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| [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317846] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 06:05  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Some weeks ago Kerry P. became aware of a GMC for sale at auction near
him. He bid on it and pallets of perhaps-associated items and won. The
GMC turned out to have been owned by a handicapped gentleman who apparently
attended the '94 Niagara Falls GMCMI convention and came home to AL to
begin rebuilding his already-nice '75 Avion. He purchased a LOT of
expensive parts, such as new Alcoas and Michelins for them, new exhaust
system, rebuilt radiator, Flexsteel seats, new toilet, etc., etc.
John Beaver, my local engine-builder friend and I have "rescued" two other
LONG-parked GMCs over the past couple of years. Both of those exercises
have been relatively painless and he drove each of those coaches a couple
of hundred miles home without incident -- and they're both still running
exceptionally well. But, neither of those floor plans suited John as well
as that of Kerry's Avion. So, he bought that one (which Kerry, as an SOB
owner, didn't want).
But, remember that line phrase "begin rebuilding"? Well, that's sort of an
understatement. He removed the steering column. And the dash. And the
biggest overhead cabinet. And lots of other "stuff". Basically, he got
started gutting it. Then something, we know not what, happened and he
eventually passed away without completing anything. So, John really bought
a project to be rescued.
Last weekend, John travelled the 341 miles to Kerry's and they began making
the coach driveable. Starting with the engine: After checking things
over, they connected our "on-the-bumper" jerry can, hot-wired the ignition
and starter, installed a battery, primed the carb with a couple of squirts
of gas, and began to crank the engine -- it reportedly fired off during the
first revolution! And ran like a sewing machine! Putting the transmission
in gear didn't cause any response, so they checked for ATF and didn't find
any. WIth schedule constraints, they decided to delay any further action
on that. So, then they moved a steering column from Kerry's parts coach.
And investigated the brakes -- which were in great shape, lining-wise, and
included a "new" sensitized booster. They just didn't work. Despite their
best efforts with a Hupy bleeder, they never could get a pedal. And some
bleeders wouldn't even bleed.
​WIth a business to run, John had to return to Americus. Knowing a sucker
as he does me, he called and we agreed to resume the project on Friday. I
don't think I really meant to agree to leave here by 6AM, but apparently I
did, 'cause we did, wIth 7 Alcoas & new tires from one of John's other
coaches, lots of other tools & stuff, and my utility trailer behind John's
PU. About 7 hours later we arrived to learn that Kerry had put ATF in the
transmission and found that it would engage in forward and reverse --
Hallelujah.
My assignment was to get the wiring, including all the lights, in case of
night-time trave, working -- with NO switches. :-( And in the coach with
90* outside temps.
While I tinkered with that rat's nest, John and Kerry worked on brakes. A
new combination valve and rear SS flex lines soon had the rear brakes
apparently functioning with a pretty high brake pedal.
Then John started on the front brakes. That was FUN! At my insistence,
he'd installed 80mm calipers during our first rescue. That installation
went off flawlessly, so he bought exactly the same calipers and prepared
them for installation on this one. But nothing seemed to work. The
calipers wouldn't go on with the new pads installed. So, the nearly-new
old pads were ground down to get the calipers on -- "we'll figure out
what's going on later". He'd forgotten to buy hoses with banjo fittings,
so we made a trip to parts stores and finally ordered a pair of hoses for
0730 Saturday delivery. On to other tasks.
Saturday morning, John discovered that the new banjo fitting would not
clear the CV joint! Maybe a little grinding would provide clearance, but
then we compared the left hose fitting to the right hose fitting -- only to
find that the right one interfered even more than the left one -- entirely
different shape. It also became obvious that the banjo port was in a
different location than on the previous set of calipers. We also
discovered the reason for the pad problem -- the throat (where the pads and
disc fit inside the caliper) of the 80mm caliper was >1/8 in. narrower than
the old calipers! Remember, these are the identical stock numbers, both
from Advance Auto, that John used on the other GMC!
That settled the 80mm mod. The removed calipers were apparently in good
condition. We did have one more problem -- one of the flex hoses, like one
in the rear, would NOT pass fluid, air, or welding rod. And the parts
houses didn't have new ones of those either. Fortunately, Kerry's now had
5 GMC's so he found useable hoses. They had the front brakes bled and a
VERY high pedal by the time I had the ignition switch working. We were
able to crank the engine and test the booster -- GREAT!
Kerry had managed to dislodge both the gas tank drains, so John drained all
the 20+ yo gas (about 15g) out and disposed of it -- despite the fact that
it was pre-ethanol, smelled and looked good, and had no water in it. 10
gallons of new "gas' replaced that probably-good stuff.
Believe it or not, I got all the lights, and the ignition switch working
normally. The dash complement including the OEM speedometer, an old vacuum
gauge, and John's newly purchased and installed H2O temp, Oil pressure, and
Voltmeter were all fairly well lodged or ty-wrapped into sort-of-visible
locations, so they put wheels all around and lowered the beast to the
ground.
After a few mile test drive, John declared everything to be working great
except for a few perhaps-odd sounds. After a service station stop for more
gas, we went back to Kerry's and parked in the shade. Then, Kerry broke my
heart: He plugged the coach into shore power (we'd already failed to get
the Onan to turn over) -- and turned on the roof A/C! That old OEM
Dometic, with the inside cover missing and the metal plate held on with one
bolt, fired right up and started dumping a MASSIVE blast of COLD air --
right into that same area where I'd spend two days in 90+*F FUN. :-(
This is already too long, without my mentioning the great hospitality of
the Pinkertons, the wonderful shade tent provided for John's on-the-ground
brake work, or MANY other incidents and actions by all of us. So, hoping
to avoid having this blocked for being toooo long, I'll just say that John,
driving the GMC, and I, his PU with the loaded trailer, left N. AL at about
9 yesterday morning and got home about 4 PM. Not ONE hiccup, glitch,
anxious moment, nuthin! It ran like a top at a cruising speed of 60-70
with the oil pressure at 30-40 psi, the H2O at 190*F, and the dual side
pipes just a-singing. :-)
Happy Day!
Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317850 is a reply to message #317846] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 08:18  |
Olly Schmidt
Messages: 1265
Registered: February 2014
Location: Germany and Scottsville, ...
Karma: 8
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Senior Member |
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I love those rescue stories. Thanks for sharing.
EDIT: Original reply tried Ken's own address. This should go to the list.
--
Best regards
Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA
'76a Eleganza II, VA
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Best regards
Olly Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22
'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317852 is a reply to message #317846] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 10:36 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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With Beavers driving it, the engine wouldn't DARE even hiccup.
--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
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317854 is a reply to message #317846] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 11:04 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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A bit more about this coach. Mr Turner, the owner started the restoration in the mid 90's in his metal shop with a 1' deep trench so he could get under the coach. He became ill a few years thereafter and never finished the GMC. His son told me that the coach was in great shape but his Dad just wanted to restore it. The son removed the dash and seats for him. And the coach was stored inside the building until they pushed it outside for the auction. It was 11 miles from my house but I never knew it was there. I would have enjoyed talking to Mr. Turner.
Based on what I saw, I SUSPECTED the coach was in really good shape but, as I told John, I had no way of knowing. It was priced accordingly...cheap. Especially for a rear twin Avion with dry bath. This is my favorite floor plan to date because of the dining table built into the 'nightstand'. If I only had time for another major restoration....
Ken said the motor fired right up and he was correct, it didn't make even a single revolution before it fired and it ran perfectly smooth immediately. John and I were both amazed. The coach had been sitting for 20+ years.
The building it was in was 40x50 and it was FULL. Full of stuff including about a dozen Caddy Northstar engines, not to mention the 20 or so running Caddy's in the yard.
One of the lots I almost missed was a set of 6 brand new Alcoas with 6 brand new, never on the ground, Michelin tires...dated 1995 
GMC stuff was scattered in various 'LOTS' and I had to bit on each lot that had something GMC related that I found. One lot was a big pile of seats and I THOUGHT the GMC seats had to be in there...somewhere. Turned out no but there were two brand new Flexsteel seats, two very nice white leather Allegro seats and about a dozen third row minivan seats, some with two armrests and some with one but all with power adjustment. Oh, and about 20 6" diameter rolls of white vinyl, suitable for ceilings and walls, and other upholstery fabric.
In other piles, I found some major treasures I didn't know were there... brand new a MAC dash (made in 95)...a complete set of rechromed bumpers and polished stainless hardware...hub covers for the Alcoas...mid wheel disk brake kit...new set of parking brake cables...Regusa pan...Regusa step...set of body mount pads...set of window weatherstripping...new China toliet..A couple nice steering columns...and that's just the big stuff. And I didn't know it was buried in the pile. 
I gave 25 bucks for a complete 455 motor in unknown condition but it spun over. Another 25 got me a rebuilt by AMMCO 425 tranny (dated 95)
Pretty much everything is gone except for the 3rd row seats. John got some of it and other folks the rest.
I believe John has a really solid coach that will be super nice when he puts it back together and does some TLC to the interior/ The front half was pretty well gutted but the back and all the cushions are in great shape. Oh, and at some point, Mr. Turner had the windshields replaced because they are perfect and fog free.
I really enjoyed working with John and Ken and watching the girl come back to life.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317855 is a reply to message #317854] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 11:38 |
Mike Kelley
Messages: 467
Registered: February 2017
Karma: -2
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Senior Member |
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Ken & Kerry:
You two are amazing!!!
Great skills and even greater willingness to help others. Thanks for your many contributions to the GMC community!!'
Mike/The Corvair a holic
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 22, 2017, at 11:04 AM, Kerry Pinkerton wrote:
>
> A bit more about this coach. Mr Turner, the owner started the restoration in the mid 90's in his metal shop with a 1' deep trench so he could get
> under the coach. He became ill a few years thereafter and never finished the GMC. His son told me that the coach was in great shape but his Dad just
> wanted to restore it. The son removed the dash and seats for him. And the coach was stored inside the building until they pushed it outside for the
> auction. It was 11 miles from my house but I never knew it was there. I would have enjoyed talking to Mr. Turner.
>
> Based on what I saw, I SUSPECTED the coach was in really good shape but, as I told John, I had no way of knowing. It was priced accordingly...cheap.
> Especially for a rear twin Avion with dry bath. This is my favorite floor plan to date because of the dining table built into the 'nightstand'. If I
> only had time for another major restoration....
>
> Ken said the motor fired right up and he was correct, it didn't make even a single revolution before it fired and it ran perfectly smooth immediately.
> John and I were both amazed. The coach had been sitting for 20+ years.
>
> The building it was in was 40x50 and it was FULL. Full of stuff including about a dozen Caddy Northstar engines, not to mention the 20 or so running
> Caddy's in the yard.
>
> One of the lots I almost missed was a set of 6 brand new Alcoas with 6 brand new, never on the ground, Michelin tires...dated 1995 :o
>
> GMC stuff was scattered in various 'LOTS' and I had to bit on each lot that had something GMC related that I found. One lot was a big pile of seats
> and I THOUGHT the GMC seats had to be in there...somewhere. Turned out no but there were two brand new Flexsteel seats, two very nice white leather
> Allegro seats and about a dozen third row minivan seats, some with two armrests and some with one but all with power adjustment. Oh, and about 20 6"
> diameter rolls of white vinyl, suitable for ceilings and walls, and other upholstery fabric.
>
> In other piles, I found some major treasures I didn't know were there... brand new a MAC dash (made in 95)...a complete set of rechromed bumpers and
> polished stainless hardware...hub covers for the Alcoas...mid wheel disk brake kit...new set of parking brake cables...Regusa pan...Regusa step...set
> of body mount pads...set of window weatherstripping...new China toliet..A couple nice steering columns...and that's just the big stuff. And I didn't
> know it was buried in the pile. :lol:
>
> I gave 25 bucks for a complete 455 motor in unknown condition but it spun over. Another 25 got me a rebuilt by AMMCO 425 tranny (dated 95)
>
> Pretty much everything is gone except for the 3rd row seats. John got some of it and other folks the rest.
>
> I believe John has a really solid coach that will be super nice when he puts it back together and does some TLC to the interior/ The front half was
> pretty well gutted but the back and all the cushions are in great shape. Oh, and at some point, Mr. Turner had the windshields replaced because they
> are perfect and fog free.
>
> I really enjoyed working with John and Ken and watching the girl come back to life.
>
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
>
> 77 Eleganza II, 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny, lots of aluminum goodies.
>
> http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/
>
> '03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317857 is a reply to message #317854] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 17:53 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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Senior Member |
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kerry pinkerton wrote on Mon, 22 May 2017 11:04...there were...about a dozen third row minivan seats, some with two armrests and some with one but all with power adjustment. ...
What's the difference between second row seats and third row seats?
[Updated on: Mon, 22 May 2017 17:54] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317858 is a reply to message #317857] |
Mon, 22 May 2017 18:03 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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Oh, sorry. My bad. I meant center seat from the back seat...not third row. I guess the one arm seats are the inside and outside and the dual arms are the center seats.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317889 is a reply to message #317879] |
Tue, 23 May 2017 00:12 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Pete wrote:
"How does one "dispose" of gas? A coach I looked at recently had both tanks full of 6 year old gas....."
Pour it through a coffee filter and then mix it 20 to 1 with new "gas" in your carbureted vehicles and enjoy the benefits of premium fuel.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another Rescue [message #317892 is a reply to message #317889] |
Tue, 23 May 2017 04:53 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Bullitthead wrote on Tue, 23 May 2017 00:12Pete wrote:
"How does one "dispose" of gas? A coach I looked at recently had both tanks full of 6 year old gas....."
Pour it through a coffee filter and then mix it 20 to 1 with new "gas" in your carbureted vehicles and enjoy the benefits of premium fuel.
That is exactly what I did with a full tank of 8 year old leaded 100 octane aviation gas only I mixed it at 10 to 1. The GMC loved it. I caught nothing in the filter.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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