Just saying hi.

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brianjosephgrover

brianjosephgrover

Member
Oct 11, 2021
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Hey all,

My wife, son, And I just got our first motorhome. It’s a 1973 Painted Desert (at least that’s what the carpet under the seat is telling me.) Needless to say it needs a whole lot of love right now, but for those of us that are tinkerers it‘s perfect. We’re currently in Los Angeles, but plan to hit the road full time once our coach is up to the task. I didn’t want to just troll around the site and not take part in the conversation so this is me saying hi. Thanks for all the information I’ve already gotten from you all. And thanks for all the future knowlege that will be dropped on me.

Brian

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Brian,

Welcome to the group, family, cult, asylum......

Put GMC parts in your book marks and his phone nr in your quick dial.
They can help a lot and you will need it.

If the engine has not been changed to HEI, don't do it. Get a Pertronix 1181LS (~80$on Ebay) and you will be set. If it is HEI, get the full complement of parts for the distributor and make sure you know how to change them out. Also, never let the plugs get to much gap.

The early builds have so issues that can be corrected. We can get to that later.

Matt
 
Matt Colie said:
Brian,

Welcome to the group, family, cult, asylum......

Put GMC parts in your book marks and his phone nr in your quick dial.
They can help a lot and you will need it.

If the engine has not been changed to HEI, don't do it. Get a Pertronix 1181LS (~80$on Ebay) and you will be set. If it is HEI, get the full complement of parts for the distributor and make sure you know how to change them out. Also, never let the plugs get to much gap.

The early builds have so issues that can be corrected. We can get to that later.

Matt
Click to expand...
Hey Matt,
I don’t believe that it’s been changed to HEI. I haven’t gotten into the engine too much yet. The coach was in desperate need of a few other things to get it running on its own. The fuel lines were disconnected, the battery tray was falling apart, and the engine battery was not even close to what should have been in there. I already got a set of 16” Ions from Applied and I’m just waiting on tires now. I got the battery sorted and I’m going through the electrical rat nets that a PO left in there. The engine and cooling system are next.
What are the advantages of running that Pertronix igniter?
 
Brian,

If you are not old enough to remember dealing with the points that lived in distributors, you wouldn't know what a major league PITA those were. The Pertronix will replace the set of points and condenser and you never have to mess with it again.

Do you own a timing light? You want one. Keep looking at flea markets and garage sales for a good old one that has an inductive pick-up. The direct connect are a bear to use.

Matt
 
Welcome, I lived in and worked in LA I pick up a 77’ Royal I’m in San Bernardino now. I’m doing a full restoration on it.what you want to do is do your search on parts. I was going to buy my rims from Applied they wanted over 2800.00 I paid under 2300.00 at Gateway,no TAX. Do your shopping.I’m in the process of installing intake manifold,Fi tech . And waiting for a aluminum gas tank.
 
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Chewy USMC said:
Welcome, I lived in and worked in LA I pick up a 77’ Royal I’m in San Bernardino now. I’m doing a full restoration on it.what you want to do is do your search on parts. I was going to buy my rims from Applied they wanted over 2800.00 I paid under 2300.00 at Gateway,no TAX. Do your shopping.I’m in the process of installing intake manifold,Fi tech . And waiting for a aluminum gas tank.
Click to expand...
FYI, I believe Applied has their rims custom made so that they have the correct hub diameter hole (GMC motorhome rims were hub centered). Otherwise you might be getting rims that have a larger center hole and are lug centered.

I may be all wrong on this as I have aluminum wheels already so its not top of mind for me. But just something to be aware of.
 
Welcome Brian !!

Where in Los Angeles ??

There's a few of us in Orange County, San Diego, and Riverside...

Steve W
 
Welcome!

I'm with Matt on the HEI. It's great if you have it, but has an achilles tendon or two. The coil on the non-HEI systems is easier to swap, easier to test. Pertronix modules are likely more reliable than all the reproduction modules made for HEI these days. I won't go anywhere without a spare module for my HEI.

You can spot the difference easily. The older non-HEI systems have the 9th "plug wire" coming from the coil and landing in the center of the distributor. The HEI distributor cap has the big squarish coil mounted on top, no 9th plug wire, and a much larger distributor cap body. Non-HEI pictured below:

ksnip_20211025-084558.webp
 
Larry,

Here are Delco numbers, 875990 or D1906 numbers.
They are available from other suppliers, but do not accept any that do not say Made in USA.
There are many supplied that are Pacific Rim and are junk. I am not an expert as I don't use them.
Be sure whatever is packages with the heat sink grease as that is essential for its survival.
Make sure you have the screwdriver to replace it and know where it goes.

Matt
 
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They look like this, and just screw down to the base of the distributor on the inside. I usually don't feel too bad about sourcing parts from Napa, but haven't chased down their origins. I know from experience that O'Reillys and others (especially online stores) source some pretty questionable stuff from China at times.
 
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Thanks guys, all new bits on the way, cap, rotor, one of these and the coil plus the pickup.

all for the spares box

Larry
 
Careful with the pickup. There are different types for different HEI systems. They can have different magnetic polarities, and will *work*, but not work great. IIRC, it's all about making sure your ignition coil and pickup coil have compatible wire colors. There's a chart somewhere...
 
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