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Safety First!
The side marker lights, clearance lights, tail lights, dome
lights, park lights, license light and dash lights are on the
same fuse (Tail Dome) in the glove compartment fuse panel.
If you are is driving along at night and the dash lights
go out because the (Tail Dome) fuse blows, the only lights still
functioning on the outside of the coach will be the headlights.
You can depress the brake pedal slightly to turn on the brake
lights (Or turn on the emergency flashers) and get off the road
a quickly as possible to analyze and correct the problem.
There are two fuses involved;
1) One four amp fuse labeled "Instrument Lamps" (The
smallest fuse in the fuse panel)
2) One twenty amp fuse labeled "Tail Dome"
If the Instrument Lamps fuse has blown, you will still have
outside lights and the coach can be operated safely at night.
This can be verified by observing that the outside lights are
still on.
If the (Tail Dome) fuse has blown, the cause must be found
and corrected before operating the coach at night. One cause might
be a towed car's outside lights connected to the motorhome's tail
lights and overloading the circuit,
A Switch Panel
If you would like to make a switch .panel that is handy to
the driver and long enough for maybe 8 switches, here are some
relatively simple directions. Best of all; no permanent alterations
are done to the coach.
From the hardware store purchase a four foot length of 3/4
inch square stock (16 gauge).
With a band saw, cut to length (about 1.5 inches per switch;
I inch from each end). Again using the hand saw. cut one side
off leaving a "U" channel. Drill 1 / 4 inch holes for
the switches; attach the wires to the switches (About 1 foot long
pigtails) and mount the switches in the drilled holes.
This panel will press fit into the groove between the plastic
and the metal next to the sliding glass window beside the drivers
seat. The plastic can be pushed in enough to feed the wires through
to the space accessed by removing the "Pouch" beside
the drivers seat.
Corrections
There are a few corrections to the Tech enter No. 19 (October,
1997, Page 2) article "Notes from Darrel Winterfeldt's Engine
Seminar", as follows:
Correction 1) When replacing the oil line, the fittings from
the old hoses are reusable. Each fitting is a two piece unit that
has a "Nut" that fits over the hose (Right hand thread)
and a fitting that screws inside of the hose (Left hand thread).
Correction 2) Up to a 1/4 INCH turn on the crankshaft pulley
without any resultant movement of the distributor rotor is permissible.
Any more is too much. The "Inch" was left out in the
article.
Correction 3) Chuck Gorton's area code has changed. It is
now 760. As in (760) 375-5568.
Oil Pan Modification
A good time to modify the oil pan is during an engine rebuild.
The original design of the oil pan provided no way to drain the
oil in the sump forward of the drive axle. While the oil pan is
off of the engine have an oil drain installed. The deepest area
is under a main bearing cap. The drain must be located under the
cap because the connecting rod caps just clear the oil pan during
engine operation.
When the Cadillac Eldorado was designed for 1967 a drain was
provided for the forward sump. Too bad the Toronado never was!
EMERGENCY REPAIR PARTS
With the onset of winter, this is a good time to take stock of your supply of repair parts that you might want to keep in your coach. Even if you don't do your own work an emergency supply of some parts may get you back on the road faster since the service tech doesn't have to chase parts nor wait for them to be shipped in. As we pass through the late "90s, many of the GM standard parts of the past 20 years are dropping off the parts house A and B lists, meaning the may not be as available as they once were. The following have been gleaned from previous tech centers and other sources. This list is not intended as a compilation of parts needed to make you independent of the parts house but rather to keep you going. A particular thanks to Bob Desaussure who complied a very complete list back in March, 1994.
IGNITION
While these parts are readily available spares can be installed
on the road, avoiding a tow.
73-74 points: GM 23338659
Delco D106P
condenser: GM 1236665
Delco D204
cap: GM 12336667
Delco D306R
rotor: GM 1233867
Delco D426R
coil: GM 12337166
Delco U505
75-78 module: GM1875990
Delco D 1906
cap: GM 1974408
Delco D336
coil: GM 1985474
Delco D531
cap: GM 1974408
Delco 531
rotor: GM 10498150
Delco D446
FUEL SYSTEM
engine fuel pump: GM 47142Delco GF441
AC GF61P (larger)
carburetor fuel filter: Delco GF441 (Spare inline filter
if you are running one)
Several feet of current stock rubber 3/8" fuel line that
is compatible with reformulated gas. Gas line clamps and hose
to hose barbed 3/8" connectors or metal tubing to splice
hose in.
ELECTRICAL
Starter Repair kit Blue Chip#627401
Alternator repair kit for your size alternator.
Available from many sources assorted fuses SAE 5-30 amps.
COOLING SYSTEM
upper radiator hose: GM689921
lower radiator hose: GM689922
Flexible hoses can be obtained at any part store, but these are
recommended only for emergency use and should be replaced with
the correct molded ones since the flex hoses place a side load
on the radiator fittings.
fan and power steering belt: Goodyear 15466
air cond. 455: Goodyear 15634
air cond 403: Goodyear 15606
alternator: Goodyear 15574
Equivalent size belts are readily available but most are notched
belts and seem to stretch causing annoying slippage and require
frequent re-tightening.
water pump: GM12337519
Delco 251-321
Most rebuilds won't have the 4" cast iron impeller and
therefore will not have the output needed for cool running. If
one is replaced on the road it means double labor to replace with
the high out put unit.
BRAKES
front flex brake line: GM9758214
rear flex brake line: GM9757643
WHEEL BEARINGS
Some owners carry a spare set of wheel bearings. This can
save shipping time for an on the road failure but helps only if
you find a shop with the needed bearing puller.
AIR BAGS
The primary recommendation is to carry a 3/4"x17"
threaded rod with four nuts to use as a temporary replacement.
A spare air bag can be carried but check it for leakage. Include
some 1/4" plastic air line and Parker fittings or road splices
available from truck parts and repair houses.
The preceding is only a suggested list, and always double
check part numbers. The following is a list of parts suppliers
and repair shops around the Western States.
PARTS
CASPRO COMPANY
Novelty, OH (216) 423-0809 -Aftermarket suspension and steering
upgrades. Some engine and exterior accessories.
CINNABAR ENGINEERING INC. Sandusky, MI - (800) 720-2227 (parts) {415) 948-8664 {technical support) - GM factory licensed parts and accessories. email:gmcmh@aol.com
CUSTOM INSTRUMENTATION PANELS Carson, CA- (800) GMC-PNEL- Custom replacement dash panels w/instruments.
GATEWAY GMC RV CO.
Saint Louis, MI (800) 654-0374 -
Aftermarket parts and accessories.
Website
GMC IMPROVEMENTS
Frank Sullivan - Sierra Madre, CA
(818) 355-7753
Digi Panels & Doug Thorley Headers
GOLBY MOTOR CORP.
Orlando, FL {407) 859-9000 - Complete selection of original and
aftermarket parts and accessories.
KEN THOMA'S PARTS/SERVICE
Fredericksburg, TX - {210) 997-3690
Front wheel bearings and hubs.
RAGUSA PATTERN SHOP, INC.
Santa Ana, CA- (714) 261-5898
Many cast aluminum accessories and enhancements.
SOUTHLAND ENTERPRISES
Buford, GA- (414) 271-7502
Trailer hitches and other accessories.
STYLE-LINE
by Sy Gregorich E1 Cajon, CA {619) 442-9100 Interior & exterior
renovating supplies.
WINTERFELDT'S
Longmont, CO - (303) 530-4995
Complete custom engine building and
installation.
LICENSED BY GENERAL MOTORS
CINNABAR ENGINEERING INC.
Sandusky, MI (810) 648-2444 (service)
(415) 948-8664 {technical support}
emaih gmcmh@aol.com
OTHER SERVICE FACILITIES
BAXTER'S AUTO SERVICE
Genesee, PA
(814) 228-3338
BEST WEST RV
Glendale (Phoenix), AZ
(602) 934-5295
BUSKIRK ENTERPRISES
Sandusky, MI
(810) 648-3963
DeMONTROND AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Houston, TX
(713) 872-7200
FRY'S MOTORHOME SERVICE
Beaver Creek, OR
(503) 632-6953
GEORGE DIMICK
(Front wheel bearings)
Coronado, CA
(619) 435-3300
GMC RV CENTER COMPANY
City of Industry, CA
(818) 961-0790
GOLBY MOTOR CORP.
Orlando, FL
(407) 859-9000
Complete service, body shop and restoration facility
KEN FREY'S AUTO REPAIR Quakertown, PA
(215) 536-1246
LAMEY ENTERPRISES
Ontario, CA
(909) 983-7872
(909) 982-7747
NOR-CAL
San Rafael, CA
(415) 456-1904
ONAN CONTROL BOARD REPAIR Duane Simmons
(714) 633-4731
OSBURN'S RV SERVICE
Albuquerque, NM
{505) 821-0543
T.C. CUSTOM CAMPER
West Pittsburg, CA
(510) 458-5800
WOOLVERTON OLDSMOBILE-GMC
Jacksonville, FL
(904) 381-6209
WISHING YOU SAFE AND HAPPY TRAVELS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
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