asking $5,000 as is for the whole shebang. The parts kits alone cost me over $8,000.

Here’s how I see it going, I will keep working on the coach but as it progresses my asking price will go up to reflect the progress. The earlier someone buys it the better the deal sort of thing…

Those kits include (but not limited to):

-1 ton front end kit (had the lower control arm welds improved by a master welder)
-Brand new OEM style air bags.
-Electric wiper kit
-Improved Parking Brake kit (the last one that will ever be available it appears. The man had to call around to assemble it for me)
-Completely new Brake system: Sensitized brake booster, new master cylinder, stainless steel brake line kit, rear stainless steel braided brake hoses, new brake proportioned, all new hardware
-Macerator kit (the high dollar applied one)
-New Viair 480c compressor and tank
-All new air lines
-Brand new Honda Odyssey 3rd row seats with integrated seat belts (gray leather)
-brand new stainless steel water heater
-new fuel sending units
-freshly rebuilt carburetor
-new mechanical fuel pump
-new starter
-new optima red top chassis battery
-new rubber frame/body cushions
-new steel 16” rims brand new E rated tires

work still required to get on the road:
-Install full suspension (parts already upgraded/restored and included)
-Install brakes (parts included)
-Reinstall fuel tanks/hoses (parts included)
-Purchase Install sub-flooring
-Purchase/install new cooling hoses
-Fabricate adapters for seats
-purchase/Install right/left dash
-install bathroom module
-Install rear hatch
-purchase/install new ceiling fan

thanks for your interest! I really want to see this old girl go to a good home.

 

[KenTexian]

Caution up front: this one is a project that at present would need to be towed but for the right person it’ll be a steal.

I am selling my 1978 Kingsley. It had 78k miles on it when it was parked. Check my build post for status…it’s located in Greenville Texas. As a western coach the frame is in great shape.

Asking $5,000 as is for the whole shebang. The parts kits alone cost me over $8,000.

Here’s how I see it going, I will keep working on the coach but as it progresses my asking price will go up to reflect the progress. The earlier someone buys it the better the deal sort of thing…

Those kits include (but not limited to):

-1 ton front end kit (had the lower control arm welds improved by a master welder)
-Brand new OEM style air bags.
-Electric wiper kit
-Improved Parking Brake kit (the last one that will ever be available it appears. The man had to call around to assemble it for me)
-Completely new Brake system: Sensitized brake booster, new master cylinder, stainless steel brake line kit, rear stainless steel braided brake hoses, new brake proportioned, all new hardware
-Macerator kit (the high dollar applied one)
-New Viair 480c compressor and tank
-All new air lines
-Brand new Honda Odyssey 3rd row seats with integrated seat belts (gray leather)
-brand new stainless steel water heater
-new fuel sending units
-freshly rebuilt carburetor
-new mechanical fuel pump
-new starter
-new optima red top chassis battery
-new rubber frame/body cushions
-new steel 16” rims brand new E rated tires

work still required to get on the road:
-Install full suspension (parts already upgraded/restored and included)
-Install brakes (parts included)
-Reinstall fuel tanks/hoses (parts included)
-Purchase Install sub-flooring
-Purchase/install new cooling hoses
-Fabricate adapters for seats
-purchase/Install right/left dash
-install bathroom module
-Install rear hatch
-purchase/install new ceiling fan

thanks for your interest! I really want to see this old girl go to a good home.

Disregard all! I can't bring myself to let her go (not that anyone was blowing up my email trying to buy)...she's off the market and I'm staying with her.

 

[TR 1]

Keep with it, KenTexian. If you find yourself loosing motivation on tackling such a large project, my advice to you is to do the minimum you need to make a safe and reliable coach, and get using it. You can add upgrades as you go but there is no better motivation than taking your coach on a trip, doing something new with it and making memories. I'd also argue it's much easier to tackle upgrades one project, or at the very least, one group of upgrades at a time between trips, than to do a massive tear down and upgrade project. You don't need to have a macerator, or new interior or electric wipers to enjoy the coach. Those systems have worked well in stock form for many people for many years.

Get her rolling on her own and have some fun!

 

[KenTexian]

This is great advice, and I will take it! Unfortunately when you buy a derelict you have to work EVERYTHING, and if you are putting in the touch time, you might as well upgrade it (was my philosophy anyway).

The biggest issue with my build is that my shop isn't climate controlled. So in the summer I couldn't hardly work for the sweat in my eyes, and in the winter it was too daggon cold to touch any of the parts.

Now the military is moving me, the new house doesn't have a shop at all so I will have to contend with that. But the push to get it tow worthy has really reignited my passion for this old girl. The nice thing is all those life improving upgrades are in boxes on my shelf, so once I get a facility at the new place I can start doing them one at a time.

That said the 1-ton front end will be finished this week, and with any luck I will have the rear suspension back together this weekend...but thats all for the build thread.

Keep with it, KenTexian. If you find yourself loosing motivation on tackling such a large project, my advice to you is to do the minimum you need to make a safe and reliable coach, and get using it. You can add upgrades as you go but there is no better motivation than taking your coach on a trip, doing something new with it and making memories. I'd also argue it's much easier to tackle upgrades one project, or at the very least, one group of upgrades at a time between trips, than to do a massive tear down and upgrade project. You don't need to have a macerator, or new interior or electric wipers to enjoy the coach. Those systems have worked well in stock form for many people for many years.

Get her rolling on her own and have some fun!

 

[EricS]

This is great advice, and I will take it! Unfortunately when you buy a derelict you have to work EVERYTHING, and if you are putting in the touch time, you might as well upgrade it (was my philosophy anyway).

The biggest issue with my build is that my shop isn't climate controlled. So in the summer I couldn't hardly work for the sweat in my eyes, and in the winter it was too daggon cold to touch any of the parts.

Now the military is moving me, the new house doesn't have a shop at all so I will have to contend with that. But the push to get it tow worthy has really reignited my passion for this old girl. The nice thing is all those life improving upgrades are in boxes on my shelf, so once I get a facility at the new place I can start doing them one at a time.

That said the 1-ton front end will be finished this week, and with any luck I will have the rear suspension back together this weekend...but thats all for the build thread.

One tip that I picked up during my "restoration" was to focus on / finish one project at a time. I fully understand how difficult it is, but scratching a project off the list is satisfying in itself! I'm still not very good at it (I'll just reroute that wire and get back to replacing that hose), but I'm trying! Nice work, and congratulations!

 

[KenTexian]

One tip that I picked up during my "restoration" was to focus on / finish one project at a time. I fully understand how difficult it is, but scratching a project off the list is satisfying in itself! I'm still not very good at it (I'll just reroute that wire and get back to replacing that hose), but I'm trying! Nice work, and congratulations!

Thanks, and I agree. I am totally guilty of jumping from job to job and not finishing any of them...at least until it was time to move. On a truncated time table I don't have a choice but to start a job and finish a job. Thanks for the comment!

 

[LARRYT]

Make a priority list be prepared to change. Many rip and tear. then are overwhelmed. ONE thing at a time and its a motor vehicle first. Larry

 

[KenTexian]

Howdy y'all.,
Just checking in, and a quick update. Serenity made it safely to Kentucky a few days after pick up. Everything was intact, no damage at all. I couldn't be happier with Jim's work hauling...the man knows his trade.

Yesterday we had the pad poured so we can get the old girl's big butt out of the middle of the driveway!

So, the next stage will begin once I am able to get the boxes out of the garage and the tools organized. I'll open up the rear hatch again and clutter up my garage all over again! But then I can get back to work getting her road worthy. I have a call into Sirum requesting how much the "easy button" would cost, by that I mean having them do all the mechanical work to get the old girl road worthy and safe to drive. That way I can get started on the house systems and making her habitable. I figure it would shave about 2 years off my timeline just because the pace I am able to tackle these items...but if the cost is more than a 3rd world nation's GDP I'll just keep bending wrenches when I can.

Thanks for following along, I hope everyone is well!

Kentexian

 

[dsmithy]

Ken,
We're glad you kept your coach and are starting a new chapter with her. There's a whole lot of people out there wishing you well. Keep the faith, brother.

 

[LARRYT]

WISH u WELL

 

[KenTexian]

WISH u WELL

Thank you!

 

[KenTexian]

Serenity made it to Kentucky and on to her pad next to the garage back in 2022. Unfortunately, I have done exatcly not one thing to her in all the time between then and now. I am happy to say that dry spell ends this week! With the holiday this week I will be opening her up and getting back to business.

First I need to pull all the parts and boxes stored in her out and squirrel them away into the garage. Then I will set to getting the engine running again. This may prove too optimistic for 4 days, but that's the goal!

 

[LarryW]

Jeremy, If you truly have not moved that coach, or started that motor in two years, please read this before you even try to start that motor. JWID

https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/weidner-starting-engine.pdf

 

[tmsnyder]

You're back! Cool!

 

[KenTexian]

You're back! Cool!

Thank you Sir! Good to be back.