> -----------
>
> Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 20:49:47 -0800
> From: Phil Swanson
> Subject: GMC: New Owner Questions
>
> I read in the owners manual for my 1973 23' Canyon Lands that the motor
> home
> should be run on at least 91 octane fuel. Here in the San Diego area,
> and probably just about everywhere else these days, that's premium
> unleaded. The last owner of the motor home told me he always ran
> regular in it and it never pinged or detonated. I haven't heard it ping
> either and the regular is still in it. I have not checked the initial
> timing on it but it might be retarded some. My question is, do most of
> you run regular or premium gas? I hate the thought of having to run
> premium in it because gas is higher here that anywhere in the U.S..
> except Hawaii. And where do most of you run your initial timing?
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------------------
> Because the gasoline in our state of California has been so Oxygenated that
> the gas we get at say 87 octane is probably even lower than that. It is so
> poor I don't use it in a chain saw, lawn mower etc. The 89 still is not a
> rating of 89 octane. It might be an 87 at best but probably this is out of
> the question too/ I personally use 92 Octane and that is far from a true 92
> poctane rate. I also run 5 oz. of Marvel Mystery Oil with every 10 gallons of
> gasoline. It is not hard to mix nor use. With the additives being added
> there is no lubricants left for the upper cylinder hardware. The MMO seems to
> help out a lot,
In addition to this the GMC manual and their recommendations, they also
recommend new spark plugs at 6,000. I agree here to a point. To ensure better
combustion I added the Energy Pak by Jacobs. With the Ceramic wires. Gap at
.80 and go. I kept plugs at 6K, compared with 8K and 10K the color goes from a
light tan to a darker tan. As far as milage I did not see much difference. I
do notice on the hills the 6K plugs seem to be the best and there is noticable
loss in power with plugs over
that.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Also, I was going to replace my thermostat, among other things,
> and I noticed it was a 195 degree type. Any harm in installing the 180
> degree? The 195 degree seems awful hot. Does anyone know if this is
> really necessary in a motor home for some reason? It's not like it's
> being run only on short trips to the grocery store and it should come
> up to full operating temperature on long hauls anyway.
> ------------------------------------------------------
> ---------------------------------
I have been looking for the new thermostat that some of the contribuitors have
been discussing here on the Internet. I have not located one but am certain
that it would answere the problem for
you!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Also what is the recommendation for shocks. The Bilsteins come in
> at about $80 each. That's a good guy price, they are often higher. The
> Napa and the KYB types run about $90 a pair. Are the Bilsteins worth
> the difference? With six of these these things involved, it makes allot
> of difference on the bucks. All are lifetime guaranteed anyway.
> What do you think the best buy is for the money and do you think the
> Bilsteins handle that much better?
> Any input would be much appreciated. ....... Thanks, Phil
> Swanson
> -------
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I put on the KYB, but that was befor I met the CASPRO Shock. He will take them
to the GMC Ralley in Vegas and if you can go do so. It will be an eye opener.
I have waited almost two years to get the CASPRO Shocks because the KYB were
brand new. If you have not ordered any, do not do so untill you get to see the
CASPRO shock. It is made for the GMC. They are equally as hard to pull up as
they are to push down. This is important for our GMC because of the way the Air
Bags on the rear work. The fron end is typically light and pulling up is just
as damaging as pushing down. The Caspro Shock to me looked like you get your
money worth. Hope to get me six in March in Vegas. I do not sell for Caspro
and am not in any way affiliated with them. Their products seem to be very good
and I have the steering dampner, their final drive and transmission gears. A
heaver torsion bar with different kinds of rubber fittings. They are not
rubber. But from what I have seen in the demos they seem to be the best there
is. The other problems he solved was getting the rear wheels to work as a team
by having a stablizer bar between each pair of opposing wheels. The rear set of
four has two bars and hardware locking them together across from each other.
Caspro explanation is better than what I have said but they do work.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 23:20:41 -0811
> From: Scott Woodworth
> Subject: Re: GMC: [Fwd: New Owner Questions]
>
> Phil,
>
> Check the owners guide to see if the octane requirement is listed as
> "Research Octane". That's a computed octane that has nothing to do with
> how the fuel performs in actual use.
>
> There are two different methods for measuring a fuel's octane. The
> first one is the aforementioned "research" octane. I'm not sure how
> they come up with that one. Maybe it's figured mathematically. This
> one is always the highest number.
>
> The second method is the "motor method". A special one cylinder
> variable compression ratio laboratory engine is used to figure the
> "knock value". The engine is run on the test fuel under a calibrated
> load while the compression is slowly increased. At the point the knock
> begins, the compression ratio is noted. This number is motor octane and
> is always the lowest number.
>
> If you look on the pump next time you buy gas, you should see a
> sticker that reads, octane measured by the r+m/2 method. That's the
> average between research and motor octane and is the way the FTC says
> octane will be advertised.
>
> In my 65 Buick shop manual, the 300 engine octane requirements are
> as follows: research 99, motor 89. Today's would be 94. In my
> experience, that's a pretty accurate assessment of it's requirements in
> real world driving.
>
> - -Scott Woodworth
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 13:50:32 EST
> From: davegreenberg1 (David L. Greenberg)
> Subject: Re: GMC: New Owner Questions
>
> David Lee Greenberg
> GMC Motorhome Registry
> Delray Beach, FL
> davegreenberg1
>
> >I read in the owners manual for my 1973 23' Canyon Lands that the
> >motor
> >home
> >should be run on at least 91 octane fuel. Here in the San Diego area,
> >and probably just about everywhere else these days, that's premium
> >unleaded. The last owner of the motor home told me he always ran
> >regular in it and it never pinged or detonated. I haven't heard it
> >ping
> >either and the regular is still in it. I have not checked the initial
> >timing on it but it might be retarded some. My question is, do most
> >of
> >you run regular or premium gas? I hate the thought of having to run
> >premium in it because gas is higher here that anywhere in the U.S..
> >except Hawaii. And where do most of you run your initial timing?
>
> I don't know what my timing setting is but I have always run 87 octane
> fuel and I admit to buying the cheapest fuel I can find. Friends who have
> gone to fuel injection have been running 91. I haven't had any problems
> with this fuel except at the highest elevations.
>
> >
> > Also, I was going to replace my thermostat, among other things,
> >and I noticed it was a 195 degree type. Any harm in installing the 180
> >degree? The 195 degree seems awful hot. Does anyone know if this is
> >really necessary in a motor home for some reason? It's not like it's
> >being run only on short trips to the grocery store and it should come
> >up to full operating temperature on long hauls anyway.
>
> I used to run the 195F thermostat but switched to a 165 degree. The
> engine runs around 185 and my transmission is running cooler also at
> about 135-140 (measured at the pan) When I had the 195 thermo installed
> the engine ran around 210 to 215 on an analog gauge.
>
> >
> > Also what is the recommendation for shocks. The Bilsteins come
> >in
> >at about $80 each. That's a good guy price, they are often higher.
> >The
> >Napa and the KYB types run about $90 a pair. Are the Bilsteins worth
> >the difference? With six of these these things involved, it makes
> >allot
> >of difference on the bucks. All are lifetime guaranteed anyway.
> >What do you think the best buy is for the money and do you think the
> >Bilsteins handle that much better?
>
> I don't know if the Bilstiens are worth the money although their warranty
> is outstanding. I have KYBs installed and after 75k miles they seem to be
> okay. Alex Sirum, who does all my work doesn't believe in Bilsteins and I
> rely on his judgement.
>
> > Any input would be much appreciated. ....... Thanks, Phil
> >Swanson
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 10:11:49 -0500
> From: "The Hamiltons"
> Subject: GMC: MPH, Octane, etc.
>
> Bob & Phil,
>
> The 1976 owner's manual calls for unleaded gas for the 455 and an
> octane of 87 (an average of motor and research octane) at the end of the
> para on "fuel". We've used regular gas since purchasing the coach without a
> problem. The 1997 average was 9.3 with 83,000 miles on the coach.
>
> I switched to a 180 thermostat for a few years and back to a 195
> after installing a good engine coolant temperature gauge. On a flat road, on
> a warm day, at highway speeds, the temperature was 190 to 197 and on a hot
> day climbing long grades, 210 - 215. Since the engine didn't stay under 190,
> I felt the 195 was better to prevent sludge, get rid of moisture, and lower
> emissions.
>
> I have tried 12 degrees advance with good success, (8 is the factory
> setting), this past year and have installed a spark advance adjuster but
> have not driven the coach yet.
>
> Al Hamilton
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of GMC Motorhome Digest V1 #79
> **********************************
>
> Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 20:49:47 -0800
> From: Phil Swanson
> Subject: GMC: New Owner Questions
>
> I read in the owners manual for my 1973 23' Canyon Lands that the motor
> home
> should be run on at least 91 octane fuel. Here in the San Diego area,
> and probably just about everywhere else these days, that's premium
> unleaded. The last owner of the motor home told me he always ran
> regular in it and it never pinged or detonated. I haven't heard it ping
> either and the regular is still in it. I have not checked the initial
> timing on it but it might be retarded some. My question is, do most of
> you run regular or premium gas? I hate the thought of having to run
> premium in it because gas is higher here that anywhere in the U.S..
> except Hawaii. And where do most of you run your initial timing?
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------------------
> Because the gasoline in our state of California has been so Oxygenated that
> the gas we get at say 87 octane is probably even lower than that. It is so
> poor I don't use it in a chain saw, lawn mower etc. The 89 still is not a
> rating of 89 octane. It might be an 87 at best but probably this is out of
> the question too/ I personally use 92 Octane and that is far from a true 92
> poctane rate. I also run 5 oz. of Marvel Mystery Oil with every 10 gallons of
> gasoline. It is not hard to mix nor use. With the additives being added
> there is no lubricants left for the upper cylinder hardware. The MMO seems to
> help out a lot,
In addition to this the GMC manual and their recommendations, they also
recommend new spark plugs at 6,000. I agree here to a point. To ensure better
combustion I added the Energy Pak by Jacobs. With the Ceramic wires. Gap at
.80 and go. I kept plugs at 6K, compared with 8K and 10K the color goes from a
light tan to a darker tan. As far as milage I did not see much difference. I
do notice on the hills the 6K plugs seem to be the best and there is noticable
loss in power with plugs over
that.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Also, I was going to replace my thermostat, among other things,
> and I noticed it was a 195 degree type. Any harm in installing the 180
> degree? The 195 degree seems awful hot. Does anyone know if this is
> really necessary in a motor home for some reason? It's not like it's
> being run only on short trips to the grocery store and it should come
> up to full operating temperature on long hauls anyway.
> ------------------------------------------------------
> ---------------------------------
I have been looking for the new thermostat that some of the contribuitors have
been discussing here on the Internet. I have not located one but am certain
that it would answere the problem for
you!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Also what is the recommendation for shocks. The Bilsteins come in
> at about $80 each. That's a good guy price, they are often higher. The
> Napa and the KYB types run about $90 a pair. Are the Bilsteins worth
> the difference? With six of these these things involved, it makes allot
> of difference on the bucks. All are lifetime guaranteed anyway.
> What do you think the best buy is for the money and do you think the
> Bilsteins handle that much better?
> Any input would be much appreciated. ....... Thanks, Phil
> Swanson
> -------
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I put on the KYB, but that was befor I met the CASPRO Shock. He will take them
to the GMC Ralley in Vegas and if you can go do so. It will be an eye opener.
I have waited almost two years to get the CASPRO Shocks because the KYB were
brand new. If you have not ordered any, do not do so untill you get to see the
CASPRO shock. It is made for the GMC. They are equally as hard to pull up as
they are to push down. This is important for our GMC because of the way the Air
Bags on the rear work. The fron end is typically light and pulling up is just
as damaging as pushing down. The Caspro Shock to me looked like you get your
money worth. Hope to get me six in March in Vegas. I do not sell for Caspro
and am not in any way affiliated with them. Their products seem to be very good
and I have the steering dampner, their final drive and transmission gears. A
heaver torsion bar with different kinds of rubber fittings. They are not
rubber. But from what I have seen in the demos they seem to be the best there
is. The other problems he solved was getting the rear wheels to work as a team
by having a stablizer bar between each pair of opposing wheels. The rear set of
four has two bars and hardware locking them together across from each other.
Caspro explanation is better than what I have said but they do work.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 23:20:41 -0811
> From: Scott Woodworth
> Subject: Re: GMC: [Fwd: New Owner Questions]
>
> Phil,
>
> Check the owners guide to see if the octane requirement is listed as
> "Research Octane". That's a computed octane that has nothing to do with
> how the fuel performs in actual use.
>
> There are two different methods for measuring a fuel's octane. The
> first one is the aforementioned "research" octane. I'm not sure how
> they come up with that one. Maybe it's figured mathematically. This
> one is always the highest number.
>
> The second method is the "motor method". A special one cylinder
> variable compression ratio laboratory engine is used to figure the
> "knock value". The engine is run on the test fuel under a calibrated
> load while the compression is slowly increased. At the point the knock
> begins, the compression ratio is noted. This number is motor octane and
> is always the lowest number.
>
> If you look on the pump next time you buy gas, you should see a
> sticker that reads, octane measured by the r+m/2 method. That's the
> average between research and motor octane and is the way the FTC says
> octane will be advertised.
>
> In my 65 Buick shop manual, the 300 engine octane requirements are
> as follows: research 99, motor 89. Today's would be 94. In my
> experience, that's a pretty accurate assessment of it's requirements in
> real world driving.
>
> - -Scott Woodworth
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 13:50:32 EST
> From: davegreenberg1 (David L. Greenberg)
> Subject: Re: GMC: New Owner Questions
>
> David Lee Greenberg
> GMC Motorhome Registry
> Delray Beach, FL
> davegreenberg1
>
> >I read in the owners manual for my 1973 23' Canyon Lands that the
> >motor
> >home
> >should be run on at least 91 octane fuel. Here in the San Diego area,
> >and probably just about everywhere else these days, that's premium
> >unleaded. The last owner of the motor home told me he always ran
> >regular in it and it never pinged or detonated. I haven't heard it
> >ping
> >either and the regular is still in it. I have not checked the initial
> >timing on it but it might be retarded some. My question is, do most
> >of
> >you run regular or premium gas? I hate the thought of having to run
> >premium in it because gas is higher here that anywhere in the U.S..
> >except Hawaii. And where do most of you run your initial timing?
>
> I don't know what my timing setting is but I have always run 87 octane
> fuel and I admit to buying the cheapest fuel I can find. Friends who have
> gone to fuel injection have been running 91. I haven't had any problems
> with this fuel except at the highest elevations.
>
> >
> > Also, I was going to replace my thermostat, among other things,
> >and I noticed it was a 195 degree type. Any harm in installing the 180
> >degree? The 195 degree seems awful hot. Does anyone know if this is
> >really necessary in a motor home for some reason? It's not like it's
> >being run only on short trips to the grocery store and it should come
> >up to full operating temperature on long hauls anyway.
>
> I used to run the 195F thermostat but switched to a 165 degree. The
> engine runs around 185 and my transmission is running cooler also at
> about 135-140 (measured at the pan) When I had the 195 thermo installed
> the engine ran around 210 to 215 on an analog gauge.
>
> >
> > Also what is the recommendation for shocks. The Bilsteins come
> >in
> >at about $80 each. That's a good guy price, they are often higher.
> >The
> >Napa and the KYB types run about $90 a pair. Are the Bilsteins worth
> >the difference? With six of these these things involved, it makes
> >allot
> >of difference on the bucks. All are lifetime guaranteed anyway.
> >What do you think the best buy is for the money and do you think the
> >Bilsteins handle that much better?
>
> I don't know if the Bilstiens are worth the money although their warranty
> is outstanding. I have KYBs installed and after 75k miles they seem to be
> okay. Alex Sirum, who does all my work doesn't believe in Bilsteins and I
> rely on his judgement.
>
> > Any input would be much appreciated. ....... Thanks, Phil
> >Swanson
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 10:11:49 -0500
> From: "The Hamiltons"
> Subject: GMC: MPH, Octane, etc.
>
> Bob & Phil,
>
> The 1976 owner's manual calls for unleaded gas for the 455 and an
> octane of 87 (an average of motor and research octane) at the end of the
> para on "fuel". We've used regular gas since purchasing the coach without a
> problem. The 1997 average was 9.3 with 83,000 miles on the coach.
>
> I switched to a 180 thermostat for a few years and back to a 195
> after installing a good engine coolant temperature gauge. On a flat road, on
> a warm day, at highway speeds, the temperature was 190 to 197 and on a hot
> day climbing long grades, 210 - 215. Since the engine didn't stay under 190,
> I felt the 195 was better to prevent sludge, get rid of moisture, and lower
> emissions.
>
> I have tried 12 degrees advance with good success, (8 is the factory
> setting), this past year and have installed a spark advance adjuster but
> have not driven the coach yet.
>
> Al Hamilton
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of GMC Motorhome Digest V1 #79
> **********************************
