Page 12 - GMC Vintage RVing - Winter 2018

sunshine reportDiane DuggerSpring Is On It’s Way!And speaking of Spring, the upcoming 2018 GMCMI Convention will be in Tucson, Arizona. This will be my first convention “out west” and I am really looking forward to it.At the Conventions Fred (my husband) and I set up a “Attendee Picture and Biography Bulletin Board” and we are expecting a great turn out. So, I have a favor to ask of those planning on attending Tucson.My favor: We would like to prepare the new and updated biographies before the Convention. When you receive confirmation of your Convention reservation, a biography form will be attached to the email. We ask that you fill it out and return it to me at [email protected] thank you for your assistance.———If you have any information regarding a member that would benefit from a card (illness, hospitalization, sympathy, etc) please contact me either, cell, text, email or snail mail.Cell: 620-802-1200Email: [email protected] Mail: 4510 Nickerson Blvd Hutchinson, KS 67502Diane DuggerGMCMI Sunshine Lady12 GMC VINTAGE RVING MAGAZINE | GGMCMH TidbitsCan’t Do It That Way AnymoreJim Bounds | 1975 Transmode | 407-857-5777 | Cooperative Motor Works | gmccoop.com“I'm as good once as I ever was” the song points out as we make it to our ripe ages. The same thing holds true with your vintage GMC. The problem is we need our beloved coach to give us the reliability and comfort we have gotten used to. This is where the title of this talk comes in. What is the half-life (useable-life) of an intake manifold being subjected to extreme heat cycles... bout now! How about one of those springs on that 40-year-old brake system that if it breaks you may not stop! What about one of those four sets of rear wheel bearings...how long can we expect them to roll along like they were designed to?Problem is a GMC Motorhome is too big to push and a tow bill may very well melt your wallet! There are so many well designed parts on your coach that have been inching toward the end of their envelope of their useful life...this is why we break down. When our coaches were pups, take it in for a once over at the shop, keep her filled with oil and your trip was largely assured. Kind of like purchasing a new car, driving a new car is pretty much about you, you, you and what that fancy new set of wheels can do for you. Driving a 40-year-old motorhome needs to be about more than you, it needs to be about you making sure your coach does the things you need it to do and have countermeasures, backups if you will, that can be used when something in your coach fails. A second way to put air into your rear suspension, a way to charge your engine battery when your alternator stops, countermeasures to battle vapor lock which we all know this Ethanol fuel causes in our coaches. These and more are things you need to update and protect your travels from. New brake hardware kits and adjusters when you have brake work done...for short money you can assure a 40-year-old spring will not put you in harm’sway. New rear wheel bearings...yes, the bearing is not blue or have pitted rollers but how old is it? If you do not know...install new ones. For $39 a wheel, it is cheap insurance.All of these things and more must be considered when driving an older coach, as we do. There is no precedent to follow on maintaining a vehicle this old to be actually used on the roads today. You must protect yourself...you have only yourself to blame if something wears out and puts you on the side of the road. So now that you have been warned, you can rely on being taken care of because now you know. You can thank me for that...so figure out what is too old on your coach mechanically and get rid of it...do yourself a huge favor.Quick and Easy Rain Protection for Master CylinderKen Henderson | 1976 Birchaven | Americus, GeorgiaCut from a gallon or 5 qt. oil jug, with “ears” to fit underthe cover hold-down bails on each side of the master cylinder. The hood will hold it firmlyin place.MCMI.COM