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| Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344224] |
Sat, 15 June 2019 19:06  |
Frances McMillan
Messages: 23
Registered: October 2018
Location: Southwest of Tuscaloosa, ...
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We have owned our GMC motorhome for several months, but have never traveled or spent the night in it, so we are still in the learning curve. It was in the shop for the last four months having a great deal done to it. After a couple of test drives this week, I have a few questions.
Is it common to smell exhaust inside the coach?
The gas pedal seems so stiff and difficult to push. Is there an adjustment or fix for this?
We are waiting on a part to fix our cruise control.
One of the many things which didn't occur to me about traveling in one of these is the noise. It is so loud inside. It would be impossible to listen to music, etc. Is this also common?
Thanks for any input.
Pickens County, Alabama 1977 Royale, 455, 67,000 original miles
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344227 is a reply to message #344224] |
Sat, 15 June 2019 20:10  |
Frances McMillan
Messages: 23
Registered: October 2018
Location: Southwest of Tuscaloosa, ...
Karma: 0
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Sitting here discussing this with my husband, he says he doesn't smell the exhaust. I have never thought of it as strong or overwhelming. I want to add insulation in the engine door area because so much heat comes through.
One of the things which has developed in the last few days is an alarm going off -- the carbon monoxide and propane alarm. Shutting off the propane valve stopped the alarm, so we will have to have the leak repaired. I know a lot of people remove their gas stoves, but I don't want to, and we have a new gas water heater that works well.
We are fortunate to have a very experienced GMC motorhome repairman and will be taking ours back to him in a few weeks.
Pickens County, Alabama 1977 Royale, 455, 67,000 original miles
[Updated on: Sat, 15 June 2019 20:10] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344228 is a reply to message #344224] |
Sat, 15 June 2019 21:06 |
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Tom Lins
Messages: 372
Registered: February 2004
Location: St Augustine, FL
Karma: 1
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Frances McMillan wrote on Sat, 15 June 2019 20:06We have owned our GMC motorhome for several months, but have never traveled or spent the night in it, so we are still in the learning curve. It was in the shop for the last four months having a great deal done to it. After a couple of test drives this week, I have a few questions.
Is it common to smell exhaust inside the coach?
The gas pedal seems so stiff and difficult to push. Is there an adjustment or fix for this?
We are waiting on a part to fix our cruise control.
One of the many things which didn't occur to me about traveling in one of these is the noise. It is so loud inside. It would be impossible to listen to music, etc. Is this also common?
Thanks for any input.
No it is not normal to smell exhaust in the cab, ask you mechanic about it.
Some people have issues and I can only go by the 2 GMC's we have owned and neither one had a stiff throttle. It is only a spring and your mechanic should be able to resolve this.
As far as the noise level goes that can be subjective what You think as loud I might not consider to be loud. We got the roar of the cooling fan to a tolerable level in our first GMC by using mass loaded vinyl on the floor on the front half of the coach and commercial carpet tiles on the floor of the cab. It got the engine noise to a reasonable level. You will never make it as quiet as a modern car though.
The current GMC is a work in progress so we will get to the engine noise at some point.
Tom Lins
St Augustine, FL
77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455, Aluminum Radiator Quad-Bag Suspension Solar Panel
Manuals on DVD
YOUTUBE Channel: GMC Dealer Training Tapes
http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344232 is a reply to message #344227] |
Sun, 16 June 2019 08:36 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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CartGirl,
Thanks for filling in the sigfile....
The cab noise often comes up between the flooring than the body shell that have separated with age and sag. Take a wheel well liner out and look up in there. You may see a gap. If you do, fill it with something like fiberglass insulation.
That could be part of the two other problems - Exhaust and Music
There should not be loose exhaust that far forward, but exhaust manifold leaks are common. It also should not have a chance to get to the cab with the coach moving. If she is standing, all bets are off.
Much of your music problem may just be the stupid (really dumb) arrangement for the OE speakers. I like what I did, but it was not easy and I do not believe it has been copied. Unfortunately, the cab does not lend itself to any simple solution.
For your possible pedal issue, I suggest that you disconnect the throttle cable at the carburetor (remove one little clip) and try the pedal again. We have had two throttle cables go bad on us so that would be no surprise to me. I was told that the situation was improved in the later builds, but who can tell.
About the propane alarm. Check the stove burners. These are a common problem. The burner assemblies can be removed very easily and when they are and the gas is on, you can either use bubbly stuff or try to light the jet of each burner. If you get a leak at any, they can often be fixed by cleaning and adjustment. If you take the stove out, that will be a limit of your travel capability that some do accept. We have not. A good replacement stove can often be free or cheap.
Glad you are getting to use her.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344234 is a reply to message #344224] |
Sun, 16 June 2019 09:34 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Even If the front exhaust system is leak free, it still can be noisy in the cabin if cheap single wall casing mufflers were installed by the PO. GM used dual wall construction for durability, safety and noise contamment. I removed cheap mufflers and replaced them with correct sized dual wall mufflers made in Canada by my suplier I have used for other projects. Huge difference in radiated sound. Conversation can be at living room
Levels. I can offer these if there is interest. The NAPA/Walker mufflers in the exchange fit fine to get by but one of our members had one "oil can) the top casing until it failed and burnt the floor. Beware.
Are the fumes you are smelling exhaust or oil or fuel drips on the hot engine? You need to dertemine and correct this. Also Wes from Cinnabar wrote an article on this years ago. I follow his advice. You need to create a positive fresh air pressure in the coach. That means windows closed and dash fan on 2-3-4 on fresh setting not Recirculate. The fresh air enters the grill and into the fan under additional pressure at highway speeds. This prevents drawing in fumes and holding tank odors because of positive pressure in the cabin.
If gasoline fumes, often the fuel line into the Qjet gets "wound up" when tightened. It then springs the nut loose slightly with heat cool cycles. Even one drop per min evapoating will give a big fuel odor in cabin. Also have them check all the evaporative emissions hoses and charcoal canister for proper operation
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344246 is a reply to message #344234] |
Sun, 16 June 2019 13:50 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Having ones coach in a shop a long term does not mean anything as were not
mind readers and also do not like customers saying were picking on their
coach.
Some of you do not realize how poorly your coach is when it comes in to a
shop.
No way can one locate ALL the defects.
I know ALL the GMC shops will agree with me. We do spend time communicating
with other shops weekly.
On Sun, Jun 16, 2019 at 8:12 AM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> Even If the front exhaust system is leak free, it still can be noisy in
> the cabin if cheap single wall casing mufflers were installed by the PO. GM
> used dual wall construction for durability, safety and noise contamment. I
> removed cheap mufflers and replaced them with correct sized dual wall
> mufflers made in Canada by my suplier I have used for other projects.
> Huge difference in radiated sound. Conversation can be at living room
> Levels. I can offer these if there is interest. The NAPA/Walker mufflers
> in the exchange fit fine to get by but one of our members had one "oil can)
> the top casing until it failed and burnt the floor. Beware.
> Are the fumes you are smelling exhaust or oil or fuel drips on the hot
> engine? You need to dertemine and correct this. Also Wes from Cinnabar
> wrote
> an article on this years ago. I follow his advice. You need to create a
> positive fresh air pressure in the coach. That means windows closed and dash
> fan on 2-3-4 on fresh setting not Recirculate. The fresh air enters the
> grill and into the fan under additional pressure at highway speeds. This
> prevents drawing in fumes and holding tank odors because of positive
> pressure in the cabin.
> If gasoline fumes, often the fuel line into the Qjet gets "wound up" when
> tightened. It then springs the nut loose slightly with heat cool cycles.
> Even one drop per min evapoating will give a big fuel odor in cabin. Also
> have them check all the evaporative emissions hoses and charcoal canister
> for proper operation
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344258 is a reply to message #344224] |
Sun, 16 June 2019 18:05 |
Frances McMillan
Messages: 23
Registered: October 2018
Location: Southwest of Tuscaloosa, ...
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Tom, Matt and John, thank you for your helpful replies. I very well could be smelling something besides exhaust. My husband removed the hatch cover today to replace a fuel filter, and there certainly wasn't much insulation there, but not room for much either. The cover has a new rubber seal around the edges. I will pass along the information you have provided.
Our repairman is going to be unavailable for a while, so I thought I would come here to ask some basic questions because in the past I found it to be a friendly, helpful place. None of my questions or statements were intended to cast aspersions on him in any way.
Pickens County, Alabama 1977 Royale, 455, 67,000 original miles
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344263 is a reply to message #344258] |
Sun, 16 June 2019 18:47 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Frances McMillan wrote on Sun, 16 June 2019 19:05Tom, Matt and John, thank you for your helpful replies. I very well could be smelling something besides exhaust. My husband removed the hatch cover today to replace a fuel filter, and there certainly wasn't much insulation there, but not room for much either. The cover has a new rubber seal around the edges. I will pass along the information you have provided.
Our repairman is going to be unavailable for a while, so I thought I would come here to ask some basic questions because in the past I found it to be a friendly, helpful place. None of my questions or statements were intended to cast aspersions on him in any way.
Fran, (My mother was a Frances)
If your husband (yet to be identified) had the technical capability to change the fuel filter that is under the engine hatch, then he probably has the required expertise to do just about anything that your coach is likely to need.
If there tools that he is lacking, think about this....
Shop rate down there (is less than many places) is still probably close to 100$us/shop hour. Most shops never bill less than a whole first hour. It does not take many of those to build a serious tool collection and he only has to buy them once.... You are clearly literate. I would bet that he is also. Well, all of the critical service information is available on line for download at GMCMI. Even if he does not want to do something, he can read it and know all about it so he can repair the work that he just paid someone to do...
Also, there is a page on GMCMI that is the Black List (named for the originator) aka GMC Assist List, do not be afraid to ask for help. There seem to be a few around you.
As soon as you can, get hooked up with the local chapter call Dixelanders. Hang on....
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344267 is a reply to message #344246] |
Sun, 16 June 2019 20:17 |
Randy Hecht
Messages: 93
Registered: March 2019
Location: Roswell, GA
Karma: -5
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Member |
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So true. It’s like remodeling a old house
Chaplain Randy Hecht
Chaplains are ready to Listen when you're ready to talk.
> On Jun 16, 2019, at 2:50 PM, Jim Kanomata via Gmclist wrote:
>
> Having ones coach in a shop a long term does not mean anything as were not
> mind readers and also do not like customers saying were picking on their
> coach.
> Some of you do not realize how poorly your coach is when it comes in to a
> shop.
> No way can one locate ALL the defects.
> I know ALL the GMC shops will agree with me. We do spend time communicating
> with other shops weekly.
>
> On Sun, Jun 16, 2019 at 8:12 AM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Even If the front exhaust system is leak free, it still can be noisy in
>> the cabin if cheap single wall casing mufflers were installed by the PO. GM
>> used dual wall construction for durability, safety and noise contamment. I
>> removed cheap mufflers and replaced them with correct sized dual wall
>> mufflers made in Canada by my suplier I have used for other projects.
>> Huge difference in radiated sound. Conversation can be at living room
>> Levels. I can offer these if there is interest. The NAPA/Walker mufflers
>> in the exchange fit fine to get by but one of our members had one "oil can)
>> the top casing until it failed and burnt the floor. Beware.
>> Are the fumes you are smelling exhaust or oil or fuel drips on the hot
>> engine? You need to dertemine and correct this. Also Wes from Cinnabar
>> wrote
>> an article on this years ago. I follow his advice. You need to create a
>> positive fresh air pressure in the coach. That means windows closed and dash
>> fan on 2-3-4 on fresh setting not Recirculate. The fresh air enters the
>> grill and into the fan under additional pressure at highway speeds. This
>> prevents drawing in fumes and holding tank odors because of positive
>> pressure in the cabin.
>> If gasoline fumes, often the fuel line into the Qjet gets "wound up" when
>> tightened. It then springs the nut loose slightly with heat cool cycles.
>> Even one drop per min evapoating will give a big fuel odor in cabin. Also
>> have them check all the evaporative emissions hoses and charcoal canister
>> for proper operation
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk@appliedairfilters.com
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344275 is a reply to message #344224] |
Mon, 17 June 2019 07:21 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Frances, it can be done. I'm winding up putting a new (rebuilt actually) engine in my coach. By availing myself of the expertise hwere, I <think> I have it right. I'll find out today. Even the trolley used to lift the thing out of the coach was loaned by another GMCer. Take your time and you can do pretty much anything the coach needs. You'll get your hands dirty.
My criteria for tools is, only gonna use it once, patronize Freight, Harbor. (Mentioned this way because the 'bots will pick out the true name and start sending emails) Stuff that gets re - used like most hand tools, buy good ones.
FWIW, my first job as C.E. was in Tuscaloosa, working for Sen Bert Bank's radio stations. Roll Tide.
--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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| Re: [GMCnet] Miscellaneous Questions About GMC's [message #344313 is a reply to message #344228] |
Mon, 17 June 2019 21:33 |
Rollerg
Messages: 111
Registered: November 2014
Location: Marysville, MI
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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As for the noise, we restored our interior a year ago and used “Fatmat”
sound proofing beneath all the flooring and utilized 5/8 mineral wool as carpet padding in the cockpit.
We saw a significant reduction in sound.
Was very satisfied.
Gary Coaster / Reno, NV
1977 GMC Eleganza ll
GMC RV Day Night Shade Sales
GMCShades@gmail.com
www.GMCMotorhomemarketplace.com/GMC_Shades/
> On Jun 15, 2019, at 7:06 PM, Tom Lins via Gmclist wrote:
>
> Frances McMillan wrote on Sat, 15 June 2019 20:06
>> We have owned our GMC motorhome for several months, but have never traveled or spent the night in it, so we are still in the learning curve. It
>> was in the shop for the last four months having a great deal done to it. After a couple of test drives this week, I have a few questions.
>>
>> Is it common to smell exhaust inside the coach?
>>
>> The gas pedal seems so stiff and difficult to push. Is there an adjustment or fix for this?
>> We are waiting on a part to fix our cruise control.
>>
>> One of the many things which didn't occur to me about traveling in one of these is the noise. It is so loud inside. It would be impossible to
>> listen to music, etc. Is this also common?
>>
>> Thanks for any input.
>
> No it is not normal to smell exhaust in the cab, ask you mechanic about it.
> Some people have issues and I can only go by the 2 GMC's we have owned and neither one had a stiff throttle. It is only a spring and your mechanic
> should be able to resolve this.
> As far as the noise level goes that can be subjective what You think as loud I might not consider to be loud. We got the roar of the cooling fan to a
> tolerable level in our first GMC by using mass loaded vinyl on the floor on the front half of the coach and commercial carpet tiles on the floor of
> the cab. It got the engine noise to a reasonable level. You will never make it as quiet as a modern car though.
> The current GMC is a work in progress so we will get to the engine noise at some point.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Tom Lins
> St Augustine, FL
> 77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455, FI-Tech EFI
> Manuals on DVD
> http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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