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Mr. GMC Motorhome
United States
Приєднався 24 жов 2010
We have had our 1977 GMC motorhome (Edna) for a couple years and are documenting our experiences repairing and upgrading the coach and occasionally going camping too! My educational background is in electrical engineering and I'm an amateur mechanic and very hands on so this channel documents my adventures as I try to make improvements and learn a lot along the way. I hope you enjoy and learn a few things!
GMC Motorhome Oregon Coast Trip
This was our long trip for this year. We drove about 1,200 miles all together and had a great time staying in a great RV resort and exploring the Oregon coast.
Here are a few links to places we visited and we would recommend to anyone who visits the area.
The campground we stayed at: seaandsandrvpark.com/
Tillamook Cheese Factory: www.tillamook.com/visit-us/creamery
Devils Punchbowl: stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=156
Drift Creek Falls: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recarea/?recid=42681
Here are some great places to get seafood in Newport:
www.oceanbleuseafoods.com/
www.moschowder.com/?y_source=1_OTY1MjYyNzUtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
And lots of good things at the Fish Peddler:
www.pacificseafood.com/contact-us/retail-locations/newport-fish-peddler/
The Evergreen Aerospace Museum: www.evergreenmuseum.org/
Here are a few links to places we visited and we would recommend to anyone who visits the area.
The campground we stayed at: seaandsandrvpark.com/
Tillamook Cheese Factory: www.tillamook.com/visit-us/creamery
Devils Punchbowl: stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=156
Drift Creek Falls: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recarea/?recid=42681
Here are some great places to get seafood in Newport:
www.oceanbleuseafoods.com/
www.moschowder.com/?y_source=1_OTY1MjYyNzUtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
And lots of good things at the Fish Peddler:
www.pacificseafood.com/contact-us/retail-locations/newport-fish-peddler/
The Evergreen Aerospace Museum: www.evergreenmuseum.org/
Переглядів: 620
Відео
GMC Motorhome Cracked Exhaust Manifolds
Переглядів 415Місяць тому
On our last long trip I started to hear a new noise from the engine. I was afraid it was an internal engine noise but after removing the fender liners, I found a big crack in the right manifold. I guess it's time for new manifolds. I got some used manifolds from a member of the GMC motorhome community and had them resurfaced. I sourced all the other parts from various places online. Here are th...
GMC Motorhome AC Service
Переглядів 433Місяць тому
When we got Edna the dash AC worked great and it was really nice to have some cool air to balance out all the heat coming from the sun through the front windows. Well, after the first winter, it didn't work any more and I didn't really know what to do because of how old the system was. I decided to get a recharge kit from Ebay that was made for old vehicles and included some stop leak. It worke...
GMC Motorhome Macerator Adapter
Переглядів 5182 місяці тому
I stalled a macerator a few months ago and it's been awesome! Super fast and easy to dump now but I still had a problem with in an RV park. I wanted a way to stay hooked up all the time and dump when I need to. I found this handy adapter online and made some minor modifications for my hose and it works great. Here is the adapter that I started with: amzn.to/3Yd5gFf
GMC Motorhome Spark Plug Wires
Переглядів 2252 місяці тому
A mouse started chewing on our plug wire boots and my records indicate that the wires are about 10 years old so I decided it was time for a new set. I got the same type that the previous owner had used because they lasted well and seem to be great quality. I got them from Applied GMC: www.gmcrvparts.com/product-p/gm8-006-58.htm
GMC Motorhome Fan Clutch Install
Переглядів 3954 місяці тому
We have had an overheating problem ever sense we got Edna and I haven't solved it with the couple things I've tried so far. This project was replacing the fan clutch so I'll keep my fingers crossed that this helps. It's not very hot right now so I can't give it a good test until the weather warms up some more. Here is a link to the fan clutch I used, Haden 2747: amzn.to/4dVyRs3
GMC Motorhome Macerator Install
Переглядів 8404 місяці тому
We recently replaced our black tank and decided to install a macerator while we were doing sewer upgrades. It took a bit of work to get it installed but it works great and is much easier to use than the stinky slinky. We got most of the parts from Applied GMC. We got the entire kit option and only had to get a couple things from our local hardware store or auto parts store. www.gmcrvparts.com/p...
GMC Motorhome ADCO RV Cover by Covercraft Review
Переглядів 4465 місяців тому
We got this ADCO cover 3 years ago and it has held up very well. We get snow, rain, and lots of wind over the winter and it has held up well. It would probably make it another year but I'm starting to see some tears and leaking and I found a great deal on a replacement so I decided it was time for an update. Here is a link to the cover I got: amzn.to/3xSwLsq
GMC Motorhome Black Tank Replacement
Переглядів 1,3 тис.6 місяців тому
We have been having a problem with the black tank leaking when it's almost full and sewer smells when driving. The black tank seems to be original so I decided to replace it. This was the longest and worse project I have done yet, mostly because I made a few mistakes along the way. I hope if you ever have to do this project it goes better for you. Here are some of the key parts and tools I used...
GMC Motorhome Collection Walkthrough
Переглядів 19 тис.10 місяців тому
We have a friend and fellow GMC owner who recently acquired three GMC Motorhomes and we thought it would be a great opportunity to walk through a variety of floor plans and conditions. All three of these were fairly inexpensive and will require some work and money to bring back to useable condition. Any of them can be a great starting point for someone who wants to restore one of these motorhomes.
GMC Motorhome What It Costs to Own
Переглядів 14 тис.Рік тому
This is our third summer of owning a GMC motorhome and I thought I would share what she has cost us so far. Lots of people are looking for a deal on a cool old GMC motorhome, sometimes a good deal can cost you a lot. It helps if you are handy and can do much of the needed work yourself. In the end, this is probably not a good investment but it's a fun hobby and a great way to go camping and mee...
GMC Motorhome Car Show
Переглядів 2,2 тис.Рік тому
We decided to take Edna to a car show. It was amazing how many people had never seen a GMC motorhome before. Several people remembered them or wanted to know where they could get one. Lots of people were very surprised to hear that we drove our motorhome on the road and took her camping.
GMC Motorhome Interior Roof Trim
Переглядів 729Рік тому
The trim piece above the bunk bed was missing when we got Edna. It has always bothered us and now it's finally fixed. I really like how it turned out too!
GMC Motorhome Wall Replacement - Again
Переглядів 1 тис.Рік тому
We finally got around to replacing the drivers side interior wall. This has been bothering us since we got the coach and it looks great when it's all done! This has been one the projects that made the biggest improvement to how the interior looks!
GMC Motorhome 1-Ton Wheel Bearing
Переглядів 2,1 тис.Рік тому
I was doing a tire rotation a while back and found that the left front wheel bearing was loose. Our motorhome has the 1-ton front end upgrade and it was installed only about 15,000 miles and 8 years ago. The parts my front end uses are from a late 80's to early 90's GM K3500 type of truck. There isn't any reason it should be loose but I decided that I should replace the bearing. It wasn't an ea...
GMC Motorhome Camping in Banff AB Canada
Переглядів 3,4 тис.Рік тому
GMC Motorhome Camping in Banff AB Canada
Great video (bought in 2021, not 2001, I think)... But great video.
Yes, good catch on the year. I caught that when I was editing but didn't want to reshoot so I figured the rest of the context would make up for my mistake. :-)
Hi there my fellow GMC enthusiast, do you happen to live in Pullman?
Yes we are in Pullman, it looks like you are in the Eastern Washington area too. :-)
@MrGMCMotorhome Yes sir, I'm in Richland. We she both do some hanging out and some collabing.
What an Awesome trip! Love seeing Edna out! So much fun to be in a GMC motorhome!
We have had a lot of fun on our trips with Edna. I hope we will have many more to come!
Cool trip! Fun Fact: The fishing scene in the movie One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest, was filmed in Depoe Bay, using a charter boat based from there.
Thanks for the video
Always enjoy your project videos on the motorhome. Very cool to see some of the sights of the Westcoast and you enjoying the camping. Thanks for sharing. I'm here on the East coast in New Hampshire. 👍👍👍
Maybe we'll have a chance to head East after we have explored all of the west coast! :-)
Nice!
Great taste but you must be a democrat because you served up some world salad on this video, just joking but spit it out next time.
Flexible solar would be of great benefit. No mileage penalty like rigid panels. There are ways to continue with a/c and Microwave type typically managed only with shore power to run on big battery systems. As to running air all the time, inside reflective shades could reduce your reliance on A/C. A 12v a/c unit could keep up with the heat if you had decent tint and reflective shades where you didn’t need windows.
wonderful thanks for sharing
Thanks! Very useful.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
It's interesting how we choose our projects... there is little similarities between many of them... on my purchase, I wouldn't buy one without a working generator, working ac unit , recovered seats, it had new tires, new exhaust. The work I did the first year was , a new black tank, new floor, new headliner, and repaired the front cap.. Mac dash, Dakota digital Guage cluster, joying 10.5 android head stereo navigation unit, 4 camera backup system wyngard wifi extender, recovered dash, toilet repair, kitchen tap, all new wheel bearings and brake inspection, master cylinder. Timing chain. New radiator, water pump, Furnace repair, new gas regulator. All this before the first trip.. 2nd year painted the roof and top half of the coach Green with a gold stripe.. new led roof lights, sealed the seams and new vents.new vair air pump. New front shocks ,Rebuilt alternator, new power steering pump, new belts and radiator, new clutch fan, hoses. 3rd year, got dash air system working, microlevel level system, new ball joints, inner and upper control arm bushings, rear slave cylinders, rear brake shoes, aluminum air bag cones (one broke) 4th year, Corian counters, carb rebuild. New alternator again. This year, new motor, new fuel pump, intake block off , carb cheater system.. next year , dual 375 amp alternators to run roof air on highway, soft start, serpentine setup, new ac pump, new power steering pump... larger trailer hitch, electronic e brake, w possible disk brakes on rear.. and I'm looking for a buddy seat.. I'll say at the end of this.. I did most of this myself , lots not mentioned here.. I know I could never spend as much as I would lose on a new rv.. the gmc is a great rv.. it's not that the parts are expensive, it's that it needs so many parts..
It sounds like you have a GMC that is in great condition with lots of important things done. I hope you are enjoying it! And, Yes, the value of new RVs drops like a rock at least the GMC RVs don't go down in value if they are well maintained.
not how it should be done. rails need to come off
Yes, I pulled the roof rails a while back and resealed them, this is just a little extra to keep the water out. Here is the roof rail video: ua-cam.com/video/3KgIefUBtXg/v-deo.html
Very common problem on these. My '78 403 kept blowing exhaust gaskets on my cross-country trip. The bolts do indeed, loosen up after an install. I'd check them each time I go out, at least for the first 4 or 5 trips. Don't overtighten the bolts: 25 ft. lbs. is the book value on those. Finally, I have gone with Dave Lenzi's all-copper exhaust manifold gaskets. They are much talked about, and I'm happy with their performance.
Thanks for the comment and your experience! I wanted to get the Dave Lenzi copper gasket but Applied was out of stock at the time and I wanted to get the repair done. I hope mine lasts for at least a few years.
I would also add that you should also look at heat management, if one area of the engine is getting hotter than the others then this causes distortion. Be that poor combustion, valve seating not taking heat away to the head. Over fuelling or leaning out all cook parts and although the mantra of "they all do that" the question is why don't other cars have chocolate exhaust studs? At the moment your only way to know is the color of the plugs and how it performs, but these can be detrimental to the engine itself. I would want to know why a half inch thick 'Murica cast iron log manifold cracks rather than treat this as a wear item. Personally I would fit a Holley sniper or similar bolt on fuel injection/closed loop lambda with electronic ignition in the future.
Until the bolts and gasket etc settle in, the bolts on the Olds 455 will loosen up. The recommended routine is to tighten to spec, run the engine until hot, retighten when it's cool. Repeat two or three times. Last time I did this the bolts definitely needed to be tightened the first two go rounds, finally just a little snugging on the third. This would be when I would cinch over the retainers. YMMV. Thanks for the excellent content for our coaches.
Always nice to see a video of the motorhome. Glad you were able to get that fixed and definitely worth the money to replace all the pieces too. Nice to pass the work off to someone as I'm sure that would have been a big project. Thanks for sharing!!🟠
I just finished rebuilding an Onan generator 4K ua-cam.com/video/W-GJD1fZcdM/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared I figured out how to hook up the on and off remote switch. I’m having a hard time, trying to figure out how to hook up the hr. Tachometer and the light. It looks just like the one that you have. In your video. Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you!
I just followed the connections shown in the wiring diagram for my coach (www.gmcmi.com/electrical/). Other than lots of previous people splicing wires, it worked fine. I always like to get it back to original, when I can.
Just a thought. In my 60 plus years tinkering with exhaust bolts. NEVER have they vibrated out. I am suprised that a locking mechanism was included. The bolts get so hot, which makes them swell, (Which makes them Tighter) My personal opinion is that a locking mechanism would make it harder to get the bolts off in the future. But I have been wrong from time to time. 🙂
You may be right, and I hope I never have to find out. :-)
If you're not already on it, the GMCMI forum has a lot of GMC'ers with tons of experience that could answer your questions about Duracool, etc. Also, you probably have a leak and would benefit from adding some dye to the line and looking with a UV light for the leak(s).
Yes! I've been a member of GMCMI since we got our coach almost 4 years ago! They are a great resource and I always do research on the forums and in the original manuals when I'm doing a project. However, some of the discussions ramble and there are lots of opinions so at some point I just make a decision and go for it and see what I learn. It's been a couple of weeks since I did the recharge and so far it's still working. I'll see how it does over the winter, if it leaks out again, I'll do some more troubleshooting.
Great to see a video from you with new updates on the motorhome. Glad you were able to get the ac operational and another added can tops the system off also hopeful the max air is also an easy fix. Look forward to your next video. 🟠
Thanks for the comment! There is a lot more on my "to do" list so there will be plenty more videos to come. :-)
Tough to tell. The adapters may just have been for convenience as the PO may have had a 134A manifold set. Duracool yes. They offer various flavors of refrigerant. Good to have environmental control in the fishbowl.
When my fan quit on max, the wire from the relay was burnt in half. I replaced it and the ground with a larger gauge wire per a Jim Bounds video. works great now,
You've helped me put on an air conditioner and soon this oil change. Thanks so much.
I'm glad they are helpful! Thanks for the encouragement :-)
Hello, I’m French, I Watch your vidéos a lot, they are superb. You made me want to buy a GMC. Is it for sale ?
Thanks for the comment! My motorhome is not for sale but there are always some available. There are a few in Europe but most people who want one of these in Europe, will find one they like in the US and have it shipped home.
These would be amazing with an electric conversion.
Just got this same one for free brand new crazy!
That is the best-looking motorhome ever made.
A sad commentary about road tripping in Alberta & BC lately is you have to go in late Spring before the wild fires start. Remember climate change is real
You're doing a great job with your coach! I appreciate you taking the time to document your projects, they've been very helpful. Thanks!
Thanks for the encouragement! I've learned a lot from the other resources that are available on these coaches so I hope I can add a little for someone else.
I like the 90° elbow and adapter plug you came up with.
It works great, I can't take full credit because the elbow came with the part I got from Amazon. ;-)
Nice to see a new video from you. Have enjoyed your recent videos. Definitely a great thing eliminating the stinky slinky for a more standard size hose and great there's an adapter to be able to have it hooked up to campsite sewer. I'm looking at the new nucamp tab 360 that is coming out in 2025. The toilet black tank is actually a 5 gallon cassette toilet. Definitely has some pros and cons but looking forward to checking out the new trailer in person. Thanks for sharing!! 🏞
Thanks for the encouragement! I don't know much about nuCamp but they look like very nice campers!
YOU NOT HAVE S BELTS
It is a labor of love, and crack, help us all.
Great video!
Hey, I just noticed, you don't have the blanket box as a head board. Did you remove the box, or did a PO remove that box? You're 6'2" and you fit. I'm 6"7" and I do NOT fit with the blanket box in place. I didn't notice, do you still have the foot 'box' in place over the genny? If you've a vid of how you removed the blanket box could you provide the link please. Also, the bench panels are obviously higher than what is now a platform where the blanket box was. How do you lift your pillows above the plane of the bench/mattress? Thanks.
Good eye on the missing box. A PO before the person we bought Edna from removed everything in the back. Our PO got new benches but no head or foot boxes. I have just made a simple flat shelf where the blanket box used to be to cover the LP line, furnace duct, and wiring. The shelf is at the same height as the folded down bench and a bit below the mattress we use. This gives about 9-10" extra space to the wall and we put some pillows there and have lots of room. I put a vertical board on the drivers side to take the place of the 'foot box'. At some point, I plan to build new boxes on both ends to make it look original and not have rough boards and exterior walls. If you decide to remove your boxes, I may be interested in them. ;-)
I want the one from stripes
Sorry to be off topic. I'm just getting iterested in GMC Motorhomes and have yet to be in one myself. In the meantime, would you mind sharing how tall you are for a headroom referecne? Really enjoying going through all the old content. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you are enjoying the content! I'm 6'2" and am generally okay on headroom, I usually duck under the AC unit but I think I have fraction of an inch of clearance.
@@MrGMCMotorhome Cool! Glad to know I'll have a couple more inches of clearance that what I see you've got.
Great video! Have you ever ridden this on snow? or on dirt roads?
Thanks! I haven't driven our coach in the snow but I've been on many gravel or dirt roads and it does fine. Washboard roads are a bit rough on the old girl though.
Im interested in purchasing one. Send me a msg.
Hey there! I posted this video a while back and they have all sold in the meantime. There are several facebook groups and website where people post GMC motorhomes for sales so there are quite a few available around the country at any given time.
I purchased all of the replacement ignition parts directly from Springfield, based upon your recommendation. Still waiting for the major repair from the 2020 vandalism and illegal sale of my coach. I recovered the GMC in January 2022.
I just love this!
Thanks for sorting this out!
My mom painted buses at GMC Truck and Coach. My brother and uncle ran presses in sheet metal there. I remember seeing the lot full of those at the plant as a kid.
Very cool! There are a lot of these still on the road. Thanks for the comment!
I think they are the best looking, and at the time, best engineered motorhome, ever! I am building a pickup camper from scratch, and I think that's easier than the complete overhaul somebody started on that 3rd one. If there was a modern engine/ trans. swap that would get better fuel economy, I would be tempted to get one.
Oh, money pit is almost guaranteed - it’s 50 years old! The plus side is that it drives like a slightly larger same year Oldsmobile Toronado. For the capable and experienced hobby mechanic and RVer it can be fun. The amazing thing is that five decades on so many people still love the GMC motor home.
3??? bloke got a problem. Hoarder tendencies
Have you seen the UA-cam channel Budget Builds? They are restoring a GMC motorhome. Here: www.youtube.com/@BudgetBuildz
I hadn't seen that one yet, looks like a cool project!
I like your style carrying survival tools with you. I have a 40 year old RV and do the same. What year and model is Edna? I live in Alberta and have driven that road from Banff to Creston. Very scenic parts of BC for sure.
Thanks for the comment! It's always good to be prepared so you can keep on the road and enjoy the trip :-) Edna is a 1977 GMC Kingsley.
My slip yoke was seized. I could not get it to break free.
Mine was a bit stiff but it freed up with some grease. I can imaging it could get rusty and seize up. I think there some companies that make a replacement steer shaft. I've seen it mentioned in the facebook groups but I don't recall the name.
Hmmmm.....If ever I thought how expensive life was and is, I'd never come out of the womb, or get anything done