Mike,
As a side thought - the blow-out damage may be covered
by the tire mfg. Dave G had Bridgestone pay over $900 for
his repairs.
It sure does not hurt to ask.
FYI
Mike F.
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto
wner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of MR
EUGENE R
FISHER
Sent: Monday, May 24, 1999 5:01 AM
To: michael.andrews;
gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: --TIRE SEPARATION---
- -- [ From: Eugene Fisher * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
I guess the burning question is, (if you want to say) what tires
do you
have? Manuf, size, pressue, age??
We want to know if we are at risk
gene
- -------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Sunday, 23-May-99 08:57 PM
From: Andrews Michael -(az15-) \ Internet:
(michael.andrews
honeywell.com)
To: gmclist \ Internet:
(gmcmotorhome
.org)
Attachment: mimemsg.doc Code: 02898V2 \ Created: Unknown [4 Kb]
Subject: GMC: Technical Assistance
Call to All:
This was not a good weekend road trip to Prescott for the "Green
Worm."
First, I didn't get two miles from the house before a Blazer hit
me in
the side; the damage is minor but I need materials engineering
assistance. Next, I got about halfway between Phoenix and
Prescott and I
rear tire separated and tore up the wheel box; I need some
fiberglass
assistance.
Materials Engineering: I know the aluminum sheet is .062 thk,
aerospace
quality, and can be TIG welded. Does anyone know what grade;
e.g., T-
6061. I'd also like to get confirmation on my proposed method of
repair.
Location: The location of the 6 - 8 inch tear is at the same
water line
as the stripe, and about 28 inches behind the fuel intake box.
Until I
get a chance to remove the bunk bed and panel, I can only assume
no ribs
were damaged. It appears from the outside that the impact just
went in
like a can opener.
Proposed method of repair: From inside the coach, flatten the
aluminum
sheet and attempt to align the cut seams and set the contour.
Next, from
the inside, tack weld (TIG) a backing plate the covers the
damaged area.
>From the outside, TIG weld the seams shut. The backing plate
should not
only give the area support but will provide material for the weld
to
bond to. Grind the welds and finish smooth.
Fiberglass wheel box (driver side). From what I understand a lot
of
GMCers have experienced a blowout and have had to repair the
wheel box.
The damage is pretty extensive, basically the tread blew away the
entire
front portion of the wheel box (9 inches wide by 18 inches
vertical).
I've been told this is common, has anyone built a plaster or
wooden mold
of the wheel box from the top curvature down to where the box
bolts to
the floor? The parts manual shows that a single wheel box is used
for
both driver and passenger sides. Therefore the mold would be the
same as
the passenger side, rear portion of the wheel box.
Assuming, no one has built a mold, does anyone know where I can
purchase
a product that would allow me to make a mold of the passenger
rear
portion; e.g., modelers clay. I can then build a form for
laying-up the
fiberglass. I know gravity will be working against me, but I'm
out of
ideas.
I saw Bebe in Prescott on Saturday. Purchased one of his bottle
jack
support brackets that fit under the rear boggie. I still need to
acquire
a 1/4 inch piece of steel to fit between the boggie and torsion
arms,
but I can see where I'll never need to carry a floor jack to
raise the
rear of the coach. Great idea and a great weight saver!
In advance, I appreciate and thank anyone's input on either the
aluminum
material and fiberglass repair.
Mike & Dolores' 77 Palm Beach michael.andrews
- -------- REPLY, End of original message --------
- --
Gene 76Palm Beach /Or/CA
GMC Technical Information
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
As a side thought - the blow-out damage may be covered
by the tire mfg. Dave G had Bridgestone pay over $900 for
his repairs.
It sure does not hurt to ask.
FYI
Mike F.
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto
wner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of MREUGENE R
FISHER
Sent: Monday, May 24, 1999 5:01 AM
To: michael.andrews;
gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: --TIRE SEPARATION---
- -- [ From: Eugene Fisher * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
I guess the burning question is, (if you want to say) what tires
do you
have? Manuf, size, pressue, age??
We want to know if we are at risk
gene
- -------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Sunday, 23-May-99 08:57 PM
From: Andrews Michael -(az15-) \ Internet:
(michael.andrews
honeywell.com)
To: gmclist \ Internet:
(gmcmotorhome
.org)
Attachment: mimemsg.doc Code: 02898V2 \ Created: Unknown [4 Kb]
Subject: GMC: Technical Assistance
Call to All:
This was not a good weekend road trip to Prescott for the "Green
Worm."
First, I didn't get two miles from the house before a Blazer hit
me in
the side; the damage is minor but I need materials engineering
assistance. Next, I got about halfway between Phoenix and
Prescott and I
rear tire separated and tore up the wheel box; I need some
fiberglass
assistance.
Materials Engineering: I know the aluminum sheet is .062 thk,
aerospace
quality, and can be TIG welded. Does anyone know what grade;
e.g., T-
6061. I'd also like to get confirmation on my proposed method of
repair.
Location: The location of the 6 - 8 inch tear is at the same
water line
as the stripe, and about 28 inches behind the fuel intake box.
Until I
get a chance to remove the bunk bed and panel, I can only assume
no ribs
were damaged. It appears from the outside that the impact just
went in
like a can opener.
Proposed method of repair: From inside the coach, flatten the
aluminum
sheet and attempt to align the cut seams and set the contour.
Next, from
the inside, tack weld (TIG) a backing plate the covers the
damaged area.
>From the outside, TIG weld the seams shut. The backing plate
should not
only give the area support but will provide material for the weld
to
bond to. Grind the welds and finish smooth.
Fiberglass wheel box (driver side). From what I understand a lot
of
GMCers have experienced a blowout and have had to repair the
wheel box.
The damage is pretty extensive, basically the tread blew away the
entire
front portion of the wheel box (9 inches wide by 18 inches
vertical).
I've been told this is common, has anyone built a plaster or
wooden mold
of the wheel box from the top curvature down to where the box
bolts to
the floor? The parts manual shows that a single wheel box is used
for
both driver and passenger sides. Therefore the mold would be the
same as
the passenger side, rear portion of the wheel box.
Assuming, no one has built a mold, does anyone know where I can
purchase
a product that would allow me to make a mold of the passenger
rear
portion; e.g., modelers clay. I can then build a form for
laying-up the
fiberglass. I know gravity will be working against me, but I'm
out of
ideas.
I saw Bebe in Prescott on Saturday. Purchased one of his bottle
jack
support brackets that fit under the rear boggie. I still need to
acquire
a 1/4 inch piece of steel to fit between the boggie and torsion
arms,
but I can see where I'll never need to carry a floor jack to
raise the
rear of the coach. Great idea and a great weight saver!
In advance, I appreciate and thank anyone's input on either the
aluminum
material and fiberglass repair.
Mike & Dolores' 77 Palm Beach michael.andrews
- -------- REPLY, End of original message --------
- --
Gene 76Palm Beach /Or/CA
GMC Technical Information
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
