Trip report

[johnny]

Finally, using it for the correct purpose. Ran bobtailed over to North Augusta for a dog show, and stayed in the lot at Wild Hare Pottery (old
classmate's studio). Two in the bunks and I hogged the bed in back. Almost Famous BBQ chicken Saturday night, fed six of us. 90+ degrees both ways,
but no problems. I ran two extensions from separate breakers and powered the coach with one. We used the other for the microwave and coffeepot so we
could keep one A/C unit running. Worked well. And one of my guests raises chickens - fresh breakfast eggs which make you skip the ones at the
Publix. Looks like ~~8 mpg coming home, best I've seen in this coach.

--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

 

[james wack]

Love it. Just the sort of trip I hoped would become a regular occurrence when making my maiden GMC voyage home.
--
Wackster - 1976 23' Crestmont
Baltimore, Maryland

 

[johnny]

It's called 'Lets get the hell out of Ballimer for the weekend' (Ex Hoppy I am)

--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

 

[johnny]

To the Chattanooga area for a rally, with the Kia as a toad. Coach ran flawlessly save poor oil pressure going up. A fun rally with fine folks from
the Dixielanders. Unfortunately, on the way home I 'lunched the mill'. Increasing knock and failing oil pressure put us into Rest Are #35, South on
I - 75 and a call to FMCA Roadside Assistance, for which I had signed up. Worth the $70.
The Roadside Assistance company has it together. The first thing out of the rep's mouth each time we interacted, "Are you safe?". Which I was. They
kept me informed, their automated system called shortly after the towing company's estimate of arrival. I was talking to the Help Person on the ten
minute over schedule call when the wrecker pulled up. The driver didn't think he wanted to put the coach on the bed, and his company has quit using
the wheel lifts on the truck - which would have worked quite well. Anyway immediately he decided 'better safe thatn sorry' the Help Person called
back and said we're looking for a suitable wrecker service, and recalled a few minutes later with the schedule of a wheel lift wrecker... and
apologized that it would take about 90 minutes to arrive. In that 90 minutes, the driver called me and gave his timetable which was within a few
minutes of the Help Person... and he met it.
The Help Person noted the tow was over their maximum 100 miles to a qualified shop and negotiated a $100 surcharge to get to the 'nearest qualified
shop'. We agreed, the shop across from Road Atlanta was the closest and as she quietly pointed out, the closest to my home. "We have to tow to a
qualified shop.....". Which shop was at 6118 Highway 53, while the turn to my house is 4000 highway 53. I tipped the driver an extra 20 for
detouring and getting the coach close to my shop. He said he was going on 53 to I-85, I told him as far as I'm concerned he had delivered me to the
shop and thanks.
I followed Ken Henderson's advice on dealing with Roadside Assistance. The idea here is to catch flies, which is way easier with honey than vinegar.
It works, I even got an apology from the Help Person's supervisor whip called to make sure I got the word on delay and who was coming.
The service guy told me they pretty much have abandoned wheel lift wreckers because more and more cars can't be towed that way, but all can be hauled
on the rollback if they can get on it. Which is why the outfit hauled me home with a ten wheel wrecker with a sleeper cab, designed to pull semis by
hooking to the front axle and lifting. Fit just fine on the crossmember on the GMC. Given the size of the wrecker, he could have simply picked up
the whole coach with the lift and brought it home sideways if the roads were wide enough. I doubt the driver even knew he had it on the back without
looking in the mirrors.
At the beginning of the stop, after I called Roadside, I wandered up to the other GMC in the lot, a bobtail. Therein I found Jim Galbavy lamenting
the loss of power steering on his coach. The belt is on tight, and I gave him a bottle of steering fluid which didn't improve the steering. He
headed on out at slow for freeway speeds,changing lanes and passing as little as possible between North Georgia and Alex Ferrara's place to diagnose
and fix.
All in all a fun trip, even with the delay getting home. Improved my assessment of roadside, the FMCA one is good as any and cheaper than the others.
I obtained a new engine at the rally (Beavers' Racing Engines John Beavers build) with the idea of picking it up around the end of the year and
heading to Ken's place which he graciouslyu offered for the swap. Slight change of plans, I'll pick it up around the end of the year and bring it
back to my shop and install it - Foolish Carriage made it the 50 feet to under the cover this morning with no oil pressure and a phenomenal clatter.
It >might

 

[bdub1]

Sorry to hear bout your engine. If I remember correctly, isn't that a
premium Mondello rebuild? Maybe 10 years old?

bdub

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Johnny Bridges via Gmclist
Sent: Monday, November 5, 2018 12:18 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Trip report

... snip ...
To the Chattanooga area for a rally, with the Kia as a toad. Coach ran
flawlessly save poor
Unfortunately, on the way home I 'lunched the mill'.
... snip ...

 

[Irish Rogue]

Johnny B.:
So sorry about your engine trouble, but glad you got her home. I applaud your positive attitude even under dire circumstances. Also agree w/ you re FMCA towing service - no GMCer should be without it, in my humble opinion!
GMCers are the best!!!
Good luck w/ your winter project!
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> Sorry to hear bout your engine. If I remember correctly, isn't that a
> premium Mondello rebuild? Maybe 10 years old?
>
> bdub
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Johnny Bridges via Gmclist
> Sent: Monday, November 5, 2018 12:18 PM
> Subject: [GMCnet] Trip report
>
> ... snip ...
> To the Chattanooga area for a rally, with the Kia as a toad. Coach ran
> flawlessly save poor
> Unfortunately, on the way home I 'lunched the mill'.
> ... snip ...
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[ken & dennis 2013]

Johnny,

Sorry 'but that! Shall I tell John B. to rush your engine? Good timing,
buh?

Ken H.

> Johnny B.:
> So sorry about your engine trouble, but glad you got her home. I applaud
> your positive attitude even under dire circumstances. Also agree w/ you re
> FMCA towing service - no GMCer should be without it, in my humble opinion!
> GMCers are the best!!!
> Good luck w/ your winter project!
> Mike/The Corvair a holic
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>

> >
> > Sorry to hear bout your engine. If I remember correctly, isn't that a
> > premium Mondello rebuild? Maybe 10 years old?
> >
> > bdub
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Johnny Bridges via Gmclist
> > Sent: Monday, November 5, 2018 12:18 PM
> > Subject: [GMCnet] Trip report
> >
> > ... snip ...
> > To the Chattanooga area for a rally, with the Kia as a toad. Coach ran
> > flawlessly save poor
> > Unfortunately, on the way home I 'lunched the mill'.
> > ... snip ...
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
>

 

[johnny]

Ken, there's no need to rush. I won't have time to mess with it seriously till the end of December anyway, it's show season and I'm busy off and on.
If I thought there was a chance in hell it'd run I'd bring it to your place. I doubt it would make a tenth of a mile, barely made it 50 feet up the
drive to my shop cover. I'll swap it here, slowly. My only real concern is getting it cribbed high enough to get it out and back. Everybody says
skip coming out the hatch with it.

Bdub - no. This is a Jasper rebuild, and it took three tries to get this one. I have zero use for Jasper engines and this one hasn't improved my
outlook on them It has some stuff specified by Jim B but when you look at the usual Jasper methodology (I've gotten Ford 300 inlines from them
with different size holes) you appreciate quality builders like Mr Beavers. You get what you pay for.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 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

 

[ken & dennis 2013]

Johnny,

Do you need my gantry & 2 hoists?

Ken H.

On Tue, Nov 6, 2018, 10:02 Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> Ken, there's no need to rush. I won't have time to mess with it seriously
> till the end of December anyway, it's show season and I'm busy off and on.
> If I thought there was a chance in hell it'd run I'd bring it to your
> place. I doubt it would make a tenth of a mile, barely made it 50 feet up
> the
> drive to my shop cover. I'll swap it here, slowly. My only real concern
> is getting it cribbed high enough to get it out and back. Everybody says
> skip coming out the hatch with it.
>
> Bdub - no. This is a Jasper rebuild, and it took three tries to get this
> one. I have zero use for Jasper engines and this one hasn't improved my
> outlook on them It has some stuff specified by Jim B but when you look
> at the usual Jasper methodology (I've gotten Ford 300 inlines from them
> with different size holes) you appreciate quality builders like Mr
> Beavers. You get what you pay for.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[George Z]

Ken
I’ve got both gantry and hoists. Oh and a couple of those custom KH trans lifting tools!

George

>
> Johnny,
>
> Do you need my gantry & 2 hoists?
>
> Ken H.
>
> On Tue, Nov 6, 2018, 10:02 Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

>
>> Ken, there's no need to rush. I won't have time to mess with it seriously
>> till the end of December anyway, it's show season and I'm busy off and on.
>> If I thought there was a chance in hell it'd run I'd bring it to your
>> place. I doubt it would make a tenth of a mile, barely made it 50 feet up
>> the
>> drive to my shop cover. I'll swap it here, slowly. My only real concern
>> is getting it cribbed high enough to get it out and back. Everybody says
>> skip coming out the hatch with it.
>>
>> Bdub - no. This is a Jasper rebuild, and it took three tries to get this
>> one. I have zero use for Jasper engines and this one hasn't improved my
>> outlook on them It has some stuff specified by Jim B but when you look
>> at the usual Jasper methodology (I've gotten Ford 300 inlines from them
>> with different size holes) you appreciate quality builders like Mr
>> Beavers. You get what you pay for.
>>
>> --johnny
>> --
>> Foolish Carriage, 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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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

 

[charles boyd]

Johnny, I got the trolly system to get it out the top. Big and bulky but it works. I can get it to you.
--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

 

[johnny]

I believe if there's a system to take it out the top, that's probably the move for safety's sake. It's going to require yanking and tugging and
kicking... which I'd rather do wheels down than cribbed, even with my 4x4s.
George, will your gantry go back far enough to grab it with my stinger engine hoist? If not, we'll figure how to get Ken's here. If it's like Teddy
Petty's and the one we used on Henry's copach it ain't long enough, we need Chuck's. Lemme know. We got plenty of time to get it down here, and (I
can get it back to him, there's a show about 80 miles dpown the road I'd hit a dat early and deliver it if there isn't somebody headed thisaway.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 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

 

[George Z]

Ted Petty’s is the one we used on Henry’s coach. I could bring the gantry to you and you could get the extension parts welded up to convert to a long rail system if you want. It might be more cost effective and certainly time saving.

George Zhookoff
78 EL II
Atlanta

>
> I believe if there's a system to take it out the top, that's probably the move for safety's sake. It's going to require yanking and tugging and
> kicking... which I'd rather do wheels down than cribbed, even with my 4x4s.
> George, will your gantry go back far enough to grab it with my stinger engine hoist? If not, we'll figure how to get Ken's here. If it's like Teddy
> Petty's and the one we used on Henry's copach it ain't long enough, we need Chuck's. Lemme know. We got plenty of time to get it down here, and (I
> can get it back to him, there's a show about 80 miles dpown the road I'd hit a dat early and deliver it if there isn't somebody headed thisaway.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[johnny]

Gary, those bolts are reachable from the side. I bored the hole on the driver's side, but only used it the foirsttime I yanked the transmission.
Manny showed how to reach it with a rachet or better an air rachet.

--johnny

--
Foolish Carriage, 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