GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high
[GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159495] Mon, 06 February 2012 10:53 Go to next message
Gary Bovee is currently offline  Gary Bovee   United States
Messages: 177
Registered: August 2008
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Well it must be too early in the morning or maybe just a plain attack of CRS, but I can’t seem to remember what the affect is on the front-end alignment when the rear ride height is set too high. Can someone refresh my memory?

Thanks,

Gary Bovee
1978 Royale by Coachman
Red Bluff, CA
Free – Idiot’s Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
http://www.gmceast.com/about/guide/index.html
Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
http://www.bdub.net/bovee/
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159496 is a reply to message #159495] Mon, 06 February 2012 11:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
k2gkk is currently offline  k2gkk   United States
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
Senior Member

IIRC, it reduces the caster in the front suspension,
thereby leading to less stability, "wandering", etc.

A possible "cure" for the butt-dragging appearance
might be body-mount pads that were slightly tapered
and progressively thicker as they proceed front to
rear. I suspect they would have to end up about an
inch thick at the rear to get rid of the alligator
tail-dragging look. Probably not cost efficient with
the juice not being worth the squeeze!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~~ k2gkk @ hotmail dot com ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ex-Palm Beach, 76 ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
_______________
*[ ]....[][ ][]\
*--OO---[]---O-*



> From: gcbgold@digitalpath.net
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 08:53:24 -0800
> Subject: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high
>
> Well it must be too early in the morning or maybe just a plain attack of CRS, but I cant seem to remember what the affect is on the front-end alignment when the rear ride height is set too high. Can someone refresh my memory?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary Bovee
> 1978 Royale by Coachman
> Red Bluff, CA
> Free Idiots Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
> http://www.gmceast.com/about/guide/index.html
> Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
> http://www.bdub.net/bovee/


_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159511 is a reply to message #159496] Mon, 06 February 2012 15:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
Senior Member
k2gkk wrote on Mon, 06 February 2012 11:00

...A possible "cure" for the butt-dragging appearance might be body-mount pads that were slightly tapered and progressively thicker as they proceed front to rear....
If the front pads are 1/4" thick, the rear ones would have to be 1-11/16" to take care of all of the difference.
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159513 is a reply to message #159511] Mon, 06 February 2012 15:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
I have always wondered at the resistance of some in the GMC community to
accept the FACTORY RECOMMENDED ride height. The GMC Motorhome is not really
happy suspension, steering and tire wear wise if you stray very far from
the OEM specs. But, that having been said, America is the land of the free
and home of the brave, and you are free to choose to alter your suspension
ride height so it pleases your sense of "what looks right to you". If your
coach handles poorly as a result, but it looks "cool", and you are willing
to trade off driveability for style, feel free to do so. Up here in the
Pacific Northwest, we have something called the Columbia River Gorge, kind
of a natural wind channel from east to west. It has a multilane limited
access freeway that runs along the river. It is a supreme test of the GMC
handling when the wind blows through there. If you have any deficiencies in
your suspension and steering, it will serve you well to pay a good deal of
attention to ride height, particularly in the rear. If you are high at all,
the wind will blow the coach from lane to lane if it is severe enough. They
occasionally will post extreme wind warning signs there. Sometimes, the
chassis engineers screw up and get one right. The GMC really does respond
to small changes in suspension height and alignment.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 1:05 PM, A. <markbb1@netzero.com> wrote:

>
>
> k2gkk wrote on Mon, 06 February 2012 11:00
> > ...A possible "cure" for the butt-dragging appearance might be
> body-mount pads that were slightly tapered and progressively thicker as
> they proceed front to rear....
> If the front pads are 1/4" thick, the rear ones would have to be 1-11/16"
> to take care of all of the difference.
> --
> '73 23' CanyonLands
> UA (Upper Alabama)
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159514 is a reply to message #159511] Mon, 06 February 2012 16:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hal kading is currently offline  hal kading   United States
Messages: 642
Registered: February 2004
Location: Las Cruces NM
Karma: 4
Senior Member
If one were to "fix" the butt low appearance of the GMC by using progressively thicker rubber pad cushions, I'd suggest using the stock thickness pads and making up the variable thickness with metal shims. The thicker rubber pads would compress more than the thinner ones.

Hal Kading 77 Kingsley 455 Las Cruces NM
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159515 is a reply to message #159513] Mon, 06 February 2012 16:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Jim,

I reckon that the engineers that designed the GMC set it up tail low with a tolerance in the ride height front and rear of +/- 1/4"
for a sound engineering reason; they have a propensity for that! ;-)

I sure wish "we" could have spoken to one of them and asked them what it was!

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: James Hupy

I have always wondered at the resistance of some in the GMC community to
accept the FACTORY RECOMMENDED ride height. The GMC Motorhome is not really
happy suspension, steering and tire wear wise if you stray very far from
the OEM specs. But, that having been said, America is the land of the free
and home of the brave, and you are free to choose to alter your suspension
ride height so it pleases your sense of "what looks right to you". If your
coach handles poorly as a result, but it looks "cool", and you are willing
to trade off driveability for style, feel free to do so. Up here in the
Pacific Northwest, we have something called the Columbia River Gorge, kind
of a natural wind channel from east to west. It has a multilane limited
access freeway that runs along the river. It is a supreme test of the GMC
handling when the wind blows through there. If you have any deficiencies in
your suspension and steering, it will serve you well to pay a good deal of
attention to ride height, particularly in the rear. If you are high at all,
the wind will blow the coach from lane to lane if it is severe enough. They
occasionally will post extreme wind warning signs there. Sometimes, the
chassis engineers screw up and get one right. The GMC really does respond
to small changes in suspension height and alignment.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159517 is a reply to message #159495] Mon, 06 February 2012 16:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
The thicker pads would lift the body off the frame, but leave the rear bumper where it was, creating a very unappealing gap. The effect though minor would not help CG and effect of crooswinds would be worse will a longer lever arm, though slight.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159526 is a reply to message #159517] Mon, 06 February 2012 19:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma: 207
Senior Member
I personally like the low look in the back of GMCs. And, I have driven the Columbia Gorge several times in our coach, that Jim mentioned. Our coach handles great through there. When I was a kid I kept the rear of my 65 Mustang Fastback raised with air shocks. Now I keep the rear end of our GMC lowered with Quadrabags.
Life was good then and life is good now. Our 16 grandchildren also love the GMC low in the rear. They say it makes for good tread wear on the front tires.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159530 is a reply to message #159495] Mon, 06 February 2012 19:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Little Yimmy is currently offline  Little Yimmy   United States
Messages: 144
Registered: February 2004
Location: Roseville, MN
Karma: 0
Senior Member

Somebody check my reasoning, please, and tell me what is wrong with it. When one peruses the GMC parts manual, one soon discovers that there are two (2) distinct major categories - - the frame assembly which includes the motor, transmission, front running gear, rear suspension and running gear, fuel tanks, etc., etc., etc. - - and the body assembly which includes the aluminum/fiberglass shell, seating, cabinets, etrc., etc., etc. Way back in the GMC mail list days (before the Forum became a gleam in Batman’s eye) it was noted.by someone that the body could be removed from the frame and the frame could theoretically be driven down the driveway (not street legal anymore). The suspension, if it had not been fiddled with during the removal of the body, would still be at the proper ride height since there are no, repeat, no suspension connections to the body components. It should be noted here that the accepted suspension settings are from the ground up to specific slots in the frame, not to any points on the body. It should also be noted that there is a one and seven sixteenths inch (1-7/16”) differential in the dimensions, the front being higher than the rear. WHY??? Are the two slots at different gauges on their respective members? It has been too long since I was capable of crawling under my coach to look. But, if the slots are both at the same gauge, then the whole frame is higher front than in the back. And since the body rests flat on the main longitudinal frame rails, it too is higher in the front than the rear. Why?? Only the original GMC engineers know for sure and it may be noted in some obscure engineering notes, now forever lost. However, it is most probably because the cost to make the body level was not in the bean counters books.
Lets put the body back on the frame. Before we do that, tho, just for grins, lets lay an eight inch by eight inch (8” x 8”) timber across the frame, just behind the bogies. Yes, I know an 8 x8 is not a true 8 inches, closer to 7-1/2”, let’s not pick nits. Now let’s set the body on the frame. It would now have a nice rear high rake. This move has done nothing to the suspension other than apply the original load back onto it. The coach should handle the same as before, as we have done nothing to the suspension. Oh, yah. Some will say it will be different in the wind. Well, tell you what. Add that rear air conditioner and a possible large size pod, and I would say we are at least even.
With this all said, and I hope understood, what very slight difference would it make if the body were raked forward that one and seven sixteenths inches. Take a look at your thumb. The typical mans thumb is one inch wide. At the first knuckle, it approaches 1-1/4” wide. Let’s face it. Another quarter inch will not make that much difference. Your eye would hardly notice it, except the body, repeat, BODY of the coach would be level. The frame would still be unchanged. No affect on the suspension or steering or ride or etc., etc. etc.
What would require some changes to do this? Well, the waste pipes from the coach to the waste tank(s) will have to be longer. Depending on how your coach is plumbed, you may have to reroute the LP lines. Some electrical wiring may need attention, but that should be about it. The cockpit is within a very small tolerance of where it should be. Probably closer.
Now, where did I go wrong in my analysis?


Little Yimmy - W9VUA
75 PB - F260206
Twin Cities, MN
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159543 is a reply to message #159530] Mon, 06 February 2012 23:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
On my personal coach, I found that the rear handled better when the pins
were lower than the center or the rear wheels.
I know several have mentioned that the pins should be around the sane
height as the center of the rear.
There must be a cradle effect when the pins are lower, thus less sway.
Every coach is different to where one set of rules do not follow on every
adjustment.

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 5:34 PM, Jim Melberg <pb75ft26@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> Somebody check my reasoning, please, and tell me what is wrong with it.
> When one peruses the GMC parts manual, one soon discovers that there are
> two (2) distinct major categories - - the frame assembly which includes the
> motor, transmission, front running gear, rear suspension and running gear,
> fuel tanks, etc., etc., etc. - - and the body assembly which includes the
> aluminum/fiberglass shell, seating, cabinets, etrc., etc., etc. Way back
> in the GMC mail list days (before the Forum became a gleam in Batman’s eye)
> it was noted.by someone that the body could be removed from the frame and
> the frame could theoretically be driven down the driveway (not street legal
> anymore). The suspension, if it had not been fiddled with during the
> removal of the body, would still be at the proper ride height since there
> are no, repeat, no suspension connections to the body components. It
> should be noted here that the accepted suspension settings are from the
> ground up to specific slots
> in the frame, not to any points on the body. It should also be noted
> that there is a one and seven sixteenths inch (1-7/16”) differential in the
> dimensions, the front being higher than the rear. WHY??? Are the two
> slots at different gauges on their respective members? It has been too
> long since I was capable of crawling under my coach to look. But, if the
> slots are both at the same gauge, then the whole frame is higher front than
> in the back. And since the body rests flat on the main longitudinal frame
> rails, it too is higher in the front than the rear. Why?? Only the
> original GMC engineers know for sure and it may be noted in some obscure
> engineering notes, now forever lost. However, it is most probably because
> the cost to make the body level was not in the bean counters books.
> Lets put the body back on the frame. Before we do that, tho, just for
> grins, lets lay an eight inch by eight inch (8” x 8”) timber across the
> frame, just behind the bogies. Yes, I know an 8 x8 is not a true 8 inches,
> closer to 7-1/2”, let’s not pick nits. Now let’s set the body on the
> frame. It would now have a nice rear high rake. This move has done
> nothing to the suspension other than apply the original load back onto it.
> The coach should handle the same as before, as we have done nothing to the
> suspension. Oh, yah. Some will say it will be different in the wind.
> Well, tell you what. Add that rear air conditioner and a possible large
> size pod, and I would say we are at least even.
> With this all said, and I hope understood, what very slight difference
> would it make if the body were raked forward that one and seven sixteenths
> inches. Take a look at your thumb. The typical mans thumb is one inch
> wide. At the first knuckle, it approaches 1-1/4” wide. Let’s face it.
> Another quarter inch will not make that much difference. Your eye would
> hardly notice it, except the body, repeat, BODY of the coach would be
> level. The frame would still be unchanged. No affect on the suspension or
> steering or ride or etc., etc. etc.
> What would require some changes to do this? Well, the waste pipes from
> the coach to the waste tank(s) will have to be longer. Depending on how
> your coach is plumbed, you may have to reroute the LP lines. Some
> electrical wiring may need attention, but that should be about it. The
> cockpit is within a very small tolerance of where it should be. Probably
> closer.
> Now, where did I go wrong in my analysis?
>
> --
> Little Yimmy - W9VUA
> 75 PB - F260206
> Twin Cities, MN
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist


Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159567 is a reply to message #159495] Tue, 07 February 2012 12:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Gary Bovee wrote on Mon, 06 February 2012 09:53

Well it must be too early in the morning or maybe just a plain attack of CRS, but I can't seem to remember what the affect is on the front-end alignment when the rear ride height is set too high. Can someone refresh my memory?

Thanks,

Gary Bovee
1978 Royale by Coachman
Red Bluff, CA
Free – Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
http://www.gmceast.com/about/guide/index.html
Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
http://www.bdub.net/bovee/
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



A good simple question that turned into a runaway train! I high rear trim height will reduce the caster and will alos transfer a bit more load to the front and affect toe. As some have pointed out, GM did not pull these numbers out of their a.s, and I would stick as close to specs as possible. As Rob mentioned. a reasonable tolerance will go unnoticed.


Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159571 is a reply to message #159495] Tue, 07 February 2012 13:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
Where you went wrong....
that the body could be removed from the frame and
> the frame could theoretically be driven down the driveway (not street legal
> anymore). The suspension, if it had not been fiddled with during the
> removal of the body, would still be at the proper ride height since there
> are no, repeat, no suspension connections to the body components.

As soon as you remove the body from the frame, the unloading will cause the front ride height to be way off, probably to the top bump stops.
The rear, if the height valves were attached to the frame (relocated) and not the body and if you "brought with the air pump and plumbing", would self level back to the normal height.
You'd be sitting nose high.


John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159577 is a reply to message #159530] Tue, 07 February 2012 16:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mike miller   United States
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Little Yimmy wrote on Mon, 06 February 2012 17:34

Somebody check my reasoning, please, and tell me what is wrong with it. ....


I see nothing wrong with your analysis.

If you repositioned the body to sit on the frame a little higher in the rear, you could have the body level to the ground and the frame "low in the back" as needed for the correct front end geometry.

-- But why? --

If your air suspension is working properly, set it to "travel" when on the highway. When pulling into town put it in "raise" for a few counts as needed to level the coach. You'll have more clearance under the rear and slightly quicker steering (both good for in town driving) PLUS the "level look" for around town.

I do it a little backwards. (But that is me.) My #2 coach is set to level when in "travel." I set it to lower for the count of four when getting on the highway. I put it in "travel" when getting OFF the highway.


Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159651 is a reply to message #159577] Wed, 08 February 2012 15:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Greg and April is currently offline  Greg and April   United States
Messages: 263
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Stupid question.....


If it is simply a visual thing, and the coach **just** appears to be
dragging it tail while on the move, why not just use an optical illusion to
make the rear of the coach to appear to be on the level or even higher?

Paint a matt black stripe right along the bottom sides of the coach, perhaps
a 1 inch wide at the front of the coach, and 2-2 1/2 inches wide at the
back. This will give the illusion that the rear of the coach is level
with ( or higher than ) the front since the human brain tends to ignore the
dark area under a vehicle as the eye is attracted to the lighter colors.

So what the matt black stripe at the bottom of the coach does, is making it
appear that the shadow at the rear of the coach appear to be higher than it
actually is, because unless the person observing the coach has very sharp
eyes, to see less than .5* of angle over the entire length, or goes up and
measures it, the brain is going to assume that the stripe is the same width
along the entire length.


Just a thought.

Greg H.

I don't just march to the beat of my own drum - I have an entire brass band
to keep me company.

.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Miller" <m000035@gmail.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 15:35
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high


>
>
> Little Yimmy wrote on Mon, 06 February 2012 17:34
>> Somebody check my reasoning, please, and tell me what is wrong with it.
>> ....
>
>
> I see nothing wrong with your analysis.
>
> If you repositioned the body to sit on the frame a little higher in the
> rear, you could have the body level to the ground and the frame "low in
> the back" as needed for the correct front end geometry.
>
> -- But why? --
>
> If your air suspension is working properly, set it to "travel" when on the
> highway. When pulling into town put it in "raise" for a few counts as
> needed to level the coach. You'll have more clearance under the rear and
> slightly quicker steering (both good for in town driving) PLUS the "level
> look" for around town.
>
> I do it a little backwards. (But that is me.) My #2 coach is set to level
> when in "travel." I set it to lower for the count of four when getting on
> the highway. I put it in "travel" when getting OFF the highway.
>
> --
> Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23'
> Birchaven Side Bath
> http://m000035.blogspot.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159652 is a reply to message #159651] Wed, 08 February 2012 16:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Greg,

Clever idea!

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg and April

Stupid question.....

If it is simply a visual thing, and the coach **just** appears to be
dragging it tail while on the move, why not just use an optical illusion to
make the rear of the coach to appear to be on the level or even higher?

Paint a matt black stripe right along the bottom sides of the coach, perhaps
a 1 inch wide at the front of the coach, and 2-2 1/2 inches wide at the
back. This will give the illusion that the rear of the coach is level
with ( or higher than ) the front since the human brain tends to ignore the
dark area under a vehicle as the eye is attracted to the lighter colors.

So what the matt black stripe at the bottom of the coach does, is making it
appear that the shadow at the rear of the coach appear to be higher than it
actually is, because unless the person observing the coach has very sharp
eyes, to see less than .5* of angle over the entire length, or goes up and
measures it, the brain is going to assume that the stripe is the same width
along the entire length.

Just a thought.

Greg

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159655 is a reply to message #159651] Wed, 08 February 2012 16:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Don A is currently offline  Don A   United States
Messages: 895
Registered: October 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Karma: 0
Senior Member
<<<Paint a matt black stripe right along the bottom sides of the coach, perhaps a 1 inch wide at the front of the coach, and 2-2 1/2 inches wide at the back.>>>

Now is you did that in reverse on the top of the front you might have something ???


Don Adams Dallas, TX
'76 26' Glenbrook, '90 Sidekick
rebuilt by R Archer, powered by J Bounds, Koba
[IMG]http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6109/G2.jpg[/IMG]
Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high [message #159658 is a reply to message #159655] Wed, 08 February 2012 17:14 Go to previous message
Greg and April is currently offline  Greg and April   United States
Messages: 263
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Simple - if your roof color is different from the side color, start with a 1
inch wide stripe of roof color below the gutters about the middle of the
coach and make it 1 1/2 inches wide in front, giving the illusion that the
roof starts lower in the front than in the back.

When the military is painting camouflage, they all ways keep in mind that
normally the lower areas on an object will be darker colors from shade, and
lighter colors on top where they are normally exposed to more light - so to
fool the eye, they intentionally reverse the situation putting lighter
colors where shade would be and darker colors where the object would be
exposed to more light ( after that it's just a matter of breaking up the
outlines of the object ).

This applies to the illusion of the coach being level while on the move by
bringing a lighter roof line down a inch or so in front and raising the
shadow line in the rear by a couple of inches.

.

Greg H.

I don't just march to the beat of my own drum - I have an entire brass band
to keep me company.

.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Adams" <dj.adams@att.net>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 15:49
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Affect on alignment of rear ride height set too high


>
>
> <<<Paint a matt black stripe right along the bottom sides of the coach,
> perhaps a 1 inch wide at the front of the coach, and 2-2 1/2 inches wide
> at the back.>>>
>
> Now is you did that in reverse on the top of the front you might have
> something ???
>
> --
> Don
> Dallas, TX
> 1976 26' Glenbrook
> rebuilt by R Archer
> powered by J Bounds, Koba
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Previous Topic: Headers mmm Headers
Next Topic: [GMCnet] Fw: Intake Manifold Question
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Wed Oct 16 03:25:28 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02803 seconds