First Long Trip & Tire Trueing at Jim's

[walter m. drew]

Marcus,

Great post. What sort of mileage did you get? If you know, what was
the tranny temp? I have ordered a digi panel from Frank Sullivan at
626-355-7753. Thanks all for the posts on the radio. I went with a
Kenwood cs 205 and a six unit cd changer which I put in the storage box
under the driver's seat. Bent the tabs back just like Zak said and cut
the plastic dash panel. It sounds better even without upgraded speakers
which my brother-in-law thought he could get from clients.. We'll see.
Took a 250 mile cruise yesterday up to 9,000 feet. Only problem was an
occassional gas odor, I had filled the tanks to capacity last week and
had some overflow at the station. It has taken me a few thousand miles
to get really comfortable with how this beauty performs.
After about 200 miles yesterday, my wife said, "You really enjoy driving
this, don't you?" "Yup!"

Walter, 78 Royale, Santa Fe

 

[marcus mcgee]

Ok, I took my first long trip from NY to Orlando Fl. The coach ran
well and the only real mishap was the large (2 meter) satellite dish
wanted to return to space. Removed it after it tried to take off and
went the rest of the way almost trouble free. As I got further sout the
weather got warmer and the GMC ran hotter at high speed of 65 and
above. The temp was around 220 and I turned on the heatre and the temp
went down to 210. I reduced speed to 60 or so and the temp went to
200. Ran that way until night when the ambient air cooled and I could
take it back up to 70 on I95. Yes some may say that is too fast, but I
wnat to be able to go with traffic and not be that SOB (common
vernacular, not some other brand) in the slow lane causing a tie up.
Yes it is pridefull but I like dusting off SOB's (our vernacular).
Besides the GMC is designed to go that fast.

Decided that it was the fan clutch and Jim helped me find a
replacement. I installed it and the GMC ran 20 degrees cooler around
Orlando whenit was 75 yo 80 during the day it never got above 190 or
so. Problem solved (so I thought).

The handling on the way down was ok, but drove most 60% with two hands
on the wheel and some waggle when passing trucks and on some roads.
Sometimes the GMC would go where ever it wanted, with or without my
input.

Jim did a 6 wheel alignment, balanced and trued the tires the day before
I left. The drive home was 200% better. The GMC tracked staight and
true with no mind of it's own and went where I put it. It also stayed
where I put it wwhther pasing or being passeed by single or double
trucks. The difference was that now I could drive with 3 fingers on the
wheel and my arm on the arm rest for 95% of the time. In traffic and
passing I would use two hands for safety, but caught my self whizzing
along at 75+ in the DC area just to keep up with tarffic and it felt
great. There is still some play in the steering wheel that I need to
find (everything from Caspro is already installed) and I cannot say
which of the 3 things done did the trick. All I know is that drivung
the GMC is now easy and I drove 11 hours one day and 12 the next.

Was it worth driving to Fl to get it done? I was going anyway to
Orlando. Any one with shouting distance (300 miles) of Jim ought to
give it a try. It worked for me. The trueing took very little off my
new Bridgestones and after the return trip of 1300 miles I dare anyone
to find a trace of the truing except in the ride or handling.

Jim take a very "OLD LADY" approach and only takes off the bare minnimum
of the rubber. If Bridgestone see's this I will deny all knowledge.

Bottom line - GET IT DONE - it will be the best $300+ dollars spent as
long as the rest of your suspension is up to snuff.

Marcus

PS: Itstill ran a little hot (210) at 70 or so, but I think it may be my
grill screen that blocks about 25% of the air flow. I will remove it
and see.