Successful rescue

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hal stclair

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We bought a 1975 EL II in Quartzsite,AZ that had been sitting for an unknown time. The person we bought it from owned it for the last 10 years but had
purchased it from a shop where it had been abandoned so no telling how long it has been sitting..
The person we purchased it from had started a refurb but ran out of ambition. It has a new refer that had never been started, redone headliner which
after most of 10 years in Quartzsite weather now needs a re redo and a cork floor about 80% completed. He did put a kit in the carb and a new battery
and was able to get it running, if barely.
Anyway, found an issue with the carb, added a little brake fluid, PS oil, front diff gear oil and antifreeze, changed oil, plug wires, packed rear
bearings lubed bogey pins and front end, added a pair of fuel filters and installed the new tires I brought along. Now that was a long days work for
an old fella. Then drove it 650 miles without a hitch. My guarding angle must have been working overtime.
Didn't seem to use any oil but sure is a thirsty beast-6 to 7.3 mpg.. Did have a lot of wind and of course the hills but it sure isn't like the diesel
for economy.
Anyway, time to get after it so our daughter can start enjoying the GMC way of travel. Need to decide weather to keep the 455 in her or instal the 403
I had planned on using.
Hal

--
1977 Royale 101348,

1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,

1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
 
> We bought a 1975 EL II in Quartzsite,AZ that had been sitting for an unknown time. The person we bought it from owned it for the last 10 years but
> had purchased it from a shop where it had been abandoned so no telling how long it has been sitting..
> The person we purchased it from had started a refurb but ran out of ambition. It has a new refer that had never been started, redone headliner
> which after most of 10 years in Quartzsite weather now needs a re redo and a cork floor about 80% completed. He did put a kit in the carb and a new
> battery and was able to get it running, if barely.
> Anyway, found an issue with the carb, added a little brake fluid, PS oil, front diff gear oil and antifreeze, changed oil, plug wires, packed rear
> bearings lubed bogey pins and front end, added a pair of fuel filters and installed the new tires I brought along. Now that was a long days work for
> an old fella. Then drove it 650 miles without a hitch. My guarding angle must have been working overtime.
> Didn't seem to use any oil but sure is a thirsty beast-6 to 7.3 mpg.. Did have a lot of wind and of course the hills but it sure isn't like the
> diesel for economy.
> Anyway, time to get after it so our daughter can start enjoying the GMC way of travel. Need to decide weather to keep the 455 in her or instal the
> 403 I had planned on using.
> Hal
It doesn't use oil. Save yourself some work. Leave the 455 in it.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Every day I become more convinced that I am the only person left on the planet that recognizes nonsense for what it is."
 
Impressive Hal.

Sent from my iPhone

>
> We bought a 1975 EL II in Quartzsite,AZ that had been sitting for an unknown time. The person we bought it from owned it for the last 10 years but had
> purchased it from a shop where it had been abandoned so no telling how long it has been sitting..
> The person we purchased it from had started a refurb but ran out of ambition. It has a new refer that had never been started, redone headliner which
> after most of 10 years in Quartzsite weather now needs a re redo and a cork floor about 80% completed. He did put a kit in the carb and a new battery
> and was able to get it running, if barely.
> Anyway, found an issue with the carb, added a little brake fluid, PS oil, front diff gear oil and antifreeze, changed oil, plug wires, packed rear
> bearings lubed bogey pins and front end, added a pair of fuel filters and installed the new tires I brought along. Now that was a long days work for
> an old fella. Then drove it 650 miles without a hitch. My guarding angle must have been working overtime.
> Didn't seem to use any oil but sure is a thirsty beast-6 to 7.3 mpg.. Did have a lot of wind and of course the hills but it sure isn't like the diesel
> for economy.
> Anyway, time to get after it so our daughter can start enjoying the GMC way of travel. Need to decide weather to keep the 455 in her or instal the 403
> I had planned on using.
> Hal
>
> --
> 1977 Royale 101348,
>
> 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
>
> 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
That's exactly what I've been doing this weekend everything except the gear oil in front diff missed that one it's been sitting for years been driving it around after all the work had it up to 65 for a while but don't think I'll be hitting that mark going home just want to get there fingers crossed

Sent from my iPad

>
> Impressive Hal.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>

>>
>> We bought a 1975 EL II in Quartzsite,AZ that had been sitting for an unknown time. The person we bought it from owned it for the last 10 years but had
>> purchased it from a shop where it had been abandoned so no telling how long it has been sitting..
>> The person we purchased it from had started a refurb but ran out of ambition. It has a new refer that had never been started, redone headliner which
>> after most of 10 years in Quartzsite weather now needs a re redo and a cork floor about 80% completed. He did put a kit in the carb and a new battery
>> and was able to get it running, if barely.
>> Anyway, found an issue with the carb, added a little brake fluid, PS oil, front diff gear oil and antifreeze, changed oil, plug wires, packed rear
>> bearings lubed bogey pins and front end, added a pair of fuel filters and installed the new tires I brought along. Now that was a long days work for
>> an old fella. Then drove it 650 miles without a hitch. My guarding angle must have been working overtime.
>> Didn't seem to use any oil but sure is a thirsty beast-6 to 7.3 mpg.. Did have a lot of wind and of course the hills but it sure isn't like the diesel
>> for economy.
>> Anyway, time to get after it so our daughter can start enjoying the GMC way of travel. Need to decide weather to keep the 455 in her or instal the 403
>> I had planned on using.
>> Hal
>>
>> --
>> 1977 Royale 101348,
>>
>> 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
>>
>> 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
 
Glad I checked the diff, it took a good 24 oz's of gear oil.
Hal
--
1977 Royale 101348,

1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,

1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
 
> Glad I checked the diff, it took a good 24 oz's of gear oil.
> Hal

From someone else's personal experience an empty FD is good for about 80 miles IIRC.
--
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
 
If it isn't using oil and pulls well, I'd attack the low mileage and keep the 455.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
I'm leaning that direction Johnny. I never put a timing light on it and never heard any pinging, of course I don't hear so good no moe. I do have an
old FI system a friend gave me that he had on his GMC years ago that I might throw on it. Kind of trying to keep the whole thing low budget as I'm not
sure if our daughter will be into the GMC mindset. I will be installing the complete front suspension with one ton I removed from the pre diesel
coach. Everthing was new so it should help the wander lust she had on the rescue trip. Can't complain about the $1000 coach price though, the new
refer was worth that price alone. It even came with 4 good spare air bags
Hal
--
1977 Royale 101348,

1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,

1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
 
One GMC unit with the most expensive appliance new and spare bags, you didn't get hurt. Have you considered a >good< rebuild on the carburetor? My
carbureted coach got so much better mileage than the MSD 26', I can't sell the difference to size. Once the transmission goes back in, I'm going to
be looking for better mileage. I'd be very interested in your results.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
The carb just had TWO kits installed. When I went to pick it up I found an 1/8" pipe lug missing from the base plate of the carb. Put in a plug and
it idled nice and smooth. The former owner and the friend who had just rebuilt the carb looked at each other with shock on their faces. I wouldn't be
surprised if that was the problem from the get go and the owner previous to him couldn't get it running and abandoned the coach.
Anyway, looking through some of the old paperwork I find the motor had been rebuilt with the crank turned 10/10 ,.030 over pistons, line bored and
decked along with the rods being resized. Heads were also completely redone along with a Cloyes chain set. So the 113,000 on the odometer isn't a true
indicator of the miles. Besides, the odo is reading about 20% fast as it looks like it has a 3.21 gear set in it. Work was done late 1991 but it may
have been parked since about 2001.
Whish I had a little more detailed information though as I sure others in the same situation would.
Hal
--
1977 Royale 101348,

1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,

1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout
 
Like I said, rebuild it correctly and sounds like you've got a winner.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
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