Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety (A list would be great 1 being most important)
| 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259445] |
Wed, 20 August 2014 09:32  |
Tony Cook
Messages: 121
Registered: August 2014
Location: Torrance CA
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As i am new to the classic GMC I see lots of talk about the APC cable which i am goin to order especially because my Gen light is dimmly lit while driving. Any other must upgrades thanks for the help
Tony Cook
77' Kingsley ' SuperSession 77 '
Torrance Beach,CA
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259505 is a reply to message #259445] |
Wed, 20 August 2014 18:14  |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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AAA membership with towing
Empty visa card
Well stocked bar
Good fire extinguisher, or two.
Good jack hook and jack
There are a lot of really well engineered updates available, but none are necessary if your current systems are in good repair. The APC cable would be the exception.
What does the coach need?
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, 20 August 2014 18:19] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259509 is a reply to message #259505] |
Wed, 20 August 2014 18:35 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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Not exactly upgrades, but here is my rule of thumb:
1. Make it mobile
2. Make it safe
3. Make it comfortable
4. Make it pretty
1 usually involves tuneups and fluid changes if the coach has been sitting.
2 usually involves tires, air bags, brakes, all engine hoses, and the aforementioned APC
3 usually involves front seats, plumbing, furnace, fridge, and other amenities
4 can be as much or as little as you want, but it is definitely the LEAST important
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: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259522 is a reply to message #259445] |
Wed, 20 August 2014 19:30 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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As a newbie myself I put these things in order.
Brakes. Period. Everything else can wait or move down the list. You need to be able to stop.
Front wheel bearings addressed. ( I just got mine back from Dave Lenzi ) They are almost too pretty to put back on the coach. Knuckles done, new bearings, seals, zerk fittings.
The greasable bearings also came with two new rotors to address the first order of business, Brakes.
I also got an APC cable, and a new fire extinguisher.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259524 is a reply to message #259522] |
Wed, 20 August 2014 19:45 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Agreeing with everyone else, but had to add my 2 cents.
Buy a Marine Fire extinguisher, their chemical composition is designed for class B and Class C fires. Same needs in GMC. Get several, and place in different locations. Or, order Firefight system from Jim Bounds.
Replace buzz box - it just kills batteries.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259531 is a reply to message #259445] |
Wed, 20 August 2014 20:51 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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New oil cooler lines. Otherwise you have fire risk and engine risk when a 40 year old rubber hose bursts in the engine bay. Result is no oil pressure, and fire.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259608 is a reply to message #259445] |
Thu, 21 August 2014 13:25 |
Tony Cook
Messages: 121
Registered: August 2014
Location: Torrance CA
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Great thanks guys. Yes Priority one was brakes got those knocked out the first week i got it. Took me three days to get it home three miles LOL. The Coach had been sitting for years PO took very good care of her interior is just about mint . DS airbag was gone built a temp crutch out of 3/4 all thread and galv pipe on got her off the groung before AAA would even think about putting her on flatbed. Replaced front tires as of cracking yea i know back ones need to be replaced too they arent too bad but just wanted to get it driving before i blow my budget on tires and find the engine is a no go and now is sitting on new shoes but cant walk/run. Put some Marvels oil in the cylinders and let it sit for a good few days before trying to turn her over . Broke down fuel line to find she was blowing dust to the Carb ! Got her all fired up blew out a big rats nest out the tail pipe and seems pretty good to go . Lots of sludge have done a few oil changes right off the bat still a few specs of rust here and there probably gonna do another oil change after a few short trips to the beach and back 89000 miles and change on her .Traced charging issue to bad leg of isolator replaced that. Fresh water holding tank leaking around float valve tried plastic welding a big NO GO have one coming from Applied. Luckily PO had a OG air bag still in the box have replced the one " Bad one" the other is not in the best shape so there's that ? Yea i know good luck finding a OG one. Has anyone used or recomend the Ragusa temp dog bone temp fix for on the road air bag blow outs? Things to do APC cable, Buzz box down the road oil lines are definitly on the to do list as with Fire Ext.. Thanks guys for all the advice
Tony Cook
77' Kingsley ' SuperSession 77 '
Torrance Beach,CA
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259609 is a reply to message #259445] |
Thu, 21 August 2014 13:44 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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You seem to have things well in hand, but I'll add a very simple list of upgrades you can consider. No upgrade is absolutely essential. GM built these things right and while there are things you can do, a bone stock properly functioning coach is a safe vehicle. These are only upgrades, not a list of things to do to make sure what is already on your coach is safe for travel.
1) APC protection cable and/or Jim Bounds nichrome wire mod. Not getting into why you would do one or the other or both.
2) 16" wheels. Much easier to find tires if you need them on the road. Limping around on bad tires trying to find a good one is a bad plan
3) supplemental brake vacuum pump so you have brake pressure if the engine shuts off
4) ethanol resistant fuel lines
5) firefighting equipment. Either automatic like Jim Bounds' system or several good hand held extinguishers in various and easily accessible places around the coach
There are lots of maintenance type things that make a coach safe, front bearings, oil cooler lines, belts, tires, etc., but those aren't upgrades. Similarly upgrading the brakes will help your coach, but a bone stock system works just fine if it is in good working order. Good luck. The more you use your coach the more you'll know what you WANT to upgrade as opposed to what you NEED to upgrade.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: [GMCnet] 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259616 is a reply to message #259610] |
Thu, 21 August 2014 15:28 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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And if the money is too tight right now, just get ONE Sully bag! It behaves very close to the original stuff. You might have to buy a full set of hardware and just replace one bag at a time.
I have one non-leaking but scruffy original bag and one that looks better but has a slow leak. Leaving town early morning tomorrow, but could ship on Monday. I have original cones, too. New Sully system was one of first things I did.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ 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 ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*
> Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 13:09:07 -0600
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: markbb1@netzero.com
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety
>
> Tony Cook wrote on Thu, 21 August 2014 13:25
>> Great thanks guys. Yes Priority one was brakes got those knocked out the first week i got it. Took me three days to get it home three miles LOL.
>> The Coach had been sitting for years PO took very good care of her interior is just about mint . DS airbag was gone built a temp crutch out of 3/4
>> all thread and galv pipe on got her off the groung before AAA would even think about putting her on flatbed. Replaced front tires as of cracking yea
>> i know back ones need to be replaced too they arent too bad but just wanted to get it driving before i blow my budget on tires and find the engine
>> is a no go and now is sitting on new shoes but cant walk/run. Put some Marvels oil in the cylinders and let it sit for a good few days before trying
>> to turn her over . Broke down fuel line to find she was blowing dust to the Carb ! Got her all fired up blew out a big rats nest out the tail pipe
>> and seems pretty good to go . Lots of sludge have done a few oil changes right off the bat still a few specs of rust here and there probably gonna
>> do another oil change after a few short trips to the beach and back 89000 miles and change on her .Traced charging issue to bad leg of isolator
>> replaced that. Fresh water holding tank leaking around float valve tried plastic welding a big NO GO have one coming from Applied. Luckily PO had a
>> OG air bag still in the box have replced the one " Bad one" the other is not in the best shape so there's that ? Yea i know good luck finding a OG
>> one. Has anyone used or recomend the Ragusa temp dog bone temp fix for on the road air bag blow outs? Things to do APC cable, Buzz box down the
>> road oil lines are definitly on the to do list as with Fire Ext.. Thanks guys for all the advice
> I hope you did not run it off the gas in the tanks without at least completely draining the tanks and putting in 20 gallons or so of fresh gas. The
> shellac in the tanks can stick to the intake valves and glue them stationary. If you do that, next time you start the engine it can cause serious
> damage.
>
> You can get direct replacement bags from Jim K. http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/1430
>
> Or you can get a SullyBilt system. http://www.bdub.net/sully/
>
> You can replace the questionable bag and keep it as a spare and no need for the dogbone.
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Sale
> '73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
> Upper Alabama
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259740 is a reply to message #259698] |
Fri, 22 August 2014 08:38 |
Jim at the Co-op
Messages: 291
Registered: May 2014
Location: Orlando Florida
Karma: 2
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Thanks for the bump on having fire safety option.
Let me add to what the foam we use is made for. It's in a classification
"designer Foam". That does not mean it's from Goochee. This foam is
"designed" specifically but not limited to fuel fires. The chemical
seperates the carbon molecules given enough will turn fuel inert. All
foams work by putting a non flamable material over the fuel to seperate it
from the ignition source but when our foam deploys it is atomized and
delivers that way. When the chemical hits a surface, the bubbles pop and
the "slime" stuff sticks to every surface. It is not caustic, cancer
causing as some suppressants were in the past. It's non corrosive organic
material that will not hurt anyting-- you can drink it...
We offer this stuff in small 16oz. aerosol containers to litter everywhere
you might need one. The 2 liter model should be mounted at the door (fight
or flight). Basic fire safety is not expensive, additional levels of
safety can get more involved but a the cost, I have to say there is little
reason not to do this on a basic level.
Hey Ken H., how bout that motorhomed burned at your machinist? It was a
frig fire, right? Guys, it really happens!
Do what you know is right,
Jim Bounds
-----------------------
On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 11:40 PM, D C _Mac_ Macdonald
wrote:
> I think most folks here that have replaced their bags tend to hold them in
> reserve against disaster. They will LOAN them out but expect that the
> "loanee"(?) will send them back as soon as repairs are made and the
> emergency is over. I may have that wrong, but that's how it seems to me.
>
> I suspect that is also how it goes with the cones. Unless the loaner is
> nearby, it's probably quicker to just order a cone from either of the Jims
> or maybe some other vendor. And then you aren't out shipping in two
> directions.
>
> I hope the above is not offensive to anybody. It is certainly not intended
> to be.
>
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ 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 ~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ______________
> *[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
> *--OO--[]---O-*
>
>
>> Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 15:37:52 -0600
>> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
>> From: supersessions@att.net
>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary
> for safety
>>
>> Great advice guys Thanks ! and what would you be asking for a spare bag ?
>> --
>> Tony Cook
>> 77 Kingsley 26'"SuperSession77"
>> Torrance Beach, CA
>
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| Re: 'FNG' here what upgrade's are absolutly necessary for safety [message #259837 is a reply to message #259445] |
Sat, 23 August 2014 15:32 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Tony Cook wrote on Wed, 20 August 2014 08:32As i am new to the classic GMC I see lots of talk about the APC cable which i am goin to order especially because my Gen light is dimmly lit while driving. Any other must upgrades thanks for the help
Keep it original and well maintained. Contrary to much you wiil read here, engineers really do and did know how to design a safe coach.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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