Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage.
| Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215446] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 12:24  |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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Just bought a 1978 Palm Beach that had a battery fire and has been sitting for 4 years. PO had purchased nearly all parts to repair it but never did. New windows, new front end fiberglass, battery tray, etc.
I bought it mainly for the windshields as mine are fogged and one is cracked. There are a lot of great parts on the rig that would be nice to have but I don't actually need right now. So here is my dilemma.
Do I take it all apart, store the parts I want, sell what I can, and scrap the shell?
Do I keep it as a roller and offer it to someone when I'm done with it?
Or do I try to get it mobile (not sure how much of an option this is, it needs lots of wiring and hoses and the engine status is unknown) and sell it as a running vehicle?
I really don't know what is best. I don't know if anyone out there wants a rolling shell, just a good body with no interior.
Opinions welcome.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
[Updated on: Tue, 23 July 2013 12:38] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215458 is a reply to message #215446] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 13:06  |
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Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
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Hey David. I don't recall seeing any pictures of the crispy coach. How about posting some so people can see what's what.
What you should do with your GMC S'mores is entirely up to you, the value of your time, money available, storage space and costs, all sorts of things. That's a tough equation for anyone else but you to solve. There are too many variables and most of them with personally-derived coefficients. The fire ended any chance of a full restoration. As we say in the tool collecting world, your coach "would make a great user."
I appreciate you asking the question. That's all I wanted to get started when I created the poll. A discussion of what's the right thing to do by a coach and how people felt about the GMC as a historical vehicle. Hell, probably 20% of the people have historic and antique plates on them, so even the AHJ see it as a piece of history. Some people went off on tangents about investments and monetary value, and some even took asking the question as somehow threatening to GMC vendors livelihood. For the life of me I can't see how, but that's what makes a horse race. Opinions and interpretations vary.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
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| Re: Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215467 is a reply to message #215459] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 14:51 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Well Otterwan,
This is always a consideration.
What interior I see looks good, so, going with that and the fact that it has been protected.
If it is reassembled as a running coach, it could easily sell as a unit. If you try to break it apart to sell the parts, they may all sell after a while, but it will be a while and you have to store all that stuff in the interim.
I am about to be in a similar position with a GMC owned now by a friend. We have decided to get it where we can deal with it (it currently is not), then to completely asses its condition. If it starts and runs and the wheels roll, it may get cleaned (no small task there) and sold. If not, it becomes parts that both of us are looking for and the rest go on the block.
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: [GMCnet] Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215474 is a reply to message #215459] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 16:20 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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I'm trying (without much success) to figure out how that fire didn't get inside.
Certainly looks to be recoverable with parts from a donor coach with damage to the rear.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: dao@oarsllc.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:27:58 -0500
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage.
>
>
>
> Here's a couple pics. The damage wasn't that bad and didn't get inside at all, just took out the nose fiberglass, hoses and wiring, and shattered both windshields.
>
> http://www.oarsllc.com/PG_Front.jpg
>
> http://www.oarsllc.com/PB_Cab.JPG
>
> http://www.oarsllc.com/BP_Dash.jpg
>
> http://www.oarsllc.com/PB_Back.jpg
>
> PS - If someone would take minute to help me out with the picture protocol for this forum it would be much appreciated. Using HTML in the post doesn't work, and I see may links to an album that appears to be part of this site. Thanks!
> --
> 1976 Royale "Twinkie II", 1978 Palm Beach with front end fire. Lynnwood WA
>
> “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
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| Re: [GMCnet] Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215480 is a reply to message #215474] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 17:05 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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I think the fire was fairly small and confined to the immediate battery area, and may have been more heat than actual flame. The driver's side engine hatch is fine, while the left one is from another coach. It wouldn't take much to heat to ruin the front fiberglass or crack the windshields, especially if the front fiberglass was warping. I think the worst part for the PO was all the wiring that was damaged.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215482 is a reply to message #215446] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 17:19 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Looks like a great candidate for a custom front end like this
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/a-very-pretty-birchaven-renovation/p12574.html
Maybe someone wants to try that camaro nose like the photoshop?
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: Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215507 is a reply to message #215446] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 22:47 |
bpimm
Messages: 211
Registered: June 2013
Location: Washougal Washington
Karma: 2
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You said it has new windows, Is that all the side and rear windows?
Do they go with the coach if you sell it?
Do the windows from a 78 fit a 73?
How much do you want for it after you get the windshields out?
Anybody have an idea what it would cost to haul one of these 200 miles?
That could make a sweet car hauler trailer or another running coach.
Thanks
Brian & RaeDean
1973 26' #383
Washougal WA
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| Re: [GMCnet] Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215508 is a reply to message #215495] |
Tue, 23 July 2013 22:54 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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I said it has new windshields, not installed. I'm installing them in my Royale. No windshields in the Palm Beach at the moment. If I sell it I would consider including the windshields from my Royale (slightly fogged around the edges and one cracked, but functional) once I got the new ones installed.
All the other glass is good. You're welcome to come up and look it over. It's about a 3 hour drive. I've been to Washougal several times. We did the permitting for the Camus sewer plant as well as the old PGL paper plant, which I think is closed now.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: [GMCnet] Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215515 is a reply to message #215511] |
Wed, 24 July 2013 00:30 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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David,
Seeing as how I'm at McCbhord AFB for the rest of the week, maybe we can
get together. My cell is 2 twenty-nine 938 two seven nine seven.
Ken H.
On Jul 23, 2013 9:31 PM, "David Orders" <dao@oarsllc.com> wrote:
>
>
> Plan your drive to hit Seattle between 10 and 3 and you'll be fine. My
> wife just drove to St. Helens today and traffic wasn't a problem. I'll give
> you a tour of the shop and even buy lunch.
>
> http://www.oarsllc.com/
>
> --
> 1976 Royale "Twinkie II", 1978 Palm Beach with front end fire. Lynnwood WA
>
> “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their
> shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and
> you have their shoes.”
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215594 is a reply to message #215483] |
Wed, 24 July 2013 18:32 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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| Otterwan wrote on Tue, 23 July 2013 17:24 |
It came with a whole new fiberglass nose.
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Sure, but you have a blank slate. If I had a new nose and a coach without one, I'd be tempted to use the new parts as a template for something more modern. That is just what I would do.
I thank God every day since this thread started that I do not live anywhere close to you, because I would be so tempted to start a project like this. Between the neighbors and my wife I am not sure i would survive the 24 hours immediately following the arrival of such a project in the driveway... 
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: [GMCnet] Thinking about Richard's poll from a few days ago. 1978 Palm Beach with fire damage. [message #215613 is a reply to message #215594] |
Thu, 25 July 2013 00:02 |
dan molnes
Messages: 166
Registered: October 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Dave , thank you so much for buying that project ! because I was kicking it
around myself so thank you thank you thank you Dan your P.O.
On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 4:32 PM, Joe Weir <joeweir@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Otterwan wrote on Tue, 23 July 2013 17:24
> > It came with a whole new fiberglass nose.
>
>
> Sure, but you have a blank slate. If I had a new nose and a coach without
> one, I'd be tempted to use the new parts as a template for something more
> modern. That is just what I would do.
>
> I thank God every day since this thread started that I do not live
> anywhere close to you, because I would be so tempted to start a project
> like this. Between the neighbors and my wife I am not sure i would survive
> the 24 hours immediately following the arrival of such a project in the
> driveway... :d
>
> --
> 76 Birchaven
> Columbia, SC.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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