Bringing the PB home after winter storage

Hey Rob, tried emailing and PM-ing you to have a chat etc but you have PM's turned off so the messages didn't go through :roll: -

I'll call Kal tire etc and see what the score is on 16.5's ...still not sure what size shoes the coach is wearing. Apparently the storage place is a
30 min drive from my contact's place and only open on weekends - plus - he's even older than me (and I'm ancient) so I don't want to push him and his
missus too much, but he said he'll take a drive over on the weekend and find out.

He's the owner's brother who drove the coach out from Ontario in August for one of the other brothers out west. In the meantime, that brother, a good
friend of mine, got sick and couldn't take the coach ...so he called me and I ended up buying it based on the few photos, the description, mileage and
trust. :)

Getting info on the coach is a bit sketchy at the moment as the owner is 96 years old. I've not spoken with him at all as the coach was registered to
his business and I bought it through his daughter who runs the office. Her brother runs the fleet garage and he's the one who'd have info on the
upgrades etc., so I've asked the daughter to find out what she can.

Even though all this info is a priority for me, these are very busy folks running a large fleet of buses during covid and Christmas so I'm willing to
wait a bit - after all, I might not even get to see the coach till late April 2021!

Larry

> Larry:
>
> Looks great! Let me know when works.
>
> A few years ago - a GMC owner up island was able to source 16.5” tires at both Sidney Tire and KalTire (and likely others). In the end he bought
> them from Sidney Tire, after verifying that the rims were 16.5”.
>
> I’d assume you’ll be sourcing tires up in the Okanagan, if they’re required? If the tires are old and/or have been sitting for a long time,
> they likely need attention/replacement. LOTS of potential fibreglass damage from a blowout!
>
> Rob
> Victoria, BC
> 76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
The 16.5" to 16" wheel swap is a challenge. I bought 21 wheels and my
friend who has a tire store went through them all to find 7 good radial
rated tubeless 16" wheel that were rust free enough, and straight and round
enough to use. I then had them media blasted and powder coated, then they
went back to the tire store and mounted with load range "E" B.F. Goodrich,
radial tires. Probably spent as much or more fooling around with those
steel wheels to cover the cost of a new set of alloy wheels. Which I now
have on my coach. They are precision machined, round and true, and one
whole heck of a bunch lighter. They look better, too. But, you might get
lucky and find some easier than I did. I wouldn't do it again that way.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Tue, Dec 15, 2020, 9:51 AM twlldeen--- via Gmclist <

>
> Hey Matt, Interesting points about picking up 16" steelies - sounds like
> it's a bit hit and miss locating a bunch of them to get a set of good ones
> and might be a bit more of a hassle than I'm up for.
> The alloy wheel suggestion with the centre bore shim "option" sounds more
> like something an old scrounger like myself might be the best answer if I do
> decide to ditch the 16.5's ....So just to be clear, these shim rings you'd
> make up (if necessary), would they be welded to the alloy rims or what?
>
> Larry
>
>

> > Larry,
> >
> > Unless you know what you are looking for, it is very difficult to see
> the difference between 16.5 and 16 rims. There is an offset to the rim just
> > at the bead that makes it a 16.5. To my knowledge, nobody have been
> able to make the 16.5 wheel covers stay on a 16 rim. I haven't even tried.
> >
> > I have steel 16s and I had to buy 16 to get 7 out of the final 13 that
> cleared testing to true. Given the difficulty and expense, were I to do it
> > all again, I would not bother. I would try to acquire alloy wheels to
> bolt up. If I could not get them with the correct center bore, I would make
> > up shim rings to do that.
> > Matt
>
>
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Larry:

I rarely use the forum - I prefer reading the GMCnet via email! I sent you an email and CC'd you on this one!

Getting one based on "trust" sounds OK to me! But the proof will be in the pudding...

If I recall - the GMCer up island had larger tires in the rear (maybe 9.5R16.5LT?) and they were *almost* rubbing. The tire was VERY close to the bogey. If I recall correctly - he went back down to the stock size, but I'd have to check with him to be sure.

My wheels are lug centred (ish!) Eagle alloys - I don't use shims. I'm running LT225/75R16's made by Toyo. They'll have to be replaced this spring/summer.

Rob
76 Royale Twin Beds, Dry Bath
Victoria, BC

>
> Hey Rob, tried emailing and PM-ing you to have a chat etc but you have PM's turned off so the messages didn't go through :roll: -
>
> I'll call Kal tire etc and see what the score is on 16.5's ...still not sure what size shoes the coach is wearing. Apparently the storage place is a
> 30 min drive from my contact's place and only open on weekends - plus - he's even older than me (and I'm ancient) so I don't want to push him and his
> missus too much, but he said he'll take a drive over on the weekend and find out.
>
> He's the owner's brother who drove the coach out from Ontario in August for one of the other brothers out west. In the meantime, that brother, a good
> friend of mine, got sick and couldn't take the coach ...so he called me and I ended up buying it based on the few photos, the description, mileage and
> trust. :)
>
> Getting info on the coach is a bit sketchy at the moment as the owner is 96 years old. I've not spoken with him at all as the coach was registered to
> his business and I bought it through his daughter who runs the office. Her brother runs the fleet garage and he's the one who'd have info on the
> upgrades etc., so I've asked the daughter to find out what she can.
>
> Even though all this info is a priority for me, these are very busy folks running a large fleet of buses during covid and Christmas so I'm willing to
> wait a bit - after all, I might not even get to see the coach till late April 2021!
>
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Larry, nice looking coach. I'm sure you will find it in reasonable condition come springtime. Much knowledge and experience has been offered to date
so I have little to offer other than I reside in Sidney and have a fair mouth of 'hobby' experience to share beginning with bringing my '78 Royale
home from northern Saskatchewan in 2013 and much work and $$ to bring it up to a comfortable level of road worthiness while keeping it as original as
possible.
As Rob has indicated, I'd be pleased to meet up and share thoughts and a walk through.

As for routes back to the Island, I've driven my coach on Hwy 3 and Hwy 1 Kamloops to Hope through the Fraser Canyon and will recommend the Hwy 1
route. Hwy 3 has some steep grades but nothing quite like the Coquihalla for that decent west bound from the summit.

All the very best,
Colin
--
Colin Edey
1978 Royale 'Rusty'
 
Hi Colin, love to meet up and have a chat if poss ...yes I'm thinking hwy 1 might be the answer all right, that descent on #3 down into hope could be
scary with brake fade 8o so until I know the vehicle a bit better I think erring on the side of "safe" is the way to go. The big hill down the Coq,
well, been there done that, don't fancy running out of pedal coming down there either ...

all the best

Larry

> Larry, nice looking coach. I'm sure you will find it in reasonable condition come springtime. Much knowledge and experience has been offered to
> date so I have little to offer other than I reside in Sidney and have a fair mouth of 'hobby' experience to share beginning with bringing my '78
> Royale home from northern Saskatchewan in 2013 and much work and $$ to bring it up to a comfortable level of road worthiness while keeping it as
> original as possible.
> As Rob has indicated, I'd be pleased to meet up and share thoughts and a walk through.
>
> As for routes back to the Island, I've driven my coach on Hwy 3 and Hwy 1 Kamloops to Hope through the Fraser Canyon and will recommend the Hwy 1
> route. Hwy 3 has some steep grades but nothing quite like the Coquihalla for that decent west bound from the summit.
>
> All the very best,
> Colin

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Hey Jim, already decided not to go for 16" steelies but your post just doubled down on my decision!

So it'll either be new rubber on the 16.5's or if I luck out and find some allys for next to dick :lol: well maybe I'll go that way.

Thanks for the input

all the best

Larry

> The 16.5" to 16" wheel swap is a challenge. I bought 21 wheels and my
> friend who has a tire store went through them all to find 7 good radial
> rated tubeless 16" wheel that were rust free enough, and straight and round
> enough to use. I then had them media blasted and powder coated, then they
> went back to the tire store and mounted with load range "E" B.F. Goodrich,
> radial tires. Probably spent as much or more fooling around with those
> steel wheels to cover the cost of a new set of alloy wheels. Which I now
> have on my coach. They are precision machined, round and true, and one
> whole heck of a bunch lighter. They look better, too. But, you might get
> lucky and find some easier than I did. I wouldn't do it again that way.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Oregon

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
You can buy the steel wheel new. Hub centered.
X45329 (southwestwheel.com)
https://www.southwestwheel.com/p-1835-x45329.aspx

On Tue, Dec 15, 2020 at 12:07 PM twlldeen--- via Gmclist <

> Hey Jim, already decided not to go for 16" steelies but your post just
> doubled down on my decision!
>
> So it'll either be new rubber on the 16.5's or if I luck out and find some
> allys for next to dick :lol: well maybe I'll go that way.
>
> Thanks for the input
>
> all the best
>
> Larry
>
>

> > The 16.5" to 16" wheel swap is a challenge. I bought 21 wheels and my
> > friend who has a tire store went through them all to find 7 good radial
> > rated tubeless 16" wheel that were rust free enough, and straight and
> round
> > enough to use. I then had them media blasted and powder coated, then they
> > went back to the tire store and mounted with load range "E" B.F.
> Goodrich,
> > radial tires. Probably spent as much or more fooling around with those
> > steel wheels to cover the cost of a new set of alloy wheels. Which I now
> > have on my coach. They are precision machined, round and true, and one
> > whole heck of a bunch lighter. They look better, too. But, you might get
> > lucky and find some easier than I did. I wouldn't do it again that way.
> > Jim Hupy
> > Salem, Oregon
>
>
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
 
Hey Bruce thanks for that!

After looking at the wheel at southwest tried the part number in Canada and came up with this one

https://www.partsource.ca/products/x45329-steel-rim-wheel-silver
I did a double take at first seeing the 5-bolt pattern but later read the disclaimer "* Product(s) may not be exactly as shown in the image"

so all good I guess!

Larry

> You can buy the steel wheel new. Hub centered.
> X45329 (southwestwheel.com)
> --
> Bruce Hart
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Milliken, Co
> GMC=Got More Class
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Sir, the GMC was one of the first vehicles to use hub centered wheels but lug centered wheels still work as well as they always have. This is a
touchy subject with many purest. I personally am running lug centered aluminum wheels with no known issues.

https://www.jegs.com/i/The-Wheel-Group/306/167-6681FP/10002/-1

> Hey Bruce thanks for that!
>
> After looking at the wheel at southwest tried the part number in Canada and came up with this one
>
> https://www.partsource.ca/products/x45329-steel-rim-wheel-silver
> I did a double take at first seeing the 5-bolt pattern but later read the disclaimer "* Product(s) may not be exactly as shown in the image"
>
> so all good I guess!
>
> Larry
>

> > You can buy the steel wheel new. Hub centered.
> > X45329 (southwestwheel.com)
> > --
> > Bruce Hart
> > 1976 Palm Beach
> > Milliken, Co
> > GMC=Got More Class
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
 
So I did not have to type this all over again I went and stole this from a previous posting that I made a while back and will add some to the end of
it.

Why do we have or need hub centered wheels? It has nothing to do with weight carrying ability. GM decided to use dually wheels on the GMC and the
dually wheels had hub centering. Once the wheels are tightened down the weight is supported by the clamping force and not the center of the hub.

The hub centering on dually wheels was used to center the inside wheel in position while the outside wheel was being mounted in a dually
configuration.

Eight lug dually wheels were chosen for their weight carrying capability.

In our case we are not clamping two wheels together and do not have the need for the inside wheel to be held in position while the outside wheel is
mounted and the pair tightened down.

If a TRUE lug centered wheel is chosen, then the centering is taken care of by the tapered lug nuts. If a hub centered wheel is chosen and the
diameter of the center is not correct then the wheel can slip off center BEFORE he lug nuts are tightened.

The one exception to this is the standard Eagle wheel which is HUB CENTERED by design but are .031" too big for a GMC. (Jim K. had some Eagle wheels
made specially for him the were not drilled .031" over size. I am not talking about them.) The standard manufacture Eagle wheel uses a mag wheel
shoulder lug nut which DOES KEEP THE WHEEL CENTERED even though the center diameter of the hole is slightly too large. You do not need any kind of
spacer to use these Eagle wheels.

This is what I have had on my coach for about 15 years. (Standard, .031" oversize for our application, Hub Centered Eagle Wheels)

Ken B.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Well Ken that settles it in my mind - totally agree, plus had the pleasure of seeing Colin's coach yesterday with his ION alloy rims, very good
looking and also lug-centred with zero issues.

thanks

Larry

> So I did not have to type this all over again I went and stole this from a previous posting that I made a while back and will add some to the end
> of it.
> You do not need any kind of spacer to use these Eagle wheels.
>
> This is what I have had on my coach for about 15 years. (Standard, .031" oversize for our application, Hub Centered Eagle Wheels)
>
> Ken B.

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Just spoke to my man up in the interior about the tires, route he'd take to the coast etc.

Won't know the wheel size till the weekend, but he did tell me that even though the tread was lower than optimum, he was still confident she could
make it down to the Island.. in fact, he said that if the coach didn't sell out west he was going to drive it back to Ontario this coming spring (on
those tires) .. :roll:

Also found out the alternator was replaced about 8000 miles ago and the water pump changed about 1000 miles back.

As he offered to deliver it to the Island in the spring I asked him what his planned route would be and he said the Fraser Canyon, my choice too.
Pretty much decided not to have it "delivered" though, going to take a run up there in the spring myself, check all the systems over and drive it
home.
Plan is to inspect tires MYSELF and if the tires are hooped or too old, I'll fit new ones in Kamloops before coming down to the coast.

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Sounds like a plan. With the number of unknowns at this point - I'd only go down Fraser Canyon myself...

Rob
76 Royale Twin Beds, Dry Bath
Victoria, BC

>
> Just spoke to my man up in the interior about the tires, route he'd take to the coast etc.
>
> Won't know the wheel size till the weekend, but he did tell me that even though the tread was lower than optimum, he was still confident she could
> make it down to the Island.. in fact, he said that if the coach didn't sell out west he was going to drive it back to Ontario this coming spring (on
> those tires) .. :roll:
>
> Also found out the alternator was replaced about 8000 miles ago and the water pump changed about 1000 miles back.
>
> As he offered to deliver it to the Island in the spring I asked him what his planned route would be and he said the Fraser Canyon, my choice too.
> Pretty much decided not to have it "delivered" though, going to take a run up there in the spring myself, check all the systems over and drive it
> home.
> Plan is to inspect tires MYSELF and if the tires are hooped or too old, I'll fit new ones in Kamloops before coming down to the coast.
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
The question is not how much tread is n the tires but how old are they. If over 6 years old there is a chance of a sidewall blowout.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> Just spoke to my man up in the interior about the tires, route he'd take to the coast etc.
>
> Won't know the wheel size till the weekend, but he did tell me that even though the tread was lower than optimum, he was still confident she could
> make it down to the Island.. in fact, he said that if the coach didn't sell out west he was going to drive it back to Ontario this coming spring (on
> those tires) .. :roll:
>
> Also found out the alternator was replaced about 8000 miles ago and the water pump changed about 1000 miles back.
>
> As he offered to deliver it to the Island in the spring I asked him what his planned route would be and he said the Fraser Canyon, my choice too.
> Pretty much decided not to have it "delivered" though, going to take a run up there in the spring myself, check all the systems over and drive it
> home.
> Plan is to inspect tires MYSELF and if the tires are hooped or too old, I'll fit new ones in Kamloops before coming down to the coast.
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Well a bit of good news on the wheels, my contacts up in the interior took a drive over to the storage and reported back just now that the tires are
"LT 225/75/R16" so I guess those steel rims in the pic are 16's not 16.5's after all ...

Larry

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Update on the coach info - I finally settled the convoluted paperwork/out-of-province sale and turns out I didn't have to pay the Ontario HST after
all, just like Rob said. I didn't have to pay the tax because the coach was already "delivered" to BC when it was sold to me ...now, if I'd gone to
Ontario and driven it back to BC, I WOULD have to pay the 13% HST, so good thing it was already out here!

I was asking the owner's brother (the delivery person/driver) about the air bags because he'd mentioned something about having a problem with the
coach when it left Bakersfield 10 years back on the run home. I wasn't sure at the time what he was referring to as I wasn't familiar with the rear
suspension at the time. Now I'm more in tune with the air system so I asked him what exactly was the problem he had with the air bags when he first
started out.

It turns out that when he picked it up in California the valves at the bags were closed off so the system didn't work. Because he wasn't aware there
were shutoff valves fitted, he drove it a short distance like that before figuring out the air valves were shut off. When he opened them up, all was
good again.

So unless a shutoff valve at the bag is standard on a 1977, this tells me some form of modification has already been done to the air bag system -
maybe only valvess and schraeders, but at least that's something. Can't wait to actually view the coach and see what other surprises I have in store!

I also got some tire depth info, the fronts are both at 6/32" and three of the four rears are at a full 10/32" - one remaining is pretty much shot at
1/32" and the spare is at 4/32".

I'm going to get 2 new tires for the middle section and keep one of the 10/32's for the spare for the trip home. Planning on buying a pair of KUMHO
CRUGEN HT51 BSW LT 225/75/R16 115S. These are 10ply E rated and do well in the wet, reasonably good in the snow and are nice and quiet too. Eventually
I might fit these all round.

That's it for now, I finally got the VIN and registered the coach with the GMC registry.

all the best lads

Larry

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach - 39,000 original miles so far
 
Along with your lug wrench, carry either a breaker bar or about 2 meters of pipe to act as an extension for your lug wrench. Those lug nuts are going
to be very tight. Get an impact grade socket for the lug nuts. I did manage to split a standard grade socket. Then, I moved on to a 1/2" cordless
impact driver. Much easier.
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
 
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