Have chance to purchase 74 GMC 26' motorhome

[robert teed]

Hello Everyone,
Well I have a chance to purchase a 74 GMC Motorhome and
want thoughts about it. Its orange, Covered with a 1/2 inch
of dust, Has been in storage for two years..Dont know
weather it was running before that, Word is that it was
towed in, Parked and left. I called the owner and He said
He would let Me have it for $1500.00.
The rear end looks like it is almost Draging on the ground,
one of the tires is almost flat. Owner said He put a Olds
455 in it about 4yrs ago. I wiped the dust off the windows
and took pictures thru the glass, The interior looks
really clean and probably original. Theres no plate
on the back so no clue there as to when it was last
on the road. There is a faded decal by the door that
reads " Painted Desert" and another decal that reads "260".
How would I go about rehabing this? Where should I start?
I think the drivetrain would be the most important thing to
look at first. Any thoughts about problem areas? I have
thought about building an RV for years and this seems like
the perfect deal. How does the price sound? Also anyone
selling spare parts please email your list.
Thanks,
Robert Teed

 

[homebase1]

Hello

If you deside not to purchase, please give us the owner's name and
location.
There are probably 100 guys ready to pay that price sight-unseen.
That should also help you make up your mind.

MikeB (one of the hundred)

 

[patrick flowers]

>
> Hello Everyone,
> Well I have a chance to purchase a 74 GMC Motorhome and
> want thoughts about it. Its orange, Covered with a 1/2 inch
> of dust, Has been in storage for two years..Dont know
> weather it was running before that, Word is that it was
> towed in, Parked and left. I called the owner and He said
> He would let Me have it for $1500.00.

Hard to go wrong at that price if you can do the work yourself.

> The rear end looks like it is almost Draging on the ground,

That's standard for a GMC in storage. The air suspension has either
leaked down or it was stored that way(some people think it's easier on
the air springs to "squat" the coach for storage).

> one of the tires is almost flat.

Just one!

> Owner said He put a Olds
> 455 in it about 4yrs ago. I wiped the dust off the windows
> and took pictures thru the glass, The interior looks
> really clean and probably original. Theres no plate
> on the back so no clue there as to when it was last
> on the road. There is a faded decal by the door that
> reads " Painted Desert"

That explains the orange color. Painted Desert specifies the colors and
interior trim that GM used.

> and another decal that reads "260".

Model 260 means it's a 26 foot coach.

> How would I go about rehabing this? Where should I start?

See if it will start. Put a fresh battery(probably has two up front -
the forward one should be the engine battery) in it and take along an
air compressor to put some air in the suspension(the air tank is under
the batteries on the passenger side - it has a schrader valve on it for
just this purpose) in case the on-board compressor is shot.

> I think the drivetrain would be the most important thing to
> look at first.

Yep, but you should be able to tell pretty quick if you can drive it at
all.

> Any thoughts about problem areas?

Arch should probably step in here. He's rehabing a "sad case" and has
run into just about everything that can go wrong with one just pulled
out of storage.

> I have
> thought about building an RV for years and this seems like
> the perfect deal. How does the price sound?

Sounds like a deal to me.

Patrick
- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailtoatri63

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com

 

[robert teed]

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for the info...I guess Im going to try to make the purchase.
I just hope the guy doesnt change his mind. I haven't wrenched
on anything in 20Yrs, But I'm sure I can do it. The interior wont
be a problem as Im a carpenter. If I decide its too big a project
or too costly I'll post it for sale here first. I cant stop thinking
about it ever since I first laid eyes on it.
I have tent camped all over the US but know nothing about RV
camping. What kind of gas mileage can I expect? Anyone
know of anyplace to get pictures of these GMC MH's. I
know about gmcmotorhome.com
Thanks,
Robert

 

[robert teed]

- -----Original Message-----
From: Robert Teed
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Saturday, February 14, 1998 8:37 PM
Subject: GMC: Have chance to purchase 74 GMC 26' motorhome

>
>Hello Everyone,
> Well I have a chance to purchase a 74 GMC Motorhome and
> want thoughts about it. Its orange, Covered with a 1/2 inch
> of dust, Has been in storage for two years..Dont know
> weather it was running before that, Word is that it was
>towed in, Parked and left. I called the owner and He said
> He would let Me have it for $1500.00.
>The rear end looks like it is almost Draging on the ground,
> one of the tires is almost flat. Owner said He put a Olds
> 455 in it about 4yrs ago. I wiped the dust off the windows
> and took pictures thru the glass, The interior looks
> really clean and probably original. Theres no plate
> on the back so no clue there as to when it was last
> on the road. There is a faded decal by the door that
> reads " Painted Desert" and another decal that reads "260".
>How would I go about rehabing this? Where should I start?
> I think the drivetrain would be the most important thing to
> look at first. Any thoughts about problem areas? I have
> thought about building an RV for years and this seems like
> the perfect deal. How does the price sound? Also anyone
> selling spare parts please email your list.
>Thanks,
> Robert Teed
>
>
>

 

[robert teed]

- -----Original Message-----
From: Gcbr
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Monday, February 16, 1998 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Re: Have chance to purchase 74 GMC 26' motorhome

>Robert
>
>do not know what you sent cant decode file you sent.
>
>Take Care
>Arch
>
Hi Arch,
Yes, thats a file that sends a bussiness card out with all of My
email. I use Microsoft Explorer 4.0 and Outlook Express.
Im trying to scrape the money up for the GMC but its
getting kind of ruff..Cash is at an alltime low since my EXbussiness
partner ran of with funds from the last job. bummer!
That and a "Friend" is trying to buy it out from under Me.
Still hoping to work a deal out with the owner. I havent
talked to the owner yet, Asked my friend to find the
owner, He got the number called talked to him...
Then saw a webpage with one for 43,000.00 and
now wants to purchase it! Owner is hard to get in touch
with...So still have a chance.
Hope to see You on the road someday!
Rob

 

[brewer bob]

Hi Robert,

You've gotten a lot of good advice on your potential purchase.

I might add some points about starting an engine that has sat for so
long:

Change the oil & filter before you attempt to start it. Oil is cheap.

Pull the spark plugs, squirt 20-30cc of ATF in each cylinder. ATF has
high detergent content.

Try and turn the engine over by hand, first. Not having had my head
under one
of these beasts yet, I don't know if you can get a socket on the
flywheel nut
or not, but that's the place to start. If you can't turn it with a
wrench with the plugs
out, seek professional help. (for the engine)

If it turns easily, keep rotating it by hand until you're convince that
you shouldn't have listen to me about doing this.

Next, turn the engine over with the starter. This will pump the fresh
oil everywhere it needs to be.

Replace the spark plugs with new ones, and see if it will light. Expect
some
smoke from the ATF, and it will last a while, but it's better than smoke
from
a broken ring in a dry cylinder.

Let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Bob Brewer

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Teed [SMTP:robteed]
> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 1998 9:22 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: GMC: Have chance to purchase 74 GMC 26' motorhome
>
>
> Hello Everyone,
> Well I have a chance to purchase a 74 GMC Motorhome and
> want thoughts about it. Its orange, Covered with a 1/2 inch
> of dust, Has been in storage for two years..Dont know
> weather it was running before that, Word is that it was
> towed in, Parked and left. I called the owner and He said
> He would let Me have it for $1500.00.
> The rear end looks like it is almost Draging on the ground,
> one of the tires is almost flat. Owner said He put a Olds
> 455 in it about 4yrs ago. I wiped the dust off the windows
> and took pictures thru the glass, The interior looks
> really clean and probably original. Theres no plate
> on the back so no clue there as to when it was last
> on the road. There is a faded decal by the door that
> reads " Painted Desert" and another decal that reads "260".
> How would I go about rehabing this? Where should I start?
> I think the drivetrain would be the most important thing to
> look at first. Any thoughts about problem areas? I have
> thought about building an RV for years and this seems like
> the perfect deal. How does the price sound? Also anyone
> selling spare parts please email your list.
> Thanks,
> Robert Teed