Cruz'n
A project mating an awesome chassis to and awesome classic motorhome to produce a super awesome road machine
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:
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!
----------------------------------------------------------
Have been updating progress on this project
on my "Daily Pose" page for folks to follow, I'll start throwing it all here for
you guys too. We're on the "big push" trying to make delivery in time for
the season so things are moving fast and furious. This weekend was a good
one-- wish I could strig "7 days of Saturdays in a row, man could I get
something done! It just does not work that way, good thing we have 5 days
to get over the weekend's work. Yesterday was a matter of figuring out
weird angles and covering techniques with the new material. The floorplan
of the slide out closet, galley configuration and hallway was set in many months
ago actually before I knew what we would be using to finish off the surface.
Now, with the sculpted microfiber it was a matter of seeing what the stuff would
do. So the Frig cabinet with the recessed overhead systems panel worked
out well
.
Next I moved over across the hall to the bath side of the hall and the slide out
closet. Till this point, that side of the hall had pretty much the
expected lay out, now we were in new ground and also ne ground is finishing
techniques. Here is the closet closed up covered
and here is looking at it from the forward side
The business side of the closet is facing back toward the bedroom and will be
finished off in aromatic cedar vineer. The galley in now ready for the
copper sheet for the galley side, back and counter top. We'll also do a
smattering of the copper in the bathroom as well.
At first I was concerned that the interior would come off as too dark but the
reflective quality of the Copper Kettle micro-fiber picks up any light and seems
to amplify it, does not look like we will need the miners hats as I was
concerned about-- good choice LM!
BTW, I told the folks over on the Daily Pose but I need to expose a really exciting part of this project that Raymond has arranged. At some point we have to take an interior design to the next level and involve a decorator. I mean chrome and black for us motorheads only goes so far so Raymond understanding this has brought in LM Pagano Designs of Hollywood & New York to lend her critical eye to this pile. She is well known in her field working with super yacht design as well as other unique design conditions. She has brought a fresh look and feel to the Duramax project & I want to thank her for the unique materials and look that will be the best of the best.
As an example, I had not thought in the direction but bringing the abbreviated galley into a copper look is definitely new and exciting. Now we just have to figure it all out. So watching how this plays out should be a serious exercise in seeing cutting edge stuff-- stay tuned.
We're hot on the interior now, doing one "impossible" project after another. You can see some of our latest work on our "daily Pose" page. Go there for now and see our latest Daily Pose
In the process of updating this page, stay tuned!!!
So are you gonna stay tuned for more---- of course you are!
Stay tuned for more as we get into this exciting project.