Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » My 1976 Palm Beach Project
( ) 2 Votes
| Re: [GMCnet] My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #319748 is a reply to message #319747] |
Thu, 29 June 2017 10:15   |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
As you can see in the photos I added the Bounds slider windows to the front. They are pretty nice. I absolutely HATE where they put the handle and clip, completely ridiculous IMHO. The handle to slide it open and closed is about 2/3 of the way down the window, so when you try to slide it open or closed it pivots in the frame and is a total bitch to open or close. Had they put the handle in the center this would not have been an issue.
Overall they are an improvement over the old style. Even if they do require fiddling and usually 2 hands to operate.
Another interesting point, due to the aerodynamics of the coach the open window does the opposite of what you'd expect, it pulls air OUT instead of letting air IN. When driving with all the other windows closed this results in it pulling air through every nook and cranny including through small gaps in the engine hatch and floor, so the net result is the cab gets HOTTER and not cooler.
At least they look great.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #319750 is a reply to message #319748] |
Thu, 29 June 2017 10:22 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Next issue is that on the 5hr drive there and back I experienced vapor lock. With the Fitech Fuel command center and all.
The FCC is mounted beside the radiator in full air flow visible from the front of the grill.
Outside temp was ~95 on fresh new hot blacktop. Slowed me to 35 on the interstate with the sputtering and surging. Electric backup pump worked for a while then even that wouldn't work.
I am convinced that the vapor lock was happening IN the FCC and not in the lines. The fuel pump in there was overheating the fuel and causing it to boil.
To remedy this when I got home I gutted the FCC. By that I mean I removed the float valve and gutted the check overflow valve. I then routed a fuel line from the overflow back to the fuel filler.
The way it's setup now the FCC acts as a sump or surge tank instead of a heat reservoir. The fuel pumps in from the mechanical pump and then the overflow goes back into the tank. This constant re-circulation should keep the fuel in the sump nice and cool (we hope!)
I have not driven it far enough to fully test, but a 30 minute idle saw a significant decrease in temperature of the FCC before and after. Before I couldn't hold my hand on the FCC after 30 minutes Idling. After it's still warm but no issue to hold my hand on it indefinitely.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #319781 is a reply to message #281079] |
Thu, 29 June 2017 17:17 |
TR 1
Messages: 348
Registered: August 2015
Location: DFW
Karma: -7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Enjoying your posts outlining the restoration of your coach... It is really turning out great!
As for the open window creating a vacuum, the Ragusa air deflector "Wind Wings" seem to make large difference on the small windows on my coach...
http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/1808
Maybe scale them up for the large Bounds windows?
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #319784 is a reply to message #281079] |
Thu, 29 June 2017 18:44 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
|
Senior Member |
|
|
A look at the shape of the windshield and the toll window location leads me to think the air spilling off the windshield creates a venturi right where the window opening is. The wind wings turn the spilled air inward making higher pressure at the opening rather than lower. I just open the windows in the back and let the airflow go back to front. Works fine.
I've seen maybe three toll booths in my GMC career, so the windows are a non-issue. If I lived or traveled regularly in the Northeast they'd be next on the upgrade list.
--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
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #319840 is a reply to message #281079] |
Sat, 01 July 2017 15:18 |
Handyman
Messages: 229
Registered: April 2016
Location: The Netherlands
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Nice Justin,
You are making great progress!!
Again, thanks for sharing your tranformation of the GMC.
Daniel
Daniel Jacobs, NL-USA 1977 GMC Eleganza II, Rebuild 455 (2019) 3.55 FD. FiTech and (Modified) FCC, Electric Pump, insulated GasTanks, 100A Alternator, APC, McDash, Schräder Valves + extern Fills, Ceramic Film, TPMS, FlexSteel Seats
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #320307 is a reply to message #319840] |
Tue, 11 July 2017 20:36 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Quick update.
Were 95% finished and driving it to Wyoming to get married.
The first day was awful, mostly due to vapor lock (that my previous fix only helped postpone didn't fix) after a lot of head scratching and cursing I finally said screw it and ran new fuel line from the selector switch to an electric fuel pump and then straight to the command center. Never goes into the engine compartment and never goes through the mechanical pump.
This 100% solved the problem.
So the problem all along was the fuel line running in the engine compartment and through the mechanical pump. It's just too damn hot in there for fuel to sit in a hose for very long.
Fuel was boiling between the mechanical pump and the command center.
Once that was fixed we were rolling.
Now I've got an oil leak somewhere. Looks like the mechanical pump gasket from what I can tell. (mechanical pumps are the devil in my eyes now).
Otherwise she's running great and were in Nebraska somewhere enjoying it.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #320460 is a reply to message #320307] |
Sat, 15 July 2017 04:05 |
Handyman
Messages: 229
Registered: April 2016
Location: The Netherlands
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Congratulations, Justin and to your "new" wife !
Wishing you many good times and happiness together.
Daniel
Daniel Jacobs, NL-USA 1977 GMC Eleganza II, Rebuild 455 (2019) 3.55 FD. FiTech and (Modified) FCC, Electric Pump, insulated GasTanks, 100A Alternator, APC, McDash, Schräder Valves + extern Fills, Ceramic Film, TPMS, FlexSteel Seats
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #320992 is a reply to message #319747] |
Mon, 24 July 2017 14:24 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Well I added this to the wrong thread earlier, so here it is to keep this one up to date:
Well we made it!
5000+ Miles in the last 2 weeks and we're home safe and sound.
Diverting the fuel lines around the engine compartment 100% cured the vapor lock. Not so much as a stutter after that. Anyone with vapor lock issues, fitech or not, should consider routing the fuel lines OUT of the engine compartment and using an electric pump instead of the mechanical. I'm convinced that carburetor or FI this is the real culprit.
For the motorcycle that we all had concerns about. It rode on the carrier all 5000 miles, up every mountain and into every campsite. Not a single shred of an issue.
There's a few reasons for that. This is just my opinions and your mileage may vary:
We rebuilt the whole interior, we did this with light weight materials instead of the heavy ass particle board that we pulled out. On the way westward I stopped at a certified CAT scale and weighed. Total weight, with both of us up front, fuel full, water full, and packed for 2 weeks out west our weight was 11,200 lbs. That includes the motorcycle at 590lbs and the carrier at 150lbs. So weight without the bike is a piddly 10,460 lbs FULLY LOADED.
That includes walnut countertops and trim and a full tile bathroom.
Point is, I think the reason we do so well with the bike is the fact that we're ~1500lbs lighter than stock.
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170712_195148-EFFECTS.jpg
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170712_200017.jpg
The only other major issue we had was an oil leak at the fuel pump (Gasket replacement helped but didn't fix it)and a BUNCH of broken belts. We broke 3 AC belts and 3 Alternator belts. What a PITA.
My view on this is two fold, we were driving too much (12hr days) to stop and retension them after a few miles (/ i was lazy) and 2nd, the quality of belts is all over the board depending on the source. I finally ended up with Napa Premium belts at $30/piece and those seem to be holding with no squeals so far after about 1000 miles.
We didn't quite get finished before we left, a few little things left to do but here's the "finished" product.
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170713_081802.jpg
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170713_081659.jpg
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170713_082034.jpg
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170713_074636.jpg
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PANO_20170713_074333.jpg
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170711_072321.jpg
And all this work turned out to be worth it! Here's the end result:
http://www.thegmcrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_20170718_133353_346.jpg
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #320996 is a reply to message #281079] |
Mon, 24 July 2017 16:01 |
shaunone
Messages: 80
Registered: August 2016
Location: Cranbrook, B.C.
Karma: 0
|
Member |
|
|
Congratulations Justin. This is hands down the nicest resto-mod GMC I have ever seen. You have set the bar pretty high, and I sincerely doubt anyone will ever come close to this level of fit and finish. Just awesome!!!
1977 Palm Beach, 455, mostly stock and original
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #321003 is a reply to message #320996] |
Mon, 24 July 2017 17:36 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Congratulations. A few things come to mind in no particular order.
Outstanding way to bring another GMC back on the road. Ive watched and read the build up thread and you have some very well thought out designs. Its one thing to think of something and quite another to build it and put it to use. Great Job all around.
This particular post has over 54 thousand views at least by the counter meter.... Not too bad for only having a few thousand of these coaches on the road and certainly demonstrates the interest in what you were up to.
Its nice to see some new ideas and actually making a coach that works for YOU and your new bride.
And a 5K mile trip to boot.
Its a breath of fresh air to have some great work, and great outcomes.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #321018 is a reply to message #320992] |
Mon, 24 July 2017 21:26 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
VERY NICE, Justin.
Congratulations on your great project and your wedding. What a honeymoon!
Ours, 58 years and 15 days ago, was only 830 miles, from her home town to
my first USAF officer assignment. May yours be even longer and more happy!
I don't think you've told us her name.
Ken H.
On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 3:24 PM, Justin Brady wrote:
> Well I added this to the wrong thread earlier, so here it is to keep this
> one up to date:
>
> Well we made it!
> 5000+ Miles in the last 2 weeks and we're home safe and sound.
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #321021 is a reply to message #321018] |
Mon, 24 July 2017 21:33 |
richshoop
Messages: 190
Registered: April 2017
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Congrats Justin, how about some pictures of you and your new wife and of course the GMC. It took me 27 years before I got my wife to even sit in a GMC! I wish you and yours many adventures.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Henderson"
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:26:39 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] My 1976 Palm Beach Project
VERY NICE, Justin.
Congratulations on your great project and your wedding. What a honeymoon!
Ours, 58 years and 15 days ago, was only 830 miles, from her home town to
my first USAF officer assignment. May yours be even longer and more happy!
I don't think you've told us her name.
Ken H.
On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 3:24 PM, Justin Brady wrote:
> Well I added this to the wrong thread earlier, so here it is to keep this
> one up to date:
>
> Well we made it!
> 5000+ Miles in the last 2 weeks and we're home safe and sound.
>
_______________________________________________
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #321046 is a reply to message #321038] |
Tue, 25 July 2017 08:03 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thank you guys for the warm responses, they are greatly appreciated!
Ken, her name is Kathleen.
The photographer took some really cool shots of us in the GMC but we don't have them back yet. I'll post them up when I've got them.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
|
|
|
|
| Re: My 1976 Palm Beach Project [message #321054 is a reply to message #281079] |
Tue, 25 July 2017 09:52 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
|
Senior Member |
|
|
That is the best pictures and trip report I have heard.
Congrats, and wow- you put some serious work and thought into the coach and it turned out one of the nicest I have seen.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Sat Apr 27 22:23:47 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.06768 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
