GMC Motorhome: Ruby lives & how to fill your tank

Much to say today……. Ruby first:  You’ve seen me go after “prewiring” in Ruby.  The entire living area electrical system will be replaced but the harness for the engine electrical system needs to be reused mainly because it’s a good harness and trying to replace it with any of these newhot rod premade electrical systems would really be a nightmare when compared to cleaning up what you have and building onto it.  ……. can you see that?  on my screen the print is much larger….. donno what that means is coming out to you… let me know if the format has changed any…….  anyway, I’ve already broken down the original engine harness taking out stuff I won’t use like the heater system to eng up with this really clean front firewall   I have the opportunity so I’m not running the 2 gauge main power wire to the rear across this front crossmember like most coaches have… the original, unprotected 2 ga. wire insulation rots away from the weather up there….. can short out and there ya are    After coming thru the driver side firewall like the late model harnesses I’m not going down and across…. I’m going up   I’m taking it under the footwell then across behind the brake booster where there’s already part of the harness coming across at the floorboard seam just above the radiator  …. makes much more sense……  Further upgrading the harness supports with our nuclear duct tape, I have all the front top clearance lights service loop harnessed  ……… In that harness is the amplified radio antenna coax (see the raked back stubby in the pic coming up) and constant power to the rear view mirror…. u never know what you’ll need.  Hey but the big news is with that done and all the unused engine harness wiring removed…… The first completed circuit must be tested which means……. Ruby lives!   With the headlight switch reconnected, the first complete circuit works    from now on, everything as far and the engine electrical harness will be hot…. Ruby has a heartbeat again!  First will be the simpler connections to the constant circuits….. lights, etc. then we’ll get into the ignition circuits and connecting that awesome 6.5 Hum V turbo-diesel transplant power plant to the harness…….. that’s coming… in time so stay tuned….

So Janie and I took JayGee out for an hours run to some friends 20 acre place for the weekend…. a great thing to do with a GMC  Anyway, pulling up to the filling station I thought it may be of interest how a GMC should fill with todays gas pumps if all the vents and stuff are working….I’ve had a pile of folks ask that and hey, it’s a good question!    With only a 1 1/4″ diameter filler pipe I mean how fast CAN u throw fuel at those 2 flat fuel tanks from the side anyway…… I mean we ALL know it won’t fill like a car today….. Here’s what I do…… First I have a spill bib stuck arounf the filler neck with a tongue flopping down the direct any belching fuel away from my beautiful camo paint job…..  Also looking closely at that last pis I have a stepped plexiglass plate that will hold the handle up lower than the first notch… that is if the handle HAS a notch…… The flow needs to be seemingly just a bit less than that first notch…. that means you will have to hold that handle carefully for a long time…….. tell ya what…… Email me… not here but on the Co-op Email and I’ll send ya one of those fuel-up-doodles for your keychain……. anyway pump in slowly until it kicks back…. let it gurgle and spit on it’s bib if it needs to for @ 30 seconds… then by hand, slowly fill at the same sate as before until it kicks back again…. STOP, that’s enough!  Look under the coach (BTW< you should do that as the tank is filling) to make sure no vents are cracked or open… then fold up the bib, stow it and you’re ready for a 250 mile drive to stop and do it all again   Stop, tough each wheel to be sure the brakes and bearings are having fun together…. go pee, check the oil maybe…. put in fuel like before and off you go….. another fun… 60mph…. fun drive   Hey and funnnnnn, look what was out of my windshield Yes, that’s a white Winnebago rotting into the ground… oh but yeah… check out that 67 Mustang… was parked there and there it still is Aftermarket Shelby body kit and a kickass Hipo 289 with Cobra valve covers … power nothing but the motor, Steve said it would jump….. Anybody out there ready for a massive restoration?

So from a fantastic GMC and friends weekend my takeaway is take your time, treat your coach well and don’t average more that 60mph…… yeah, I can hear it now!  But look , you’re driving something that people are excited just to see it!  Why press your luck trying to get somewhere fast on matbe not getting there at all!  I want “seat time” so I enjoy the day…letm pass me as they mumble “what the hell is that!”    Thanks for dropping by… see ya later…..

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