GMC Motorhome: Body repair and damage through the years (UPDATED)

………This is one of the subjects we’ll talk about the end of the month in Talahassee.

Getting JayGee ready to go, let me show you why General Motors changed the body structure in mid 1976.  The early body design was assembled using a one piece stainless steel beltline molding.  The upper and lower sidewall panels were riveted to the front to rear main side support then the stainless beltline mold with its rubber insert covered all that construction.

That’s all well and good but where all the panels came together gaps we made.

Here is the boat bumper (don’t laugh) I installed some years ago.Screwed on like the original stainless molding, take it off and you will see why water got in just behind the front seats at the step.  See this rectangular hole sealed with goopenpuckyyes, just behind the awning arm.ssimilarly at the front and back both sides at the side marker light these openings go straight into your interior.Each side of the entry door jamsCleaned and sealed with black RTV you can see the penetration I foundit’s true this is an early body but even the late bodies (76-7-8) also have the openings, the early also has all of this rivets holding the panels.  BTW, none of the outer rivets used on all years were not sealed back rivets so every rivet could be a leaker too!

So now, as you can see, it does no good slithering up the beltline or any seam for that matter to try and stop water leaks.

Even more So on this beltline mold, running front to back as it and the top rail these are covers for the sealing seams under them.  And the more you travel on rough roads the more these seams and leak point come into play

As far as JayGee is concerned its a pretty unconventional look and you KNOW I want to carry on that theme…….so with this beltline we would normally countersunk screws to hold a 2″ aluminum 1/8″ flatbed that would end up looking like the late style body to hold the style 2 stick on body mold.  A pile of work and the usual fix……..but that not being me or JayGee, here is the final look I’m going forHey but not just any diamond plate, it’s genuine plastic diamond plate!  Covers all of those transgressions and sure is flexible to give with the road!  My guess is few will want a diamond plate strip down the side of your motorhome…..but JayGee likes itWe’ll finish it different for you but the main goal of stopping the water works.   We will be talking about this along with other unique body situations at the rally so be sure to come…..If ya can.  GM was proud to announce the GMC Motorhome was designed for a 14 year lifespan………..it’s 45 years later,WHAT…..could go wrong?

Thanks for coming by, we’ll see ya later………….

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