| New GMC Owner [message #334276] |
Sat, 30 June 2018 18:43  |
BoboBob13
Messages: 49
Registered: June 2018
Location: Las Vegas
Karma:
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Well we went and did it a few weeks ago and bought a 1976 Eleganza II from a shop in New Mexico and drove in home to
Las Vegas. Had a bit of trouble with the fuel system but we did get it home in the end.
My background is that I am retired and a former Master & L1 ASE Tech but that was 15 years in the past. Have worked
on a many MH in the past including a couple of GMC's. Always loved the GMC's for their look and the engineering
behind them. I started out in the '70 as a mechanic so the systems are not foreign to me.
The PO had bought the coach in Colorado and driving it back home blew up the engine in New Mexico. He got it into a
shop the works on MHs and they pulled the engine. Upon getting the engine out it was determined the it needed a trans
and a front end also. The PO could not afford the repairs so he gave the shop the coach. Over the next year or so they
used the coach as fill in work and built an mild performance engine for it, replace the trans with a unit for Manny and
did the 1-ton upgrade from Manny on the front end. Along with that they replace air bags and shocks in the rear, pulled
and cleaned the fuel tanks and replumbed the fuel lines and added an electric pump. Along with the engine they installed
all new ignition parts, alt & starter, AC comp, rebuilt carb, water pump, belts and hoses. Also a new air compressor and
tank for the air ride system. After another year or so they decided to sell for lack of use.
This is where we come in. After getting it back to Las Vegas and finding a place to park it some work has begun. Working with
the distributor to get the advance more inline for what DP uses I put in a new weight and spring kit for mechanical advance and
vacuum advance with new vacuum cut-in and cut-out points more suited for a MH with an RV cam in it. That was the easy part and
helped a lot in the was the engine runs.
Next in line was the carb. Knowing after many years of experience that most rebuilt carbs from parts houses are junk I pulled
the carb off and went to work. NO CARB NUMBER  I could tell it was a newer carb because of the idle mixture screws and
the torx screws used on the body but I had never seen a carb like this one. Turns out it is from a 85-86 chevy truck and has a
dual capacity accelerator pump built into the carb body. New one on me. Waiting for some more parts from the carb shop so I
can get into the jet and rods and set it up the best I can without knowing what came in this carb originally and with the help
of an AEM air/fuel gauge I am installing. I know the specs of the original carb so I will use that as a starting point along
with the help of some good books on the Q-Jet. Having not touched anything like this for over 15 years I'm having a bit of fun.
My next step and what I would like some help with is the wheels. Right now it has 16.5 stock wheels(don't know if the are radial
rated or not) with a new set of Firestone HT tires and a 4 year old date code on the. Switching over to 16 inch tires and rims
I have already bought my tires. 7 Toyo Open Country H/T LT225/75R-16. They are E rated 115/112 S rateed tires. Paid $110 ea
delivered to the condo here. Goodyear here said they would mount and balance for $30 a tire with lifetime on the rotation and
balance.
I am looking at using a Ion Alloy Dually 167 Polished Wheel (16x6/8x165.1mm) all they way around. My question is has anyone used
these wheels on a GMC? What lug nuts did you use if you did? I know about the hub centered vx lug centered debate and I know
that going with lug centered will be OK. From What I've seen not much out there for us to pick from without spending $1500 on up
for a set of 7. These run just a touch over $900 for a set of 7. The load rating is 32oo lbs.
Bob Broadwell
75 Eleganza II-Rebuilt performance engine, Manny trans, Manny 1-ton front end, 73 23ft with a side bath getting some updates-both living in Las Vegas
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