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[GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234416] Sun, 29 December 2013 23:13 Go to next message
BobDunahugh is currently offline  BobDunahugh   United States
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Just some thought's. At the rallies. It's interesting in the different approaches that people take with their GMC's. It really comes down to their comfort zone. This isn't about a right, or wrong. Because there ISN'T a right or wrong. Good, or bad. It's about enjoying yourself your way. There are some that find an inexpensive coach. It could use a paint job maybe. Interior is showing it's age. And the 16.5's are 12 years old. They show up at the rally with a smile on their face. Their welcome mat is out. And not a care in the world. They maintain their GMC in a way that they feel right with. After all. They Changed the oil in the last few years . They think. And their approach on preventative maintenance is, why. They'll fix it as it breaks. The main thing is that their having a good time. It amazes me how well this approach seems to work for some.Then there are people like me. We bought our 78 Royale 12 years ago for about $15,000. Looked nice, and drove well. But when we
bought it. I knew the frig was dead,and it had a burned exhaust valve. Not a real problem, as I have the valve grinding equipment to fix the valve issue. And about 5 hours later. The 403 was running as it should. Changed all the fluids, engine oil, trans, power steering, and brake fluid. New 16 inch tires ( $1,000 ), and the frig ( Another $1,000 ) . We were on the road. Then THE SOUNDS came along.. It's people like me that listen to every LITTLE sound from bumper, to bumper. And then. Was that sound there 5 seconds ago, or not. This raises havoc with my COMFORT ZONE big time. Then came winter. Great time to check EVERYTHING out. And work on my comfort zone. I wanted a 3;70 final drive. I got the ring, and pinion from Applied, as putting differentials together is nothing new to me. Got the final drive all together. I will NEVER EVER do a GMC final drive ring, and pinion EVER EVER gain. I'll have Jim K do it when I go to 4;10. Well the final drive was out. I might as w
ell put a rebuild kit in the trans. Might as well pull the oil panto take a peek inside. New water pump, timing chain, radiator, belts, hoses, front end parts, all new brake parts, quad bags, disc brakes, and now EFI. The reality was that I have done all this on a GMC that didn't need hardly anything done to start with. But. My comfort zone is were I like it. We buy GMC's because we like them. It's a hobby that we enjoy working on, and driving. I think it's important for newbies to be aware of what their taking on. And knowing their own comfort zone. I know of two GMC's that are rotting away. Because the owners didn't think of the financial side of any hobby. You need to define YOUR comfort zone.
Bob Dunahugh4 Yenko's



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Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234421 is a reply to message #234416] Mon, 30 December 2013 02:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
appie is currently offline  appie   Denmark
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Right Bob

years ago I did a transSahara trip, 4 wheeldrive lots of tools, lots of spares 566 pages of maintanence book, sandplates. maps and guidebooks-
Stuck in sand and mud 100 times. broken valve and piston repaired in campsite Marokko. injector cleaned for a ton of sand at friendly Frence workshop in Bogina Faso.
Bent pushrod in Mali.

Then in Togo at the hostal on ther coast comes this Norwegian/Indian couple with there VW van, no tools, no spares a handdrawn map of the Sahara. Never had a problem in the world. Except a small leak from the valvecover ( how do you get at these?)


Appie eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold 6 wheel discbrake Quadrabags Springfield stage 2 462 olds Manny tranny ( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016 Denmark
Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234428 is a reply to message #234421] Mon, 30 December 2013 06:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Appie,

Simple answer - it was a VW van! ;-)

Regards,
Rob M.
 
PS - Where did the pushrod bend - Timbuktu?

-----Original Message-----
From: lenze middelberg

Right Bob

years ago I did a transSahara trip, 4 wheeldrive lots of tools, lots of spares 566 pages of maintanence book, sandplates. maps and
guidebooks-
Stuck in sand and mud 100 times. broken valve and piston repaired in campsite Marokko. injector cleaned for a ton of sand at
friendly Frence workshop in Bogina Faso.
Bent pushrod in Mali.

Then in Togo at the hostal on ther coast comes this Norwegian/Indian couple with there VW van, no tools, no spares a handdrawn map
of the Sahara. Never had a problem in the world. Except a small leak from the valvecover (how do you get at these?)

Appie

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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
Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234436 is a reply to message #234416] Mon, 30 December 2013 08:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
appie is currently offline  appie   Denmark
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Registered: April 2013
Location: denmark
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Rob
pushrod bent at Gao
Hammered straight and worked the next 8000Km I owned the truck

By the way very inetersting in Marocco
The broken valvestem punctered the (alu) piston Maroccans thought that was no problem and welded the hole. Never deared using it though


Appie eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold 6 wheel discbrake Quadrabags Springfield stage 2 462 olds Manny tranny ( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016 Denmark

[Updated on: Mon, 30 December 2013 08:13]

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[GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234446 is a reply to message #234416] Mon, 30 December 2013 10:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BobDunahugh is currently offline  BobDunahugh   United States
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Registered: October 2010
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
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I put this on the forum to get some thoughts out there about GMC's, Seems to have gone over to VW vans. But that was interesting too.
Just some thought's. At the rallies. It's interesting in the different approaches that people take with their GMC's. It really comes down to their comfort zone. This isn't about a right, or wrong. Because there ISN'T a right or wrong. Good, or bad. It's about enjoying yourself your way. There are some that find an inexpensive coach. It could use a paint job maybe. Interior is showing it's age. And the 16.5's are 12 years old. They show up at the rally with a smile on their face. Their welcome mat is out. And not a care in the world. They maintain their GMC in a way that they feel right with. After all. They Changed the oil in the last few years . They think. And their approach on preventative maintenance is, why. They'll fix it as it breaks. The main thing is that their having a good time. It amazes me how well this approach seems to work for some.Then there are people like me. We bought our 78 Royale 12 years ago for about $15,000. Looked nice, and drove well. But when we
bought it. I knew the frig was dead,and it had a burned exhaust valve. Not a real problem, as I have the valve grinding equipment to fix the valve issue. And about 5 hours later. The 403 was running as it should. Changed all the fluids, engine oil, trans, power steering, and brake fluid. New 16 inch tires ( $1,000 ), and the frig ( Another $1,000 ) . We were on the road. Then THE SOUNDS came along.. It's people like me that listen to every LITTLE sound from bumper, to bumper. And then. Was that sound there 5 seconds ago, or not. This raises havoc with my COMFORT ZONE big time. Then came winter. Great time to check EVERYTHING out. And work on my comfort zone. I wanted a 3;70 final drive. I got the ring, and pinion from Applied, as putting differentials together is nothing new to me. Got the final drive all together. I will NEVER EVER do a GMC final drive ring, and pinion EVER EVER gain. I'll have Jim K do it when I go to 4;10. Well the final drive was out. I might as w
ell put a rebuild kit in the trans. Might as well pull the oil panto take a peek inside. New water pump, timing chain, radiator, belts, hoses, front end parts, all new brake parts, quad bags, disc brakes, and now EFI. The reality was that I have done all this on a GMC that didn't need hardly anything done to start with. But. My comfort zone is were I like it. We buy GMC's because we like them. It's a hobby that we enjoy working on, and driving. I think it's important for newbies to be aware of what their taking on. And knowing their own comfort zone. I know of two GMC's that are rotting away. Because the owners didn't think of the financial side of any hobby. You need to define YOUR comfort zone.
Bob Dunahugh4 Yenko's



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Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234447 is a reply to message #234416] Mon, 30 December 2013 10:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dan Borlase is currently offline  Dan Borlase   Canada
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You are right Bob...what's good for the goose is NOT necessarily good for the gander, meaning what I will live with is not the same as the next guy.
Bought a 78 PB (driver) for $7000. We now stand at $35000. invested and I'm not yet done...don't think I'll ever really be "done" !!
Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234459 is a reply to message #234447] Mon, 30 December 2013 12:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jim Bounds is currently offline  Jim Bounds   United States
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The reality of a "comfort zone" has to be based on something.  Kinda like what you need to spend for a god roof on your house.  There is an average for that and everything.
 
The RV industry says "entry level" on a quality based (not a cracker box on wheels- new or used they are crap) downsized (under 30') is $100,000.  Based on that, yes, a GMC is a cheaper fun toy in the box but you will still have an average investment of $50,000 (1/2 of what the industry expects) to have a good looking, remiable, comfortable, impressive motorhome that fits your needs.  Looking at it that way, a GMC is 1/2 priced.
 
And I don;t care if you buy one for $5k or $30K, you will end up with $50K in it.  Don't figure your time is worth nothing, you sell yourself short.  I mean what are the weekends you have left in your life worth!
 
Jim Bounds
---------------------


________________________________
From: Dan Borlase <bord@shaw.ca>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone.




You are right Bob...what's good for the goose is NOT necessarily good for the gander, meaning what I will live with is not the same as the next guy.
Bought a 78 PB (driver) for $7000. We now stand at $35000. invested and I'm not yet done...don't think I'll ever really be "done" !!
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Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234488 is a reply to message #234459] Mon, 30 December 2013 18:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Richard RV   United States
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Jim Bounds wrote on Mon, 30 December 2013 11:05


And I don;t care if you buy one for $5k or $30K, you will end up with $50K in it.  Don't figure your time is worth nothing, you sell yourself short.  I mean what are the weekends you have left in your life worth!



Hello, Jim. I understand what you're saying, but I think for many people on this forum working on the GMC falls into the "priceless" category. Working on a GMC is fun and satisfying. That's why you got into it, right?

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Substitute GMC for boat, and there you have it.

Richard


'77 Birchaven TZE...777; '76 Palm Beach under construction; ‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
Re: [GMCnet] GMC's The COST is in your Comfort Zone. [message #234498 is a reply to message #234488] Mon, 30 December 2013 19:36 Go to previous message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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Richard V. wrote on Mon, 30 December 2013 18:34

Jim Bounds wrote on Mon, 30 December 2013 11:05


And I don;t care if you buy one for $5k or $30K, you will end up with $50K in it.  Don't figure your time is worth nothing, you sell yourself short.  I mean what are the weekends you have left in your life worth!



Hello, Jim. I understand what you're saying, but I think for many people on this forum working on the GMC falls into the "priceless" category. Working on a GMC is fun and satisfying. That's why you got into it, right?

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Substitute GMC for boat, and there you have it.

Richard


agreed, I can only think of one or two things i'd rather be doing than working on the GMC and I don't get paid for that either Smile


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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