I just returned from an 700 mile round trip from Pleasant Hill (near San
Francisco) to Ventura (just North of L.A.) and back on Highway 101. I am
happy to report no problems. Drove a relatively slow 55-65. Used 1 quart
of oil, 87 octane gas with no pinging, and got about 9 mpg. This was my
first trip in the GMC (26' 1976 Royale).
Prior to this trip I replaced the wheel bearings on all six wheels. I
used Tom Warner's puller and had no problems, a very nice tool which
worked as advertised but the removal and replacement of the front wheel
bearings required a bit more muscle than I had expected. On the trip
back after driving for 2 hours I placed my hand on each wheel and found
the front and center wheels (Alcoas with G159 tires) to be warm, the
rear wheels on both sides were noticeably warmer, almost too hot to hold
hand on wheel near hub. 200 miles later all wheels just warm. Perhaps
new brakes dragging? Parking brake too tight? will check.
I broke my original oil dipstick trying to bend it to make it slide more
easily. I noted that after this trip my new dipstick is now discolored,
as if heated with a torch, at about the point it goes behind the exhaust
manifold. I have to think about this.
I had a shop do the usual front end work. They assured me that the
resulting steering feel and ride was just the way GMCs are. I
subsequently swore that no one else would touch my GMC in the future and
replace the steering gear with an NAPA box, replaced the steering
damper, replaced the original steel wheels with Alcoa aluminum wheels,
replaced the tires with GoodYear G159. The steering is better, at least
not dangerous, but I am still not happy, there is at least an inch of
play at the steering wheel which makes me work like a kid in a toy car
to keep it approximately in my lane. This is not over yet.
In all these miles and hours of driving, one time only and for no known
reason the windshield wiper made one slow swipe across the windshield
and back. It never rained on this entire trip and I never touched the
wiper control. Gremlins? More later. Jerry.
Francisco) to Ventura (just North of L.A.) and back on Highway 101. I am
happy to report no problems. Drove a relatively slow 55-65. Used 1 quart
of oil, 87 octane gas with no pinging, and got about 9 mpg. This was my
first trip in the GMC (26' 1976 Royale).
Prior to this trip I replaced the wheel bearings on all six wheels. I
used Tom Warner's puller and had no problems, a very nice tool which
worked as advertised but the removal and replacement of the front wheel
bearings required a bit more muscle than I had expected. On the trip
back after driving for 2 hours I placed my hand on each wheel and found
the front and center wheels (Alcoas with G159 tires) to be warm, the
rear wheels on both sides were noticeably warmer, almost too hot to hold
hand on wheel near hub. 200 miles later all wheels just warm. Perhaps
new brakes dragging? Parking brake too tight? will check.
I broke my original oil dipstick trying to bend it to make it slide more
easily. I noted that after this trip my new dipstick is now discolored,
as if heated with a torch, at about the point it goes behind the exhaust
manifold. I have to think about this.
I had a shop do the usual front end work. They assured me that the
resulting steering feel and ride was just the way GMCs are. I
subsequently swore that no one else would touch my GMC in the future and
replace the steering gear with an NAPA box, replaced the steering
damper, replaced the original steel wheels with Alcoa aluminum wheels,
replaced the tires with GoodYear G159. The steering is better, at least
not dangerous, but I am still not happy, there is at least an inch of
play at the steering wheel which makes me work like a kid in a toy car
to keep it approximately in my lane. This is not over yet.
In all these miles and hours of driving, one time only and for no known
reason the windshield wiper made one slow swipe across the windshield
and back. It never rained on this entire trip and I never touched the
wiper control. Gremlins? More later. Jerry.
