H20 Leak on left side of GMC/small hub caps

[chuck will]

Our 1978 GMC Eleganza is back in Lompoc after 5 month stay in Utah for new
engines. Upon return to the coast it was learned that the GMC has
developed a leak somewhere between the top gutter,the access doors e.g.,
gas, electric and water service arreas on the left side of the coach. The
Aluminumn Channel Brace that runs nearly the length and is mid way between
the top of the vehcile and bottoom of the coach has been filled with water!
Does anyone know what might be causing this. It appears the water is
filing the channel somewhere between the skin, the access door and the
channel. Is it possible the cap strip located at the top where the top and
the sides join is leaking. If so would this require removal of the cap
strip and caulking with RTV or ? Need some advice? Thanks Chuck

Also looking for a smaller hub cap that would cover the center of the wheel
and cover the axel nuts. Prefer stainless or chrome with 8 chrome lug
nuts. Mine have started to rust again. I had them rechromed several years
ago and would like to purchase new one if at all possible. Any one know a
supplier for these items?

 

[phil1]

Hi Chuck:

I had a similar problem on my 1973 painted desert. During fairly bad rains,
I would get water leaking all through that area. Even the upper drawer where
I stored towels got soaked. I purchased some military type 8802 sealant at a
disposal sale, removed all the cap strips., cleaned underneath and resealed
the strips and every other seam I could find.
Sadly, this did not fix my problem.
Replacement of the seal under the Air conditioner did. It's now dry as a
bone.
What made it worse was that depending on the tilt of the airbags, the water
would pool to different locations giving the illusion that the roof was
leaking everywhere.

Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it!

- -----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Will
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Monday, February 02, 1998 11:51 AM
Subject: GMC: H20 Leak on left side of GMC/small hub caps

>Our 1978 GMC Eleganza is back in Lompoc after 5 month stay in Utah for new
>engines. Upon return to the coast it was learned that the GMC has
>developed a leak somewhere between the top gutter,the access doors e.g.,
>gas, electric and water service arreas on the left side of the coach. The
>Aluminumn Channel Brace that runs nearly the length and is mid way between
>the top of the vehcile and bottoom of the coach has been filled with water!
> Does anyone know what might be causing this. It appears the water is
>filing the channel somewhere between the skin, the access door and the
>channel. Is it possible the cap strip located at the top where the top and
>the sides join is leaking. If so would this require removal of the cap
>strip and caulking with RTV or ? Need some advice? Thanks Chuck
>
>Also looking for a smaller hub cap that would cover the center of the wheel
>and cover the axel nuts. Prefer stainless or chrome with 8 chrome lug
>nuts. Mine have started to rust again. I had them rechromed several years
>ago and would like to purchase new one if at all possible. Any one know a
>supplier for these items?
>
>

 

[bill wallace]

Hi Chuck,
When Golby's refinished my Royale they removed cap moldongs, then put them back
on without a sign a sealant. Leaked like a seive front to back. I got a
caulking gun with clear RTV and worked it in the crack, about 1/8" wide. That
took care of most, then leaked where the rear end cap meets alum. roof. Sealed
that to and no more leaks. They had removed rear end cap to install new roof
liner. The rest of the $25,000 job was better.
Bill - K3SVO

"This day will go down in history. For the first time
a nation has registered all firearms" Adolph Hitler, 1935

> Our 1978 GMC Eleganza is back in Lompoc after 5 month stay in Utah for new
> engines. Upon return to the coast it was learned that the GMC has
> developed a leak somewhere between the top gutter,the access doors e.g.,
> gas, electric and water service arreas on the left side of the coach. The
> Aluminumn Channel Brace that runs nearly the length and is mid way between
> the top of the vehcile and bottoom of the coach has been filled with water!
> Does anyone know what might be causing this. It appears the water is
> filing the channel somewhere between the skin, the access door and the
> channel. Is it possible the cap strip located at the top where the top and
> the sides join is leaking. If so would this require removal of the cap
> strip and caulking with RTV or ? Need some advice? Thanks Chuck
>
> Also looking for a smaller hub cap that would cover the center of the wheel
> and cover the axel nuts. Prefer stainless or chrome with 8 chrome lug
> nuts. Mine have started to rust again. I had them rechromed several years
> ago and would like to purchase new one if at all possible. Any one know a
> supplier for these items?

 

[bartz paul]

I know one individual who was getting water in around the rear of the
coach interior. He pressurized the interior of his coach and applied a
soap solution to the joint resulting in a lot of bubbles. He obtained
proper diameter vacuum/rubber tubing and inserted it into the joint
between the end cap and the rear panel (one with the rear window).

He hasn't had further leakage.

Paul Bartz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Wallace [SMTP:wallace]
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 1998 4:21 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: H20 Leak on left side of GMC/small hub caps
>
> Hi Chuck,
>
> When Golby's refinished my Royale they removed cap moldongs, then put
> them back on without a sign a sealant. Leaked like a seive front to
> back. I got a caulking gun with clear RTV and worked it in the crack,
> about 1/8" wide. That took care of most, then leaked where the rear
> end cap meets alum. roof. Sealed that to and no more leaks. They had
> removed rear end cap to install new roof
> liner. The rest of the $25,000 job was better.
>
> Bill - K3SVO
>

>
> Our 1978 GMC Eleganza is back in Lompoc after 5 month stay in Utah for
> new engines. Upon return to the coast it was learned that the GMC has
> developed a leak somewhere between the top gutter,the access doors
> e.g., gas, electric and water service arreas on the left side of the
> coach. The Aluminumn Channel Brace that runs nearly the length and is
> mid way between the top of the vehcile and bottoom of the coach has
> been filled with water! Does anyone know what might be causing this.
> It appears the water is filing the channel somewhere between the skin,
> the access door and the channel. Is it possible the cap strip located
> at the top where the top and
> the sides join is leaking. If so would this require removal of the
> cap strip and caulking with RTV or ? Need some advice? Thanks Chuck
>
> Also looking for a smaller hub cap that would cover the center of the
> wheel and cover the axel nuts. Prefer stainless or chrome with 8
> chrome lug nuts. Mine have started to rust again. I had them
> rechromed several years ago and would like to purchase new one if at
> all possible. Any one know a supplier for these items?
>
>

 

[robert dinsmore]

Chuck:

If you are referring to the seam between the aluminum upper skin and the
fiberglass lower skin, covered by the stainless steel and rubber
rubrail, I have had this apart. It appeared to me that the factory
filled this joint with a hardening body filler. The filler on mine was
cracked and I sealed it with a marine flexible sealant 3M 5200 which
looks like a white caulking but is permanent. It is available from any
West Marine store, or local boating/marine dealer. Do not seal your
windows with it - you'll never get them out.. it sticks like murder yet
behaves like rubber.

Removal of the entire left side rubrail with a small putty knife is
necessary. Take care to separate the paint from the rubrail with a
razor blade if you coach has been repainted (prevents chipping of the
paint).

The side rubrail can be reattached with Trim Attaching tape (two sided
tape), available from your local body shop or a NAPA autostore, made
just for this purpose.

Before tearing off the rub rail I would be sure the water is coming from
this area and not a access door or a window. Check with a garden hose
working your way up from low on the body, while someone inside the coach
looks for leaks....you might be surprised to find the leak elsewhere.

Sorry I have no info on the hubcaps.

Bob Dinsmore

>
> Our 1978 GMC Eleganza is back in Lompoc after 5 month stay in Utah for new
> engines. Upon return to the coast it was learned that the GMC has
> developed a leak somewhere between the top gutter,the access doors e.g.,
> gas, electric and water service arreas on the left side of the coach. The
> Aluminumn Channel Brace that runs nearly the length and is mid way between
> the top of the vehcile and bottoom of the coach has been filled with water!
> Does anyone know what might be causing this. It appears the water is
> filing the channel somewhere between the skin, the access door and the
> channel. Is it possible the cap strip located at the top where the top and
> the sides join is leaking. If so would this require removal of the cap
> strip and caulking with RTV or ? Need some advice? Thanks Chuck
>
> Also looking for a smaller hub cap that would cover the center of the wheel
> and cover the axel nuts. Prefer stainless or chrome with 8 chrome lug
> nuts. Mine have started to rust again. I had them rechromed several years
> ago and would like to purchase new one if at all possible. Any one know a
> supplier for these items?