have you
looked at the GMC? There must be something to them because one just passed
me (in his 34 Southwind) going about 70 [unquote].
He then went on to tell me about their engine and how good it was (he has
two toras for some reason. I went looking around Ontario and on the Net.
Found one in the south, I bought it sight unseen (except for pictures), and
on the say so of the owner as to what was right or wrong with it.
I flew south with a buddy, spent a day with the owner going over
everything, then got in started the engine and drove 1,000 back (forgetting
everything the former owner told me) to Toronto. Because it had to be
safety checked for the new plates, I took it to Dick Paterson. Three new
tires, tuneup, new muffler system front to back and some small odds and
ends, I got it plated and haven't had any "real" problems since. I have
only put another 1,000 miles on it, as I can only use it on weekends
(sometimes). That's the problem with full time work, it gets in the way of fun.
We bought this size/type of coach because we want to find out if we like to
cruise (we come from power boats so we have long since got over the space
problems), because if so upon retirement, we will do some serious traveling
by motorhome. So far, we love the GMC. Great size, easy to drive, etc.
I tell you all this because sometimes when one follows the chat here, one
could maybe get the feeling that you have to be a major mechanic, or a
died-in-the-wool fixer to own a GMC. That could scare many, if not most,
new or potential new owners away. I wonder what I would have thought if I
had seen this discussion group prior to purchasing (but then again I'm a
dive in a try guy). Now that I know it isn't all doom and gloom, only
discussion about some problems that may crop up, I look for stuff that
interests me, or I need. Because of this group, I got to know Jim Bounds
(by telephone that is), and have resolved some minor, but important issues,
and made some purchases from him. I didn't know how I was going to resolve
the inside engine hatch "lifting" problem until Darren Paget came up with
the bolts that worked great. I have figured out how I want to re-do the
rear bedroom because of help from here, and I have got a binder full of
ideas from the pictures and posting about other how to's, almost none have
to do with the engine. I took out extra trip insurance for on-the-road
assistance, and someone else will have to fix the engine if and when it
breaks, the front bearings, if an when they break, etc. That's no different
than my wife's '73 Mercedes 450 SLC (which is now for sale). When it
breaks, a tow truck picks it up and takes it to the operating room. Not
all, and I suspect most not most of us are mechanics. Now if you want to
discuss the psychology of attracting an audience to a radio station, it
could get downright nasty.
I post this long message, only to show (especially those lurking like I do
most times) that there are a lot of things you can get from this discussion
group, but don't get discouraged because of some heavy "discussions" about
torque converters ballooning (would have thought you ballooned using "hot
air").
Chuck
'76 Eleganza II
Toronto, ON
