GMC Motorhome: Another classic on Ruby

I say “classic” because there are so many coaches with this affliction, Id like to show you where it came from.  Ruby I think will again be a prototype coach, we need to get rid of this inherent problem.

OK, remember yesterday when I showed the rust that was caused by a water leak into the horn button on the steering wheel    So what causes this?  With Ruby’s windshield out it’s easy to show you.  On the upper windshield gasket lip on the body, there is a body overlap seam…one over the steering wheel and one over the lap of the passenger seat…here it is  Printed standard installation SOP is to install the gasket to body dry (with no sealant).  Doing this, this overlak causes a path for a water leak.   As you can see, this windshield gasket was installed “dry”….and it leaked.  Trying to remove the steering wheel we found a serious issue… the tilt mechanism is loose, the turn sihnal assembly is loose and rust pouring out.  The steering shaft under the front hood minimum needs rebuilding  The lower mast bearing is loose, pulling the steering shaft you can see the blue slipshaft is damaged and jammed up    This steering shaft assembly is the weakest and rarest component part of the steering linkage    While pulling this assembly out, each time I would hit the shaft to pull it off it’s spline mount rust was pouring on my hand from instide the steering column….not a good sign.  I had to…I pulled the entire steering column from Ruby…we havta know!    Yep, the steering column is rusted top to bottom!  One good thing about this, with the steering column out, I can mock the dash together to show what we have  The dash panels will come out as the double DIN radio and other things go in……but this is what she looks like   The Dash AC and vents are in but with the steering column taken out of the harness nothing will work until this column gets replaced.

Ahhhhh…lets think about this a minute…..I could strip out another column from out donar stable but again lets look at this…the original steering shaft is a bad design and the weakest link in the steering.  Ignition switch, neutral safety switch, key and lock assembly, the rusted horn circuit, turn signal and flasher assemblies are dropping like flies.

One neat thing about getting allies in the OE industry.  Not prepackaged retail products, OE stuff isn’t a product with marketing literature, packaging and advertising.  The small production OE industry has many things we can use…like the dash AC/heat/defrost assembly…… Cedric, Ruby will again be a prototype coach, already made some calls for an all new steering cluminum and steering shaft assembly.  This will solve many weak point and upgrade a unique part that I only know of 3 new steering shafts…anywhere!  Eventually, these parts cannot be rebuilt    and lets not even talk about the damaged blue slipshaft section    There are some trying to replace this slip material…..any looseness in this slip shaft and steering is back and forth.  All this needs to be visited……stay tuned, Ruby will bring us to a new assembly……….  Now we move on to Texas Tux and it’s new MacDaddy dash….stay tuned.

ELVIS… is on the lift    The last time it’s tired 455 had to rise to occasion….he pulled himself up onto the operating table….”Good job my loyal friend”.  We have the fresh roller cam 455 Co-op/Koba built motor and a fresh transmission…..Allison style brazed fin, low stall torque converter    This repower will also have FiTech fuel injection    Stay tuned on this one…..you KNOW you want this too!

All done, got it all done before 8am…… I’m over and out….see ya tomorrow..

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