| Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #240957] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 09:21  |
Ultravan Owners
Messages: 443
Registered: March 2013
Karma: 0
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Anyone who has done this before please chime in.
I want to be sure someone can reuse the end cap that I removed to help save another coach that might have rear end damage.
Also I will need (some way) to install it one more time for a trip back east, where I will remove it for good and store it until someone needs it.
Note: I do not need to save the coach body. At some point when I get back home I will be removing it for good.
So is there any safe way to remove an end cap and temporarily reinstall it for one last trip?
Keep in mind that I can do also anything to the body of the coach – knowing I will not be reusing it ever again.
I simply want to save the end cap for someone else and reuse it one last time for my trip back home, if at all possible.
Thank you a head of time for your input.
Sincerely, Tony
Tony (Ontario Canada)
Marie and I are blessed to have had a 2nd chance to buy our farm.
Still hoping and more importantly praying to be able to build a garage.
Our 1970 Ultravan #520 has an Olds Toronado 455 in back.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #240967 is a reply to message #240961] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 09:59  |
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Loffen
Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway
Karma: 1
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Ok, the body sides are the easy part, they are bolted and glued, should not be to much hassle to separate the rear piece and the body sides.
It is glued to the rear glasfiber part of the roof, I would have cut it at the roof section, the rear roof part is glued and riveted to the main alu roof and frame, not sure if you can get the rear seperated from the main roof in without any damage to it.
It looks like you would have to cut the floor to get the rear panel out including the rear cusions, a lot of work !!
I would NOT even tried to save the rear cap if I was in your shoes, cut it out and mount it with gaffa (ducktape) when you have the boat inside.
1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green,
And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel
in Norway
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| Re: [GMCnet] Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #240970 is a reply to message #240967] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 10:14 |
Ultravan Owners
Messages: 443
Registered: March 2013
Karma: 0
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| Loffen wrote on Sun, 23 February 2014 10:59 |
Ok, the body sides are the easy part, they are bolted and glued, should not be to much hassle to separate the rear piece and the body sides.
It is glued to the rear glasfiber part of the roof, I would have cut it at the roof section, the rear roof part is glued and riveted to the main alu roof and frame, not sure if you can get the rear seperated from the main roof in without any damage to it.
It looks like you would have to cut the floor to get the rear panel out including the rear cusions, a lot of work !!
I would NOT even tried to save the rear cap if I was in your shoes, cut it out and mount it with gaffa (ducktape) when you have the boat inside.
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Espen,
I might not have any other choice but to destore the end cap.
However, I like to try my best to save as much as I can to hlep others keep another GMC on the road.
But in the end I may have no other choice.
The prices that I have been getting to have these boats hauled back east are way too much. Even if I were to use a truck rental it is $3,000 plus gas. My thought is if I pay $1,500 or so for a GMC parts coach and service the heck out of it and it can make one more trip back east where I can save some stuff to use it to restore one or more of our coaches = great!
Tony (Ontario Canada)
Marie and I are blessed to have had a 2nd chance to buy our farm.
Still hoping and more importantly praying to be able to build a garage.
Our 1970 Ultravan #520 has an Olds Toronado 455 in back.
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| Re: Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #240991 is a reply to message #240957] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 12:26 |
BRDRVR
Messages: 184
Registered: July 2013
Location: Clearwater, FL-Gerlach,NV
Karma: 8
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Really? Your gonna buy a GMC and rip the rear end off of it to stick a boat in it? Transport the unit with a boat inside of it back east? Who advised you this was a great idea? Assuming you find a unit for 1500 and get it to a point that your confident it will make the trip your gonna have to gut the interior, remove the rear hatch, secure the boat inside and reattach the hatch. Have you thought about
Tires? a 1500 coach is def gonna need tires @ 130$ each
Airbags? have you thought about the extra weight on the old bags
Mechanicly? how much maint are you going to do to this 1500 unit to get it to the point that you feel it will make it? hoses, belts, points, plugs, waterpump, bearings, brakes? where are you gonna stop?
What about taxes tags and insurance?
Just the fuel for a operational coach is gonna cost you .40 a mile not to mention sale price, maint & repairs If you break down your gonna need a landoll @ 9$ a mile to tow the unit cause any tow truck driver with half a brain will look inside the coach and see a boat and pass.
I move units out west all the time and even I wouldn't attempt this. Seems to me you could get on craigslist and buy an old ford f150 and a trailer and tow the thing back then sell both if you didn't need them for close to what you paid for them pretty easily. The thought of you ripping apart a GMC frankly irritates me to no f*cking end but what ever. If you do decide to make this attempt let me know cause Id like to follow behind you and film the train wreck. It'll be youtube gold.
David Gourdine
http//www.blackrockdesertrvrental.com
booking@blackrockdesertrvrental.com
727-657-1955
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| Re: Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #240993 is a reply to message #240991] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 12:52 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
Karma: 0
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David - I agree with you whole heartedly but he's been planning this for quite some time and seems dead set on doing it. It appears that most on the the forum think it is a bad idea for many of the reasons you posted.
Personally I would be concerned about jumping in an unknown coach that appeared to be in great shape and driving it across the country, let alone one that is on its last legs.
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] Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #241005 is a reply to message #240998] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 14:34 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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I will chime in as well that everything posted by David and Karen jumped right out at me when I heard this idea. It's not a great one. Sounds like a rolling sh;t show.
Todd Sullivan
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
> On Feb 23, 2014, at 11:43 AM, KB <kab7@sonic.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> I know I'm just adding to the chorus, but a $1500 coach that is able to make it across the country is not really a "parts" coach. Seems also that there are usually a lot more cheap/parts coaches already on the east coast than the west, so it's not much of a win.
>
> So you're basically destroying a restorable coach in order to transport a "parts" boat. Could you instead strip the valuable bits from the parts boat to make them more manageable?
>
> It is VERY likely that you'll have a LOT more than $1500 in repairs and/or tow bills on top of the ~$1500 purchase price, which will rapidly exceed your $3K truck rental. Wouldn't surprise me if the rental truck got better MPGs than an iffy "parts" coach too.
>
> Not trying to rain on your parade (though I HATE seeing GMCs destroyed), but having two of these things has taught me quite painfully that even with FREE labor, the parts and maintenance rapidly adds up to way more than you could possibly imagine. Not to mention the expense of your time and the huge hassle (and potential danger) of roadside repairs.
>
> Karen
> 1973 23'
> 1975 26'
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: Asking those in the know for a quick and safe way to remove a 1973 end cap. [message #241007 is a reply to message #240957] |
Sun, 23 February 2014 15:03 |
Ultravan Owners
Messages: 443
Registered: March 2013
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Not to be rude in any way shape or form. I just feel strongly about trying to work things out and not giving up.
Could be my time in the US Army and/or owning and operating my own businesses.
I'm posting this because there is more than one person with some of the same concerns.
Anyways, All I was asking for was input on how to remove and if you can temporarily install the rear end cap.
The entire idea of putting a small boat inside a GMC is not something that I thought of for two seconds and then stated I will be doing it!
I'm a retired mechanic who is willing to do all the PM and at least try to drive it acorss country.
I want to save and use the entire front frame, suspension, and power plant. All my effort is going into them, brakes and tires for a safe return home.
I would rather do that then give a truck rental company $3,000 of my hard earned money just to rent a truck and have nothing else once I return home.
Anyways I have dressed all the issues in other threads.
I have even posted pictures of the coach which has sat for many many years and was driven to its last resting place.
It is already missing stuff and would take a great deal of work, material, parts, time and labor to see it back on the road as a good GMC.
PLUS I have the pleasure in knowing that I will be able to help others save thier GMC with some of the interior and body parts.
Oh and I found a member who has used air bags, that still hold air, and he is giving them to me. I plan to pay for them to be shipped out to CA, before I leave, and use them as a back up set for the road trip.
FORGIVE me - I forgot his name - but another member that I have also spoke on the phone is the guy who installed the spring setup, some time ago, on the rear. Should he come through as well; I should have a setup like his for the one trip back home.
Then there will be no concerns about air bags.
It might not be the smoothest ride back home - but I will not have any concerns with an air bag blowing out.
But then again, if he does not I still have the air bags on the GMC and a spare set as a back up.
And with ALL the interior wieght removed, no water in the fresh water tank or any tank for that matter, there will be less wieght to start with.
It will only be me at under 200lbs and no other passengers.
That should balance out the added wieght from the boat inside the coach. (Or so I figure)
Tires - Yes - been asking around for some 16.5 tires that are 5 yrs old or less.
I have even looked into buying 16 steel truck rims that will fit and getting new tires.
Then I would offer those truck rims and new tires for sale in my area once I get home to get my initial rim/tire investment back.
I have been told a lot of things would not work in my life.
I have also been told I will never be able to do this or that in my life.
Thank God I did not listen!
I am blessed many times over.
I have owned and operated a couple businesses in my life.
My last one was a mobile service and repair business.
I retired at 40.
I was able to get an Ultravan and a 63 Corvair Rampside truck (BOTH) on the road in less than a year of purchasing them at the same time in 2008. The Ultravan had sat for over 28 years with a blown engine with lots of mechanical needs. The Rampside was stored inside for 15 to 20 years and only started from time to time and it too need mechanical work.
So in short - YES I am really going to "TRY" this and I am simply asking those who know about removing the end cap for their input.
BTW - I think you know who you are. But as a retired business owner; I'm glad I never have had your outlook on "ANYTHING" I had to deal with thus far in business or life. 
BTW - just for a little tid-bit. (Should anyone be interested)
If Dave Thomas, now deceased founder of Wnedy's had listened to all who said; "We do not need another burg place" there would be no Wendy's.
Hmmmm.. Odd thing is Wnedy's has been around for decades since it opened.
I guess it is all a matter of who one listens too...
I for one - rather at least try..
Signed one should never live in fear or negativity.
Do your best is all anyone can do!
Thank you again to all those with helpful input!
It means a great deal!
Sincerely, Tony
Tony (Ontario Canada)
Marie and I are blessed to have had a 2nd chance to buy our farm.
Still hoping and more importantly praying to be able to build a garage.
Our 1970 Ultravan #520 has an Olds Toronado 455 in back.
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