GMC wannabe

[clark wockner]

HI All: Iv'e been looking at a birchaven with 55,000 miles. I think
it would have been easyier to have just went and bought it before
looking at the gmc mailist. It has new Dayton radials but how can you
tell if it has radial wheels. What do alcoa wheels look like and how
can tyou tell if it has them? This one has what looks like cast wheel
covers made out of aluminum. Are there really that many engine
compartment fires? (it seems like the list posters are overly concerned
with fire) Are not the stock axle ratios satisfactory? I am sure
there will be more questions in the future. Thanks for the help, Clark
in Illinois

 

[heinz wittenbecher]

Hi Clark,

I've just been a lurker lately as I'm still in post y2k mode at work, hence
lurk mode. However, I want to be sure I do my little part to keep you ON
TRACK towards your very own GMC.

I agree that to the uninitiated it must look like the GMC is the worst RV to
get into. Not the case. Thanks in part to the GMCnet the GMC group is the
most informed group of RV owners. As there is a lot of information floating
by it must truly look terrible to the newcomer, especially a wannabe ;-)

At 55000 clicks the coach can't be in too bad a shape unless the previous
owner really worked at abusing it.

There are checklists posted at Gene's site I believe. A good place to start
looking for resources and pictures is www.gmcmotorhome.com.

With ref to engine fires: I have actually not heard of any buy one gets
really protective of coach and limb. Add into the mix that quite a few GMC
folks have aviation and boating (i.e. close quarter environments)
backgrounds and prevention gets to be very high on ones priority list and
that includes fires.

Yes, the stock axles are satisfactory. It's just that some folks can't leave
well enough alone... including myself

Go for it and join the rest of us crazies.

Heinz
Langley, BC - '76 Transmode. 250K+
http://www.bytedesigns.com/gmc

>
>
> HI All: Iv'e been looking at a birchaven with 55,000 miles. I think
> it would have been easyier to have just went and bought it before
> looking at the gmc mailist. It has new Dayton radials but how can you
> tell if it has radial wheels. What do alcoa wheels look like and how
> can tyou tell if it has them? This one has what looks like cast wheel
> covers made out of aluminum. Are there really that many engine
> compartment fires? (it seems like the list posters are overly concerned
> with fire) Are not the stock axle ratios satisfactory? I am sure
> there will be more questions in the future. Thanks for the help, Clark
> in Illinois
>
>
>
>

 

[dave posey]

Chuck, I know exactly how you feel, I started with the archives and
stumbled onto the net. My first reaction to the almost overwhelming fact
and information found available had me convinced I had to do all upgrades,
safety concerns, alterations, nice to have and have nots installed or
removed, and a snooze alarm and birth control in place before sundown.
After several restless nights I come to realize that hey-I can't afford it,
I don't need this, That can wait, This I can fix , So-in-so can tackle
that, Won't that make a nice Christmas-Birthday-Anniversary-Surprise
Present, and so on. I can't address everything that you've mentioned but
I too have been following the engine compartment fire thread and can say
that I am not overly concerned with the problem-I agree it happens, most
likely every brand made has some potential of some engine fire, but if every
potential problem that reared it ugly head had to be completely "fixed"
my coach and most others would never get out of the chocks. I guess to
finish- I say if you LOVE the GMC, buy it, these fellow netters are a great
group and most willing to help you with all GMC things and stuff. Dave,
76PB, CA

 

[ronald b. kazi]

Ken-

I too started looking for my GMC in April.
I too had my victory voyage home in my "new" GMC marred by a breakdown.
I too was rescued roadside by a GMCneter (Paul Bartz, but he came down out of
thin air without even a phone call).
I too have made lots of new friends in by GMC and look forward to meeting all 7
or 8,000 out there (when Dave Greenberg finds them all).
I look forward some time to returning the favor.

Ron and Julie
73 Painted Desert

> Sorry about that -- I shouldn't dismiss anyone's concerns so lightly,
> especially after my buying experience:
>
> In April 98 I had got the bug to finally by a GMC so I got on the internet to
> learn what I could, as you are doing. With all that "knowledge" (which was
> illusory, but sounded reasonable based on my background and experiences) I
> started looking for "the" GMC.
>
> I located it in Kerrville, TX. 76 Birchaven 58,000 miles, Edelbrock intake &
> cam & roller chain & lifter, headers, 3" pipe, Alcoas, Michelin, new brakes,
> calipers, cylinders, hoses, silicone fluid, etc., etc. to more that $12,000
> documented in upgrades/repairs in the previous 4000 miles (4 years). At a
> very reasonable price.
>
> When I got to Kerrville and drove the rig, I was sold. Although the paint
> was bad, I didn't care because my first long trip was to be to Alaska a few
> months later -- don't need pretty paint for that!. The interior was really
> bad, but I didn't care because I intended to redesign/refurbish it anyway.
>
> After dickering several thousand dollars off of the price, I hook my little
> S-10 behind it and started for South Georgia, 950 miles away. It ran great!
> Smooth, relatively quiet, good steering (except for the truck-rutted asphalt
> sections where it acted like my old 36' Airstream Land Yacht with P30 chassis
> -- or worse) and really running good.
>
> Four miles east of DeFuniak Springs, FL, some 75 miles from home, a slapping
> noise under the hood reminded me of the "good" old days when my jalopies
> frequently broke or threw fan belts. I shifted to neutral, switched the
> engine off and coasted off the road (uphill fortunately since at only 195#, I
> wasn't big enough to push the brake pedal).
>
> Well, my diagnosis was faulty. Actually, number 4 intake valve spring broke,
> dropped the valve in the cylinder, destroyed the piston, broke the rod, broke
> the cam, cracked the cylinder wall, and in general messed up my nice clean,
> great running engine which I hadn't even shown off to anyone yet!
>
> Heartbreaking as that was, it was nonetheless an introduction the great GMC
> community. While waiting beside I-10 for a tow truck, I found a Motorhome
> Marketplace. In there I found the number for Ed & Carol Smith. Using my
> cellular phone, I called Carol. She found me the name of a GMC owner in
> Panama City, Robert E. Moore. I finally reached Robert to ask where I should
> take the GMC for repair in Panama City. He said he didn't know because he
> did all of his own work on his two GMCs in the large garage he owned in
> downtown PC -- where he restored antiques. I exclaimed that what I should do
> is find myself space to rent and do the repairs myself, whereupon he invited
> me to use his garage -- if I wouldn't stay all year!
>
> I did. Use his garage. Pulled the engine & transmission. Had the
> transmission rebuilt and the replacement engine (found for $100) machined.
> Then I built the engine and my wife and I reinstalled it. It took me two
> months in Robert's garage, but I got off for less than $3000 for a complete
> rebuild of engine and transmission, including Caspro cam, roller chain, and
> Power Drive.
>
> Even better, we gained Robert and his wife Lynn as good friends, and met a
> lot of other GMCrs during the ordeal.
>
> The point of all this is to let you know that regardless of how well you
> choose your GMC, you MAY still have problems -- but if you'll stick with it
> and not be afraid/ashamed to ask for help on the net, you'll still have a
> great experience.
>
> Ken Henderson
> 76 X-Birchaven

 

[timothy brown]

Clark in Illinois wrote:

 

[clark wockner]

HI All: I want to thank all of you that took the time to answer some of my concerns about a
GMC purchase. Your comments have eased some of my concerns. I will be lurking on the
sidelines for a while longer before we make our decesion. Thanks again, Clark Wockner,
Illinois