GMC MOTORHOMES

WHAT EVERY GMC OWNER SHOULD KNOW
(NEW AND OLD)

When all else fails
READ THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL


Many thanks to Len Mortimer for the cover art work & all those GMC Pacific Cruisers that reviewed this document prior to publication.

The contents of this document are based upon personal experience gained by "Hands-On" vehicle maintenance over many years. They are "One Man's" viewpoint & do not represent authorized data pertaining to the GMC Motorhome. It is the reader's responsibility to establish His/Her position associated with each subject matter before vehicle repair &/or modifications are accomplished.

COPYRIGHT 1998, 1999


DASH BOARD INSTRUMENTS
OEM

Engine water temperature gauge
- Normal temperature @ 1/4 mark
- Ready to blow (boil) @ 1/2 mark
- Don't let it get over 1/2 mark
- Turn on heater to get over grade

Oil pressure gauge
- Normal @ 1/2 or 5/8 mark when warm
- Will drop approx. 1/8 mark as oil heats

Generator lite
- Illuminates w/key on before start
- Illuminates when alternator fails
- Weak illumination under heavy charge w/o diode modification (early coaches)
- Max air operates blower directly from gen.

Fuel gauge
- 1/2 Tank @ 5/8 mark (level coach)
- Test fuel gauge & Low fuel lite
See Chuck Garton (760)375-5568 Ridgecrest, CA.

Fuel transfer switch
- Verify operation when low on fuel
- Click of xfer valve is indication of operation
- Replace old xfer valve with new 3 port solenoid valve (compatible w/today's fuel)
- Pollak p/n 42-103 (5/16")
- Standard p/n FV-1 (5/16")
- Ford Motor Co. p/n D5TZ-9189-B (3/8")
- GM Co. p/n XXXXXXXX -Made by Pollak (3/8")
Both tanks fill & Are consumed together
- Approx. 7 gal. in reserve (aux. Tank)


TELL-TALE LITE PANEL ETC.

Modify wiring so that "low air" indicator is illuminated when the air compressor is on (Requires ground connection thru air pressure switch)
(Note: "Low air" was replaced by "low water" in '76 +)

ADD-ON CONSIDERATIONS
- Dual air pressure meter ....Each air bag
- Red is port/left (driver side)
- Green is starboard/right (co-pilot side)
- Volt meter
- Monitor engine battery voltage
- Alternator lamp
- Lites when alternator is functioning
Carry & Use "Three lite type" AC Circuit tester to verify shore power polarity before use
- Also verify voltage level prior to use of micro wave or air conditioner (105 v. Min.)
Add thru refrigerator door seal type temperature gauge


DASH HEATER & AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL

 

GMC has "unique" control panel
- Vacuum select valve is unique wafer for vacuum control (don't loose wafer)

Replacement control panels are available
- Early 73-76: metal ........ 70/71 Buick junkyard
- Late 76-78: plastic ...... Mid 70-80 GM cars
- Retain oem wafer in replacement panels
- Replace fan switch (color code wire)
Repair control panel by cleaning / lubricating all moving parts
- Silicone grease into vacuum valves to seal
- Plastic panel: Replace broken plastic pins (center of valves)

Blower motor ('75 Eldorado blower)
- Replace only w/same size & rotation
- Late model coach active when ignition is on
-To disable, remove resistor unit connector & Bend front pin out of cable connector
- 73-74 Coaches: 30 amp in-line fuse near motor
-Replace with 30 amp auto circuit breaker
- Heater vacuum valve (in-line hose)
- Replace w/fresh unit: Shut off hot water during air conditioner operation (Valve is normal open type...Open flow without vacuum)

Separate hot from cold: Seal compartment doors- See Zay Brand (562) 598-5028 Seal Beach, CA

 


LIVING AREA GAUGES

GM configured coach: Malfunction causes
- Meter circuit board solder/etch ckt failure
- Solder to repair
- Wire breakage: Repair wire
- Sender unit failure: Repair or replace sender
(Note: Improved senders available at Cinnabar (800) 720-2227
- Loss of ground connection to propane tank
- Repair ground & Attach ground to sender area

Other coach configuration: Malfunction causes
- Lamp burned out: Replace lamp
- Lamp driver failure: Replace transistor
- Tank sender failure: Clean terminals
- Wiring failure: Repair wire
- Modification considerations
- Add lamp test circuit & Other improvements see Ed Burner (714) 871-2095 Fullerton, CA


ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COOLING

Fan clutch
- Replace with Hayden p/n 2797 (Lifetime warranty)
- Makes noise at morning start-up & with hot engine

Engine water thermostat: p/n 330-180 or 330-195
- Robertshaw co. best type @ 180f or 195f

Transmission cooler (Don't use plastic ties)
- Attach within 1" of radiator front w/o touching
- Double clamp transmission type hoses

Radiator cap
- OEM at 9 lbs release pressure (round shape)
- Hexagon shape cap at 7 lbs acceptable
- Don't use cap above 10 lbs or potential rad. Expansion

Transmission overflow vent (don't overfill)
- Add hoses to vent cap & Route to side of coach frame

Fan belts (aftermarket replacement: Goodyear Co.

  11 mm belts

 Alternator

 Pwr Str

 Air Cond

 455 ci

 15574

 15466

 15634/15621

 403 ci

 15574

 15466

 15606/???


LUBRICATION

Engine oil: Single weight for ambient temp.
- 30w for fresh engine
- 40w for tired/hi mileage engine

Chassis lubrication
- Use extreme pressure (ep) chassis grease
- Synthetic grease best (Mobil 1, Amsoil, etc.)
- 13 grease zerks for front end
- Unload by raising coach off ground
- 4 grease zerks for rear end
- Unload by blocking bogies/deflating bags
- Move tire up & down while greasing
- Grease must exit at front and rear of pins

Wheel bearing lubricant
-Use ep synthetic wheel bearing grease (Mobil 1, Amsoil, Neo Oil, etc.)

Final drive (rear end/differential lubrication
- Use EP synthetic oil at 80-90w (Mobil 1, etc.)

Transmission lubricant
- Use Dextron II or III

Maintenance schedule
- Engine oil and filter at 3000 mile intervals
- Chassis lube Front and rear at 3000 mile intervals
- Add grease to bogies reservoirs @ 1k mile
- Final drive oil @ 12.5k mile intervals
- Wipe clean with rag & New 2 piece gasket
- Front & Rear wheel bear @ 25k mile intervals
- Transmission oil & Filter @ 12.5k mile intervals


BRAKES

Oem front wheel calipers w/carbon metallic pads
- Performance friction co. P/N 0524 (800) 521-8874

Oem rear wheel shoes w/asbestos lining
- GM p/n 1# 8020290/Delco peg 171-500 (2 sets)

Rear wheel cylinders
- Middle axle @ 1 1/16" Diameter (Wagner #F79767)
- Rear axle @ 15/16" Diameter oem (Wagner #f51081)

Rear wheel spring set @ all wheels
- Clean & Lube or Replace adjuster parts

Front brake hoses
- Replace before internal failure (check valve)

Combination valve
- Replace w/brass valve before failure
- GM #25509419/delco p/n 172-1350 (different electrical connector)

Master cylinder replacement: Wagner #f79821

Brake vacuum booster
- Replace w/handicap/sensitized unit
- Bob lamey (909) 982-7747 Ontario, CA.
Add "Brake guard"
- Equalizing units/shorter stopping distance
- DUANE SIMMONS ORANGE, CA.

Add brake vacuum reserve tank or brake elect. Vacuum pump (not both)
- Duane Edwards Castro Valley, CA.

Brake fluid
- Dot 3 high temp. (550 F) Ford Motor Co. or DOT 4
- Flush/change @ 2-3 yr. Intervals

Brake adjustment (rear only)
- 1K Miles after brake job & 5k mile intervals


FUEL SYSTEM

Delco fuel pump is best P/N 14566

Replace old fuel hoses w/quality hose only
- About 50 ft of 3/8" hose required
- About 25 ft of 1/4' hose required
- About 4 ft of 1/2" hose required

Drop fuel tanks (both)
- Remove or replace "socks" from pick-up tube & Bend tube to bottom of tanks
- Replace sender "o-rings" (special tool req'd)
- Place hose clamp screw mechanism on hose side (eliminate interference w/floor)
- Bond hoses into tank's hose track so they can not bounce out & be crushed against floor
- Route vent hoses (2) up against floor & join together (tee) near fill tube w/o low spots
- Replace 1/4" hose in Onan gen. Compartment

GMC motorhome carburator only: by part number

Remove & clean "vapor/liquid separator" (rear driver side WHEEL WELL) W/CARBURETOR CLEANER
-Repair leaks w/fuel epoxy putty

Fuel line: fuel pump to carburetor
- Metal tube only (fire hazard)

Electric fuel pump addition
- Install in aux tank fuel hose before fuel transfer valve (not in normal fuel path)
- or Install in main fuel line between transfer valve & engine w/check valve bypass
- Wire to transfer valve for operation in aux mode
- Check-valve path around pump in main fuel hose

Fuel filter
- Oem filter is in carburetor
- Add aftermarket in-line filter before mechanical fuel pump (change frequently)


ONAN GENERATOR

Use synthetic oil (4 QTS @ 15-$0 w)
- Mobil i, amsoil, neo oil, etc.
- 1 Qt low should shut down engine via "low oil pressure" (lop) circuit protection

Test "lop" circuit by jumping pin 12 to pin I on circuit board (engine stop with 3-4 sec delay)

Remote control cable connector j-1 (rear of comp.)
- Disconnect & Clean connector pins yearly
- Replace w/flat trailer connector or hardwire

Main cable connector j-2 @ 12 pins
- Disconnect & clean pins every year
- 2-26 Cleaner @ home depot's electric dept.
- Reshape female sockets to orig. Round size
- Eliminate connector: hardwire w/crimp type

BRIDGE RECTIFIER: AFTER MARKET - NTE#5328
-Adapter to fit - drill 1/4" holes for wire terminals

Onan voltage regulator
- Eliminate when faulty (tape up wires)
- Not reqd for coach w/common house battery

After market washable/hi flow air filter
- K&N Company: direct buy (800) 851-5334
- P/N R-1030 W/modification (cut off top rubber)

Strengthen with h duty steel starter bracket $30
- Ragusa pattern shop (949) 261-5898 Santa Ana, CA

Oem control board repair
- After market boards create problems for onan service/repair: cost effective to repair
- Technical assistance & oem board repair


AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Replace old air bags which have enlarged diameter or badly cracked sidewalls
- Oem available: leak test upon receipt (40 PSI)
Rewire compressor power for "stiff" + & - power
- Early power level system reqd relay (30 amp)
- Electro level I & ii reqd rewire only

Rebuild "tired" compressor w/new heads, pistons, etc: see John Clement (909) 737-0969 Corona, CA.

Verify brass air line fittings for all connection
- Replace plastic air fittings 75-78 coaches

Eliminate air leaks & USE "Travel/Auto" Mode
- Provides automatic leveling feature with coach load changes

Replace oem air pressure switch w/after market
- Furnas CO. P/N 69MB7 (95 - 125 psi) or Equivalent

Rotate "Hot dog" Air bags 180 deg.

Back flush by releasing bag air into open tank


PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS

Exhaust system
- Headers: - Calif HI-Performance Warehouse, Riverside 800-350-7110
- 1nstall headers & Have muffler shop 1nstall mufflers & tail pipe
-Fel-pro performance gasket set on headers
- Turbo mufflers (2): Napa Auto Supply, etc
- 2 1/2" In & 2 1/2" Out: Walker P/N 17733 or 17748
- 3" Tail pipe from "Y" To rear
- Remove oem 2 1/2" Tail pipe W/3" Collar

Ignition system
- Metallic conductor ignition wires to replace oem carbon impregnated wires
- Rebuild tired distributor w/new vacuum & mechanical curves: Bob Lamey (909) 982-7747 Calif
- Replace early coach (73-75) point type distributor w/high energy ignition (hei) oem type used on 75-78 coaches (car distributors are not usable w/o curve modifications)


GMC MOTORHOME TIRES

Personal choice:

All steel tires only w/steel sidewalls
- Size: 8:75R16.5 or 225R75-16 (Same diameter tires)
- Michelin: xps rib series - all steel
- Bridgestone: v steel rvi87 - all steel
- Goodyear: unisteel g 159 - all steel
- LOAD Range: "d" or "E' 5 year life

Tire air pressure
- Mfg air pressure load table per measured load
- Approx 5-6% reduction of max rated load per 5 psi underinflation

Maintain level coach for even weight dist.
- Travel w/air suspension sys in travel/auto

Radial rated wheels only for radial tires
Alcoa wheel recall: toll free 888-279-3055
- Date stamp 9/93 - 6/96 Inside surface Opposite Valve Stem


MISCELLANEOUS MECHANICAL

Replace engine timing chain/gears @ 100k miles
Replace black oem oil filler "l" boot w/silicone
  - See De Davis: (714) 871-3618 Fullerton, CA

Alternate front wheel alignment (improved steer)
    OEM   ALT
 -CAMBER-RH    0 deg    0 deg
 -CAMBER-LH  +3/4 deg  -1/2 deg
 -CASTER  +2 deg  -1.5 deg
 -TOE   0"   1/8' out


Rear axle (only) anti-sway bar set
-Cinnabar (pair) (800) 720-cbar (share a pair)

Radiator repair: 4 row core w/14 fins/inch

Verify transmission governor valve opening
- Entry & exit opening @ 0.020" minimum

Spark plugs (455/403 hei: ac r46sz (0.060" gap)

Verify front floor-to-body mount support for cracks
-mid 76+ W/stamped aluminum support


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Lower radiator protection
- Protect lower radiator from hwy debris
- 1/4" Hardware cloth minimum around lower radiator section
- Maximum protection w/steel frame & expanded metal

Steering gear box adjustment: most out of adjustment
- Maintenance manual procedure w/o removal from coach ( 2 adjustments required)

How many batteries ????
- One engine batt. W/high cranking current cap.
- One house batt. W/high reserve cap. -golf cart
-2 ea. 6 volt in series (connect + to - terminal)
- Add ground wire: engine batt to chassis/block

Shock absorbers: gas shocks only - stable ride
- Best all around is kyb company (approx. $35 ea)
- Front kg5435 (2 ea) lifetime warranty
- Rear kg5436 (4 ea)

Wheel lug nut torque
- Use torque wrench @ 130-150 fi-lbs in sequence
- Not maint. Manual value (250 ft-lbs): studs will stretch & break
- Radial wheels only w/radial tires

Rear axle nut torque: finger tight only !!!!!

Ground fault interrupt (gfi) problems
- Ac circuit of coach must have the chassis (green wire) isolated from the pwr neutral (white wire) to be compatible w/gfi shore pwr (Note: ONAN generator ties Chassis & Neutral together for proper Onan operation.)

Engine oil cooler hoses
- Oem hose @ 13/32" id-aeroquip co. 1503-8 (sae 100r5)
- Oem fittings are reusable w/o special tools
- Remove center (5/8" wrench) & unscrew hose w/left-hand thread
- Reverse procedure to install hose

Vermin "be gone": camphor gum bars in coach (3-4)
- Purchase @ local pharmacy: Humco (Texarkana,TX)
- May be special order

Gas refrigerator
- Annual clean: blow out burner, orifice & chimney
- Sand/polish thermocouple tube (part in flame)
- Verify recall on some norcold eyebrow model
- Fire Hazard: (800) 543-1219 Norcold CO.

Custom after market rear ladder $240
- Ragusa pattern shop; (949) 261-5898 Santa Ana, Ca
- Also other custom gmc aluminum products

Engine compartment "gill/vents": reduce heat

Oem publications: Cinnabar (800)720-cbar Sanduscy, Mi
- Operators, maintenance, parts book, etc.

Air bag protectors: aluminum or stainless steel

shore power cable: type "so" or "sow"
- Replace w/3 wire/10 awg flexible cable @ 30 amp

Oem gmc hot water heater (elect. W/preheat tubes)
- Replace w/ stainless steel tank: Jim Demaere (403) 329-3091

Lpg regulator: Marshall Co - type 290 or 294 (2 stage)

Replace oem rear suspension pins & bushings '73 & '74
- 1 1/4" Steel pins & brass bushings

Rattling/clicking noise of steering shaft
- Replace steering column lower bearing assy


GM OEM COACH MACERATOR SYSTEM

 Parts list
     
 Macerator pump,  Model 18590-0010  JABSCO  1 ea.

 $165.00

 3" Gate valve T-1003vp  Valterra  1 ea.

 13.00

 3" Male adapter T-1005  Valterra  1 ea.

 3.00

 3" Female adapter T-  Valterra  1 ea.

 3.00

3" x 1 1/2" Eccentric  1041-1  1 ea.

 4.00

 1 1/2" Coupling (slip to thread) 5803-2  Home Depot 1ea.

 1.00

 Rubber 3" Tee PQT-300  Auto Part  l ea.

 8.00

 1" Washer hose dishwasher  Ace Hdw.  16 ft.

 20.00

 20 amp. Ckt Bkr ???????  Auto Part  1 ea.

 5.00

 20 amp. Switch toggle (on/off)  Auto Part  1 ea.

 5.00

 10 Awg Wire ??????? Auto Part  1 ea.

 5.00

 Bracket, Mounting Custom  Miscel.   1 ea.

----

 Clamps  Miscel.  as reqd.

----

 Pull handle rod 1/4" ROD  MISCEL.  2 ft.

 3.00

 1/4" TO 1/4" Coupler  Ace Hwd.  1 ea.

1.00

 Stow tube 1 1/2" PVC  Home Depot  10 ft.

 1.00

Total material estimate    

240.00