GMCer in distress

J

john r. lebetski

New member
Dec 20, 2006
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Last fall I put my GMC in an all GM car show and met an owner named Pat Lannen from NW suburbs of Chicago. Chatted and swapped numbers. 77 Kingsley w
EFI if I'm right. He had it at Cinnabar and steering, fuel and air suspension all sorted. Last week on first major run to gulf coast lost oil pressure
and was towed to a small town gas station in Pontotoc. If anyone can recommend a ready to go crate 455 (assuming) or rebuilding facility in that area
and someone to install that would be great. I can only think of Bounds as closest major shop. I have steered Pat to get aboard GMCMI, Black list and
this forum. He should chime in here with details once registered. Thanks.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Pontotoc -- the only one I Google is in Mississippi. Is that where he is?

I can check with John Beaver; he MAY have an engine nearly ready to go.
Probably the closest experienced GMCer.

Ken H.

On Sat, Mar 9, 2019 at 12:01 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

> Last fall I put my GMC in an all GM car show and met an owner named Pat
> Lannen from NW suburbs of Chicago. Chatted and swapped numbers. 77 Kingsley
> w
> EFI if I'm right. He had it at Cinnabar and steering, fuel and air
> suspension all sorted. Last week on first major run to gulf coast lost oil
> pressure
> and was towed to a small town gas station in Pontotoc. If anyone can
> recommend a ready to go crate 455 (assuming) or rebuilding facility in that
> area
> and someone to install that would be great. I can only think of Bounds as
> closest major shop. I have steered Pat to get aboard GMCMI, Black list and
> this forum. He should chime in here with details once registered. Thanks.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Yes Ken. Mississippi. I had put Ms in the notes up top. He took a rent a car home but has not much faith in the mechanic down there. Also need to
confim 455 vs 403.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Confirmed it is a 455 as a 74 Eleganza. I had not remembered his model correctly from last year.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
John,

I just talked to John Beaver. He's finished the machine work on a 455 and
has valves for it, but not pistons, rings, etc., so it would be a few days
before he could get an engine together. Probably by next Thursday or
Friday though. I doubt that we have a 403 anywhere in this area -- I've
never touched one. :-)

Do you want to stay in the loop, or should I call Pat and give him John's
number?

Ken H.

On Sat, Mar 9, 2019 at 12:51 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

> Yes Ken. Mississippi. I had put Ms in the notes up top. He took a rent a
> car home but has not much faith in the mechanic down there. Also need to
> confim 455 vs 403.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
John,

I just talked to Pat. I'll be trying to help him find service. More later.

Ken H.

On Sat, Mar 9, 2019 at 12:58 PM Ken Henderson
wrote:

> John,
>
> I just talked to John Beaver. He's finished the machine work on a 455 and
> has valves for it, but not pistons, rings, etc., so it would be a few days
> before he could get an engine together. Probably by next Thursday or
> Friday though. I doubt that we have a 403 anywhere in this area -- I've
> never touched one. :-)
>
> Do you want to stay in the loop, or should I call Pat and give him John's
> number?
>
> Ken H.
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 9, 2019 at 12:51 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

>
>> Yes Ken. Mississippi. I had put Ms in the notes up top. He took a rent a
>> car home but has not much faith in the mechanic down there. Also need to
>> confim 455 vs 403.
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
 
I would have him contact Sherman RV Service (662) 842-0310. They are just north of Tupelo and will know the area very well. They probably can recommend the most popular performance and machine shop in the Tupelo area. Also Tupelo is a classic muscle car town (GMs are popular there) they even have a museum. So finding a installer shouldn’t be too tough. They also have several performance shops.

That said he probably won’t get anything done until Monday. Most businesses auto businesses shut down after 12 on Sat.

>
> John,
>
> I just talked to Pat. I'll be trying to help him find service. More later.
>
> Ken H.
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 9, 2019 at 12:58 PM Ken Henderson

>
>> John,
>>
>> I just talked to John Beaver. He's finished the machine work on a 455 and
>> has valves for it, but not pistons, rings, etc., so it would be a few days
>> before he could get an engine together. Probably by next Thursday or
>> Friday though. I doubt that we have a 403 anywhere in this area -- I've
>> never touched one. :-)
>>
>> Do you want to stay in the loop, or should I call Pat and give him John's
>> number?
>>
>> Ken H.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 9, 2019 at 12:51 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

>>
>>> Yes Ken. Mississippi. I had put Ms in the notes up top. He took a rent a
>>> car home but has not much faith in the mechanic down there. Also need to
>>> confim 455 vs 403.
>>> --
>>> John Lebetski
>>> Woodstock, IL
>>> 77 Eleganza II
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Thanks all. Pat can monitor the postings but not yet aproved to post so his phone is best right now.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
I know of a 455 that has under 9000 miles on it for sale in Southern Ill. Came out of a wrecked GMC last year. Be a lot less then a new rebuild. And it could be shipped now. Bob Dunahugh Cell 319-521-4891
 
John L. Just talked to Pat. Gave him some #'s for someone that can get it hauled to Ill, an engine/trans, and put it all in. See how this works. Bob Dunahugh

________________________________
From: Bob Dunahugh
Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 11:34 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: RE: GMCer in distress

I know of a 455 that has under 9000 miles on it for sale in Southern Ill. Came out of a wrecked GMC last year. Be a lot less then a new rebuild. And it could be shipped now. Bob Dunahugh Cell 319-521-4891
 
Ken - Pat
I have the engine John B built for me hanging on the trolley in my coach. If we can figure some way to get it to him, and if he's willing to pay John
B for the one he (John) has machined to be assembled I can put that one in my coach in a week or two and he can have this one. John to build it like
this one (New crankshaft, best head gaskets, etc.)
360 miles via the freeway according to MapQuest.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
Note I'm headed out of town Wed but I can set my engine hoist back in the coach door Tuesday night if someone were coming to get the engine.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
Johnny,

The long pole in Pat's tent right now seems to be finding someone/place to
do the R&R. If he can get Bob Stone to do that, the recent rebuild Bob D.
just mentioned might be his best bet -- everything is pretty near his
Chicago home. JMHO.

From my discussion with Pat, his (non)urgency doesn't seem to justify your
delaying your project.

Ken H.

On Sun, Mar 10, 2019 at 5:22 PM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> Ken - Pat
> I have the engine John B built for me hanging on the trolley in my coach.
> If we can figure some way to get it to him, and if he's willing to pay John
> B for the one he (John) has machined to be assembled I can put that one
> in my coach in a week or two and he can have this one. John to build it
> like
> this one (New crankshaft, best head gaskets, etc.)
> 360 miles via the freeway according to MapQuest.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> "I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Good morning, all -
Pat here. I just got approved to post messages on the forum. First of all, let me say that I am truly humbled by the terrific responses to John's post
regarding my difficulties. I just bought the coach in August, and I never dreamed that this community would be one of the bonuses for my purchase. In
addition to the posts here, I also got calls from North Carolina regarding a possible service location in Mississippi, and a call about a salvage
engine in Springfield, Illinois. As Ken stated, the different engines available around the country seem to be the least of my issues. A good shop to
do the swap is the biggest hurdle. Having said that, for the time being, and dependent on an engine test being done today, I think I have found a
solution. Mike H. in Springfield will be field testing his salvage engine this morning, and if all goes well, I will arrange for the coach to be moved
from its current location at the shop in Pontotoc to Springfield to have the swap done. As I told Mike, I am no mechanic, nor do I play one on TV, but
I can certainly fetch ice tea and sodas as well as sandwiches for the workers. And maybe some daddy sodas after. Having the coach and work done in
Springfield, Illinois makes the logistics easier for me as I am about 3 hours away. Mike has assured me that he and his crew are up for the task, so I
am anxiously awaiting the results of the engine test today. Coincidentally, after talking with Mike, I know the previous owner of the coach where this
engine originated. He was selling various parts from his burned out coach on Ebay, and I bought the stove unit and sink. As it happens the stove did
not work, but the sink is still in my garage.

As the story plays out, I will keep the group informed. Many thanks to John, who started this thread, and to all of you who participated and followed.

Keep the shiny side up
Pat
 
Pat,

Sure glad to hear you've made more good connections and things are looking
up. I just had a call from Bob Dunahugh, who said you or Mike would
probably be calling me for Bob Burkitt's phone number so you can see about
borrowing his engine gantry. I'll save you the call (which I might not get
right away): (513) five thirty - fifty twenty-one.

Good luck,

Ken H.
On Mon, Mar 11, 2019 at 9:23 AM patman1100--- via Gmclist <

> Good morning, all -
> Pat here. I just got approved to post messages on the forum. First of all,
> let me say that I am truly humbled by the terrific responses to John's post
> regarding my difficulties. I just bought the coach in August, and I never
> dreamed that this community would be one of the bonuses for my purchase. In
> addition to the posts here, I also got calls from North Carolina regarding
> a possible service location in Mississippi, and a call about a salvage
> engine in Springfield, Illinois. As Ken stated, the different engines
> available around the country seem to be the least of my issues. A good shop
> to
> do the swap is the biggest hurdle. Having said that, for the time being,
> and dependent on an engine test being done today, I think I have found a
> solution. Mike H. in Springfield will be field testing his salvage engine
> this morning, and if all goes well, I will arrange for the coach to be moved
> from its current location at the shop in Pontotoc to Springfield to have
> the swap done. As I told Mike, I am no mechanic, nor do I play one on TV,
> but
> I can certainly fetch ice tea and sodas as well as sandwiches for the
> workers. And maybe some daddy sodas after. Having the coach and work done in
> Springfield, Illinois makes the logistics easier for me as I am about 3
> hours away. Mike has assured me that he and his crew are up for the task,
> so I
> am anxiously awaiting the results of the engine test today.
> Coincidentally, after talking with Mike, I know the previous owner of the
> coach where this
> engine originated. He was selling various parts from his burned out coach
> on Ebay, and I bought the stove unit and sink. As it happens the stove did
> not work, but the sink is still in my garage.
>
> As the story plays out, I will keep the group informed. Many thanks to
> John, who started this thread, and to all of you who participated and
> followed.
>
>
> Keep the shiny side up
> Pat
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Pat. It's interesting how small this world can be. Our granddaughter was in Europe last year. She met some guy's from Germany that were into muscle cars. Since she was from the states. They asked her if she had ever seen a Yenko. And mentioned that they knew of the rarest one of all. A 69 Yenko Stinger. She said that she knew of it. And had driven it. As her grandfather owned it. Bob Dunahugh
 
Again thanks to all who have helped here. Perhaps with a happy ending to the engine issue, Pat can make the fall Ohio ralley to meet everyone and
share some good times.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Mark Creel in Bessemer AL (between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa) can do the swap. Alabama RV. He's been working on GMCs since selling them new and keeps
most of the coaches in this area running. He's on the "other recommended provider list" attached to the Blacklist.
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
 
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