I'm a new owner of 1973 26' :-)

[dave1]

So, there are now at least 8 of us in the Omaha area! Welcome, Ed.
On August 3, 1998, I bought a 455 powered 1973 GMC 26 foot
something-or-other, my first motorhome. I'm pretty sure it has
original 51k miles, but somewhat worn cosmetically from neglect.
Previous owner let it sit 3 years after her husband passed away. I
picked this over an '89 Winnebago Elandan 32 foot based on
indivduality & cool technical design. That, and I had a '73 Buick
Centurion convertible with the 455 back in the '80s. This thing is
powerful! After a good hosing down & scrubbing the outside (is
SoftScrub OK?), it should look good. Interior must have been redone in
the 80s based on color, and is showing its age, but remains perfectly
functional.

I have no owners manual. Many things are not easily deciphered due
to missing switch labels, or are not evident to me right off the bat,
such as the "Fuel: gasoline/LPgas" (carb has a flat plate over it) on
the right side of the wheel and an apparent power sump-dump switch
mounted under dash on the left side of the wheel. Previous owner
didn't know.
Windshield washer fluid is operated by a manual throw switch, which
is broken. Original? Suggested replacement?
If I leave it plugged in at home, does this charge the batteries?
Air Conditioner trips the GFCI breaker (15amp, I think) in my
garage. Still pumps out cold air, so should I just wait 'til it dies
to replace?
Prev owner started the Onan 6000 generator no prob, now it just
cranks & cranks for me. Do I have to throw a switch? Once running, is
it safe to drive with this on to run roof air? Which tank does the
generator tap off?
On the 40 mile trip home, I noticed a ticking sound that varied
with speed, both in corners and on the straight.
After a downpour, I have leaks at...
... screws on living room OH vent. Vent missing crank handle.
Available?...
... screws above/along windshield...
... cracked vent dome in bathroom. SolarMaxx a good replacement?
When I fill up with gas, does it automatically fill both tanks?
Does it drain both main & aux fuel tanks simultaneously, or one after
the other, or do I tell it which to use by using the aux/main switch
on the dash? Am I supposed to run premium 93 octane with a lead
substitute, or is regular 87 octane OK?
Is it an "antique" at 25 years old?
Is there anyplace I can obtain a "home improvement" loan on a coach
so old? If so, I know I can deduct the interest of said loan so long
as the coach ("second home" in IRS speak) is held as collateral. Any
reccomendations on a "home improvement contractor"? Golby in FL, or
the one in MI, or some other place I don't know of? How much would a
complete frame-off modernization cost?

Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I'm sure I'll have more
questions later. All e-mail is welcome.
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

 

[robert shimanek]

Dave:
When running the roof AC you can't have your water heater on or any other
electrical appliance that will be consuming more current than the circuit
breaker can handle. I have this problem in campgrounds where with low
power output. I turn my water heater off when running the AC at
campgrounds or at home. However, your power unit will handle all units at
one time. Before you shut down your generator make sure you let it cool
down with all the appliances off the line otherwise you'll cook your
generator windings.

Bob

> So, there are now at least 8 of us in the Omaha area! Welcome, Ed.
> On August 3, 1998, I bought a 455 powered 1973 GMC 26 foot
>something-or-other, my first motorhome. I'm pretty sure it has
>original 51k miles, but somewhat worn cosmetically from neglect.
>Previous owner let it sit 3 years after her husband passed away. I
>picked this over an '89 Winnebago Elandan 32 foot based on
>indivduality & cool technical design. That, and I had a '73 Buick
>Centurion convertible with the 455 back in the '80s. This thing is
>powerful! After a good hosing down & scrubbing the outside (is
>SoftScrub OK?), it should look good. Interior must have been redone in
>the 80s based on color, and is showing its age, but remains perfectly
>functional.
>
> I have no owners manual. Many things are not easily deciphered due
>to missing switch labels, or are not evident to me right off the bat,
>such as the "Fuel: gasoline/LPgas" (carb has a flat plate over it) on
>the right side of the wheel and an apparent power sump-dump switch
>mounted under dash on the left side of the wheel. Previous owner
>didn't know.
> Windshield washer fluid is operated by a manual throw switch, which
>is broken. Original? Suggested replacement?
> If I leave it plugged in at home, does this charge the batteries?
> Air Conditioner trips the GFCI breaker (15amp, I think) in my
>garage. Still pumps out cold air, so should I just wait 'til it dies
>to replace?
> Prev owner started the Onan 6000 generator no prob, now it just
>cranks & cranks for me. Do I have to throw a switch? Once running, is
>it safe to drive with this on to run roof air? Which tank does the
>generator tap off?
> On the 40 mile trip home, I noticed a ticking sound that varied
>with speed, both in corners and on the straight.
> After a downpour, I have leaks at...
> ... screws on living room OH vent. Vent missing crank handle.
>Available?...
> ... screws above/along windshield...
> ... cracked vent dome in bathroom. SolarMaxx a good replacement?
> When I fill up with gas, does it automatically fill both tanks?
>Does it drain both main & aux fuel tanks simultaneously, or one after
>the other, or do I tell it which to use by using the aux/main switch
>on the dash? Am I supposed to run premium 93 octane with a lead
>substitute, or is regular 87 octane OK?
> Is it an "antique" at 25 years old?
> Is there anyplace I can obtain a "home improvement" loan on a coach
>so old? If so, I know I can deduct the interest of said loan so long
>as the coach ("second home" in IRS speak) is held as collateral. Any
>reccomendations on a "home improvement contractor"? Golby in FL, or
>the one in MI, or some other place I don't know of? How much would a
>complete frame-off modernization cost?
>
>Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I'm sure I'll have more
>questions later. All e-mail is welcome.
>_________________________________________________________
>DO YOU YAHOO!?
>Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>

 

[bartz paul]

Dave:

Contact Cinnabar to see if they can help you with manuals (Owners, Shop
and Parts). Otherwise, let us know your needs and some of us can make a
copy for you. I have originals (78 Royale) and made a copy for our
coach and also for another owner, who like you, did not have any either.

Plugging in at home should charge your batteries, however, left plugged
in for too long a period will boil the water out of the batteries and
shorten their life because the system does not reduce the charge rate
nor a sensor to stop the charge. A time clock is one way to keep the
batteries charged over time. Another earlier e-mail message this week
estimated that even at a minimum, the inverter uses a minimum of 65
watts of power.

Unless you're not happy with the rooftop A/C unit, there is no
particular reason to replace it. Still have our original.

Have you checked the Onan crankcase oil level? There is a fuel pump
cut-off feature to prevent harm to the engine components if the oil
level isn't appropriate. If you're parked on a sever enough slope, you
may never get it started due to the oil level feature.

Both fuel tanks fill simultaneously and empty the same way down to
approximately the eight gallon level, at which point you have to switch
to the Aux position to reach the remainder.

Premium gas isn't required and has been proven to be a waste of money
when not needed.

As to "antique", does that make some difference in anything? Only thing
I can think of is some states allow use of historic plates on a vehicle
that is 25 years old, but usually have restrictions, annual driven
mileage being one.

Paul Bartz

From: Robert Shimanek [mailto:robshim]
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 1998 3:34 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: I'm a new owner of 1973 26'

Dave:
When running the roof AC you can't have your water heater on or any
other electrical appliance that will be consuming more current than the
circuit breaker can handle. I have this problem in campgrounds where
with low power output. I turn my water heater off when running the AC
at campgrounds or at home. However, your power unit will handle all
units at one time. Before you shut down your generator make sure you
let it cool down with all the appliances off the line otherwise you'll
cook your generator windings.
Bob

So, there are now at least 8 of us in the Omaha area! Welcome, Ed.

On August 3, 1998, I bought a 455 powered 1973 GMC 26 foot
something-or-other, my first motorhome. I'm pretty sure it has original
51k miles, but somewhat worn cosmetically from neglect. Previous owner
let it sit 3 years after her husband passed away. I picked this over an
'89 Winnebago Elandan 32 foot based on individuality & cool technical
design. That, and I had a '73 Buick Centurion convertible with the 455
back in the '80s. This thing is powerful! After a good hosing down &
scrubbing the outside (is Soft Scrub OK?), it should look good. Interior
must have been redone in the 80s based on color, and is showing its age,
but remains perfectly functional.

Have no owners manual. Many things are not easily deciphered due to
missing switch labels, or are not evident to me right off the bat, such
as the "Fuel: gasoline/LPgas" (carb has a flat plate over it) on the
right side of the wheel and an apparent power sump-dump switch mounted
under dash on the left side of the wheel. Previous owner didn't know.
Windshield washer fluid is operated by a manual throw switch, which is
broken. Original? Suggested replacement?

If I leave it plugged in at home, does this charge the batteries? Air
Conditioner trips the GFCI breaker (15amp, I think) in my garage. Still
pumps out cold air, so should I just wait 'til it dies to replace?

Prev owner started the Onan 6000 generator no prob, now it just cranks &
cranks for me. Do I have to throw a switch? Once running, is it safe to
drive with this on to run roof air? Which tank does the generator tap
off?

On the 40 mile trip home, I noticed a ticking sound that varied with
speed, both in corners and on the straight.

After a downpour, I have leaks at. screws on living room OH vent. Vent
missing crank handle. Available?... screws above/along windshield...
cracked vent dome in bathroom. SolarMaxx a good replacement?

When I fill up with gas, does it automatically fill both tanks? Does it
drain both main & aux fuel tanks simultaneously, or one after the other,
or do I tell it which to use by using the aux/main switch on the dash?
Am I supposed to run premium 93 octane with a lead substitute, or is
regular 87 octane OK?

Is it an "antique" at 25 years old? Is there anyplace I can obtain a
"home improvement" loan on a coach so old? If so, I know I can deduct
the interest of said loan so long as the coach ("second home" in IRS
speak) is held as collateral. Any reccomendations on a "home
improvement contractor"? Golby in FL, or the one in MI, or some other
place I don't know of? How much would a complete frame-off modernization
cost?

Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I'm sure I'll have more
questions later. All e-mail is welcome.