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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Re: [GMCnet] Differences between a 73/74 and 76+ models
Re: [GMCnet] Differences between a 73/74 and 76+ models [message #170304] Sun, 20 May 2012 13:43 Go to next message
KB is currently offline  KB   United States
Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009
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Senior Member
Not all changes GM made were good ones. As with most automobiles,
the earlier the the lighter. The 73/74 coaches have nice solid plywood
cabinets versus the insanely heavy particle board of the later
coaches. That particle board disintegrates when it gets wet.
The earlier style windows require more effort to rebuild and make water tight,
but they don't have exterior rubber parts to shrink/rot, the latches are
MUCH more robust than on the later windows, and our '73 windows operate much
more easily than the ones on our '75.

If you want a 23' model, you'll find a lot more of those in the earlier years.

As other have said, the condition of the coach is FAR more important
than the model year. I'd take a well maintained running early coach
any day over a later model "been sitting for years but ran when
it was parked" variety.


Karen
1973 23'
1975 26'
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Karen 1975 26' San Jose, CA
Re: [GMCnet] Differences between a 73/74 and 76+ models [message #170307 is a reply to message #170304] Sun, 20 May 2012 14:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ljdavick is currently offline  ljdavick   United States
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Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
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Senior Member
Also the 403 is a fine engine. If I had the ’78 I thought I was buying I’d be happy with the 403. Put some proper gearing behind it and you’re good to go.

Karen is right about the coaches getting heavier.

Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, CA

On May 20, 2012, at 11:43 AM, KB wrote:

> Not all changes GM made were good ones. As with most automobiles,
> the earlier the the lighter. The 73/74 coaches have nice solid plywood
> cabinets versus the insanely heavy particle board of the later
> coaches. That particle board disintegrates when it gets wet.
> The earlier style windows require more effort to rebuild and make water tight,
> but they don't have exterior rubber parts to shrink/rot, the latches are
> MUCH more robust than on the later windows, and our '73 windows operate much
> more easily than the ones on our '75.
>
> If you want a 23' model, you'll find a lot more of those in the earlier years.
>
> As other have said, the condition of the coach is FAR more important
> than the model year. I'd take a well maintained running early coach
> any day over a later model "been sitting for years but ran when
> it was parked" variety.
>
>
> Karen
> 1973 23'
> 1975 26'
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
Re: [GMCnet] Differences between a 73/74 and 76+ models [message #170362 is a reply to message #170304] Sun, 20 May 2012 22:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
KB wrote on Sun, 20 May 2012 12:43

Not all changes GM made were good ones. As with most automobiles,
the earlier the the lighter. The 73/74 coaches have nice solid plywood
cabinets versus the insanely heavy particle board of the later
coaches. That particle board disintegrates when it gets wet.
The earlier style windows require more effort to rebuild and make water tight,
but they don't have exterior rubber parts to shrink/rot, the latches are
MUCH more robust than on the later windows, and our '73 windows operate much
more easily than the ones on our '75.

If you want a 23' model, you'll find a lot more of those in the earlier years.

As other have said, the condition of the coach is FAR more important
than the model year. I'd take a well maintained running early coach
any day over a later model "been sitting for years but ran when
it was parked" variety.


Karen
1973 23'
1975 26'
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WOW--I've never heard that anyone preferred the original stuff to the later flexsteel GM installed furniture. Same goes for the cabinets and drawers.


Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
Re: [GMCnet] Differences between a 73/74 and 76+ models [message #170380 is a reply to message #170362] Mon, 21 May 2012 07:01 Go to previous message
shawnee is currently offline  shawnee   United States
Messages: 422
Registered: February 2004
Location: NC
Karma: 0
Senior Member

[/quote]
WOW--I've never heard that anyone preferred the original stuff to the later flexsteel GM installed furniture. Same goes for the cabinets and drawers.[/quote]

Bob,

I prefer the earlier seating rather than the Flexsteel for two reasons. First it is a lot easier to get to the storage under the seats and second we get a lot more usable storage space.


Gene Dotson
74 Canyonlands
www.bdub.net/Motorhome_Enhancements New Windows and Aluminum Radiators
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