value of 1973 26' GMC motorhome

[dave1]

I am considering the purchase of a 1973 26, rear dinette, fold-out
couch & 2 chairs up front. Present owner says it has a "recycling
stool you don't have to drain into a septic and can use in winter"
because it won't freeze. What is that?
Other features: 455 Olds engine, 51k miles, new water pump, Air Ryde,
auto-leveller, gas/elec fridge, gold-on-tan color. Owner admits some
window seals need replaced and that it uses a quart of oil after a 500
mile round trip. Owner is second owner whose spouse died. Asking price
is $10k, cheapest I've been able to find (money is a factor).

Any opinions on its present and potential worth? Do these things
require much TLC? I think it would be neat to show up in a '73 at the
25th celebration in NC this fall.

==

Dave

a62dave

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/9062

_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

 

[robert m fukumoto]

- ----------
From: Dave
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 1998 11:30 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: value of 1973 26' GMC motorhome

I am considering the purchase of a 1973 26, rear dinette, fold-out
couch & 2 chairs up front. Present owner says it has a "recycling
stool you don't have to drain into a septic and can use in winter"
because it won't freeze. What is that?
Other features: 455 Olds engine, 51k miles, new water pump, Air Ryde,
auto-leveller, gas/elec fridge, gold-on-tan color. Owner admits some
window seals need replaced and that it uses a quart of oil after a 500
mile round trip. Owner is second owner whose spouse died. Asking price
is $10k, cheapest I've been able to find (money is a factor).

Any opinions on its present and potential worth? Do these things
require much TLC? I think it would be neat to show up in a '73 at the
25th celebration in NC this fall.

Dave:

I was in your shoes a year ago. Little real knowledge of the GMC's but =
saw a 76 Palm Beach that I ended up buying for $14,500. It had only =
60,000 miles on it. Original interior. =20

My recommendations to you would be to get someone who knows GMCs to =
check out the coach; something easier said than done. If at all =
possible, test drive another GMC for comparison. I didn't have a chance =
to do that and so I had nothing to compare ride, handling and engine =
performance against. =20

Costs add up quickly on fixing the GMCs so what appears to be a good =
price may not end up being so good in the end. Check the front bearings =
- - they are a weak point in the coach and will probably have to be =
replaced. I had to replace my bearings and a knuckle and it cost $600. =
I had to put on a new set of shocks (lifetime Bilsteins) and that set me =
back another $600. I had a couple of bent steel rims that caused =
vibrations, but I was able to get a used set of rims and tires with only =
500 miles on it for $800. I reupholstered the interior and put new =
carpeting down. I did all the sewing of the upholstery and laying of =
the carpeting myself but it still cost $600 in materials. The air =
compressor needed to be rebuilt and a check valve and filter costs $100 =
in parts. I was missing a complete brake assembly on the drivers mid =
axle: fortuneately I found a set but that was $100 with labor. My =
coach had the wrong carb on it: another $500 to find a used carb and to =
have it rebuilt. New sink, faucet, countertop, wall panels, miniblinds, =
window boxes, cooktop: another $500 in materials. New converter $175. =
Fantastic fan $175.

My point is that things can really add up fast and you need to be aware =
of that. A rebuilt engine can run $5,000 - $10,000. A new final drive =
is $1,500. Airbags are $600. I was quoted $1500 for a major overhaul =
of the generator - but I didn't have anything done. All these prices =
are approximate and off the top of my head but at least will give you an =
idea.

Your deal sounds good but be sure there aren't things that need to be =
done that you haven't counted on. I had a burned valve from the wrong =
carburator but since I hadn't driven another coach I didn't know how =
much power it should have. I had the coach up to 70mph without much =
problem so I thought the engine was OK. =20
=20
If you let the mailing list know where you are located, you can get =
suggestions on who to contact to inspect the coach. I wish the mailing =
list was up when I bought my coach a year ago. FWIW, after 1 year of =
working weekends and holidays on the coach, I am just now taking my =
first trip. Wish me luck.

If I can help in any way, please let me know.

Bob Fukumoto
76 Palm Beach Newbie

 

[bartz paul]

Dave:

The recycling toilet fill-up of water, lasts for about eight flushes and
then you have to dump it into the "black water" holding tank below it.
You then refill again. It's no more immune to freezing than any other
device using water.

As Bob correctly points out below, if you by the first coach you
see/drive, chances are you're making a mistake. You should also know
that there are differences among production years of the GMC coach.

Air Ryde by that name is not something original, unless you mean the
rear suspension air bag system, which would be called the Power level
system on that vintage of coach (note the label plate on the level
controls down low in the middle of the dash.

Window seals can be fixed or replaced. A quart of oil every 500 miles
is getting on the ragged edge of engine overhaul, unless it's leaking
somewhere.

Paul Bartz

- -----Original Message-----
From: Robert M Fukumoto [mailto:fukf19]
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 1998 10:57 AM
To: 'gmc motorhome mailing list'
Subject: RE: GMC: value of 1973 26' GMC motorhome

From: Dave
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 1998 11:30 PM
Subject: GMC: value of 1973 26' GMC motorhome

I am considering the purchase of a 1973 26, rear dinette, fold-out couch
& 2 chairs up front. Present owner says it has a"recycling stool you
don't have to drain into a septic and can use in winter" because it
won't freeze. What is that?
Other features: 455 Olds engine, 51k miles, new water pump, Air Ryde,
auto-leveller, gas/elec fridge, gold-on-tan color. Owner admits some
window seals need replaced and that it uses a quart of oil after a 500
mile round trip. Owner is second owner whose spouse died. Asking price
is $10k, cheapest I've been able to find (money is a factor).

Any opinions on its present and potential worth? Do these things require
much TLC? I think it would be neat to show up in a '73 at the 25th
celebration in NC this fall.

Dave:
I was in your shoes a year ago. Little real knowledge of the GMC's but
saw a 76 Palm Beach that I ended up buying for $14,500. It had only
60,000 miles on it. Original interior.
My recommendations to you would be to get someone who knows GMCs to
check out the coach; something easier said than done. If at all
possible, test drive another GMC for comparison. I didn't have a chance
to do that and so I had nothing to compare ride, handling and engine
performance against.
Costs add up quickly on fixing the GMCs so what appears to be a good
price may not end up being so good in the end. Check the front bearings
- - they are a weak point in the coach and will probably have to be
replaced. I had to replace my bearings and a knuckle and it cost $600.
I had to put on a new set of shocks (lifetime Bilsteins) and that set me
back another $600. I had a couple of bent steel rims that caused
vibrations, but I was able to get a used set of rims and tires with only
500 miles on it for $800. I reupholstered the interior and put new
carpeting down. I did all the sewing of the upholstery and laying of
the carpeting myself but it still cost $600 in materials. The air
compressor needed to be rebuilt and a check valve and filter costs $100
in parts. I was missing a complete brake assembly on the drivers mid
axle: fortuneately I found a set but that was $100 with labor. My
coach had the wrong carb on it: another $500 to find a used carb and to
have it rebuilt. New sink, faucet, countertop, wall panels, miniblinds,
window boxes, cooktop: another $500 in materials. New converter $175.
Fantastic fan $175.
My point is that things can really add up fast and you need to be aware
of that. A rebuilt engine can run $5,000 - $10,000. A new final drive
is $1,500. Airbags are $600. I was quoted $1500 for a major overhaul
of the generator - but I didn't have anything done. All these prices
are approximate and off the top of my head but at least will give you an
idea.
Your deal sounds good but be sure there aren't things that need to be
done that you haven't counted on. I had a burned valve from the wrong
carburator but since I hadn't driven another coach I didn't know how
much power it should have. I had the coach up to 70mph without much
problem so I thought the engine was OK.
If you let the mailing list know where you are located, you can get
suggestions on who to contact to inspect the coach. I wish the mailing
list was up when I bought my coach a year ago. FWIW, after 1 year of
working weekends and holidays on the coach, I am just now taking my
first trip. Wish me luck.
If I can help in any way, please let me know.
Bob Fukumoto
76 Palm Beach Newbie

 

[les & des]

>
> ----------
> From: Dave
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 1998 11:30 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: GMC: value of 1973 26' GMC motorhome
>
> Present owner says it has a "recycling stool you don't have to drain into a septic and can use in winter"
> because it won't freeze. What is that?

Dave, a recirculating toilet is a self-contained toilet. When
starting a trip, you first place 3 gals of water in its holding
compartment. You must use chemicals! Then as you flush it,
a pump recirculates the charge water mixed with the chemicals
and the liquid waste. An internal screen keeps the solid waste
separate from the liquid. It runs off 12V electricity. When you
have accumulated 7 gals of sewage (including the initial charge),
you then dump it through your dump tank. With two of us, twice a
week is usually necessary. Once you get used to it, it is not
too bad. We are full-timers and when the original one needed
replacing, we still went with another recirculating toilet. We did
have to battle odors until we worked out a formula on which
chemicals to use, how much and how to add them, and
how to clean the toilet. Before every charge, we rinse our toilet
twice and then do a soak (let it set for 30 min. with pine sol).
Then we rinse again. When we charge the toilet with the 3 gals of
water, we make it hot water and add 2 treatments of Envirochem. It
is a little bit of trouble, but there are advantages. Also, our
GMC does not have room to add another holding tank.
Les & Des
Living Praise Ministries

mailto:lesndes
Visit us at: http://www.livingpraise.org