Adventures

walter m. drew

New member
Nov 1, 1998
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Took a trip to San Diego from Santa Fe two weeks ago. First day was an
easy run to Flagstaff and spent the night in the County Fairgrounds.
Toad had a soft tire and put the spare on en route in less than ten
minutes. Next morning was beautiful and we drove to Sedona through Oak
Creek Canyon. After breakfast we returned to the coach and discovered a
large wet spot in the front. The radiator was peeing antifreeze in a
steady stream. Off to the local Texaco station. Attempts at soldering
were unsuccessful. It is now Friday morning at 11 am. After numerous
phone calls I was told that the radiator had to be recored by sending it
100 miles to Phoenix and we would get it back on Tuesday. Cost just for
the radiator was $700. Then I called Cinnibar and they had 5 in stock
for $450. For $180 I had it air shipped for Saturday delivery and it
arrived by eleven the next morning. Found a nice RV park a few blocks
from the station and a resident said, "I'll help." Radiator was in and
out in four and one half hours.

On to San Diego with no further troubles. Morning of departure I
noticed that the right front was a little soft. Diagnosis in the water
tank was a pin hole in the wheel itself. I have 16.5 wheels with new
tires. The wheels are after market chrome plated steel wheels. Next
morning from Palm Springs I called a truck tire repair place and was
told that they weld wheels. Drove 30 miles to be told Hell no we don't
weld wheels you loose the temper. Went to junk yard and bought almost
new steel wheel for $50 and of course had no need for it on the trip
home.
Pulling the long grade on I-15 by Joshua Tree my engine hiccuped a
couple of times. Minor panic, downshifted and kept the rpms up.
Happened once more on a grade. I was using some of that very exp[ensive
high octane gas. My engine never really ran at 100% again until we got
to 5000 feet the next day and then it ran fine. Mileage on the trip
with toad was between 6 and 8. I put in Mobile 1 before we left and am
pleased to repost that my quart every 300 miles leak has slowed to one
in 700. Is it Mobile 1, Alemite CD-2 stop leak, a build up of grime or
just a miracle?

Walter 78 Royale
 
Walter;
I would be greatly coincerned about your wheels being an "after market"
variety and about using a standard truck wheel as a replacement. GMC's are
designed for the wheels to be supported by the center hole (hub), not the
lug nuts alone as in most wheels. Your after market and your junk yard
wheel most likely are not hub supported, only lug supported --- potential
trouble!!!
Gary
'77 Kingsley
North Bend, Oregon Coast

> Took a trip to San Diego from Santa Fe two weeks ago. First day was an
> easy run to Flagstaff and spent the night in the County Fairgrounds.
> Toad had a soft tire and put the spare on en route in less than ten
> minutes. Next morning was beautiful and we drove to Sedona through Oak
> Creek Canyon. After breakfast we returned to the coach and discovered a
> large wet spot in the front. The radiator was peeing antifreeze in a
> steady stream. Off to the local Texaco station. Attempts at soldering
> were unsuccessful. It is now Friday morning at 11 am. After numerous
> phone calls I was told that the radiator had to be recored by sending it
> 100 miles to Phoenix and we would get it back on Tuesday. Cost just for
> the radiator was $700. Then I called Cinnibar and they had 5 in stock
> for $450. For $180 I had it air shipped for Saturday delivery and it
> arrived by eleven the next morning. Found a nice RV park a few blocks
> from the station and a resident said, "I'll help." Radiator was in and
> out in four and one half hours.
>
> On to San Diego with no further troubles. Morning of departure I
> noticed that the right front was a little soft. Diagnosis in the water
> tank was a pin hole in the wheel itself. I have 16.5 wheels with new
> tires. The wheels are after market chrome plated steel wheels. Next
> morning from Palm Springs I called a truck tire repair place and was
> told that they weld wheels. Drove 30 miles to be told Hell no we don't
> weld wheels you loose the temper. Went to junk yard and bought almost
> new steel wheel for $50 and of course had no need for it on the trip
> home.
> Pulling the long grade on I-15 by Joshua Tree my engine hiccuped a
> couple of times. Minor panic, downshifted and kept the rpms up.
> Happened once more on a grade. I was using some of that very exp[ensive
> high octane gas. My engine never really ran at 100% again until we got
> to 5000 feet the next day and then it ran fine. Mileage on the trip
> with toad was between 6 and 8. I put in Mobile 1 before we left and am
> pleased to repost that my quart every 300 miles leak has slowed to one
> in 700. Is it Mobile 1, Alemite CD-2 stop leak, a build up of grime or
> just a miracle?
>
> Walter 78 Royale