Hi from a gmc newbie, but veteran of camper gutting.

[B1gflip]

Hi guys, I just picked up a 73 eleganza, that I’m trying to bring back from the dead. Im going to try to do most of the work myself, with help From YouTube and forums. It Seems like a fun project that’ll keep me off of netflix And the couch. I also have a travco, avion, and multiple others I’ve messed with over the years, so I’m no stranger to mouse poop in the oven.
take care,

 

[Carl Stouffer]

A word of advice: DON'T gut it. This is a mistake that has been made repeatedly on these coaches. It turns a series of small doable jobs into a huge daunting job that MOST people soon lose interest in, then the coach gets sold for pennies on the dollar or is left to rot somewhere.

It is better to tackle the renovation one small job at a time and keep it usable in between reno projects.

 

[Matt Colie]

A big difference with all the GMC upfits is that they were DESIGNED from the get go. The plant did full mock-ups and had people evaluate those. So, get it safe and driveable and use it for at least a while before you change anything. If you decide to remove something, think about re-sale a lot.
Matt

 

[B1gflip]

A big difference with all the GMC upfits is that they were DESIGNED from the get go. The plant did full mock-ups and had people evaluate those. So, get it safe and driveable and use it for at least a while before you change anything. If you decide to remove something, think about re-sale a lot.
Matt

Right now all I’m thinking about removing is mouse skeletons, and dilapidated captains chairs, and the cabinets aren’t too great.

 

[tmsnyder]

IMO the cabinets and furniture are worth keeping, even if that means completely reupholstering the furniture and rebuilding the cabinets from scratch. The floor can come up and be replaced. The headliner can come down and be replaced. You can pop out the windows including the frame and reseal those. The whole thing can come apart in other words! But, if you truly _gut_ it, toss out the furniture and the cabinets, IMO I think you'll have a tough time replacing those with parts that will fit A) bc it's a relatively small RV and B)it has curved walls which makes it even harder. So yes, you might have to gut it, but you'll probably want to reuse the furniture and cabinets.

 

[B1gflip]

View attachment 7792

IMO the cabinets and furniture are worth keeping, even if that means completely reupholstering the furniture and rebuilding the cabinets from scratch. The floor can come up and be replaced. The headliner can come down and be replaced. You can pop out the windows including the frame and reseal those. The whole thing can come apart in other words! But, if you truly _gut_ it, toss out the furniture and the cabinets, IMO I think you'll have a tough time replacing those with parts that will fit A) bc it's a relatively small RV and B)it has curved walls which makes it even harder. So yes, you might have to gut it, but you'll probably want to reuse the furniture and cabinets.

I’ll vacuum it well, then come back the next day and it looks like mulch fell out of the ceiling. Probably some angry mice in the headliner.

 

[tmsnyder]

I’ll vacuum it well, then come back the next day and it looks like mulch fell out of the ceiling. Probably some angry mice in the headliner.

First you have to kill them all.

Then run it for a while if the headliner looks ok. If you want to take down the ceiling you can, and replace with a new type of headliner.

 

[B1gflip]

First you have to kill them all.

Then run it for a while if the headliner looks ok. If you want to take down the ceiling you can, and replace with a new type of headliner.

What kind of headliner do u recommend?

 

[tmsnyder]

What kind of headliner do u recommend?

Good question. I made mine from plastic cardboard covered with headliner material from sailrite. But it's not stiff enough and has sagged a little here and there.

Other's have used FRP board, either bare or covered with a headliner material.

If I did it over again, I'd buy aluminum sheet metal and coat that with headliner material. That would stay up in an arch without sagging.

 

[PaulTFenton]

Good question. I made mine from plastic cardboard covered with headliner material from sailrite. But it's not stiff enough and has sagged a little here and there.

Other's have used FRP board, either bare or covered with a headliner material.

If I did it over again, I'd buy aluminum sheet metal and coat that with headliner material. That would stay up in an arch without sagging.

You'd have to use fairly heavy guage sheets, or use a brake to put some ribs in.

 

[RF_Burns]

The PO had the interior redone by a now defunct GMC restoring business. They used counter top laminate (Arborite) on the ceiling with an automotive fabric (like a felt or velvet) glued to it. Its water resistant and holds the curve in one direction.

 

[tmsnyder]

You'd have to use fairly heavy guage sheets, or use a brake to put some ribs in.

I think 16 ga would do it. The sag resistance comes from being pushed up in an arch.

 

[ScottC]

Welcome aboard! You can gut it as long as you stay motivated over the YEARS, I am so happy I did because of all the crap I have found and the fact I will know the coach from top to bottom, I am a 1 1/2 years in and probably have another 2 1/2. I jump around a lot so I don't get burnt out on the long jobs. Make a list to stay on tract! lol

 

[brianjosephgrover]

I tried not to gut mine. And then the cabinets started falling apart from a previous termite situation the PO must have if ignored. So I ended up rebuilding one area of the coach at a time. In the end I rebuilt/replaced everything in the house but the bathroom and dinette. I wish I had the knowledge and forethought to gut it the day I got it. Although it probably would have drove me insane and taken all of my time I would have been able to tackle all the weird leaks that love to pop up out of nowhere, get new solid flooring, and insulate the hell out of it. These things get cold in winter.

With all that being said, if it’s in good enough shape don’t tear it apart until you have to. As they say “if it ain’t broke..”

Congrats on the new toy.

Oh and MAKE A LIST!!!

 

[pvfjr]

They used counter top laminate (Arborite)

Is that like Formica? Wouldn't that be really thin, and also expensive? Maybe I'm picturing the wrong thing.

 

[B1gflip]

I tried not to gut mine. And then the cabinets started falling apart from a previous termite situation the PO must have if ignored. So I ended up rebuilding one area of the coach at a time. In the end I rebuilt/replaced everything in the house but the bathroom and dinette. I wish I had the knowledge and forethought to gut it the day I got it. Although it probably would have drove me insane and taken all of my time I would have been able to tackle all the weird leaks that love to pop up out of nowhere, get new solid flooring, and insulate the hell out of it. These things get cold in winter.

With all that being said, if it’s in good enough shape don’t tear it apart until you have to. As they say “if it ain’t broke..”

Congrats on the new toy.

Oh and MAKE A LIST!!!

The list is huge already.

 

[RF_Burns]

Is that like Formica? Wouldn't that be really thin, and also expensive? Maybe I'm picturing the wrong thing.

Formica is another brand name for it. I'm not sure why they used it, maybe they had a source for seconds (bleams) or rejects at the factory that were going for scrap. I noted what it was when I replaced the rear vent with a new one. The colour side is facing toward the framework.

 

[Billygoat]

Here is what I did on mine. We kinda tried to get that cabin feel inside so we used that wood plywood with a bead board look. It came with a poly finish already on the bead board side but we also poly’d the back side. The material is something like 3/16” or so thick.

TG

 

[pvfjr]

Here is what I did on mine. We kinda tried to get that cabin feel inside so we used that wood plywood with a bead board look. It came with a poly finish already on the bead board side but we also poly’d the back side. The material is something like 3/16” or so thick.

TG

Was there a picture to go with this? I'm not able to see one.

 

[Billygoat]

Was there a picture to go with this? I'm not able to see one.

Here is what I could find. Thought I had more on my phone but guess not. May on my computer, will have to check.

TG