Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Trip Report (Maiden Voyage - sort of)
| Trip Report [message #262883] |
Fri, 26 September 2014 22:59  |
mrgmc3
Messages: 210
Registered: September 2013
Location: W Washington
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Trip report
We purchased our '78 Kingsley in Southern California September '13. We looked at several coaches and settled on this 1-family owned, 43k mile California original. Spent the following 6 months getting it roadworthy as it had been sitting for 3 years. Tires, hoses, brakes, cooler hoses, tune-up were the main focus. There were some things that I could not accomplish easily so we drove it in May from OC to Fremont and Applied. Jim and the crew replaced all the fuel lines, replaced the front wheel bearings, ball joints and aligned it. They also converted it to R143a.
We set off in June to head east and ran into pretty bad vapor lock on a 95F day in Sacramento, so we headed back to Applied and had them install a low pressure fuel pump (it's a carbureted 403). We returned a couple weeks later, headed out and found the cooling system to be inadequate climbing I-80 to Donner Summit. It still had the 35 year old OE radiator, and was generally ok except the coolant temp would not stabilize on those 6% grades. So we parked it in Reno and ordered an aluminum radiator. I also thought it best to install a HD fan clutch and high flow Al water pump while I was at it. Problem solved.... Oh and found an outer CV boot ripped while I was under the coach installing the rad. In know it didn't leave JimK like that and was thankful that I caught it within a couple hundred miles. The joint looked good, so I replaced the boot and the drive axle bolts.
So finally we left Reno on Sept 3rd and headed east. Stopped at Bonneville, Salt Lake City, headed up through Wyoming and stayed in Spearfish, SD. Visited Sturgis and of course Wall Drug. After departing Reno it was an uneventful 1800 mile trip. Ran the cruise control and dash air as needed. Our speeds ranged from 60-70 with an average somewhere in the middle. Our fuel economy was;
Reno to Elko - 8.3
Elko to Salt Lake - 10.1
Salt Lake to Rawlins - 8.8
Rawlins to Spearfish - 8.9
Spearfish to Sioux Falls -10.6
For an average to that point of 9.3 mpg. I have not filled back up since arrival.
Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa
1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 54k mi
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| Re: Trip Report [message #262888 is a reply to message #262883] |
Sat, 27 September 2014 09:03  |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Congrats on the happy finish...
When dealing with an old vehicle, even if you ground up restore it, some issues need time on the road to make themselves known.
Nice to be able to make one call and get the exact parts you need to carry on.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
[Updated on: Sat, 27 September 2014 09:03] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Trip Report [message #262890 is a reply to message #262883] |
Sat, 27 September 2014 10:04 |
cbryan
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Chris,
Congratulations on a well-judged purchase and trip. I wonder now after you've got it home if there are additional items you want to put in. Interesting that after all your knowledge you have resisted putting EFI into it.
For the rest of the forum, Chris is a very knowledgeable engineer from the content of his posts and ability to answer about any question on the design of engines.
I am seeing the wisdom of keeping things stock, or else educate yourself big time and after what you think is a complete education, missing some things and finding you proved again some disaster scenario that was proven first many years ago.
For example, the necessity of setting high power mixture far richer than 14.7 to one. Or pay the price in swallowed valves.
Congratulations again, you have done well.
Carey
Carey from Ennis, Texas
78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
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| Re: Trip Report [message #262891 is a reply to message #262883] |
Sat, 27 September 2014 10:05 |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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mrgmc3 wrote on Fri, 26 September 2014 20:59Trip report
We purchased our '78 Kingsley in Southern California September '13. We looked at several coaches and settled on this 1-family owned, 43k mile California original. Spent the following 6 months getting it roadworthy as it had been sitting for 3 years. Tires, hoses, brakes, cooler hoses, tune-up were the main focus. There were some things that I could not accomplish easily so we drove it in May from OC to Fremont and Applied. Jim and the crew replaced all the fuel lines, replaced the front wheel bearings, ball joints and aligned it. They also converted it to R143a.
So finally we left Reno on Sept 3rd and headed east. Stopped at Bonneville, Salt Lake City, headed up through Wyoming and stayed in Spearfish, SD. Visited Sturgis and of course Wall Drug. After departing Reno it was an uneventful 1800 mile trip. Ran the cruise control and dash air as needed. Our speeds ranged from 60-70 with an average somewhere in the middle. Our fuel economy was;
Reno to Elko - 8.3
Elko to Salt Lake - 10.1
Salt Lake to Rawlins - 8.8
Rawlins to Spearfish - 8.9
Spearfish to Sioux Falls -10.6
For an average to that point of 9.3 mpg. I have not filled back up since arrival.
I say, well done. It seems no matter how good the coach seems, the new owner has to take care of some things. On the other hand I read about brand new $$$$ motor homes having problems. And it sounds like once the kinks were out it did fine. And you gas mileage was exactly what Gene F has always said: "GMCs get between 8-10 depending on how you drive.
Enjoy the coach.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #262902 is a reply to message #262883] |
Sat, 27 September 2014 15:13 |
Kingsley Coach
Messages: 2691
Registered: March 2009
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Karma: -34
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Senior Member |
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OMG Wall Drug... LOL, LOL
On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 12:59 AM, Chris Geils
wrote:
> Trip report
> We purchased our '78 Kingsley in Southern California September '13. We
> looked at several coaches and settled on this 1-family owned, 43k mile
> California original. Spent the following 6 months getting it roadworthy
> as it had been sitting for 3 years. Tires, hoses, brakes, cooler hoses,
> tune-up were the main focus. There were some things that I could not
> accomplish easily so we drove it in May from OC to Fremont and Applied.
> Jim and
> the crew replaced all the fuel lines, replaced the front wheel bearings,
> ball joints and aligned it. They also converted it to R143a.
> We set off in June to head east and ran into pretty bad vapor lock on a
> 95F day in Sacramento, so we headed back to Applied and had them install a
> low
> pressure fuel pump (it's a carbureted 403). We returned a couple weeks
> later, headed out and found the cooling system to be inadequate climbing
> I-80
> to Donner Summit. It still had the 35 year old OE radiator, and was
> generally ok except the coolant temp would not stabilize on those 6%
> grades. So
> we parked it in Reno and ordered an aluminum radiator. I also thought it
> best to install a HD fan clutch and high flow Al water pump while I was at
> it. Problem solved.... Oh and found an outer CV boot ripped while I was
> under the coach installing the rad. In know it didn't leave JimK like that
> and was thankful that I caught it within a couple hundred miles. The
> joint looked good, so I replaced the boot and the drive axle bolts.
> So finally we left Reno on Sept 3rd and headed east. Stopped at
> Bonneville, Salt Lake City, headed up through Wyoming and stayed in
> Spearfish, SD.
> Visited Sturgis and of course Wall Drug. After departing Reno it was an
> uneventful 1800 mile trip. Ran the cruise control and dash air as needed.
> Our speeds ranged from 60-70 with an average somewhere in the middle. Our
> fuel economy was;
> Reno to Elko - 8.3
> Elko to Salt Lake - 10.1
> Salt Lake to Rawlins - 8.8
> Rawlins to Spearfish - 8.9
> Spearfish to Sioux Falls -10.6
> For an average to that point of 9.3 mpg. I have not filled back up since
> arrival.
>
> --
> Chris Geils - Twin Cities
> 1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; Headers, Progressive Dynamics 9040,
> aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, 47k mi
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS
I am not an alcoholic; alcoholics go to meetings.
I am a drunk; I go to parties !
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| Re: Trip Report [message #263045 is a reply to message #262890] |
Mon, 29 September 2014 22:56 |
mrgmc3
Messages: 210
Registered: September 2013
Location: W Washington
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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cbryan wrote on Sat, 27 September 2014 10:04Chris,
Congratulations on a well-judged purchase and trip. I wonder now after you've got it home if there are additional items you want to put in. Interesting that after all your knowledge you have resisted putting EFI into it.
I am seeing the wisdom of keeping things stock, or else educate yourself big time and after what you think is a complete education, missing some things and finding you proved again some disaster scenario that was proven first many years ago.
Carey
Thanks,
I may make some upgrades but am concentrating on getting it completely roadworthy before any significant improvements (I'd consider adding modern GM PFI from a 6.0L V8 but that would be a pretty big undertaking that at this point is "some day").
I'm pretty close to getting a handle on the running gear but now I'm dealing with "house" issues. Refrigerator crumped out (original Norcold is leaking ammonia). The black tank gate valve leaks. And I have not begun to fiddle with any of the propane stuff yet!
The good news is the Onan works, and the fresh water system seems to be in good shape.
Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa
1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 54k mi
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