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Possible Purchase [message #166679]

Tue, 17 April 2012 23:11

Darryl

Messages: 144
Registered: December 2011
Location: Northern California

Karma: 0

Senior Member

I've got a line on what could be a great coach. All the mechanical upgrades and a brand new interior but it's been sitting for ten years. From what I can learn it's been well protected and I don't think there is a problem with moisture, mold or vermin but what do I need to do to get it started without doing any damage. The owner says he started it up a couple of years ago and "it ran fine". I'm thinking throw in a new battery and change the oil (and the tires). Is there more I should do? I know I've seen discussions about this before but my searches don't find the threads.

Thanks

Darryl

Darryl Meyers 1978 Eleganza II El Dorado Hills, CA

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166680 is a reply to message #166679]

Tue, 17 April 2012 23:31

George Beckman

Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA

Karma: 11

Senior Member

Darryl wrote on Tue, 17 April 2012 21:11

Some recommend pulling the distributor and spinning the oil pump with a drill. If you do, be sure you know where it was and don't turn the engine with it out. You still have to time it and that can cause additional starting problems. Right now I would say your main problem is fuel. If it was running before, the electrical will probably work as it did the last time it was shut down.

The gas in the tanks might be a problem unless stabilized. Starting it won't damage anything but may pull muck into the filters. Some of the coaches that were "revived" had fuel problems for a while. Be watchful of fuel lines. They can crack and leak. The trouble is there are a ton of them above the tanks.

You will want to check the brakes carefully, as they may have dried out, leaked, or something. Or they may be fine.

If it has only been two years, I think I would start it. By the time you get gas in there, the oil pressure will probably be up enough to get oil on things again. In other words 30 seconds of cranking before it fires won't hurt anything.

Feel the water hoses to make sure they are still pliable. After you run it and before you start very far, look at the water pump shaft when it has been sitting. There is a weep hole and it may seep when disturbed from a slumber. Small chance... but you don't want to get it hot taking it home.

I am guessing the old girl will be anxious to get back on the road.

I am sure some will have other ideas.

'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166682 is a reply to message #166680]

Tue, 17 April 2012 23:46

Harry

Messages: 1888
Registered: October 2007
Location: Victoria, BC CANADA

Karma: 3

Senior Member

We used to pull the coil wire and turn it over a few times to get the oil moving.
That does not create any heat and the oil gets moving quickly.

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166685 is a reply to message #166679]

Wed, 18 April 2012 00:14

mike miller

Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Darryl wrote on Tue, 17 April 2012 21:11

This is a good place to start:
<http://gmcmotorhome.info/buygmc.html#waking>

Many people over think the issue...

Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166703 is a reply to message #166685]

Wed, 18 April 2012 08:40

hertfordnc

Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC

Karma: 0

Senior Member

It's rare that I can comment on a GMC question but I have one long hot day of experience so that makes me an expert.

The Possum rescue coach was simalar in may ways and the fuel line problems were malignant.

We (by we I mean other people) started with one leaking line, ended up dropping both tanks and then found the filler hoses were also a mess.

Each time we thought we had it fixed fuel flowed from some new place, (i'm still upset about the damage to my lawn)

Armed with that "experience" I would assess the engine from a five gallon can and leave the tanks alone until i could drop them.

Dave & Ellen Silva Hertford, NC 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021 It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166704 is a reply to message #166679]

Wed, 18 April 2012 09:07

Dennis S

Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005

Karma: 2

Senior Member

Darryl wrote on Tue, 17 April 2012 23:11

Darryl,

This old thread is worthwhile reading..

http://goo.gl/ux7OF

Dennis

Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166725 is a reply to message #166703]

Wed, 18 April 2012 12:32

mike miller

Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon

Karma: 0

Senior Member

hertfordnc wrote on Wed, 18 April 2012 06:40

... Armed with that "experience" I would assess the engine from a five gallon can and leave the tanks alone until i could drop them.

A fuel tank designed for an small outboard boat motor works rather well and is MUCH safer than just sticking a hose in a gas can. They can be found for under $30.

After spending two days fighting rust issues while driving through Utah and Idaho, I drove my '77 home from eastern Oregon (~300 miles) with a 6 galleon boat tank sitting in front of the passenger seat. I did not get very far on each fill-up, but I wasn't getting very far with the regular tanks anyway.

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166730 is a reply to message #166679]

Wed, 18 April 2012 13:55

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Darryl wrote on Tue, 17 April 2012 21:11

Daryl,

I agree that the fuel lines and tanks are likely to be your biggest issue, but at this point, anything else that is made of rubber is also suspect. I didn't say necessarily bad, but suspect. I would pay special attention to the oil cooler lines, as a failure of one of those can be catastrophic to your engine. The heater hoses, including the ones going back to the water heater, as well as the radiator hoses should be inspected carefully too. It's been my experience, when resurrecting an old vehicle, that you will probably soon have problems with the fuel pump, water pump, carburetor (maybe), etc. because the seals/gaskets/diaphragms have dried out.

Don't let any of those things scare you off. They are just maintenance items that would need to be taken care of anyway. I have a friend who picked up a coach under very similar circumstances and it worked out well for him. He had the fuel tanks dropped and the lines and fuel pump replaced and that was about all he had to do to it before re-selling it.

Depending on how far you will need to drive it initially, you might get by with bringing some spare 5/8" heater hose, some 3/8" fuel line, some couplers and clamps, and an assortment of fuel filters (a few for the carb. and a few in line filters so you can add one before the fuel pump) along to get you home.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: [GMCnet] Possible Purchase [message #166743 is a reply to message #166730]

Wed, 18 April 2012 16:51

Bruce Hart

Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming

Karma: 5

Senior Member

Your hydraulic hoses to the front and rear brakes are also suspect as they
break down internally. They may look good on the outside but they could
deteriorate on the inside and this could cause your brake caliper or master
cylinder to cease up and not release the pressure on the brakes.

On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 12:55 PM, Carl Stouffer <carljr3b@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> Darryl wrote on Tue, 17 April 2012 21:11
> > I've got a line on what could be a great coach. All the mechanical
> upgrades and a brand new interior but it's been sitting for ten years. From
> what I can learn it's been well protected and I don't think there is a
> problem with moisture, mold or vermin but what do I need to do to get it
> started without doing any damage. The owner says he started it up a couple
> of years ago and "it ran fine". I'm thinking throw in a new battery and
> change the oil (and the tires). Is there more I should do? I know I've
> seen discussions about this before but my searches don't find the threads.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> > Darryl
>
>
>
> Daryl,
>
> I agree that the fuel lines and tanks are likely to be your biggest issue,
> but at this point, anything else that is made of rubber is also suspect. I
> didn't say necessarily bad, but suspect. I would pay special attention to
> the oil cooler lines, as a failure of one of those can be catastrophic to
> your engine. The heater hoses, including the ones going back to the water
> heater, as well as the radiator hoses should be inspected carefully too.
> It's been my experience, when resurrecting an old vehicle, that you will
> probably soon have problems with the fuel pump, water pump, carburetor
> (maybe), etc. because the seals/gaskets/diaphragms have dried out.
>
> Don't let any of those things scare you off. They are just maintenance
> items that would need to be taken care of anyway. I have a friend who
> picked up a coach under very similar circumstances and it worked out well
> for him. He had the fuel tanks dropped and the lines and fuel pump
> replaced and that was about all he had to do to it before re-selling it.
>
> Depending on how far you will need to drive it initially, you might get by
> with bringing some spare 5/8" heater hose, some 3/8" fuel line, some
> couplers and clamps, and an assortment of fuel filters (a few for the carb.
> and a few in line filters so you can add one before the fuel pump) along to
> get you home.
> --
> Carl S.
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
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Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166774 is a reply to message #166679]

Wed, 18 April 2012 22:04

Bob de Kruyff

Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Darryl wrote on Tue, 17 April 2012 22:11

You will be presented with every possible issue that may exist on a GMC. They are all issues but some are things you may want to look at years from now. Fuel and brake issues are obviously safety related but that doesn't mean you can't make a quick evaluation and then drive it cross country. A lot depends how adventuresome you are and whether you can do minor repairs on the road. On one extreme you will be convinced to rebuild the entire coach before you move it, on the other extreme you may find yourself on the side of the highway with a non running engine.

Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ

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Re: Possible Purchase [message #166776 is a reply to message #166679]

Wed, 18 April 2012 22:16

Adrien G.

Messages: 474
Registered: May 2008
Location: Burns Flat, OK 73624

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Darryl,

I don't read where the coach location is at, if you need or want help I'm about 1 1/2 hr drive from where you live. It would be on a Sat. because I still clock in.

fixman54@syix.com

530 9-three-three 39 nine-six

Adrien & Jenny Genesoto 75 Glenbrook (26-3) Mods LS3.70 FD / Reaction Sys / 80mm Front&Intermidiate / Hydroboost / 16" Tires / Frame Rebuild / Interior Rebuild Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6

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