| Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280601] |
Tue, 23 June 2015 23:48  |
bhayes
Messages: 263
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 1
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Last Saturday, I saw a silver GMC with blue stripes drive by while we were parked at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Was that anyone here?
Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
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| Re: Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280605 is a reply to message #280601] |
Wed, 24 June 2015 05:57  |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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Brian,
I hope you enjoyed Yellowstone. Wish I was there. Did you take the GMC? What was the overall general condition of the Palm Beach for sale in Rexburg?
I have a competent and trusted mechanic in Rexburg that I have used for many years. He has kept a few cars going for me while four of my children have been in college at BYU in Rexburg. I don't get out as often but my wife does frequently enough that I have also kept a car there for her use as it has been cheaper than renting every time.
My oldest son is in Rexburg now and my fifth starts next fall. I will have him check around to see if it is still there. It would be a long shot but I would love to have a coach in the West with home base in Rexbug. Southeast Idaho is a hidden treasure and the gateway to Yellowstone, the Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, the Snake river, and much more.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280807 is a reply to message #280605] |
Fri, 26 June 2015 18:47 |
bhayes
Messages: 263
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 1
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Hi, Steve. It appeared all original, so some parts (paint, headliner) were pretty rough. The fact that it was in the parking lot meant that it is probably driveable. I took some pictures of it that I'll post a little later.
Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
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| Re: Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280811 is a reply to message #280605] |
Fri, 26 June 2015 19:16 |
bhayes
Messages: 263
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Steve, we did take the GMC. This was our first multi-day trip in the five years we've owned it. Overall, it performed well, though not without a few minor gotchas.
* I had purchased new tires a few weeks earlier that were over-inflated to 80 psi, which made the GMC wander all over the road. I finally figured that problem out after searching the GMCNET and dropping the pressure to about 65 psi, which made a huge difference.
* A few minor Onan problems cropped up but were easily fixed.
* Our black water tank seems to either not be be draining completely using the macerator, or has "stuff" in it that is making it full prematurely. I know the coach's PO reported a similar problem. The tank also seems to be leaking out of the top when it is full, which means one or more of the pipes aren't sealing into the tank correctly. Of course, that's better than the bad stuff coming up into the bathroom. Also, the tank sending unit isn't working and needs to be replaced. Looks like the float portion is stuck.
* I got the cruise control working again by fabricating a hook out of a small eye bolt that hooks to the ball stud on the carb. I then clamped it to the chain. The hook came off the carb on the trip up, but I finally got it to work correctly on the way home.
* Gas mileage wasn't that great on the trip to Yellowstone. Only about 5.9 mpg with the Onan running. I got just under 10 mpg between Yellowstone and Soda Springs, Idaho on the way back, but was going much slower and using the cruise control (again with the Onan running). We averaged about 65 mph between Soda Springs and home, so I'm interested to see what the gas mileage was on that leg when I fill up again.
* Looking at options to muffle the noise in the cockpit.
BYU-I seems like a nice school. We drove around the campus a little while we were there. We were going to stop and walk around, but ran low on time.
Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280816 is a reply to message #280811] |
Fri, 26 June 2015 22:15 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Bryan, quite often the cause of those black tank leaks are not very good
news. If the tank is attached by the flange instead of bottom straps, the
possibility exists that the tank is cracked near that flange. If the tank
uses rigid flanges where the plumbing enters the tank, they very often are
cracked or completely broken there as well. The new tanks use grommets
instead of rigid flanges and will flex instead of break. Sounds like new
tank time to me. Remember, if you find cracks or breaks, that plastic is 40
years old and even if you do find something that will patch it, it will
only be a temporary fix. The expensive part of tank repair is the labor
involved to remove and replace them. The tanks are quite reasonably priced,
and most of the plumbing stuff can be purchased at big box stores.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Jun 26, 2015 5:17 PM, "Bryan Hayes" wrote:
> Steve, we did take the GMC. This was our first multi-day trip in the five
> years we've owned it. Overall, it performed well, though not without a few
> minor gotchas.
>
> * I had purchased new tires a few weeks earlier that were over-inflated to
> 80 psi, which made the GMC wander all over the road. I finally figured that
> problem out after searching the GMCNET and dropping the pressure to about
> 65 psi, which made a huge difference.
> * A few minor Onan problems cropped up but were easily fixed.
> * Our black water tank seems to either not be be draining completely using
> the macerator, or has "stuff" in it that is making it full prematurely. I
> know the coach's PO reported a similar problem. The tank also seems to be
> leaking out of the top when it is full, which means one or more of the pipes
> aren't sealing into the tank correctly. Of course, that's better than the
> bad stuff coming up into the bathroom. Also, the tank sending unit isn't
> working and needs to be replaced. Looks like the float portion is stuck.
> * I got the cruise control working again by fabricating a hook out of a
> small eye bolt that hooks to the ball stud on the carb. I then clamped it to
> the chain. The hook came off the carb on the trip up, but I finally got it
> to work correctly on the way home.
> * Gas mileage wasn't that great on the trip to Yellowstone. Only about 5.9
> mpg with the Onan running. I got just under 10 mpg between Yellowstone and
> Soda Springs, Idaho on the way back, but was going much slower and using
> the cruise control (again with the Onan running). We averaged about 65 mph
> between Soda Springs and home, so I'm interested to see what the gas
> mileage was on that leg when I fill up again.
> * Looking at options to muffle the noise in the cockpit.
>
> BYU-I seems like a nice school. We drove around the campus a little while
> we were there. We were going to stop and walk around, but ran low on time.
> --
> Bryan Hayes
> '76 Eleganza II
> Salt Lake City, Utah
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280819 is a reply to message #280816] |
Fri, 26 June 2015 23:01 |
bhayes
Messages: 263
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Thanks, Jim. The tank was replaced by the coach's PO and is held in place by bottom straps. Dropping the thing to find out what's going on is not a job I'm looking forward to. Even when the GMC is on 6-ton jack stands, I still get nervous crawling under there.
Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
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| Re: Sighting in Yellowstone [message #280829 is a reply to message #280601] |
Sat, 27 June 2015 08:05 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Confidence builder for working under your coach when you have no pit. Go down to Lowe's or Homer and pick u[p a handful of pressure treated 4x4s. Saw them into 18 inch lengths. When you raise the coach, crib it under the frame with these. Working one side 4 inches at a time, I can get my coach three feet off the ground if I want. Safely.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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