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Modifying the "step".... [message #213323] Fri, 05 July 2013 00:44 Go to next message
quadracerx1 is currently offline  quadracerx1   United States
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Registered: April 2013
Location: Puyallup, Washington
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Does anyone know if there is anything "hidden" under the step going into the drivers compartment? (plumbing, wiring, etc.)

I may have to notch it as my new sofa is 69" wide and I only have 64" from the kitchen cabinet to the base of the first step... IF I take out part of the step behind the drivers seat I will have room for the new sofa...

I hope I described that properly...LOL

Thanks...

Steve


75 26' GMC Glenbrook Puyallup, Washington

[Updated on: Fri, 05 July 2013 00:44]

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Re: Modifying the "step".... [message #213324 is a reply to message #213323] Fri, 05 July 2013 01:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bwevers is currently offline  bwevers   United States
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Location: San Jose
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Behind the drivers seat step, If I'm not mistaken, there
are fuel lines and vent lines going to the gas tank. Also the exhaust pipe runs through that area. I think the brake line
going to the right front crosses over under the step. There
must have been a reason for GM to design the floor with the
step.

Regards,
Bill


Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States 1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon 455 F Block, G heads San Jose
Re: Modifying the "step".... [message #213325 is a reply to message #213324] Fri, 05 July 2013 01:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Location: Hebron, Indiana
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Pull the driver's side inner fender liner and you will be able to see all of the stuff attached to that area. You could also see it by jacking up the coach a little and sliding under there. Your modification is probably doable but you are going to have to look at it closely first. Make sure any new wood you install is sealed very well. There is a lot of water blown up there when you drive in the rain.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Modifying the "step".... [message #213326 is a reply to message #213323] Fri, 05 July 2013 07:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC Cruse is currently offline  GMC Cruse   United States
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Location: SE Michigan
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quadracerx1 wrote on Fri, 05 July 2013 01:44

Does anyone know if there is anything "hidden" under the step going into the drivers compartment? (plumbing, wiring, etc.)

I may have to notch it as my new sofa is 69" wide and I only have 64" from the kitchen cabinet to the base of the first step... IF I take out part of the step behind the drivers seat I will have room for the new sofa...

I hope I described that properly...LOL

Thanks...

Steve


The PO modified mine. There doesn't appear to be anything he relocated.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/interior/p48571-step-at-couch1.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/interior/p48572-step-at-couch2.html


Mike K. '75 PB Southeast Michigan
Re: Modifying the "step".... [message #213337 is a reply to message #213323] Fri, 05 July 2013 11:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
Senior Member
quadracerx1 wrote on Fri, 05 July 2013 00:44

Does anyone know if there is anything "hidden" under the step going into the drivers compartment? (plumbing, wiring, etc.)

I may have to notch it as my new sofa is 69" wide and I only have 64" from the kitchen cabinet to the base of the first step... IF I take out part of the step behind the drivers seat I will have room for the new sofa...

I hope I described that properly...LOL

Thanks...

Steve
I am working on a similar situation. I cut out the plywood on the step for the notch and found that the fuel fill plumbing is going to interfere with my plan. I have to make a more convoluted notch and modify the frame of the sofa to make mine work.

I cut back 6-3/8" from the vertical part and 5-3/8" down and the fuel filler plumbing is an inch or so into where the notch is going to be. And the exhaust is only a couple of inches away, I might need to put a heat shield there.

Although the transmission does take up some of the space in the center, I don't think GM built the step for any reason other than to use as a step. They just ran lines and things the way they wanted and some stuff ended up in the space behind/under the step. I have thought about putting a small floor level bookcase/cabinet in the step behind the passenger side seat for a little more storage space. Have to look and see if there is anything back there first. Not expecting anything.
Re: [GMCnet] Modifying the "step".... [message #213407 is a reply to message #213337] Fri, 05 July 2013 21:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
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Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
CAUTION:

The upper left bolt fastening the rear transmission mount to the
transmission is a real SOB to remove and even worse to install. Putting an
obstructing wall to the left of it will, IMHO, make it virtually impossible
to reach. I strongly encourage you to carefully measure for, and drill (or
at least clearly and permanently mark) an access hole in the step riser so
a socket and extension can be used to R&R that bolt. Even in the original
configuration, I figure that mod will save me 1+ hour on every transmission
R&R.

With the step cut out, finding the correct location should be pretty easy.
With the transmission out, I drilled through the mount's hole.

JMHO,

Ken H.
On Jul 5, 2013 9:08 AM, "A." <markbb1@netzero.com> wrote:

>
>
> quadracerx1 wrote on Fri, 05 July 2013 00:44
> > Does anyone know if there is anything "hidden" under the step going into
> the drivers compartment? (plumbing, wiring, etc.)
> >
> > I may have to notch it as my new sofa is 69" wide and I only have 64"
> from the kitchen cabinet to the base of the first step... IF I take out
> part of the step behind the drivers seat I will have room for the new
> sofa...
> >
> > I hope I described that properly...LOL
> >
> > Thanks...
> >
> > Steve
> I am working on a similar situation. I cut out the plywood on the step
> for the notch and found that the fuel fill plumbing is going to interfere
> with my plan. I have to make a more convoluted notch and modify the frame
> of the sofa to make mine work.
>
> I cut back 6-3/8" from the vertical part and 5-3/8" down and the fuel
> filler plumbing is an inch or so into where the notch is going to be. And
> the exhaust is only a couple of inches away, I might need to put a heat
> shield there.
>
> Although the transmission does take up some of the space in the center, I
> don't think GM built the step for any reason other than to use as a step.
> They just ran lines and things the way they wanted and some stuff ended up
> in the space behind/under the step. I have thought about putting a small
> floor level bookcase/cabinet in the step behind the passenger side seat for
> a little more storage space. Have to look and see if there is anything
> back there first. Not expecting anything.
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Camping
> '73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
> UA (Upper Alabama)
> "Time is money. If you use YOUR time, you get to keep YOUR money."
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Modifying the "step".... [message #213409 is a reply to message #213407] Fri, 05 July 2013 21:41 Go to previous message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
Senior Member
Ken Henderson wrote on Fri, 05 July 2013 21:26

CAUTION:

The upper left bolt fastening the rear transmission mount to the transmission is a real SOB to remove and even worse to install. Putting an obstructing wall to the left of it will, IMHO, make it virtually impossible to reach. I strongly encourage you to carefully measure for, and drill (or at least clearly and permanently mark) an access hole in the step riser so a socket and extension can be used to R&R that bolt. Even in the original configuration, I figure that mod will save me 1+ hour on every transmission R&R.

With the step cut out, finding the correct location should be pretty easy.
With the transmission out, I drilled through the mount's hole.

JMHO,

Ken H.
I hope I remember to check the location of that bolt and mark for a future hole when I get around to boxing in the notch next week.
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