New to list, refrigerator question

[Rich Kinas]

Hey all I am new to this list. I am the proud owner (very recently) of an
1976 Eleganza II. Starting the refurbishment. I have lots of questions as
well as lots of things to share as well. The original refrigerator
insulation swelled (for some reason) and needed to be removed, which was
not really a problem because the refrigerator section had gotten wet and
the walls basically just pulled apart. Anyway I purchased a Norcold n641.3
to replace the electric only original. Has anyone else installed one of
these Norcolds? It looks like the top vent may have to be moved outboard to
accommodate the absorption type of cooling unit. Any thoughts?

Rich Kinas
1976 Eleganza II

 

[powwerjon]

Rich,
Welcome to the cult! You will have a lot of new friends as the days go on. No question is too dumb or small or etc. Just a short welcome. More will come.

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
> Hey all I am new to this list. I am the proud owner (very recently) of an
> 1976 Eleganza II. Starting the refurbishment. I have lots of questions as
> well as lots of things to share as well. The original refrigerator
> insulation swelled (for some reason) and needed to be removed, which was
> not really a problem because the refrigerator section had gotten wet and
> the walls basically just pulled apart. Anyway I purchased a Norcold n641.3
> to replace the electric only original. Has anyone else installed one of
> these Norcolds? It looks like the top vent may have to be moved outboard to
> accommodate the absorption type of cooling unit. Any thoughts?
>
> Rich Kinas
> 1976 Eleganza II
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[Ken Shaffer]

I recently replaced mine with the Norcold Polar 7 series. I purchased it
from Applied GMC. I usually try to purchase products from GMC vendors and
Jim's price was very competitive on these. They are not listed on the
website but if you call them they will send you a quote. I have been happy
with the new Norcold. Mine is the propane/AC unit.

www.gmcrvparts.com

On Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 1:41 PM John Wright via Gmclist <

> Rich,
> Welcome to the cult! You will have a lot of new friends as the days go
> on. No question is too dumb or small or etc. Just a short welcome. More
> will come.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC Great Laker MHC
> GMCGL Tech Editor
> GMC Eastern States Charter Member
> GMCMI
> 78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
> 75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
> Michigan
>
>
> > On Jul 30, 2019, at 1:31 PM, Rich Kinas via Gmclist <

> >
> > Hey all I am new to this list. I am the proud owner (very recently) of an
> > 1976 Eleganza II. Starting the refurbishment. I have lots of questions as
> > well as lots of things to share as well. The original refrigerator
> > insulation swelled (for some reason) and needed to be removed, which was
> > not really a problem because the refrigerator section had gotten wet and
> > the walls basically just pulled apart. Anyway I purchased a Norcold
> n641.3
> > to replace the electric only original. Has anyone else installed one of
> > these Norcolds? It looks like the top vent may have to be moved outboard
> to
> > accommodate the absorption type of cooling unit. Any thoughts?
> >
> > Rich Kinas
> > 1976 Eleganza II
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[6cuda6]

Welcome! Sorry cant help you here but dont ever be afraid to ask as im amazed at the all the knowledge on here.
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600

 

[LQQKatJon]

see my dometic installation:

https://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/search?q=fridge

many similar things will apply... there should be an installation manual somewhere online for that norcold.

my friend installed a norcold in his 77 eleganza, and most all things were similar. there is a certain height about 53" that you have to be at, in
order for it to fit above the wheel well. putting a spacer trim on the outside and cheating the fridge towards the hallway an inch or so, should
allow the fridge to fit height wise. Use some aluminum and line the compartment so air can get in the outside wall vent and go out the roof.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

 

[Matt Colie]

Rich,

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

Hang on tight, you have just become a part of a most amazing community. Did you know that you have a couple thousand brand new old friends?
You will soon realize that one of the values of your coach is not that it is an big new toy, but it is the connection to this virtually world wide
community.

When you ask questions here, you will get real answers. This may start some discussion, and if it does, read it all. We have a lot of people that
write here that have an amazing amount of experience. The one way to annoy these people is to not read the advice given. Most of it is based on
significant experience.

Speaking of that, you may have noticed (or will soon) that we all run pretty complete sigfiles. As you seem to be working the e-mail side of this
list, (many others run the forum, I do both) you may have to add this to a posting yourself. Your start is good, but please include a geographic
reference so that someone that might be able to supply local support can do so. That is not uncommon in this family.

The damage you describe is common with water infiltration. If the coach was somewhere that there were freeze/thaw cycles, that will tear things up
real good. One thing that you should be aware of is that these coaches were designed from the ground up. You say you intend to refurbish it. A
first bit of advice, get it functional and enjoy it. The particle board that swelled and came apart can still be used as a template to cut the
replacement. We see a large number of "remodeled" coaches. Not many are actual improvements. We also hear of many that were stripped out so the
owner could do whatever. Those that are still drivable get sold off cheap. Those that were not maintained get sold as scrap.

You say that you have never had an absorption refrigerator before. Well, if you don't want to start now and don't feel like laying out the money,
look for a dorm reefer that will fit in the hole and push it in there with a piece of line to hold it closed and in while driving. If you are going
to travel and not dry camp much, get a 50$ inverter (1500 surge) to run it when you are not on shore power. When the final design is stable, then
spring for the other reefer.

Do you have all of the desired service/maintenance/operation documentation? If not, go over to GMCMI and find it there to download. Speaking of
which, if you are in range (Tank Range will be 450+/- miles), and can make it to Mansfield OH in early August, DO IT.

Now, I told you about this amazing community of supportive and helping people that you are now a part of, so take that as full value. I only know of
one other community like this and that is that of the watermen of my world. For that reason, I like to welcome new owners here much as one would be
there. So,

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

Welcome Rich

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

 

[john r. lebetski]

Mansfield Fall GMC convention is actually 10/4-10 August is registration
There are Norcold install pics on gmcmhphotos.com. Venting and rear baffling is important to generate good convection to pull cool air in through
lower vent.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

 

[Matt Colie]

> Mansfield Fall GMC convention is actually 10/4-10 August is registration
> There are Norcold install pics on gmcmhphotos.com. Venting and rear baffling is important to generate good convection to pull cool air in through
> lower vent.

Thanks John,

This was the end of a long day......
I have August stuck in my brain because that is my current target for being back on the road.

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