Margaritaville Express

[peter brandt]

I briefly looked at the Margaritaville Express when I was down there to buy
my GMC - it looked pretty clean, but it has a 403 which I don't think is
ideal for driving in the mountains.

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

 

[john wright]

Peter,
I have a 77 Eleganza II with a 403 motor. I also have a 3.55 final
drive gear with near stock diameter tires. I pull a GEO Tracker and
have no problems running with a 455 GMC. When I am not pulling the toad
I cab stay and pass most 455 that are out there in any terrain. It is
really not the engine size but the gearing that makes the difference.

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

>
> I briefly looked at the Margaritaville Express when I was down there to buy
> my GMC - it looked pretty clean, but it has a 403 which I don't think is
> ideal for driving in the mountains.
>
> Peter
> 77 Eleganza II
> Colorado

 

[gene]

I you look at the numbers on my page, you will see the difference of torque
and HP is small change between the 455 and 403.

gene

>Peter,
>I have a 77 Eleganza II with a 403 motor. I also have a 3.55 final
>drive gear with near stock diameter tires. I pull a GEO Tracker and
>have no problems running with a 455 GMC. When I am not pulling the toad
>I cab stay and pass most 455 that are out there in any terrain. It is
>really not the engine size but the gearing that makes the difference.
>
>J.R. Wright
>GMC GreatLaker
>77 Eleganza II
>Michigan
>
>
>
>

>>
>> I briefly looked at the Margaritaville Express when I was down there to buy
>> my GMC - it looked pretty clean, but it has a 403 which I don't think is
>> ideal for driving in the mountains.
>>
>> Peter
>> 77 Eleganza II
>> Colorado
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

 

[john wright]

Arch,
I would be guessing on the exact RPM as I do not have a tach, but in
researching everything that I have says that it should be about 2800 @
60 mph. Would the 3.7 gear be too much, I don't think so. Clarence
Buskirk ran the 3.66 gear in his streached GMC with the 454 Chevy in it.
I would think that the tire size you run would also help you out. I
have almost 10K mile on the Final drive and I was impressed with it. On
several 6% grades going down 77 to Myrtle Beach I never dropped below 45
MPH and that was with the Tracker on the back. If your planning to tow I
would think that the 3.7 would be a great choice.

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

>
> In a message dated 12/16/1999 5:34:23 PM Central Standard Time,

>
> > I have a 77 Eleganza II with a 403 motor. I also have a 3.55 final
> > drive gear with near stock diameter tires. I pull a GEO Tracker and
> > have no problems running with a 455 GMC. When I am not pulling the toad
> >
> JR
>
> Can you tell me how many RPM you are turning at 60 MPH?
> Do you think a 3.7 is going to far?
>
> Take Care
> Arch

 

[bartz paul]

Peter:

I likewise, have a 78 Royale with a 403 cid engine and 3.42:1 ring and
pinion gears. I can run away from a stock 455 on long mountain grades with
that combination.

Paul Bartz

From: gene [mailto:mr.erf]
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 7:07 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Margaritaville Express

I you look at the numbers on my page, you will see the difference of torque
and HP is small change between the 455 and 403.

gene

>Peter,
>I have a 77 Eleganza II with a 403 motor. I also have a 3.55 final
>drive gear with near stock diameter tires. I pull a GEO Tracker and
>have no problems running with a 455 GMC. When I am not pulling the toad
>I cab stay and pass most 455 that are out there in any terrain. It is
>really not the engine size but the gearing that makes the difference.
>
>J.R. Wright
>GMC GreatLaker
>77 Eleganza II
>Michigan
>
>
>
>

>>
>> I briefly looked at the Margaritaville Express when I was down there to
buy
>> my GMC - it looked pretty clean, but it has a 403 which I don't think is
>> ideal for driving in the mountains.
>>
>> Peter
>> 77 Eleganza II
>> Colorado
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/