Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's

john r. lebetski

New member
Dec 20, 2006
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All of the above are abnormal and should not be the case. Who worked on it?
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
> We have owned our GMC motorhome for several months, but have never traveled or spent the night in it, so we are still in the learning curve. It
> was in the shop for the last four months having a great deal done to it. After a couple of test drives this week, I have a few questions.
>
> Is it common to smell exhaust inside the coach?
>
> The gas pedal seems so stiff and difficult to push. Is there an adjustment or fix for this?
> We are waiting on a part to fix our cruise control.
>
> One of the many things which didn't occur to me about traveling in one of these is the noise. It is so loud inside. It would be impossible to
> listen to music, etc. Is this also common?
>
> Thanks for any input.

No it is not normal to smell exhaust in the cab, ask you mechanic about it.
Some people have issues and I can only go by the 2 GMC's we have owned and neither one had a stiff throttle. It is only a spring and your mechanic
should be able to resolve this.
As far as the noise level goes that can be subjective what You think as loud I might not consider to be loud. We got the roar of the cooling fan to a
tolerable level in our first GMC by using mass loaded vinyl on the floor on the front half of the coach and commercial carpet tiles on the floor of
the cab. It got the engine noise to a reasonable level. You will never make it as quiet as a modern car though.
The current GMC is a work in progress so we will get to the engine noise at some point.


--
Tom Lins
St Augustine, FL
77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455, FI-Tech EFI
Manuals on DVD
http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/
 
CartGirl,

Thanks for filling in the sigfile....

The cab noise often comes up between the flooring than the body shell that have separated with age and sag. Take a wheel well liner out and look up
in there. You may see a gap. If you do, fill it with something like fiberglass insulation.

That could be part of the two other problems - Exhaust and Music
There should not be loose exhaust that far forward, but exhaust manifold leaks are common. It also should not have a chance to get to the cab with
the coach moving. If she is standing, all bets are off.
Much of your music problem may just be the stupid (really dumb) arrangement for the OE speakers. I like what I did, but it was not easy and I do not
believe it has been copied. Unfortunately, the cab does not lend itself to any simple solution.

For your possible pedal issue, I suggest that you disconnect the throttle cable at the carburetor (remove one little clip) and try the pedal again.
We have had two throttle cables go bad on us so that would be no surprise to me. I was told that the situation was improved in the later builds, but
who can tell.

About the propane alarm. Check the stove burners. These are a common problem. The burner assemblies can be removed very easily and when they are
and the gas is on, you can either use bubbly stuff or try to light the jet of each burner. If you get a leak at any, they can often be fixed by
cleaning and adjustment. If you take the stove out, that will be a limit of your travel capability that some do accept. We have not. A good
replacement stove can often be free or cheap.

Glad you are getting to use her.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Even If the front exhaust system is leak free, it still can be noisy in the cabin if cheap single wall casing mufflers were installed by the PO. GM
used dual wall construction for durability, safety and noise contamment. I removed cheap mufflers and replaced them with correct sized dual wall
mufflers made in Canada by my suplier I have used for other projects. Huge difference in radiated sound. Conversation can be at living room
Levels. I can offer these if there is interest. The NAPA/Walker mufflers in the exchange fit fine to get by but one of our members had one "oil can)
the top casing until it failed and burnt the floor. Beware.
Are the fumes you are smelling exhaust or oil or fuel drips on the hot engine? You need to dertemine and correct this. Also Wes from Cinnabar wrote
an article on this years ago. I follow his advice. You need to create a positive fresh air pressure in the coach. That means windows closed and dash
fan on 2-3-4 on fresh setting not Recirculate. The fresh air enters the grill and into the fan under additional pressure at highway speeds. This
prevents drawing in fumes and holding tank odors because of positive pressure in the cabin.
If gasoline fumes, often the fuel line into the Qjet gets "wound up" when tightened. It then springs the nut loose slightly with heat cool cycles.
Even one drop per min evapoating will give a big fuel odor in cabin. Also have them check all the evaporative emissions hoses and charcoal canister
for proper operation
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Having ones coach in a shop a long term does not mean anything as were not
mind readers and also do not like customers saying were picking on their
coach.
Some of you do not realize how poorly your coach is when it comes in to a
shop.
No way can one locate ALL the defects.
I know ALL the GMC shops will agree with me. We do spend time communicating
with other shops weekly.

On Sun, Jun 16, 2019 at 8:12 AM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

> Even If the front exhaust system is leak free, it still can be noisy in
> the cabin if cheap single wall casing mufflers were installed by the PO. GM
> used dual wall construction for durability, safety and noise contamment. I
> removed cheap mufflers and replaced them with correct sized dual wall
> mufflers made in Canada by my suplier I have used for other projects.
> Huge difference in radiated sound. Conversation can be at living room
> Levels. I can offer these if there is interest. The NAPA/Walker mufflers
> in the exchange fit fine to get by but one of our members had one "oil can)
> the top casing until it failed and burnt the floor. Beware.
> Are the fumes you are smelling exhaust or oil or fuel drips on the hot
> engine? You need to dertemine and correct this. Also Wes from Cinnabar
> wrote
> an article on this years ago. I follow his advice. You need to create a
> positive fresh air pressure in the coach. That means windows closed and dash
> fan on 2-3-4 on fresh setting not Recirculate. The fresh air enters the
> grill and into the fan under additional pressure at highway speeds. This
> prevents drawing in fumes and holding tank odors because of positive
> pressure in the cabin.
> If gasoline fumes, often the fuel line into the Qjet gets "wound up" when
> tightened. It then springs the nut loose slightly with heat cool cycles.
> Even one drop per min evapoating will give a big fuel odor in cabin. Also
> have them check all the evaporative emissions hoses and charcoal canister
> for proper operation
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
So true. It’s like remodeling a old house

Chaplain Randy Hecht
Chaplains are ready to Listen when you're ready to talk.

>
> Having ones coach in a shop a long term does not mean anything as were not
> mind readers and also do not like customers saying were picking on their
> coach.
> Some of you do not realize how poorly your coach is when it comes in to a
> shop.
> No way can one locate ALL the defects.
> I know ALL the GMC shops will agree with me. We do spend time communicating
> with other shops weekly.
>
> On Sun, Jun 16, 2019 at 8:12 AM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

>
>> Even If the front exhaust system is leak free, it still can be noisy in
>> the cabin if cheap single wall casing mufflers were installed by the PO. GM
>> used dual wall construction for durability, safety and noise contamment. I
>> removed cheap mufflers and replaced them with correct sized dual wall
>> mufflers made in Canada by my suplier I have used for other projects.
>> Huge difference in radiated sound. Conversation can be at living room
>> Levels. I can offer these if there is interest. The NAPA/Walker mufflers
>> in the exchange fit fine to get by but one of our members had one "oil can)
>> the top casing until it failed and burnt the floor. Beware.
>> Are the fumes you are smelling exhaust or oil or fuel drips on the hot
>> engine? You need to dertemine and correct this. Also Wes from Cinnabar
>> wrote
>> an article on this years ago. I follow his advice. You need to create a
>> positive fresh air pressure in the coach. That means windows closed and dash
>> fan on 2-3-4 on fresh setting not Recirculate. The fresh air enters the
>> grill and into the fan under additional pressure at highway speeds. This
>> prevents drawing in fumes and holding tank odors because of positive
>> pressure in the cabin.
>> If gasoline fumes, often the fuel line into the Qjet gets "wound up" when
>> tightened. It then springs the nut loose slightly with heat cool cycles.
>> Even one drop per min evapoating will give a big fuel odor in cabin. Also
>> have them check all the evaporative emissions hoses and charcoal canister
>> for proper operation
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Frances, it can be done. I'm winding up putting a new (rebuilt actually) engine in my coach. By availing myself of the expertise hwere, I I
have it right. I'll find out today. Even the trolley used to lift the thing out of the coach was loaned by another GMCer. Take your time and you
can do pretty much anything the coach needs. You'll get your hands dirty.

My criteria for tools is, only gonna use it once, patronize Freight, Harbor. (Mentioned this way because the 'bots will pick out the true name and
start sending emails) Stuff that gets re - used like most hand tools, buy good ones.

FWIW, my first job as C.E. was in Tuscaloosa, working for Sen Bert Bank's radio stations. Roll Tide.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
As for the noise, we restored our interior a year ago and used “Fatmat”
sound proofing beneath all the flooring and utilized 5/8 mineral wool as carpet padding in the cockpit.
We saw a significant reduction in sound.
Was very satisfied.

Gary Coaster / Reno, NV
1977 GMC Eleganza ll
GMC RV Day Night Shade Sales
GMCShades
www.GMCMotorhomemarketplace.com/GMC_Shades/

>

>> We have owned our GMC motorhome for several months, but have never traveled or spent the night in it, so we are still in the learning curve. It
>> was in the shop for the last four months having a great deal done to it. After a couple of test drives this week, I have a few questions.
>>
>> Is it common to smell exhaust inside the coach?
>>
>> The gas pedal seems so stiff and difficult to push. Is there an adjustment or fix for this?
>> We are waiting on a part to fix our cruise control.
>>
>> One of the many things which didn't occur to me about traveling in one of these is the noise. It is so loud inside. It would be impossible to
>> listen to music, etc. Is this also common?
>>
>> Thanks for any input.
>
> No it is not normal to smell exhaust in the cab, ask you mechanic about it.
> Some people have issues and I can only go by the 2 GMC's we have owned and neither one had a stiff throttle. It is only a spring and your mechanic
> should be able to resolve this.
> As far as the noise level goes that can be subjective what You think as loud I might not consider to be loud. We got the roar of the cooling fan to a
> tolerable level in our first GMC by using mass loaded vinyl on the floor on the front half of the coach and commercial carpet tiles on the floor of
> the cab. It got the engine noise to a reasonable level. You will never make it as quiet as a modern car though.
> The current GMC is a work in progress so we will get to the engine noise at some point.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Tom Lins
> St Augustine, FL
> 77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455, FI-Tech EFI
> Manuals on DVD
> http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org