Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question
| [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #231958] |
Mon, 02 December 2013 09:00  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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We just returned from a wonderful 1000 + mile road trip in the Clasco down to Sant Cruz, CA, and back for Thanksgiving with two of our sons and their families. It ran like a champ. We did a short detour over to San Jose to instal a 3.21 planetary gear final drive. Along with the 3.5 chain in the transmission this makes for a 3.67 effective gear ratio. The old gal really likes the extra gear for the mountains where we live and was delighted to have the oomph to get up and over highway 17 that connects San Jose with Santa Cruz on the ocean.
We are finally coming to grips with the permanent fixed crawl over bed in the back of the Clasco. Our 78 Royale has a large rear lounge that makes into a larger than king size bed that we both much prefer, but at least now we are learning to sleep well in the Clasco, also. While a surprise to me, I actually like the wet bath in the Clasco more than the dry bath in the Royale as it provides for a larger shower and a larger drying area.
While changing out the final drive we found that the mount for the large Caspro steering damper was loose. Loose enough that I it was doing nothing. The steering arm just slid through the mounting bracket. No steering shimmy, no kick back, no apparent effect on anything. Now that it is tight again I still don't feel any difference other than it doesn't turn quite as sharply as before. What happens if I remove it all together? When the PO installed this big thing they cut off the mount for the factory damper so I don't have the option to go back to the stock. Any thoughts or cautions from the group here?
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
Http://jerrywork.com
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #231965 is a reply to message #231958] |
Mon, 02 December 2013 10:59  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Jerry,
I had a similar situation after I installed the refurbished front clip in
my GMC several years ago. It came with a new "SuperSteer"? installed.
Since I never cared for such devices, I removed it and drove without it
for several thousand miles before welding a new bracket on the front cross
member and installing a standard damper. Like you, I never noticed any
difference without the damper. The standard one is still installed, but I
really don't think it makes much difference.
Ken H.
On Mon, Dec 2, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Gerald Work <glwork@mac.com> wrote:
> ...
While changing out the final drive we found that the mount for the large
> Caspro steering damper was loose. Loose enough that I it was doing
> nothing. The steering arm just slid through the mounting bracket. No
> steering shimmy, no kick back, no apparent effect on anything. Now that it
> is tight again I still don't feel any difference other than it doesn't turn
> quite as sharply as before. What happens if I remove it all together?
> When the PO installed this big thing they cut off the mount for the
> factory damper so I don't have the option to go back to the stock. Any
> thoughts or cautions from the group here?
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #231983 is a reply to message #231958] |
Mon, 02 December 2013 15:15 |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Jerry,
Glad you had a non-event trip; I think it's important to publish those kinds of trips to offset the disaster wrought trips that one
reads frequently.
Also glad to hear you like Manny's 3.21 / 3.5 chain (aka Power Drive) setup as that's what I've got to go into Double Trouble.
Your comments on the "crawl over bed" are why Helen and I like the rear twins in Double Trouble.
I agree with you vis-ŕ-vis wet / dry bath 100%.
The factory damper mount is merely a square "U" shaped bracket welded to the rear side of the front crossmember; it would be simple
to have one fabricated and welded back on to the crossmember. I've sent you an off net photo.
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald Work
We just returned from a wonderful 1000 + mile road trip in the Clasco down to Sant Cruz, CA, and back for Thanksgiving with two of
our sons and their families. It ran like a champ. We did a short detour over to San Jose to instal a 3.21 planetary gear final
drive. Along with the 3.5 chain in the transmission this makes for a 3.67 effective gear ratio. The old gal really likes the extra
gear for the mountains where we live and was delighted to have the oomph to get up and over highway 17 that connects San Jose with
Santa Cruz on the ocean.
We are finally coming to grips with the permanent fixed crawl over bed in the back of the Clasco. Our 78 Royale has a large rear
lounge that makes into a larger than king size bed that we both much prefer, but at least now we are learning to sleep well in the
Clasco, also. While a surprise to me, I actually like the wet bath in the Clasco more than the dry bath in the Royale as it
provides for a larger shower and a larger drying area.
While changing out the final drive we found that the mount for the large Caspro steering damper was loose. Loose enough that I it
was doing nothing. The steering arm just slid through the mounting bracket. No steering shimmy, no kick back, no apparent effect
on anything. Now that it is tight again I still don't feel any difference other than it doesn't turn quite as sharply as before.
What happens if I remove it all together? When the PO installed this big thing they cut off the mount for the factory damper so I
don't have the option to go back to the stock. Any thoughts or cautions from the group here?
Jerry
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #232007 is a reply to message #231982] |
Mon, 02 December 2013 17:45 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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When I arrived at Manny's, he threatened to put me to work making grilles.
Fortunately, we never got anywhere close to getting around to that during
the 3 weeks I was there. Don't hold your breath.
Ken H.
On Mon, Dec 2, 2013 at 4:06 PM, Dan Gregg <gregg_dan@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 02 December 2013 12:18
> > I also have been waiting for a grill from Manny. I think he forgot.
>
> No Ken, he has not forgotten his promise to us. Just putting us off
> hoping we die off so he don't have to send each of us one. The guy even
> lists them on his website. You can't have a much better friend than Manny
> but the guy just has no memory left in his processor. :d
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #232014 is a reply to message #231958] |
Mon, 02 December 2013 18:16 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Guys, I can have the grills made reasonably cheap if someone wants to send me the drawings. I can get them powder coated reasonably if we do them all at the same time.
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #232063 is a reply to message #232047] |
Tue, 03 December 2013 01:30 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Mon, 02 December 2013 21:31 |
| Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 02 December 2013 18:27 |
I'm still hoping for Kerry to make the Onan heat shields.
|
Weren't you going to send me a drawing or something?? I've forgot what we talked about. This having to get retrained after I take a nap is hard on production....  
|
No, I showed you mine at Branson. When I offered to measure one for you, you said not to bother that you would go home and fit one up on your Onan.
Right now my coach is trapped against a wall and I can not get to the Onan easily. (The door will not open) It would require moving an airplane, tractor attachments, and my Blazer that are all parked in front of it. Then I could pull the coach out of the hangar to get the door open.
I might be able to draw something up on paper if necessary, but you would have to get the actual sizes off of your Onan.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #232067 is a reply to message #231958] |
Tue, 03 December 2013 06:10 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Good read Jerry. I bet I know who does the climbing in the middle of the
night. That's a looooong step with a full bladder ">).
Take the damper off. If you can't tell the difference and it interferes
with the turning radius, what good is it? That 3.21 final drive is bullet
proof. Those things cost a fortune to build compared to the R&P units,
that's why GM discontinued them.
Steve F.
On Mon, Dec 2, 2013 at 8:00 AM, Gerald Work <glwork@mac.com> wrote:
> We just returned from a wonderful 1000 + mile road trip in the Clasco down
> to Sant Cruz, CA, and back for Thanksgiving with two of our sons and their
> families. It ran like a champ. We did a short detour over to San Jose to
> instal a 3.21 planetary gear final drive. Along with the 3.5 chain in the
> transmission this makes for a 3.67 effective gear ratio. The old gal
> really likes the extra gear for the mountains where we live and was
> delighted to have the oomph to get up and over highway 17 that connects San
> Jose with Santa Cruz on the ocean.
>
> We are finally coming to grips with the permanent fixed crawl over bed in
> the back of the Clasco. Our 78 Royale has a large rear lounge that makes
> into a larger than king size bed that we both much prefer, but at least now
> we are learning to sleep well in the Clasco, also. While a surprise to me,
> I actually like the wet bath in the Clasco more than the dry bath in the
> Royale as it provides for a larger shower and a larger drying area.
>
> While changing out the final drive we found that the mount for the large
> Caspro steering damper was loose. Loose enough that I it was doing
> nothing. The steering arm just slid through the mounting bracket. No
> steering shimmy, no kick back, no apparent effect on anything. Now that it
> is tight again I still don't feel any difference other than it doesn't turn
> quite as sharply as before. What happens if I remove it all together?
> When the PO installed this big thing they cut off the mount for the
> factory damper so I don't have the option to go back to the stock. Any
> thoughts or cautions from the group here?
>
> Jerry
>
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
> in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
> in historic Kerby, OR
> Http://jerrywork.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Take care,
Steve
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fun Clasco road trip and a question [message #232075 is a reply to message #231958] |
Tue, 03 December 2013 07:41 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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My guess is in this case the damper is a carryover from the Eldo/Toro tuning to give better driver luxury feel and minimize road feel when accelerating on uneven ground. It may be stable in all but the most extreme situations. Wondering how it will be in extreme cross winds. Some vehicles are more dependent on them to prevent violent front end oscillations such as the Jeep XJ and WJ. Very important there
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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