New to me 1977 Palm Beach

T

tim burkhalter

New member
Jul 27, 2018
3
0
0
I found what I consider to be a super mint of a Palm Beach. Nearly all completely original with a few (very few) things updated as it went along, and
it all worked! 34000 miles. I couldn't help it! I got exactly what I thought I was getting when I took it home too! Everything worked fine on the test
drive/inspection and the first 40 miles taking it home went without issue. Get about 10 miles from home and the power steering gearbox blows what I
presume to be the top seal (I'll find out tomorrow when I tear into it), the dash ac blows all the coolant out (I expect a hose blew, new compressor
and dryer installed the week before so I hope they did that part right), the generator wouldn't stay running on the road (since fixed with a simple
oil change). To top it all off the entire 95 mile trip was on 27 year old tires (soon to be replaced, obviously)! I knew what I was getting into and I
wasn't disappointed. The ride is phenomenal for what it is! I can not wait to get out and about and draw people in with the uniqueness that is a GMCMH
(especially with all that green)!

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g7169-as-was.html
 
TimB,

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

Your coach is a beauty, but don't run out and buy tires until you have done some looking. She looks like she still has the stock steel 16.5 wheels.
I was told by a friend at Firestone, that he knew of no plan to discontinue the 8.50*16.5, but that we should expect less dealer stock and fewer
production runs. He retired a while back and I have lost track of him. Consider buying alloy 16" wheels. If you hunt up used truck rims, they may
be in bad shape and by the time you get them cleaned up, you will be near the cost of alloy.

I see you are working the forum, you should be aware that the half that read this as e-mail don't get to see the header that says Hereford. That
means that something you should do right now would be to load a sigfile with what is important. It should have your name (so when you meet others
they know who you are) a bit about the coach (so you don't have to keep repeating 77PB) and as it is a 77, that should include 403/455 so we all know.
And lastly, a note about Hereford, TX so some of the new friends know where you are.

To create a sigfile, go to and scroll down. You will see it. When done, scroll down more to .
Speaking of friends, by finding your way here, you just collected a couple of thousand brand new old friends. Watch out for these people, they all
have a not so hidden agenda. That agenda is to see that you get to enjoy what your coach can do for you as much as we all know. If one of the
masters here offers advice, take it to the bank. There is experience here at a level that is difficult for a normal (no offense intended) human to
grasp. You will soon understand the GMC owners are different than most.

This is a rare community, these are helping and supportive people like you may not know the like of. I do, they are much like the watermen that are
my world. For that reason, I like to welcome new owners here much as any new owner or vessel is welcomed there. So,

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

Welcome TimB,
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
 
Tim,

Welcome aboard. Hope we'll get to meet you at the GMCMI Convention in
Amana, IA, Sep 21-27.

About that blown steering box seal: The most likely cause for it is the
inline filter at the windshield wiper motor. That's the 3" piece of brass
pipe that's immediately visible when you open the driver's side hood. It
contains a fine mesh screen. When it's blocked, the 1200-1500 psi sent to
the power steering box by the pump has no way to return to the pump, so it
works on that seal. You can try removing and washing the filter to clean
the screen. If that doesn't work, you can punch the screen out, but should
add a readily available inline filter in the 3/8" ID return hose. That, or
completely eliminate the wiper motor by installing my electric wiper
upgrade.

When you replace that steering box seal, be VERY careful to maintain the
original alignment of the steering shaft with the input shaft on the box.
DO NOT move the input shaft while replacing the seal, otherwise you're very
likely to wind up with the frequently experienced off-center steering box
and "squirrely" steering. When you THINK you've got the steering shaft
back on the input shaft, insert a 27/64" drill bit shank through the bolt
hole in the clamp. If that doesn't fit, you've gotten misaligned by 1 or
more splines; fix it. When you install and tighten the clamp bolt, make it
TIGHT. I don't remember the torque spec. -- probably 65-70 lb-ft. It will
be difficult to overtighten it; if you do, replace it with a Grade 8 bolt.
More than one steering box and lower U-joint have been ruined by looseness
of that clamp -- a potentially dangerous situation.

HTH,

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, Troy-Bilt APU, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com

> I found what I consider to be a super mint of a Palm Beach. Nearly all
> completely original with a few (very few) things updated as it went along,
> and
> it all worked! 34000 miles. I couldn't help it! I got exactly what I
> thought I was getting when I took it home too! Everything worked fine on
> the test
> drive/inspection and the first 40 miles taking it home went without issue.
> Get about 10 miles from home and the power steering gearbox blows what I
> presume to be the top seal (I'll find out tomorrow when I tear into it),
> the dash ac blows all the coolant out (I expect a hose blew, new compressor
> and dryer installed the week before so I hope they did that part right),
> the generator wouldn't stay running on the road (since fixed with a simple
> oil change). To top it all off the entire 95 mile trip was on 27 year old
> tires (soon to be replaced, obviously)! I knew what I was getting into and I
> wasn't disappointed. The ride is phenomenal for what it is! I can not wait
> to get out and about and draw people in with the uniqueness that is a GMCMH
> (especially with all that green)!
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g7169-as-was.html
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
29/64

> Tim,
>
> Welcome aboard. Hope we'll get to meet you at the GMCMI Convention in
> Amana, IA, Sep 21-27.
>
> About that blown steering box seal: The most likely cause for it is the
> inline filter at the windshield wiper motor. That's the 3" piece of brass
> pipe that's immediately visible when you open the driver's side hood. It
> contains a fine mesh screen. When it's blocked, the 1200-1500 psi sent to
> the power steering box by the pump has no way to return to the pump, so it
> works on that seal. You can try removing and washing the filter to clean
> the screen. If that doesn't work, you can punch the screen out, but should
> add a readily available inline filter in the 3/8" ID return hose. That, or
> completely eliminate the wiper motor by installing my electric wiper
> upgrade.
>
> When you replace that steering box seal, be VERY careful to maintain the
> original alignment of the steering shaft with the input shaft on the box.
> DO NOT move the input shaft while replacing the seal, otherwise you're very
> likely to wind up with the frequently experienced off-center steering box
> and "squirrely" steering. When you THINK you've got the steering shaft
> back on the input shaft, insert a 27/64" drill bit shank through the bolt
> hole in the clamp. If that doesn't fit, you've gotten misaligned by 1 or
> more splines; fix it. When you install and tighten the clamp bolt, make it
> TIGHT. I don't remember the torque spec. -- probably 65-70 lb-ft. It will
> be difficult to overtighten it; if you do, replace it with a Grade 8 bolt.
> More than one steering box and lower U-joint have been ruined by looseness
> of that clamp -- a potentially dangerous situation.
>
> HTH,
>
> Ken H.
> Americus, GA
> '76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
> Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, Troy-Bilt APU, etc., etc., etc.
> www.gmcwipersetc.com
>
>

>
> > I found what I consider to be a super mint of a Palm Beach. Nearly all
> > completely original with a few (very few) things updated as it went along,
> > and
> > it all worked! 34000 miles. I couldn't help it! I got exactly what I
> > thought I was getting when I took it home too! Everything worked fine on
> > the test
> > drive/inspection and the first 40 miles taking it home went without issue.
> > Get about 10 miles from home and the power steering gearbox blows what I
> > presume to be the top seal (I'll find out tomorrow when I tear into it),
> > the dash ac blows all the coolant out (I expect a hose blew, new compressor
> > and dryer installed the week before so I hope they did that part right),
> > the generator wouldn't stay running on the road (since fixed with a simple
> > oil change). To top it all off the entire 95 mile trip was on 27 year old
> > tires (soon to be replaced, obviously)! I knew what I was getting into and I
> > wasn't disappointed. The ride is phenomenal for what it is! I can not wait
> > to get out and about and draw people in with the uniqueness that is a GMCMH
> > (especially with all that green)!
> >
> > http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g7169-as-was.html
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
 
Ooops!
Ken H.

On Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 10:22 PM Charles Boyd
wrote:

> 29/64
>

> >
> ...
>

When you THINK you've got the steering shaft
> > back on the input shaft, insert a 27/64" drill bit shank through the bolt
> > hole in the clamp. If that doesn't fit, you've gotten misaligned by 1 or
> > more splines; fix it. When you install and tighten the clamp bolt, make
> it
> > TIGHT.
>

...
 
Indeed! The top seal was the culprit. The washer filter was indeed plugged. I just punched it out and put a new serviceable filter in the return line.
After replacing the top seal and putting it all back together...whalla! No more leak! As for the tires, I'm just going to replace with Firestone's all
around for now. That's enough cash outlay on shoes for now! I'll save up for next time and the possibility of replacement wheels. Tomorrow it gets a
replacement power converter and then it'll be at least road worthy enough for a trip to the tire shop. It's only a couple miles away.

I've been snooping around on here for a while as a guest and I've come to realize the enormous amount of knowledge, experience and ingenuity! I'll
glean what I can and gain my own experience to share with others along the way. Thanks to all and I look forward to meeting you when our paths cross!!
 
Wow Ken, since yesterday you have became a "delbert lecky via gmc" on the Forum. Puts you with Emery and Jerry.

> Ooops!
> Ken H.
>
> On Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 10:22 PM Charles Boyd

>
> > 29/64
> >

> >>
> > ...
> >
>
> When you THINK you've got the steering shaft
> >> back on the input shaft, insert a 27/64" drill bit shank through the bolt
> >> hole in the clamp. If that doesn't fit, you've gotten misaligned by 1 or
> >> more splines; fix it. When you install and tighten the clamp bolt, make
> > it
> >> TIGHT.
> >
>
> ...
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
 
Tim,

I failed to emphasize, as I should have, seating the seal retaining ring
securely. I failed to do that a few years back. Made it all the way from
GA to Vancouver Island before the seal popped out. I wound up driving
without PS for over 80 miles before getting the box rebuilt by Redhead in
Seattle.

Ken "delbert leckey" H.

> Indeed! The top seal was the culprit. The washer filter was indeed
> plugged.

...
 
Sorry Ken,

You are not one of the lucky emailers. You are coming through as Ken Henderson. Not delbert.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Get your shine on at www.cruzingear.co
GMCMI Fall 2026 Rally

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back