New Owner from SW Michigan

PeteCarney

PeteCarney

Member
Feb 5, 2023
69
52
18
Hello everyone. New to the GMC Motorhome community. I'm Peter from Sturgis, MI which is right near "Amish & RV country" of Southwest Michigan/Northern Indiana.

Not sure if this counts as a "mid-life crisis" but purchased a 1976 Eleganza II (vin #00021) a couple weeks ago out of Knoxville, TN. The long term owners of it were Ken & Kathryn Tidwell from TN. They used the coach quite a bit from 1990 to the late 90s, then it sat until nearly 2020 until their neighbors bought it and put in A LOT of work over the next few years. I saw it posted on Facebook and drove down from MI to TN to view it/test drive it.. 100 yards into the test drive it stalled out and died on us. Thankfully it was just the main battery, put in a brand new one and after deciding to buy it we drove it back to Michigan without any further issues.

I do quite a bit of "road tripping" and have done it via motorcycle/large SUV/Cargo Van for the most part but I have 2 English Bulldogs that travel with me so having the extra space as well as having A/C for the dogs helped steer me into owning one of these coaches.
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Some of the work the previous owners put into this GMC in the past 2 years include:
  • FiTech EFI/Fuel Pump/Force Fuel/Gates Barricade Hoses/Tanks dropped, cleaned, & lined/Fuel Sender/Backup In-Line Fuel Pump
  • HEI Dist/full ignition tune-up/new belts/hoses/alternator/starter/battery
  • Aluminum Radiator/Fans/Oil & Trans Cooler
  • Double Roller Timing Chain/Crossover Plates/Full exhaust system
  • Quad Bags/KYB Shocks/Ion Wheels/TPMS/New Bushings on front suspension/dual air compressors/stainless air tank
  • Master cylinder/front & rear brakes serviced/sensitized brake booster/prop valve
  • Black tank/valve/macerator
  • Interior has been updated with some new upholstery/flooring/countertop with sink/painted cabinets/new wall & ceiling panes/microwave with built in air-fryer/2x Maxx-Air fans/LED lighting all over
  • Dash has been updated with gauges, touchscreen stereo, camera system with side cameras and backup camera. LED Headlights/Marker lights
A/C's are original, furnace I'm not sure if replacement or not (Suburban brand) and those all work. The 6000w Onan I was told works but have not tested it.. replacing it anyways with a modern dual fuel 4500w "super-quiet" model. I plan on adding in some solar and LiOn batteries in the near-ish future. For now wanting to continue to fix some livability issues with the coach and perform some more preventative maintenance. I'm really planning on owning this coach for a long time and using it to haul a motorcycle or even car to random events I goto.. I'm very much interested in all types of vehicles and own a random assortment of them; GMC Typhoon, Subaru Brat, older Honda Civic (515hp), Trailblazer SS, 1942 Plymouth Coupe, Suzuki Kei Mini Truck, Ural sidecar, Yamaha TW200, Honda scooter, etc..

Anyways; some photos of the Eleganza.
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The other GMC in the household (with the Kei truck)
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Great to have you with us! Nice coach you have there. But tell me more about your "older Honda Civic". Here is our Civic Toad. A 91' SI.
www.gmcmhphotos.com

John_Prince2

<p>John Prince County Park, Lake Worth FL. April 2022</p>
www.gmcmhphotos.com
 
LarryW, I like your 4th gen!

I actually own 2 "old Hondas", an 89 CRX HE with 333k miles and still runs amazing and sips fuel, the other Honda being a 92 Civic EG (B16 swapped with turbo, E85, etc), with new turbo on it it should be near 600hp to the wheels this summer. Sourcing CRV driveline parts to convert it to AWD for obvious reasons.

89 CRX
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92 EG
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Also just for the fun of it, this my 85 Honda CH200
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I liked the last picture. I have the exact same Honda Elite. I at first thought that picture was of mine. That is he first time I have seen a gold one other than mine. If you remove the Onan please do not throw it away. I am not too far away from you, located in NW Indiana Hebron / Valparaiso, IN area.
 
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Well Pete,
Welcome to the group, family, cult, asylum......
Glad that you found your way here.
That sure was a real introduction.
I do hope you understand that when you became an owner of a GMC/TZE you suddenly acquired several hundred brand new old friends.
Get over to the Great Lakers website and try to get to the first rally of the year. You will learn a lot in the first five minutes.
In the years we have traveled in Chaumière, most of it was with two dogs. So much so that I made plans that included "grass stops".
Do not try to revise the interior until you have talked to others. We see lots of coaches that have been made useless more than those that have been improved. The interiors were very carefully designed.
Speaking of designed, if there is ANY of the service documentation that you do not have, it can all be downloaded at the GMCMI site.
Everybody here has a not-so-hidden agenda. That agenda is to see to it that you get to understand and enjoy what the coach can do for you. It is probably more than you think. For this reason, do not be put off by the forwardness of any owners you meet. It is part of way this community works.
The supportiveness and helpfullness of the community so reminds me of the world of watermen that are my world that I like to welcome new owners here much as you might be welcomed there. So,

May the Good Lord bless this coach and all those that set forth within her.

Welcome Pete.

Matt
 
Hey Matt, When is this month's informal get together. Invite him and I need to try to get Paul and me there too. Maybe I will make this one.
 
Quite the collection of vehicles!
Nice find on the Coach, looks like a keeper.
Don't be to quick to discount the Onan, many people like them. They also can be converted to dual fuel relatively easy.

I've always liked Syclone/Typhoons, Kei trucks, Brats and Urals. I like your taste!
 
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Ken and Pete (and anybody else)
This month's GMC owners lunch will be TOMORROW - we moved it to the second Saturday.
As best I can tell, it is 135 miles (more or less) for Pete.
If you or anybody else can make it, we will be glad to see you.
Pete,
If you go to: Regional & Club Sub-forums - Great Lakes
You can find:
Southeast Michigan and Northern Ohio GMC Owners Network Lunch.
1:00PM 11 February 2023
The whole thing is there, including my @ddress if you want to be in the mailing.
Matt
 
Matt Colie said:
Ken and Pete (and anybody else)
This month's GMC owners lunch will be TOMORROW - we moved it to the second Saturday.
As best I can tell, it is 135 miles (more or less) for Pete.
If you or anybody else can make it, we will be glad to see you.
Pete,
If you go to: Regional & Club Sub-forums - Great Lakes
You can find:
Southeast Michigan and Northern Ohio GMC Owners Network Lunch.
1:00PM 11 February 2023
The whole thing is there, including my @ddress if you want to be in the mailing.
Matt
Click to expand...
Wish I could make it but currently have plans. I'll definitely be attending some meets this year and the weekend in Algonac Sept 14-17 is scheduled on my calendar.
 
I try to go once a year but have not made it over there in a while. I tried to get Matt to change the name to SO Mi & NO IN and NO OH, but I think he thought it had to many letters in it. So us GMCers for Ontario and Indiana just invite ourselves anyway. I think the Canadians loosened up their Covid crap at the border. The last time I went that way I had to have a reservation and a bunch of paperwork.

Oh well, I will try for March 11 - 2nd Saturday .
 
Ken B said:
I try to go once a year but have not made it over there in a while. I tried to get Matt to change the name to SO Mi & NO IN and NO OH, but I think he thought it had to many letters in it. So us GMCers for Ontario and Indiana just invite ourselves anyway. I think the Canadians loosened up their Covid crap at the border. The last time I went that way I had to have a reservation and a bunch of paperwork.

Oh well, I will try for March 11 - 2nd Saturday .
Click to expand...
Ken,
Border is back to normal for a while now. No more tests or confusing Apps.
 
Ken,
Do you really thing I should re-title the group SEMINOHEION? I wouldn't mind, I am not charged by the word or letter so it wouldn't cost any more for me. We did have had people in from a long ways and the all time winner was from Toronto. He called to make sure we would be there and I made two replies "Yes, we will be and are you Nuts?' It is 5 road hours.
Now, If he was going to fly into GI Muni (is now called Detroit/Grosse Ile) ONZ msl 591. I Believe it is now in the DTW control zone, but you can avoid that too.
Just let me know when you plan to come and how many so we bring enough seats.
Besides, you need the log time.
Matt
 
Matt, I was just pulling your chain a little bit. The name is fine . We all know that we are welcome. I am about the same distance as Toronto 258 miles and 4 hours. I would fly but by the time I get the airplane out, fill it up, check the weather and go plus then have to get from the airport to where you are meeting, I do not save any time. Now if Amtrak were close, I would consider that. It is not any faster, but I can just let someone else do the driving and sit back and watch the scenery.
 
Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co
GMCMI Spring 2026 Rally

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