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Re: New Owner Questions [message #320476 is a reply to message #320425]

Sat, 15 July 2017 10:29

mrgmc3

Messages: 210
Registered: September 2013
Location: W Washington

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Senior Member

SkyKingsley wrote on Fri, 14 July 2017 14:24

Hey everyone, I just bought a 78 Kingsley and so far I really enjoy it! Just had a couple questions for you all...

First thing I've got to do is oil change, transmission fluid change, and final drive fluid change. Do you all have any luck getting the GMC on ramps or is jacking the front and using jack stands the preferable method?

Also wondering what your experiences have been with the transmission on these machines. Mine is original and as far as I can tell, no record of any work has been done to it aside from regular filter changes. How worried should that make me?

Lastly, I want to be prepared for a potential breakdown situation as we plan to take this thing a long way from home. What is in your toolkit on board that you find essential?

Thanks in advance for all the help, I'm really excited to be a part of this community!

Welcome! I also have '78 Kingsley, you got the best of the best, but I am partial!
First thing, yes change all fluids, engine oil (I use Mobil 1 15-50), atf and final drive AND coolant! The olds engine is very durable but it's Achilles heel is cooling. Second thing, unless your PO gave you a very detailed maintenance log, change / replace everything made of rubber; tires, belts, hoses, brake hoses, oil cooler hoses (yes the originals are rubber).
Transmission? THM 425 is based on the 400. Extremely heavy duty and will run forever if it has not been overheated. There is a direct relationship between clutch life and trans oil temperature. If a PO installed an aux cooler he extended your trans life considerably (do you see a common thread - cooling is extremely important on these vehicles!). Modulators and governors can be a little problematic - good idea to carry spares.
Toolkit? I carry a small assortment of hand tools including a digital volt ohm meter and an infrared thermometer (great for checking tire, brake and bearing temps).
Spare parts - I carry an HEI coil, module and pick-up coil. A spare starter motor, fuel filters, ignition switch and fuses.

Mine has been pretty reliable after much maintenance and two "fixes" 1) a aux electric fuel pump to address the dreaded vapor lock, and 2) an aluminum radiator to address cooling.

Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa 1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 54k mi

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[Message index]

		New Owner Questions By: SkyKingsley on Fri, 14 July 2017 14:24
		Re: New Owner Questions By: Ken Burton on Fri, 14 July 2017 15:06
		Re: New Owner Questions By: Matt Colie on Fri, 14 July 2017 17:57
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: jimk on Fri, 14 July 2017 18:42
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: tphipps on Fri, 14 July 2017 20:34
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Hal StClair on Fri, 14 July 2017 22:46
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: USAussie on Sat, 15 July 2017 08:02
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Hal StClair on Sat, 15 July 2017 09:18
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: USAussie on Sat, 15 July 2017 17:19
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Dennis S on Sat, 15 July 2017 17:38
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Matt Colie on Sat, 15 July 2017 19:14
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Hal StClair on Sat, 15 July 2017 22:31
		Re: New Owner Questions By: roy1 on Fri, 14 July 2017 23:49
		Re: New Owner Questions By: tphipps on Sat, 15 July 2017 06:25
		Re: New Owner Questions By: mrgmc3 on Sat, 15 July 2017 10:29
		Re: New Owner Questions By: jhbridges on Sun, 16 July 2017 07:55
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: GMC.LES on Sun, 16 July 2017 10:26
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Ken Henderson on Sun, 16 July 2017 10:43
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Bruce Hart on Sun, 16 July 2017 20:29
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: USAussie on Mon, 17 July 2017 17:54
		Re: New Owner Questions By: JohnL455 on Sun, 16 July 2017 22:05
		Re: New Owner Questions By: Dennis S on Mon, 17 July 2017 19:25
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: USAussie on Mon, 17 July 2017 20:38
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Hal StClair on Tue, 18 July 2017 11:20
		Re: New Owner Questions By: RF_Burns on Tue, 18 July 2017 11:41
		Re: New Owner Questions By: Ken Burton on Tue, 18 July 2017 18:11
		Re: New Owner Questions By: RF_Burns on Tue, 18 July 2017 21:21
		Re: New Owner Questions By: Ken Burton on Tue, 18 July 2017 23:44
		Re: New Owner Questions By: SkyKingsley on Wed, 19 July 2017 20:05
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		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: USAussie on Thu, 20 July 2017 08:01
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: Kingsley Coach on Thu, 20 July 2017 09:22
		Re: [GMCnet] New Owner Questions By: SkyKingsley on Sat, 22 July 2017 11:35
		Re: New Owner Questions By: SteveW on Thu, 20 July 2017 09:41

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