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[GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214918] Thu, 18 July 2013 22:35 Go to next message
kincaid76royale is currently offline  kincaid76royale   United States
Messages: 71
Registered: February 2005
Karma: 0
Member



On the Road

Well, here we are, back from our first long trip with the GMC that wasn’t just going to a rally somewhere..

We had a really great time and saw many places that we had wanted to visit for very long time.

We travelled for three weeks and 2500 miles to the “four corners” area of the Southwest. We visited the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners and Sedona in Arizona. We parked the GMC   in Cortez CO. for a week and travelled by rental car to Mesa Verde,   other Anasazi sites, Durango and Silverton, where we took the narrow-guage train trip. We also enjoyed some fun times and some relaxing times in a lot of places such as Williams, AZ and Needles CA.

The weather was very warm and windy with temps up to 124*F

The coach performed well the whole way but we did learn some limitations to driving a 37 year old vehicle. When driving in 110* temps, especially in hills, we experienced some overheating until we slowed to 55 MPH and set the cabin air to Low. The engine fan sound was continuous so, at first, we thought that it was not working. When driving in steep hills the generator, driving the roof air, will starve and stop If the gas tanks are not nearly full. Above 3500 ft. the GMC struggles for power and above 6000 ft the slightest grade requires WOT and/ or downshift just to keep moving. BTW at 8000 + ft. there is no need for high gear, ever. We could not have handled the steep hills and tight curves in CO without the rental car. Note: at 120*+ the lone roof air did not keep the coach cooler that 90*F so we travelled in the early morning (3:00 AM) and spent some afternoons in Campground “Cool Rooms”

We are so thankful that the old GMC never quit on us anywhere and provided a snug home for us the whole time.

Thank you to Jim and Grace Kanomata, Nick Gutierrez, and Alonzo …. At Applied GMC in Fremont, CA who spent so much time working on the old GMC and making sure that it was reliable and ready for the trip. They rebuilt and renewed the entire dash air conditioning, installed radiator air ducting, flushed the brake system, lubed and serviced the entire engine and suspension and made the air ride system operate They installed the spare steering gear box and aligned the front end. They spent a lot of time trying to make the oil pressure warning work.

We could not have made this trip without their help and encouragement and they did so much of this work without charge just because they wanted us to have a great, first long trip, experience with the GMC.

They are special people and we have been told that they are just as helpful and supportive to many others in the GMC family.   We could not own this old GMC Motorhome without them.
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Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214921 is a reply to message #214918] Thu, 18 July 2013 23:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kincaid76royale is currently offline  kincaid76royale   United States
Messages: 71
Registered: February 2005
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HI all:



I forgot to mention that we are Jack and Mary Kincaid of Castro Valley, CA and that our coach is a 1976 Royale RB - 26 ft.



J ack and M ary Kincaid, Castro Valley, CA



----- Original Message -----


From: kincaid76royale@comcast.net
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Cc: kinscott@comcast.net, jackekincaid@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 8:35:01 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip




On the Road

Well, here we are, back from our first long trip with the GMC that wasn’t just going to a rally somewhere..

We had a really great time and saw many places that we had wanted to visit for very long time.

We travelled for three weeks and 2500 miles to the “four corners” area of the Southwest. We visited the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners and Sedona in Arizona. We parked the GMC   in Cortez CO. for a week and travelled by rental car to Mesa Verde,   other Anasazi sites, Durango and Silverton, where we took the narrow-guage train trip. We also enjoyed some fun times and some relaxing times in a lot of places such as Williams, AZ and Needles CA.

The weather was very warm and windy with temps up to 124*F

The coach performed well the whole way but we did learn some limitations to driving a 37 year old vehicle. When driving in 110* temps, especially in hills, we experienced some overheating until we slowed to 55 MPH and set the cabin air to Low. The engine fan sound was continuous so, at first, we thought that it was not working. When driving in steep hills the generator, driving the roof air, will starve and stop If the gas tanks are not nearly full. Above 3500 ft. the GMC struggles for power and above 6000 ft the slightest grade requires WOT and/ or downshift just to keep moving. BTW at 8000 + ft. there is no need for high gear, ever. We could not have handled the steep hills and tight curves in CO without the rental car. Note: at 120*+ the lone roof air did not keep the coach cooler that 90*F so we travelled in the early morning (3:00 AM) and spent some afternoons in Campground “Cool Rooms”

We are so thankful that the old GMC never quit on us anywhere and provided a snug home for us the whole time.

Thank you to Jim and Grace Kanomata, Nick Gutierrez, and Alonzo …. At Applied GMC in Fremont, CA who spent so much time working on the old GMC and making sure that it was reliable and ready for the trip. They rebuilt and renewed the entire dash air conditioning, installed radiator air ducting, flushed the brake system, lubed and serviced the entire engine and suspension and made the air ride system operate They installed the spare steering gear box and aligned the front end. They spent a lot of time trying to make the oil pressure warning work.

We could not have made this trip without their help and encouragement and they did so much of this work without charge just because they wanted us to have a great, first long trip, experience with the GMC.

They are special people and we have been told that they are just as helpful and supportive to many others in the GMC family.   We could not own this old GMC Motorhome without them.
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Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214923 is a reply to message #214918] Thu, 18 July 2013 23:27 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
Thumbs up. Thanks for the report.
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] Back from the big trip [message #214929 is a reply to message #214918] Fri, 19 July 2013 00:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
appie is currently offline  appie   Denmark
Messages: 902
Registered: April 2013
Location: denmark
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Congratulations with your trip
Wonering are the problems driving at altitude a general problem? Is there a solution to the problem?


Appie eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold 6 wheel discbrake Quadrabags Springfield stage 2 462 olds Manny tranny ( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016 Denmark
Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214932 is a reply to message #214918] Fri, 19 July 2013 01:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hnielsen2 is currently offline  hnielsen2   United States
Messages: 1434
Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Appie
We have never had a problem after installing the final drive 3:70 from Jim K and I installed the Howell TB fuel injection.
Last summer we drove up and over Wolf Creek in Colorado at just over 10,000 feet.
We came up to Wolf Creek traveling at the posted speed of 55 MPH.
Howard
Alpine CA
Living at 2,400'
74 Canyon Lands

All is well with my Lord

On Jul 18, 2013, at 10:43 PM, lenze middelberg <lenze@middelberg.dk> wrote:

>
>
> Congratulations with your trip
> Wonðering are the problems driving at altitude a general problem? Is there a solution to the problem?
> --
> Appie
> eleganza 76
> Denmark
>
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All is well with my Lord
Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214934 is a reply to message #214932] Fri, 19 July 2013 01:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
appie is currently offline  appie   Denmark
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Location: denmark
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Thanks. Howard. Dont think anybody needs to get much higher then that wirh a motorhome
Thinking it to be a airproblem would changing the carb setting not do the job ?


Appie eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold 6 wheel discbrake Quadrabags Springfield stage 2 462 olds Manny tranny ( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016 Denmark
Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214937 is a reply to message #214918] Fri, 19 July 2013 02:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hnielsen2 is currently offline  hnielsen2   United States
Messages: 1434
Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Appie
Yes you could or get a Rochester carb with the altitude adjustment that came on the Cad engines.
I have one of the Rochester carbs off of a Cad 500 sitting in my garage that I thought about installing on the Olds 455.
Changed my mind.
I like the TBI better no adjustments, start up the engine and go.
I have only had to change the fuel pressure on the Howell TBI once.
We have a some high mountain pass if drive in the western states.
Where do you live in Denmark?
I was born in Copenhagen.
Came to the states as a seven year old after the war.
My wife and I where back to Denmark for Christmas in December of 09
Howard Nielsen
Yes I know a ton of Nielsens in Denmark
74 Canyon Landslide
Not quite stock


All is well with my Lord

On Jul 18, 2013, at 11:33 PM, lenze middelberg <lenze@middelberg.dk> wrote:

>
>
> Thanks. Howard. Dont think anybody needs to get much higher then that wirh a motorhome
> Thinking it to be a airproblem would changing the carb setting not do the job ?
>
> --
> Appie
> eleganza 76
> Denmark
>
> _______________________________________________
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All is well with my Lord
Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214938 is a reply to message #214937] Fri, 19 July 2013 02:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
appie is currently offline  appie   Denmark
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Location: denmark
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Senior Member
Howard I live in Svendborg and do not know anybody called Nielsen, but then again I am a Dutchman.


Appie eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold 6 wheel discbrake Quadrabags Springfield stage 2 462 olds Manny tranny ( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016 Denmark
Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214939 is a reply to message #214918] Fri, 19 July 2013 03:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hnielsen2 is currently offline  hnielsen2   United States
Messages: 1434
Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
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Senior Member
Appie
Now you know one.
It's time for me to go to bed.
Goodnight
Howard

All is well with my Lord

On Jul 19, 2013, at 12:46 AM, lenze middelberg <lenze@middelberg.dk> wrote:

>
>
> Howard I live in Svendborg and do not know anybody called Nielsen, but then again I am a Dutchman.
>
> --
> Appie
> eleganza 76
> Denmark
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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All is well with my Lord
Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214944 is a reply to message #214929] Fri, 19 July 2013 06:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
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Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
Senior Member
Yeh.
Expensive solution: Turbochargers.
Cheap solution. Live and travel in the South and Southeast.

--johnny

--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 7/19/13, lenze middelberg <lenze@middelberg.dk> wrote:

Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Friday, July 19, 2013, 5:43 AM



Congratulations with your trip
Wonering are the problems driving at altitude a general
problem? Is there a solution to the problem?
--
Appie
eleganza 76
Denmark

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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: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip [message #214945 is a reply to message #214944] Fri, 19 July 2013 07:07 Go to previous message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Be a bit PATIENT!

Cheaper solution!

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Johnny Bridges
Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 6:30 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip

Yeh.
Expensive solution: Turbochargers.
Cheap solution. Live and travel in the South and Southeast.

--johnny

--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 7/19/13, lenze middelberg <lenze@middelberg.dk> wrote:

Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Back from the big trip
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Friday, July 19, 2013, 5:43 AM

Congratulations with your trip
Wonering are the problems driving at altitude a general
problem? Is there a solution to the problem?
--
Appie
eleganza 76
Denmark



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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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