Cruz'n
and a
gmc
The "Killer" GMC of all time is coming
We don't normally show projects in process here on the "gallery" page keeping more for finished coaches to show off new ideas--- but this one is special. This project will be one for the record books-- it's not like other stuff we build are special enough to stand out but this coach I feel will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the classic GMC.
We all agree that the GMC has the engineering, styling and performance unequalled even today and all of that but one of the main stumbling blocks in the refitting of this classic machine for use by the general public today is the drive train. Yes, the 455 and 403 power plants were perfect for this application back then but the advances in today's technology and simply the ravages of time have left a need for an option of incorporating an all new drive train to our classic body and my friends, this is what we will be doing.
This project will most certainly not be for
everyone and we are still fully committed to the original motor/ transmission
compliment but here we will be adapting an all new 6.6 Duramax turbo diesel
complete 
with it's 6 speed Allison 1000 series transmission
to the classic GMC body for a
truly road ready future rocket. This will remain a front wheel drive
system. It will also use the new complete GM wiring harness with the computer
and the whole 9 1/2 yards. The exciting part of this and the reason we
feel this is the way to go when repowering our coach, is this drive train can
truly be maintained and repaired by your local GM / Workhorse truck dealer. We feel
simply installing an all new gas motor is not enough and our approach will not
create a "morphodite" like other approaches at installing a different motor into
the GMC have proven to be. This is not a shade tree rig up, a forced
mating of 2 different pieces of equipment-- this is the whole frame, motor,
electrical system, transmission, drive axles, suspension, frame, fuel system and brakes-- everything!
There is more to the story as you will find out as we progress with this exciting project. I want to first thank the progressive thinking new owner of this coach who you will soon meet here soon for giving us this opportunity-- as well all of the GMC community should thank him for confidence in us and in our classic coach. A GMC for the future is what we hope to come out with.
Here is the man, Raymond Cruz standing here
with Janie on his last visit
,
a motion picture and TV actor currently working on "The Closer" TV series on
TNT, he loves unique vehicles. Look for a spread article on Raymond's
custom 1972 Moto-Guzzi in an upcoming "Low Rider" magazine issue. Not
happy with what everyone else calls "cool", Raymond has investigated all of the
ways to travel and has settled on having a GMC custom built. Very
demanding and not happy with the "status Quo", after much discussion on what is
possible
he has commissioned us to build his dream machine with this Duramax drive train.
He doesn't want much! Just the most awesome coach ever designed with the
most awesome drive train design to date all wrapped up in one package!
Thats all and I can't wait to get started. You gotta hang for this one.
The double slide project Leroy put me on was cool, "Bling-Bling" was a departure
on the norm and our projects of dual fuel and direct injecting the original 455
power plant are all worthy of the hassles to build but this one will be a
crowning achievement. Stay tuned and watch the future of our classic coach
begin.
Follow this ground breaking modification, when this critter is done, you will really see something special!
In the Beginning there was the GMC and there was the Workhorse and they
were 2 apart, click here to see what it was like
Before Chassis
Then we started to get serious Lets make something new, "Come Igor, bring
me the brain from "Abby Normal"... Take a look at putting the 2 pieces
together 2 are 1
So lets go inside Now it's together, we need things to work, we need the
2 to start acting as one. Go to
Let go in for
that.
For
those about to rock
We salute
you... Hey, the road machine of all time has to have tunes!
Here is
our direction on that stuff. Go to
For those about to
rock
WOW, what a good looking "skirt" Sorry, this is not what you think!
The project will now get a custom flare/ground effects treatment.
Go to Body Flares for that project.
Paint a tough one for a machine like this. it's old, it's new--
it's both so how do we play this? The paint is the first thing you see so
it's gotta be right! So let's see what happens here. Go to
Paint and hold on to your hat!
This is where we are now. Follow us as we create the "Go Fast" motorhome:
The big day is finally here!
Another phase comes to a close as another one
begins, "Elvis has interred the building", "the wild rabbit has checked his
watch" and "Hal has begun to dream"! The next generation of road warriors
has come home for it's interior--- take a look at the glorious arrival
With
one phone call to the tow company an hour later it arrived. I was taking
no chances of driving Raymond's coach not yet road ready. It came in on
the most protective manner we could arrange
On a huge commercial "landoll" flat bed tractor our baby came to us
With no more than 1 inch clearance on the sides, :Cruz'n" proved it was a
substancial object occupying space and time. It looked awesome up there on
that rig but it had to come down and I was the one who rode it back down to
terra firma. Taking it slow and easy we drove it back to the shop where
this monster was made, back for more, back to make it everything it could be-- I
guess you could say really back to the future we go with a classic giant on
steroids
Back into it's bay where the saga of the exterior finish began, we are soooo
happy to get Cruz'n back for it's interior at long last.
All the coaches were staring at the monster machine and the flat bed went on
duty to protect the bay door
It too is a special machine built from classic components that too one day will
shine but for now his job is to protect. And with that "Tranquility base
here, the eagle has landed" and now our work begins to build into Cruz'n an
interior that matches the impeccable quality and style of the exterior
finish Walter mated onto our dream machine-- thanks man, now it's our turn to
shine!
Oh look, Fed Ex is bringing us something
II wonder what we have? We have several interesting parts on order for
this project. Just one box, nothing looks outstanding here
right? Oh man, check it out, it's like Christmas!! Here is a very
important component in any motorhome, it's the generator
This is a very special for this very special coach. This is a super
compact commercial/marine application 5500 watt diesel generator using the
reliable Kubota motor.
.
Special in that it has a remote mounted radiator, yes it's water cooled, very
stable, compact and quiet!
So are you gonna stay tuned for more---- of course you are!
Stay tuned for more as we get into this exciting project.