As they say, "Two is one, and one is none"...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-gmc-26-palm-beach-motorhome/
STOP IT!!!!
My 1978 GMC motorhome
- Thread starter Mike_H
- Start date
STOP IT!!!!
Now that I've lined you up with a support group for your shock-rebuilding affliction, here's a test. Like setting a shot in front of an alcoholic...
When
When i worked in a body shop my boss cussed whenever we talked about those huge emblems. Apparently they were expensive and a real pain to get lined up on the hood correctly
When i worked in a body shop my boss cussed whenever we talked about those huge emblems. Apparently they were expensive and a real pain to get lined up on the hood correctly
Yep, they can be a bitch. I've helped do a few of the big T/A birds. You basically have to float them on a layer of soap, then squeeze that out. Vertical surface decals are a little harder for that reason.
Now that I've lined you up with a support group for your shock-rebuilding affliction, here's a test. Like setting a shot in front of an alcoholic...
If I had more property and place to store them, there have been a couple come across as an "opportunity" to pick up, either because they had good parts in them or because they wouldn't take much to make run and drive, then to flip. Alas, I live in town with a 1/4 acre lot and no place for extra vehicles.
Probably a good thing...though when I retire to my 80 acres in the Upper Pennisula...Watch out!
Man, everyone is just full of good ideas today!
Been working on the dash cover and its almost done. Gotta finish gluing to the bezel. Going through the rest of my parts to finish the dash resto-mod, I noticed that one of my HVAC vent deflectors was broken...The adjustment flap was moving around vs moving all the parts and one of the pins that hold the whole deflector assembly was broken off. I modeled it up and printed them out.
After LOTS of trial and error, I just couldn't get the vent assembly back together. Not sure how it was done at the factory but I couldn't get things stable enough to reassemble.
So, because you can make things with a 3d Printer that you can't do with some other methods...I made an assembly that captures the little bar that pivots the deflector flaps (that was the issue trying to reassemble) and printed it out.
Circled is the "plug" to capture the link bar.
And the assembly
Giving enough clearance (I think I did 0.010 on the diameters) I printed the whole thing and once it was done, the link bar is now captured on the deflectors and it pivots perfectly. I don't currently have any pictures...Have to grab one later.
After LOTS of trial and error, I just couldn't get the vent assembly back together. Not sure how it was done at the factory but I couldn't get things stable enough to reassemble.
So, because you can make things with a 3d Printer that you can't do with some other methods...I made an assembly that captures the little bar that pivots the deflector flaps (that was the issue trying to reassemble) and printed it out.
Circled is the "plug" to capture the link bar.
And the assembly
Giving enough clearance (I think I did 0.010 on the diameters) I printed the whole thing and once it was done, the link bar is now captured on the deflectors and it pivots perfectly. I don't currently have any pictures...Have to grab one later.
Stuff like that is exciting to me for the classic and specialty vehicle world. Not long ago with something like that, especially old plastic, we either had to pay big money for new if it was being made, bigger money for NOS if it wasn't being made, buy used and hope or just be SOL. I've been asking around about reproducing old taillight lenses for a particular car of mine, and I think we getting there.
You're just teasing us without pictures of your finished product.
More Progress
I hauled all the dash IP stuff back to the motorhome yesterday. Feels like its been FOREVER since I've worked on it in the motorhome.
Getting the dash mounted...Had to adjust and drill a couple new holes, since I replaced the steel IP. Couldn't help myself, had to put the gages in and make sure the steering wheel was going to work.
Haven't posted it before, but I got the padded bezel covered too. I'm not even an amateur upholstery guy at best, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Sewing that was a whole ordeal...requiring me to tear the bottom end of the sewing machine apart, clean, and retime it. But, it works WAY better now. Gave me the confidence to try a top stitch. Its actually pretty straight, but the seam wandered on me a bit when I glued the fabric down. Like I said, less than amateur.
I have LOTS of wiring to do in the next couple days. My goal is to get this thing installed this week. We'll see how much time I get to work on it. December is always a busy month.
Oh, and just for @BlueC
This is the factory vent. Two pics to show range of motion on the adjuster.
This is the one I made. The chrome is still the factory part, but all the "guts" are new. The biggest issue with it comes down to range of motion. It will physically go the same distance, but not with the adjuster. I played around with it last night and got it better, but its still not perfect. Good enough for me, but its not something I would want to market or anything. I took apart the factory one and don't see any major design differences, so I'm thinking its just the way the print came out. I could probably do something in my print settings to make it better, but like I said, it works well enough for me. I'm not going down that particular rabbit hole!
I hauled all the dash IP stuff back to the motorhome yesterday. Feels like its been FOREVER since I've worked on it in the motorhome.
Getting the dash mounted...Had to adjust and drill a couple new holes, since I replaced the steel IP. Couldn't help myself, had to put the gages in and make sure the steering wheel was going to work.
Haven't posted it before, but I got the padded bezel covered too. I'm not even an amateur upholstery guy at best, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Sewing that was a whole ordeal...requiring me to tear the bottom end of the sewing machine apart, clean, and retime it. But, it works WAY better now. Gave me the confidence to try a top stitch. Its actually pretty straight, but the seam wandered on me a bit when I glued the fabric down. Like I said, less than amateur.
I have LOTS of wiring to do in the next couple days. My goal is to get this thing installed this week. We'll see how much time I get to work on it. December is always a busy month.
Oh, and just for @BlueC
This is the factory vent. Two pics to show range of motion on the adjuster.
This is the one I made. The chrome is still the factory part, but all the "guts" are new. The biggest issue with it comes down to range of motion. It will physically go the same distance, but not with the adjuster. I played around with it last night and got it better, but its still not perfect. Good enough for me, but its not something I would want to market or anything. I took apart the factory one and don't see any major design differences, so I'm thinking its just the way the print came out. I could probably do something in my print settings to make it better, but like I said, it works well enough for me. I'm not going down that particular rabbit hole!
Hasn't been much lately worthy to post. Just working on wiring, and that's boring, even for the guy doing it. I am to the troubleshooting stage though, and I'm happy to report, I haven't let any of the magic smoke out yet! Most everything works...I had to open the fuse panel back up and re-route a couple terminals...but that is honestly to be expected as much of this thing I re-wired. I can turn it over, the headlights and taillights work. Dash lights come on, Radio works, blower works, Fuel switch works (and fires the solenoid).
The last big piece I have is my Turn Signal/Hazard/Brake circuit. None of them work, and they are blowing fuses. I haven't had the inclination lately to work on it...if ya'll haven't been paying attention, The midwest is kind of in the middle of a disgusting pattern of terrible cold temps, snow 24/7, and wind strong enough to blow you over. It sucks to leave the house. When I am in the mood, the turn signals have been on my mind, but I still need to test Mirrors again, make sure I have power back at the compressor, and then the little niggling telltales. Those are LED, so not only do I have the issue of, "Is it wired correctly?" I have the, "is the polarity correct?" problem. I just need to take the time to hit those with a test signal though and make sure when I give it 12 V on the signal wire, the light comes on.
Troubleshooting this stuff is one of those things you gotta be in the mood for too. I'm excited to have it this close but I don't want to rush through and miss something. So, I take my time and step away when I get irritated or bored.
I was pretty excited to see this happen when I shifted the transmission into reverse though...This is going to be a REALLY nice feature going forward. Needs a little aiming (since its mounted high up), but honestly, if that is the final position, that should work too. You can't see the bumper, but the ladder in the foreground on the RH red line is the Ladder to get on the roof, so its close.
The last big piece I have is my Turn Signal/Hazard/Brake circuit. None of them work, and they are blowing fuses. I haven't had the inclination lately to work on it...if ya'll haven't been paying attention, The midwest is kind of in the middle of a disgusting pattern of terrible cold temps, snow 24/7, and wind strong enough to blow you over. It sucks to leave the house. When I am in the mood, the turn signals have been on my mind, but I still need to test Mirrors again, make sure I have power back at the compressor, and then the little niggling telltales. Those are LED, so not only do I have the issue of, "Is it wired correctly?" I have the, "is the polarity correct?" problem. I just need to take the time to hit those with a test signal though and make sure when I give it 12 V on the signal wire, the light comes on.
Troubleshooting this stuff is one of those things you gotta be in the mood for too. I'm excited to have it this close but I don't want to rush through and miss something. So, I take my time and step away when I get irritated or bored.
I was pretty excited to see this happen when I shifted the transmission into reverse though...This is going to be a REALLY nice feature going forward. Needs a little aiming (since its mounted high up), but honestly, if that is the final position, that should work too. You can't see the bumper, but the ladder in the foreground on the RH red line is the Ladder to get on the roof, so its close.