Drinking the Koolaide... šŸ˜Š

Tybalt39

Tybalt39

Well-known member
Mar 10, 2023
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Eugene, OR
Greetings! I'm probably going to purchase (did purchase!) a 1973 26' from a co-worker (test-drive and visual inspection happening Sunday). If all goes well, it's mine! (It's mine.... šŸ˜) I've been looking into these vehicles for a few years, but this is the first time I've had one close to me at a reasonable price in usable condition. Granted, even a "usable" GMC Motorhome will need much TLC and work to make it truly reliable and highway-safe, but I've set aside funds for immediate repairs.

If anyone knows the history, it's the blue "Mr. T on a Unicorn under a Rainbow" vehicle. I have another co-worker familiar with the Olds 455 engine (former hot-rodder), so I may have a local support "group" (the previous owner once-removed of this vehicle has two others; his wife told him to lose one...). My co-worker had it for only 6 months, planning to turn it into an Air BnB (never going to drive it). His plans changed.
1973-GMCMotorhome.jpg
I'm told it's already "dry" (no leaks), so once it is verified to be highway-safe, planned upgrades are:
  • Astro/Safari steering column with wiper-delay, washer, and headlight dimmer on the "stalk" (new wiper motor and electronic cruise control)
    • Update: Electric wiper-motor modification was already installed!
    • Update: New "Lumina" wiper arms and nozzles installed, both sold by Dorman, plus new reservoir/pump
  • "GMC Supreme II" dashboard replacement
  • Dakota Digital instrument cluster w/EVIC
  • EFI that integrates into the Dakota instrument cluster
    • 12/28/2025 Purchased AcesEFI Killshot 2 with Command Center 2 (surge tank with fuel pump)
    • 2/22/2026 Installed! Runs great!
  • Vintage Air Gen IV HVAC with Dakota Digital temperature controls
  • MicroLevel rear suspension controls/auto-leveling
    • 3/25/2026 Ordered! Thank you for announcing a price reduction. šŸ˜
  • Ramco power mirrors
  • Android-based entertainment system in the dash, with heads-up navigation screen, etc.
Down the road, I intend to move to a lithium-based electrical system using a high-output alternator supplemented by solar panels (I've been using solar and lithium for my camping setup for some years; refrigerator, freezer, ice-maker, microwave oven, ceiling fans... in a tent...).

UPDATE!
  • 900W BougeRV Yuma CIGS (thin-film amorphous) and 165W flexible mono solar panels installed (1065W total), plus 600W of ground-deployed panels
  • 560Ah (7168W/h) lithium battery installed
  • 4KW Pure Sine Inverter installed
    • Rooftop heat-pump running from batteries!
Once that is accomplished:
  • Lose the old "roof-shakers" and install a quiet induction heat-pump
    • UPDATE! Installed; running from batteries!
  • Induction "hot plate" (700W is perfectly adequate for "medium" heat)
    • Purchased 2-burner Vevor 1764809563015.webp
  • Combination air-fryer/convection/microwave oven
    • UPDATE! Installed; running from batteries!
In a perfect world, I'd love to get my hands on bumper covers and the "full" sliding front driver/passenger windows. Basically, this vehicle looks "futuristic" and I want to get the systems to match.

January 2024 UPDATE! Applied is now taking pre-orders for a production-run of the side-windows in 2024. I have placed my order. šŸ˜

Probably re-paint (dove gray top, charcoal bottom) and new art....
stencil big.jpgoutput-onlinetools.jpg1763081423255.webp
(AI assisted image creation)

This has been a long-winded introduction, but... Hello from the Pacific Northwest!
 
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billvv said:
If you're in the Seattle area, the Cascaders are having a rally this weekend; visitors welcome! I"m planning to be there for Kelvin's talk tomorrow, the Brain Drain, and the Birch talk on Saturday. Ask me about the virtues of the EBL system for EFI!
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Thank you! Unfortunately (for this event), I'm in the southern Willamette valley, so the 6 hours to get there (then back again) is a bit much for a weekend. Perhaps when the vehicle is "ship-shape"...
 
So, Eugene area? I'm east of Salem; we have family in Eugene though, and were just there last weekend. Welcome, and congrats on the coach! Keep the decal, and move to Veneta. :D

My '75 Glenbrook has quad bags, and my '76 Palm Beach has OEM style, but I've not had an opportunity to travel with it yet.
 
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Anyone that knows 70s Chevy/GMC trucks should be able to assess the drive train - except for the bogies/air system. Getting it on a lift is the challenge, so maybe a truck repair shop. Also DJ Eberhart is close to you.
 
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Tybalt39 said:
TZE063V102201 Apparently, #2201 in the 1973 production "year".
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I know I've seen it before but evidently was not able to get the VIN.
It's a NEW VIN for the registry! Please fill out and submit the online form.

For the purpose of locating and keeping track of all Classic GMC Motorhomes.
Please fill out and submit the online form at www.gmcmhregistry.com/contact/form.html
(There are currently over 8,910 GMCs accounted for)

Find the VIN tag is on the firewall behind the passenger side hood.
Or on the inner glove box door tag.
Or on the title.

* Note about the Build Date of your GMC: From the decal on the inside of the glove box door - look for a number on the top line just left of center, similar to "032174". The example indicates the build date as March 21st, 1974. *

Thank you
Billy Massey
The GMC Motorhome Registry
www.gmcmhregistry.com
 
Two comments: For Sunday if you have never driven one before. You are siting on top of the front wheels with about 19 feet to the center of the wheels and probably 23 feet behind you. Do not turn the corners to shortly or you will bang the rear wheels on the curb. Drive farther into the intersection before starting your turn. It is no big deal once you get use to it. It is just a new driver thing. Second, if you want those slider windows start looking now. I know and have had dome dealings with the company that made them. They are NLA. You would had have to order at least 25 of each side to get them to make some more. So if you find a pair available snap them up whenever you can.

Ken B.
 
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Ken B said:
Two comments: For Sunday if you have never driven one before. You are siting on top of the front wheels with about 19 feet to the center of the wheels and probably 23 feet behind you. Do not turn the corners to shortly or you will bang the rear wheels on the curb. Drive farther into the intersection before starting your turn. It is no big deal once you get use to it. It is just a new driver thing. Second, if you want those slider windows start looking now. I know and have had dome dealings with the company that made them. They are NLA. You would had have to order at least 25 of each side to get them to make some more. So if you find a pair available snap them up whenever you can.

Ken B.
Click to expand...
Indeed. I have had no luck on normal parts sites. I may have to hope for a coach to be parted-out and be very lucky... I saw one on a Jim Bounds video earlier this week (discussing LED headlights/markers), but those videos are recorded and shared to "patrons" weeks before they hit youtube. Group-buy? Installation-rally? šŸ˜
 
Tybalt39 said:
Indeed. I have had no luck on normal parts sites. I may have to hope for a coach to be parted-out and be very lucky... I saw one on a Jim Bounds video earlier this week (discussing LED headlights/markers), but those videos are recorded and shared to "patrons" weeks before they hit youtube. Group-buy? Installation-rally? šŸ˜
Click to expand...
Try calling Jeff Sirum at Sirum GMC in Okeechobee FL. He is parting some coaches out now and may have the slider windows you are looking for.
 
Kendra, with the 17" wheels, is this LT225/75R17 taller than the LT225/75R16 that most of us use with our Alcoas? Just wondering if it effected your speedometer. Which model of 17" Ion did you use?
 
LarryW said:
Kendra, with the 17" wheels, is this LT225/75R17 taller than the LT225/75R16 that most of us use with our Alcoas? Just wondering if it effected your speedometer. Which model of 17" Ion did you use?
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16.5ā€ wheel with 8.75 tire (OEM size) = 29.5ā€ diameter
16ā€ wheel with LT225/75R16 = 29.3ā€ diameter
17ā€ wheel with LT225/75R17 = 30.3ā€ diameter

225/75R17 is 3.4% larger diameter than 225/75R16. So it depends if you start out with a perfectly calibrated speedometer. I think final drive ratio is a more important factor - OEM 3.07 is too tall and 17" will make it worse. Previous owner had JimK change differential to 3.55. I didn't notice any performance drop with larger tires but I wouldn't recommend it with the stock ratio.

Purchased the set of seven Ion 17" from Applied GMC, Michelin 225/75R17 from Discount Tire.

Previous owner had full-height opening cockpit windows installed - I strongly recommend if the community can get 25 orders together. Not much wind noise, comfortable at 65mph.
 
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I believe that offering was the brain child of Jim Bounds. He and Jim K. were selling them. If you want to put something together, you need to talk to them before reinventing the wheel and doing it all over again. I was buying the other side windows from the manufacturer through a friend that had an account withe them. My friend has since retired and sold the business. So it would be difficult to reestablish that account again. I made several runs in the past picking them up at their warehouse for my and other GMCs. I believe the ones you want were specially designed by Jim B. may and he may have rights to the design of them.

It is not something I really want to do anymore.....Sorry.

Contact one of the two Jims.
 
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Applied GMC
Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co

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