Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » What have I gotten myself into...
| What have I gotten myself into... [message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 08:46  |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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I like travel and camping, but the old VW bus, that served us well when the wife and I were younger and more limber, just wasn't calling us to travel much anymore. We needed an RV, I decided. After much research on how most rv's are made and how well they hold up, I finally came to the GMC. I had to have one.
Now there is article after article on the interwebs about how the best way to buy a good GMC is to find one that has been maintained or upgraded by its current owner. It is the same with cars (another hobby of mine) find someone who got carried away with their restoration and spent double what the thing was worth, and just want to move on with their life.
That would be too easy.
So after casually looking at the local craigslist listings in SC, I responded to a posting for a Birchaven:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Mb3o63N15I95G75Mfccqe4055db42b541f0a.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Kd3Fe3Lf5Ff5Md5Jaccqb88b662618c71dad.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Eb3I73Fd5Ib5E65Mbccq3f2231298888181a-1.jpg
The ad said the engine fired up without hesitation and it drove "like a cadillac". $4500. I was so sure I had found a gem, I invited my skeptical wife with me on the hour long drive to check it out.
The coach was actually yellow. I later found after cleaning the oxidized paint that the lower half had been re-painted. The interior had been modified with the dinette removed to make a bed/ u shaped couch, the rear bunk beds had been converted into a homemade sliding davo, the bar had been removed, and the kitchen countertop profile changed from angled to straight. The seats had been replaced, the carpet replaced but there were no seatbelts - strike one with the wife. The generator turned over but the battery died before it fired up. The owner had picked it up from a neighbor and had no real knowledge of the coach or its modifications. But it had a ton of books, including old GMCI publications by the binderfulls.
It started and ran as described. What was missing from the description was the intense exhaust smell in the cabin - there was a tremendous leak. Strike two. Undeterred, I opened the window and took it for a test drive. At this point I should mention that the owner really needs to get her cadillac looked at because the coach rode like it had 4 square wheels. Oh, and I almost rear ended a new accord as the brakes required me to literally stand on them to bring the coach to a stop from 20 mph. Strike three.
When we arrived back from the test drive I could not get a word in edgewise as my wife told the owner in no uncertain terms we were not interested. The owner kept responding with "make me an offer".
It needed me, so I made an offer and bought it anyway. I may now have to sleep in it more than just when traveling.
I had it towed the 50 miles home to a buddy's Firestone shop. $2700 later it had new master cylinder, booster & Stainless lines from GMC Coop, tires, packed bearings, a tune up, all fluids flushed and a new master cylinder. It drove like a dream and stopped on a dime. But I still needed oxygen to stay in the cabin while it was running.
Then the real fun began. On the way home it threw an alternator belt, and the next morning the radiator gave its unbiased opinion of being flushed by depositing the coolant in the driveway. Of course, one of the coolant lines was rusted in place and snapped off. Off it went to the radiator shop while my brother and I scour the local shops for appropriate 11mm belts and a replacement line.
The exhaust system was cobbled together with asbestos cloth and bailing wire. I had ordered some Thorley's and a 3" stainless exhaust from Jim K at Applied. The old system was removed with the help of mr sawzall, and the headers installed. The exhaust system was a bit more challenging as the 6 ft straight exhaust sections did not like sliding in from the rear. We had to notch the frame at the back where it sweeps up by about 1/4" to get it to fit, but Mr sawzall was there to help. The rear airbags were replaced with a Todd Sullivan kit (and I managed to snap off the bottom of the t-skirt by setting it down).
The seatbelts were found and installed. it seems they were under the pedestals, not re-installed after the carpet was put down. However, the seat mounts were hardware store jury rigged. The swivel pedestals are gone, the seat tracks are mounted to the angled base, and a rather precarious-looking 4" bolt is used to elevate the front mounting point on the seat to level. Anyone have pics of how the seat base is supposed to look?
The coach battery was recharged, but the house battery in the engine compartment would only charge to 6 volts (it was listed as a 12v). I replaced it with a single deepcycle 12v, But the generator still acts like I have a dead battery. Hook up the charger to the new battery - 75% charged. so I charge it. It finishes - 100% - gen gives dead battery like turn and then all power dies to house. Battery now at 90% so I charge again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Something has to be wrong. So I finally look at the wiring diagram for a birchaven and it shows a second house battery. Located in the rear closet, behind the generator housing. AHA! All my problems are now fixed. So a second matching 12v deepcycle from Sam's was procured and installed.
Because God has a sense of humor, there was no change to the house power and genset behavior after the new battery, and three GMC's have popped up for sale within 5 minutes of my house. I can provide information and photos on two of them if anyone is interested. I have not checked out the third.
We will be installing the radiator, belts and finishing the exhaust this weekend. The house power is another story.
The wait is killing me.
Special thanks to GMC Coop, Applied GMC and Todd Sullivan for their patience and help in getting all of the bugs worked out. The GMC Community is lucky to have such specialty suppliers.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
[Updated on: Wed, 13 February 2013 08:54] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198315 is a reply to message #198311] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 09:25  |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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THese things also help us determine whether or not we married the right woman.
I bought the Revcon with a few dollars that should have been spent elsewhere, i drove it 200 miles while she shared a minivan with a screaming baby.
Before we ever took a family trip i overhearted it and blew a head gasget. That was an excuse to fix a lot of things so it was on blocks for a year. (i work slowly)
My headgasket leaked so it went on blocks for another year.
Meanwhile, we adopted another child and bought a smaller house (which i just had to have)
So, when she said the Revcon had to go i was ready to raise the white flag but she recently decided to free up some cash and give it one more try this spring.
I married the right woman.
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198316 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 09:44 |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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| Joe Weir wrote on Wed, 13 February 2013 06:46 |
I like travel and camping, but the old VW bus, that served us well when the wife and I were younger and more limber, just wasn't calling us to travel much anymore. We needed an RV, I decided. After much research on how most rv's are made and how well they hold up, I finally came to the GMC. I had to have one.
It needed me, so I made an offer and bought it anyway. I may now have to sleep in it more than just when traveling.
The wait is killing me.
Special thanks to GMC Coop, Applied GMC and Todd Sullivan for their patience and help in getting all of the bugs worked out. The GMC Community is lucky to have such specialty suppliers.
|
Joe,
Welcome. You are doing fine! And you are stimulating the economy. We have all had exciting adventures, but in a little while the old Brichaven will take you on marvelous adventures.
A friend recently told me his diesel pusher was a money pit after about 10 years, and I hate to think what he paid at the start. Our coach is pushing 40. We have also stimulated the economy but our coach is reliable and we love it. And we have nowhere near the cost of even the simplest class C.
The GMC family is the best bunch of folks you could find. Come to a rally and you can happily tell about your first adventure to a happy bunch that will share their story of "Getting her home."
At the Aman rally, Ruth came back from talking to a bunch of ladies who shared their "adventures" and she was happy to have great stories to add to the mix. Your wife now has fodder to make her feel at home. She would not want to have to say, "Golly, our coach has always run perfectly. We have never had anything break."
Again welcome. It is all great fun and the view from those big windshields makes you feel like a royal couple sitting on their thrones.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: [GMCnet] What have I gotten myself into... [message #198317 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 09:53 |
Kudzu
Messages: 377
Registered: November 2011
Location: Marshville, NC
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Congrats! You selling the VW? I wonder if it would make a good tow
vehicle...?
Dan in NC
1976 Eleganza II
On 2/13/2013 9:46 AM, Joe Weir wrote:
>
> I like travel and camping, but the old VW bus, that served us well when the wife and I were younger and more limber, just wasn't calling us to travel much anymore. We needed an RV, I decided. After much research on how most rv's are made and how well they hold up, I finally came to the GMC. I had to have one.
>
> Now there is article after article on the interwebs about how the best way to buy a good GMC is to find one that has been maintained or upgraded by its current owner. It is the same with cars (another hobby of mine) find someone who got carried away with their restoration and spent double what the thing was worth, and just want to move on with their life.
>
> That would be too easy.
>
> So after casually looking at the local craigslist listings in SC, I responded to a posting for a Birchaven:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Mb3o63N15I95G75Mfccqe4055db42b541f0a.jpg
> http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Kd3Fe3Lf5Ff5Md5Jaccqb88b662618c71dad.jpg
> http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Eb3I73Fd5Ib5E65Mbccq3f2231298888181a-1.jpg
>
> The ad said the engine fired up without hesitation and it drove "like a cadillac". $4500. I was so sure I had found a gem, I invited my skeptical wife with me on the hour long drive to check it out.
>
> The coach was actually yellow. I later found after cleaning the oxidized paint that the lower half had been re-painted. The interior had been modified with the dinette removed to make a bed/ u shaped couch, the rear bunk beds had been converted into a homemade sliding davo, the bar had been removed, and the kitchen countertop profile changed from angled to straight. The seats had been replaced, the carpet replaced but there were no seatbelts - strike one with the wife. The generator turned over but the battery died before it fired up. The owner had picked it up from a neighbor and had no real knowledge of the coach or its modifications.
>
> It started and ran as described. What was missing from the description was the intense exhaust smell in the cabin - there was a tremendous leak. Strike two. Undeterred, I opened the window and took it for a test drive. At this point I should mention that the owner really needs to get her cadillac looked at because the coach rode like it had 4 square wheels. Oh, and I almost rear ended a new accord as the brakes required me to literally stand on them to bring the coach to a stop from 20 mph. Strike three.
>
> When we arrived back from the test drive I could not get a word in edgewise as my wife told the owner in no uncertain terms we were not interested. The owner kept responding with "make me an offer".
>
> I bought it anyway and had it towed the 50 miles home to a buddy's Firestone shop. $2700 later it had new master cylinder, booster & Stainless lines from GMC Coop, tires, packed bearings, a tune up, all fluids flushed and a new master cylinder. It drove like a dream and stopped on a dime. But I still needed oxygen to stay in the cabin while it was running.
>
> Then the real fun began. On the way home it threw an alternator belt, and the next morning the radiator gave its unbiased opinion of being flushed by depositing the coolant in the driveway. Of course, one of the coolant lines was rusted in place and snapped off. Off it went to the radiator shop while my brother and I scour the local shops for appropriate 11mm belts and a replacement line.
>
> The exhaust system was cobbled together with asbestos cloth and bailing wire. I had ordered some Thorley's and a 3" stainless exhaust from Jim K at Applied. The old system was removed with the help of mr sawzall, and the headers installed. The exhaust system was a bit more challenging as the 6 ft straight exhaust sections did not like sliding in from the rear. We had to notch the frame at the back where it sweeps up by about 1/4" to get it to fit, but Mr sawzall was there to help. The rear airbags were replaced with a Todd Sullivan kit (and I managed to snap off the bottom of the t-skirt by setting it down).
>
> The seatbelts were found and installed. it seems they were under the pedestals, not re-installed after the carpet was put down. However, the seat mounts were hardware store jury rigged. The swivel pedestals are gone, the seat tracks are mounted to the angled base, and a rather precarious-looking 4" bolt is used to elevate the front mounting point on the seat to level. Anyone have pics of how the seat base is supposed to look?
>
> The coach battery was recharged, but the house battery in the engine compartment would only charge to 6 volts (it was listed as a 12v). I replaced it with a single deepcycle 12v, But the generator still acts like I have a dead battery. Hook up the charger to the new battery - 75% charged. so I charge it. It finishes - 100% - gen gives dead battery like turn and then all power dies to house. Battery now at 90% so I charge again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Something has to be wrong. So I finally look at the wiring diagram for a birchaven and it shows a second house battery. Located in the rear closet, behind the generator housing. AHA! All my problems are now fixed. So a second matching 12v deepcycle from Sam's was procured and installed.
>
> Because God has a sense of humor, there was no change to the house power and genset behavior after the new battery, and three GMC's have popped up for sale within 5 minutes of my house. I can provide information and photos on two of them if anyone is interested. I have not checked out the third.
>
> We will be installing the radiator, belts and finishing the exhaust this weekend. The house power is another story.
>
> The wait is killing me.
>
> Special thanks to GMC Coop, Applied GMC and Todd Sullivan for their patience and help in getting all of the bugs worked out. The GMC Community is lucky to have such specialty suppliers.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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1976 Eleganza II
1996 Chevy Impala SS
1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198318 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 09:57 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| Joe Weir wrote on Wed, 13 February 2013 09:46 |
I like travel and camping, but the old VW bus, that served us well when the wife and I were younger and more limber, just wasn't calling us to travel much anymore. We needed an RV, I decided. After much research on how most rv's are made and how well they hold up, I finally came to the GMC. I had to have one.
<snipped>
|
Joe,
Welcome to the Group/Family/Cult/Asylum.
The problems you are facing are all manageable, it will take some time and some patience. One of the problems most of us run into are undocumented (most are) changes to the original design. Most cases, they just need sorting out.
Yes, some of us know the real value of our good suppliers.
You now have good brakes and tires and it runs. That is the big battle. When you get the other essentials, make up a list with five headings:
Needed - Has to get done before the next excursion
Winter work - Nice things to done between major use times
Done - This list will grow as you date and move things to it
Deferred - Things you want to do, but can wait a long time
Abandon - Things you thought you wanted to do but may never
The need for most of these topics is self evident except for the last two. Put those things on the list and when the required parts/tools can be acquired advantageously, you might remember to grab them. I started out with about a dozen things on this list 6 years ago and it has now dwindled to five.
You are only about 300 miles from Dothan. If you can work it, it would be a good idea to get there.
It would also be a good idea to add a small amount of information to your sigfile. If you add (77?) Birchaven, Columbia SC, then when you have a question, many readers will know exactly where the good place to start will be. And, if you are still having electrical issues, I will be in the area of Columbia just about Easter (homebound from Dothan), and I am pretty good at that stuff.
Lastly, you will soon find the this coach is more than just another restoration project. It and the community it brings with it will be a part of your life. I liken it to the way a waterman (like yours truly) relates to his boat(s). For that reason, I like to welcome new owners much as we would welcome a new owner or vessel. So,
May the Good Lord bless this coach and all those that set forth within her.
Welcome Joe and ...
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198319 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 10:02 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Wow! That's quite a story.
I bought a regularly used rolling coach that was beautiful on the outside and the interior, and still had the same thought as I was driving it home. It had exhaust leaks (not as bad as yours) it vapor locked (I thought I was never going to get it to the house), etc, etc.
My issues were more easily corrected than yours, but I have been constantly making improvements ever since. It is now mechanically sound and as reliable as a 38 year old motorhome can be. I won't even tell you what my wife wanted to call it at first, but now she enjoys traveling in it as much as I do and we use it as often as we can get away, usually about once a month. In four and a half years, we have put over 18,000 miles on it (three times what the PO had driven it in six years).
The trick is to attempt to take care of all the issues you can while at home in your driveway, between trips. The more reliable the coach is, the more your wife will like it. I have been stranded at the side of the road two times, both for ignition failures (one a module, and the second an MSD box). Both times I was able to make repairs and get back underway in short order, due to having spare parts on board.
If you get involved in a club, you will meet some great people. Even if you don't, you will enjoy some beautiful places and experiences in your new coach. Congratulations on your choice. It may not seem like a wise one at times, but you and your wife will soon see the wisdom in owning a GMC.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
[Updated on: Wed, 13 February 2013 10:06] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] What have I gotten myself into... [message #198322 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 10:20 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Jim bounds has a very deep understanding of the various wiring systems of the different coaches. I would call him and bend his ear about the generator issue. He was always willing to help me figure out my engine bay wiring when I called him. I will take a quick stab at it however. If it won't spin with a brand new battery I would next check both ends of both cables to ensure good contacts ( you have checked the oil right). If contacts and oil level are ok try removing the spark plugs and see if it will spin without compression. If it still labors on cranking then you likely have a problem with the starter.
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 13, 2013, at 6:46 AM, Joe Weir <joeweir@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> I like travel and camping, but the old VW bus, that served us well when the wife and I were younger and more limber, just wasn't calling us to travel much anymore. We needed an RV, I decided. After much research on how most rv's are made and how well they hold up, I finally came to the GMC. I had to have one.
>
> Now there is article after article on the interwebs about how the best way to buy a good GMC is to find one that has been maintained or upgraded by its current owner. It is the same with cars (another hobby of mine) find someone who got carried away with their restoration and spent double what the thing was worth, and just want to move on with their life.
>
> That would be too easy.
>
> So after casually looking at the local craigslist listings in SC, I responded to a posting for a Birchaven:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Mb3o63N15I95G75Mfccqe4055db42b541f0a.jpg
> http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Kd3Fe3Lf5Ff5Md5Jaccqb88b662618c71dad.jpg
> http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/3Eb3I73Fd5Ib5E65Mbccq3f2231298888181a-1.jpg
>
> The ad said the engine fired up without hesitation and it drove "like a cadillac". $4500. I was so sure I had found a gem, I invited my skeptical wife with me on the hour long drive to check it out.
>
> The coach was actually yellow. I later found after cleaning the oxidized paint that the lower half had been re-painted. The interior had been modified with the dinette removed to make a bed/ u shaped couch, the rear bunk beds had been converted into a homemade sliding davo, the bar had been removed, and the kitchen countertop profile changed from angled to straight. The seats had been replaced, the carpet replaced but there were no seatbelts - strike one with the wife. The generator turned over but the battery died before it fired up. The owner had picked it up from a neighbor and had no real knowledge of the coach or its modifications.
>
> It started and ran as described. What was missing from the description was the intense exhaust smell in the cabin - there was a tremendous leak. Strike two. Undeterred, I opened the window and took it for a test drive. At this point I should mention that the owner really needs to get her cadillac looked at because the coach rode like it had 4 square wheels. Oh, and I almost rear ended a new accord as the brakes required me to literally stand on them to bring the coach to a stop from 20 mph. Strike three.
>
> When we arrived back from the test drive I could not get a word in edgewise as my wife told the owner in no uncertain terms we were not interested. The owner kept responding with "make me an offer".
>
> I bought it anyway and had it towed the 50 miles home to a buddy's Firestone shop. $2700 later it had new master cylinder, booster & Stainless lines from GMC Coop, tires, packed bearings, a tune up, all fluids flushed and a new master cylinder. It drove like a dream and stopped on a dime. But I still needed oxygen to stay in the cabin while it was running.
>
> Then the real fun began. On the way home it threw an alternator belt, and the next morning the radiator gave its unbiased opinion of being flushed by depositing the coolant in the driveway. Of course, one of the coolant lines was rusted in place and snapped off. Off it went to the radiator shop while my brother and I scour the local shops for appropriate 11mm belts and a replacement line.
>
> The exhaust system was cobbled together with asbestos cloth and bailing wire. I had ordered some Thorley's and a 3" stainless exhaust from Jim K at Applied. The old system was removed with the help of mr sawzall, and the headers installed. The exhaust system was a bit more challenging as the 6 ft straight exhaust sections did not like sliding in from the rear. We had to notch the frame at the back where it sweeps up by about 1/4" to get it to fit, but Mr sawzall was there to help. The rear airbags were replaced with a Todd Sullivan kit (and I managed to snap off the bottom of the t-skirt by setting it down).
>
> The seatbelts were found and installed. it seems they were under the pedestals, not re-installed after the carpet was put down. However, the seat mounts were hardware store jury rigged. The swivel pedestals are gone, the seat tracks are mounted to the angled base, and a rather precarious-looking 4" bolt is used to elevate the front mounting point on the seat to level. Anyone have pics of how the seat base is supposed to look?
>
> The coach battery was recharged, but the house battery in the engine compartment would only charge to 6 volts (it was listed as a 12v). I replaced it with a single deepcycle 12v, But the generator still acts like I have a dead battery. Hook up the charger to the new battery - 75% charged. so I charge it. It finishes - 100% - gen gives dead battery like turn and then all power dies to house. Battery now at 90% so I charge again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Something has to be wrong. So I finally look at the wiring diagram for a birchaven and it shows a second house battery. Located in the rear closet, behind the generator housing. AHA! All my problems are now fixed. So a second matching 12v deepcycle from Sam's was procured and installed.
>
> Because God has a sense of humor, there was no change to the house power and genset behavior after the new battery, and three GMC's have popped up for sale within 5 minutes of my house. I can provide information and photos on two of them if anyone is interested. I have not checked out the third.
>
> We will be installing the radiator, belts and finishing the exhaust this weekend. The house power is another story.
>
> The wait is killing me.
>
> Special thanks to GMC Coop, Applied GMC and Todd Sullivan for their patience and help in getting all of the bugs worked out. The GMC Community is lucky to have such specialty suppliers.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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:
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198331 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 11:28 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Joe Weir wrote on Wed, 13 February 2013 06:46 |
...
The coach was actually yellow. I later found after cleaning the oxidized paint that the lower half had been re-painted. The interior had been modified ...
... The generator turned over but the battery died before it fired up. ...
... The swivel pedestals are gone, the seat tracks are mounted to the angled base, and a rather precarious-looking 4" bolt is used to elevate the front mounting point on the seat to level. Anyone have pics of how the seat base is supposed to look?
The coach battery was recharged, but the house battery in the engine compartment would only charge to 6 volts (it was listed as a 12v). I replaced it with a single deepcycle 12v, But the generator still acts like I have a dead battery. ...
... So I finally look at the wiring diagram for a birchaven and it shows a second house battery. Located in the rear closet, behind the generator housing. AHA! ...
... Because God has a sense of humor, there was no change to the house power and genset behavior after the new battery, ...
|
When I bought my 1977 I thought it was tan... like my other two coaches. I worked on it for three days and drove it for two days... then noticed when gas dribbled from the fill, it was yellow!
There where 3 types of bases installed in GMC from the factory. Like many features that changed over the years, the "change over" dates differed for GM-upfitted coaches and transmodes like your Birch.
Early: <http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p32204-bike-show-041.html>
I haven't found pictures of mid year bases. But I have been told they are a lot like the late bases, with a centered swivel. The most desirable bases are the late "offset swivel" bases:
<http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/late-seat-bases/p27833-late-model-swivel-seat-bases.html>
Also: The "Bike_show" album in the above link also has pictures of a few aftermarket bases.
From the factory, most Birchavens have only two "batteries," both up front. Some early Birch's did have a generator starting battery but it was eliminated from the later coaches. (The Onan can be started with a cable from the front.) Most likely the 3rd "gen set" battery was removed for the same reason it was eliminated from the later GM designs.... to troublesome.
I suspect your (house) electrical system has been changed some. (Along with all the other changes.) What year coach did you say you have?
Being yellow, I would have guessed 1977, but if it had angled seat bases and a 3rd battery, would lead me to think earlier, like 1976... but they started white. (The earliest have power level valves.)
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
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198339 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 12:58 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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I almost ended up kicked out of the house by the wife and living in my gmc too.
Take a short trip camping when you can.... watch the weather, makes sure it is going to rain. then park next to some tents.
When your wife wakes up in the GMC, and the neighbors are hanging up their sleeping bags to dry... she will start converting to liking the GMC.
just make sure you check the gmc over for leaks and caulk them up first, so you are not also having up your stuff to dry.
took my wife a couple trips. but last year she took it herself camping without me once. She loves it now, even though she does not admit that to me or her friends.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198342 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 14:20 |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
Karma: 0
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Best I can tell GM figured short drivers needed to sit lower that tall ones so the slant seas slid lower as they moved forward. Go figure. You'll need to change the bases if you want to swivel the seats.
Glenn
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198351 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 15:59 |
mojoe
Messages: 319
Registered: November 2012
Location: Monroe, NC
Karma: 0
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I really don't understand you guys talking about your wives.. mine is perfect when it comes to my GMC. She wants me out there working on it.. asking how much longer its gonna take to finish.
its funny though cause she cares nothing about camping.. I bet she will even pack my clothes and have them at the door waiting on me when i get ready to take it out.
Should I be worried? Dont think she will change the locks do you? lol
Joe Kemenczky..
1975 Eleganza ll " Odie " 75,000 miles..
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." - Mark Twain.
.
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198360 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 17:26 |
chasingsummer
Messages: 434
Registered: May 2011
Location: asheboro, nc
Karma: 0
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lets see, to answer this question.
You have your self a traveling marvel.
You will be approached by all kinds of people. But the real car people will want to atleast peak in and advise you they always wanted one.
On your first trip or 3 you will bring more tools and etc than you will ever need.
You will stare at you temp gauge as if there is nothing more important.
You will learn that either your hearing is really great, or very poor based on either every noise you hear, or every one you think you should have heard but did not.
On the trouble full trips you will really wonder why.
Find a nice campground not far from home (state park), and make it your home away from home. You will learn that these are really traveling marvels.
And the tech and emotional support from this forum is truely second to none.
So come on in, the waters fine. (it just leaks a little under the bath sink)
brian
asheboro, nc
75 eleganza, 74 build
119k miles and counting,
DOG HOUSE
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198381 is a reply to message #198360] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 20:02 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement. It is a 76. TZE336V10264.
The seat bases look just like this:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p32204-bike-show-041.html
So, the bases just bolt to the plywood floor, or do they all bolt through the plywood to the framing? I'd love to have at least the passenger seat swivel. If I get rid of the old pedestal, would a regular van seat base work safely?
Here are few more photos of the progress:
Headers and distribution block:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/image-1.jpg
New airbags and brake lines:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/image.jpg
Still need to fix the t-skirts.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
[Updated on: Wed, 13 February 2013 20:08] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198386 is a reply to message #198384] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 20:17 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Thanks for the help. I guess the seat belt helps hold the seat at the back.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
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| Re: What have I gotten myself into... [message #198405 is a reply to message #198309] |
Wed, 13 February 2013 21:42 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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They all break when you first get them. Half the fun is putting things back the right way. It's a pretty big mountain at first, but then you get through all the systems and they become reliable. And a fun way to travel with no security scans and no lost luggage.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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I love it. Thanks for buying a GMC. No doubt, you will make a great addition to our group. Oh, sounds like the typical GMC wife. Watch as she gradually warms up to the coach. 
