Walter...
Thanks for the great trip report. Good news to all, I'm sure!
Regards,
John 74 Glacier DC GMC
Thanks for the great trip report. Good news to all, I'm sure!
Regards,
John 74 Glacier DC GMC
On the Road Again
- Thread starter john dolan
- Start date
Hello all;
Just wanted to mention I have successfully crossed the bulk of the
country for the first time, fully loaded (the GM), and it is now resting
comfortably in Jackson, Wyoming, 3,000 miles downrange. I can't imagine
anything I could do to make it run better. It started and ran flawlessly.
Its steering also proved super. Fuel economy ranged from 10.4 to a high of
11.9 mpg (between Columbus and Davenport). I easily made 500+ miles
non-stop between fuel stops with plenty to spare every time. This was
significantly higher than the back road trip I took in July thru PA & NY
where I got only 8.96 mpg. All this is on tires inflated to 80#, 100%
Mobil-1 lubricants, a 3.07 final drive & a quadrajet too. I don't have an
exact average mpg right now, but by inspection, I know the average mpg is
over 11. I checked the oil until Iowa. It was not necessary. After 3,000
miles, it has used less than a quart. No other fluids were consumed.
Thanks to this forum, I replaced the OEM temp sensor. The NAPA sender DID
move above the 1/4 mark. The old one never did. My transmission temp was
not as low as I would like, but it does not appear to be a big deal. On
grades, it would peak as high as 215-220. It did run 170-190 on the level
most of the time & in Wyo., were it was cooler, so was it on average.
The only problem, the Onan starter sticks in on. The starter keeps running
after letting go of the start button, even after the thing starts running.
Hitting shut down for a second is enough to disengage it. Anyone have that
one before?
My favorite GMC things:
1) The ride on new asphalt which was ethereal. 2) Those windows. 3) The
engine assist hot water heater. 4) The Olds 455/THM425 drivetrain. Before
this trip, I was not sure the 455 was the best engine choice (at least for
me) and was moving forward with plans to build a new engine based on one of
the new castings available as the basis of my 455 replacement. Not anymore.
I can't tell you just how dead this idea is with me now.
I saw 6 GMs so far. 2 E-IIs together on I-80 headed east near Omaha 8/19.
Another E-II near Cheyenne Wyo. on I-80, 8/20. On 8/22, I saw a real mod one
from Idaho in Colter Bay, Grand Teton NP. It was white flip/flop paint with
free-form purple, magenta and aqua strips. It had a pick up truck rear
bumper and a real mod front treatment like the front on the Coach Jim Bounds
did on the net. It also had non-Alcoa Aluminum wheels (neither the LTS or
the classic) w/Wrangler tires. Anyone we know? 8/27 there was a Colorado
PB w/classic Alcoas in Moose, Wyo. Finally, a tan E-II? in Idaho Falls
heading N on I-15 9/5. Didn't get to talk to any of their owners.
Now that I am sure there are no mechanical problems, I am going to
concentrate on cosmetics, especially interior mods this next year.
I am also going to see if I can make it to a day or two at Albuquerque or
Iowa depending on my schedule on the way home.
Thanks to all who have given me support and guidance over the past year here
on the net that allowed me to get the warm & fussy to take the plunge,
purchase my GM and get it to this point. walter bright 76 GB.
Just wanted to mention I have successfully crossed the bulk of the
country for the first time, fully loaded (the GM), and it is now resting
comfortably in Jackson, Wyoming, 3,000 miles downrange. I can't imagine
anything I could do to make it run better. It started and ran flawlessly.
Its steering also proved super. Fuel economy ranged from 10.4 to a high of
11.9 mpg (between Columbus and Davenport). I easily made 500+ miles
non-stop between fuel stops with plenty to spare every time. This was
significantly higher than the back road trip I took in July thru PA & NY
where I got only 8.96 mpg. All this is on tires inflated to 80#, 100%
Mobil-1 lubricants, a 3.07 final drive & a quadrajet too. I don't have an
exact average mpg right now, but by inspection, I know the average mpg is
over 11. I checked the oil until Iowa. It was not necessary. After 3,000
miles, it has used less than a quart. No other fluids were consumed.
Thanks to this forum, I replaced the OEM temp sensor. The NAPA sender DID
move above the 1/4 mark. The old one never did. My transmission temp was
not as low as I would like, but it does not appear to be a big deal. On
grades, it would peak as high as 215-220. It did run 170-190 on the level
most of the time & in Wyo., were it was cooler, so was it on average.
The only problem, the Onan starter sticks in on. The starter keeps running
after letting go of the start button, even after the thing starts running.
Hitting shut down for a second is enough to disengage it. Anyone have that
one before?
My favorite GMC things:
1) The ride on new asphalt which was ethereal. 2) Those windows. 3) The
engine assist hot water heater. 4) The Olds 455/THM425 drivetrain. Before
this trip, I was not sure the 455 was the best engine choice (at least for
me) and was moving forward with plans to build a new engine based on one of
the new castings available as the basis of my 455 replacement. Not anymore.
I can't tell you just how dead this idea is with me now.
I saw 6 GMs so far. 2 E-IIs together on I-80 headed east near Omaha 8/19.
Another E-II near Cheyenne Wyo. on I-80, 8/20. On 8/22, I saw a real mod one
from Idaho in Colter Bay, Grand Teton NP. It was white flip/flop paint with
free-form purple, magenta and aqua strips. It had a pick up truck rear
bumper and a real mod front treatment like the front on the Coach Jim Bounds
did on the net. It also had non-Alcoa Aluminum wheels (neither the LTS or
the classic) w/Wrangler tires. Anyone we know? 8/27 there was a Colorado
PB w/classic Alcoas in Moose, Wyo. Finally, a tan E-II? in Idaho Falls
heading N on I-15 9/5. Didn't get to talk to any of their owners.
Now that I am sure there are no mechanical problems, I am going to
concentrate on cosmetics, especially interior mods this next year.
I am also going to see if I can make it to a day or two at Albuquerque or
Iowa depending on my schedule on the way home.
Thanks to all who have given me support and guidance over the past year here
on the net that allowed me to get the warm & fussy to take the plunge,
purchase my GM and get it to this point. walter bright 76 GB.
Mine did exactrly that --- I tore down the solenoid and found that the grease in
it had turned to a solid and prevented the gear from disengaging. Cleaning it
up and new grease made it work like new (almost).
Gary
North Bend, Oregon Coast
> In a message dated 9/12/99 12:43:46 PM Central Daylight Time, wtb58
>
> after letting go of the start button, even after the thing starts running.
> Hitting shut down for a second is enough to disengage it. Anyone have that
> one before? >>
>
> You did good, Walter. Took me 10,000 miles to go it solo (without the rear
> end of a wrecker as scenery).
>
> You might check your Onan starter bracket - I had to make a shim for one of
> mine to make the bendix line up with the flywheel so as to engage and
> disengage properly. If it goes in at an angle it can bind and not disengage
> freely.
>
> That's what mine did.....That's what I did........No more problems.
>
> Lanier
it had turned to a solid and prevented the gear from disengaging. Cleaning it
up and new grease made it work like new (almost).
Gary
North Bend, Oregon Coast
> In a message dated 9/12/99 12:43:46 PM Central Daylight Time, wtb58
>
> after letting go of the start button, even after the thing starts running.
> Hitting shut down for a second is enough to disengage it. Anyone have that
> one before? >>
>
> You did good, Walter. Took me 10,000 miles to go it solo (without the rear
> end of a wrecker as scenery).
>
> You might check your Onan starter bracket - I had to make a shim for one of
> mine to make the bendix line up with the flywheel so as to engage and
> disengage properly. If it goes in at an angle it can bind and not disengage
> freely.
>
> That's what mine did.....That's what I did........No more problems.
>
> Lanier
Be sure the Cast is not cracked or resting heavily on the bottom of the
drawer.
I had broken mine once and I ultimately cut the bottom of the drawer so that
the bracket (Cast) would not rest on the drawer bottom.
Usually the symptom is starter no engaging or angaging noisily, but you
never know
Just a thought.
Heinz
- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To: ;
Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 1:53 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: On the Road Again
> Hi Lanier!;
> >
> > You did good, Walter. Took me 10,000 miles to go it solo (without the
rear
> > end of a wrecker as scenery).
>
> Thanks for the kind words. It was a relief that all went well. I had
> spent 100's of hours in its procurement and prep to assure myself the
thing
> would work.
>
> >
> > You might check your Onan starter bracket - I had to make a shim for one
> of
> > mine to make the bendix line up with the flywheel so as to engage and
> > disengage properly. If it goes in at an angle it can bind and not
> disengage
> > freely.
>
> Thanks again, I never would have thought of this. To me, the Onan is an
> enigma wrapped in paradox. I thought the problem was control board
related.
> It will crank indefinitly once you touch either the remote or the Onan
> mounted start button. In other words, if the engine don't start running,
> once you push the start button, it cranks till doomsday even if you
release
> the start button. When it starts, it keeps cranking too unless you push
the
> stop direction on the toggle.
>
> walter bright 76 GB
>
>
>
drawer.
I had broken mine once and I ultimately cut the bottom of the drawer so that
the bracket (Cast) would not rest on the drawer bottom.
Usually the symptom is starter no engaging or angaging noisily, but you
never know
Just a thought.
Heinz
- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To: ;
Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 1:53 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: On the Road Again
> Hi Lanier!;
> >
> > You did good, Walter. Took me 10,000 miles to go it solo (without the
rear
> > end of a wrecker as scenery).
>
> Thanks for the kind words. It was a relief that all went well. I had
> spent 100's of hours in its procurement and prep to assure myself the
thing
> would work.
>
> >
> > You might check your Onan starter bracket - I had to make a shim for one
> of
> > mine to make the bendix line up with the flywheel so as to engage and
> > disengage properly. If it goes in at an angle it can bind and not
> disengage
> > freely.
>
> Thanks again, I never would have thought of this. To me, the Onan is an
> enigma wrapped in paradox. I thought the problem was control board
related.
> It will crank indefinitly once you touch either the remote or the Onan
> mounted start button. In other words, if the engine don't start running,
> once you push the start button, it cranks till doomsday even if you
release
> the start button. When it starts, it keeps cranking too unless you push
the
> stop direction on the toggle.
>
> walter bright 76 GB
>
>
>
Hi Lanier!;
>
> You did good, Walter. Took me 10,000 miles to go it solo (without the rear
> end of a wrecker as scenery).
Thanks for the kind words. It was a relief that all went well. I had
spent 100's of hours in its procurement and prep to assure myself the thing
would work.
>
> You might check your Onan starter bracket - I had to make a shim for one
of
> mine to make the bendix line up with the flywheel so as to engage and
> disengage properly. If it goes in at an angle it can bind and not
disengage
> freely.
Thanks again, I never would have thought of this. To me, the Onan is an
enigma wrapped in paradox. I thought the problem was control board related.
It will crank indefinitly once you touch either the remote or the Onan
mounted start button. In other words, if the engine don't start running,
once you push the start button, it cranks till doomsday even if you release
the start button. When it starts, it keeps cranking too unless you push the
stop direction on the toggle.
walter bright 76 GB
>
> You did good, Walter. Took me 10,000 miles to go it solo (without the rear
> end of a wrecker as scenery).
Thanks for the kind words. It was a relief that all went well. I had
spent 100's of hours in its procurement and prep to assure myself the thing
would work.
>
> You might check your Onan starter bracket - I had to make a shim for one
of
> mine to make the bendix line up with the flywheel so as to engage and
> disengage properly. If it goes in at an angle it can bind and not
disengage
> freely.
Thanks again, I never would have thought of this. To me, the Onan is an
enigma wrapped in paradox. I thought the problem was control board related.
It will crank indefinitly once you touch either the remote or the Onan
mounted start button. In other words, if the engine don't start running,
once you push the start button, it cranks till doomsday even if you release
the start button. When it starts, it keeps cranking too unless you push the
stop direction on the toggle.
walter bright 76 GB
>Be sure the Cast is not cracked or resting heavily on the bottom of the
>drawer.
>I had broken mine once and I ultimately cut the bottom of the drawer so
that
>the bracket (Cast) would not rest on the drawer bottom.
I was having problems with excessive noise from the Onan. Especially when
shutting it down. It took a while to figure out that the bottom of the
genset was banging on the bottom of the drawer. I guess I caught it before
anything was damaged. A couple new motor mounts in the front fixed it up
nicely.
Dave
Ann Arbor, MI.
73 Sequoia (26'/455/EFI/HEI)
>drawer.
>I had broken mine once and I ultimately cut the bottom of the drawer so
that
>the bracket (Cast) would not rest on the drawer bottom.
I was having problems with excessive noise from the Onan. Especially when
shutting it down. It took a while to figure out that the bottom of the
genset was banging on the bottom of the drawer. I guess I caught it before
anything was damaged. A couple new motor mounts in the front fixed it up
nicely.
Dave
Ann Arbor, MI.
73 Sequoia (26'/455/EFI/HEI)
