Ok, so here’s a road test……….not something you look at as the end but more verification the things that were done actually work! But also is there anything else that’s fallen off in the meantime…….

……… Wow, you know if you didn’t know we were talking about a 45 year old machine that could encompass every device and thought you would want to be addressed to make your life nice………if you didn’t understand how many issues can be an issue in a machine like this…….you might think that a negative comment…….ah but it’s just another step in the process to having one of these ancient machines again be expected to do even a better job at making life fun than when it was conceived…….

…….so on with a road test on another coach pushing hard to go home………We have done a pile of work in this project.  Actually this is a bit of a coming home for me……..back in 1997 when I was a “young whipper snapper” in the GMC world, the engineer gentleman who owned this coach I counted as a very smart man.  He loved this motorhome and as styles change back in the 80’s this coach was a badass machine!  He even christened it “Eleganza III”.so it has been quite a privilege to be able to bring this once proud machine back to the road as it once dominated.

Now that doesn’t mean just putting it back together as it originally was.  Oh no…. Things have changed…..and all of that comes together while I’m cruising any speed I want, 2 fingers on this classic steering wheel once scavenged from a car because the engineer wanted a “lower 45, 2 spoke steering wheel.. So he could see everything on his …..at that time exotic “MacDaddy” dash….Heck, he never installed a radio!…. I remember when he did it!….New gauges bezel color, the GPS driven speedo …. A radio!  ….. So yeah, this thing is a 🚀 rocketship again!  The FiTech fuel injection readout is proving everything is 5-by-5Interesting….the voltage readout confirms the logarithmic output of the self exciting 1 wire alternator……..  I’m driving while taking this pic (kids, don’t try this at home) but I have 12.8 volts which in the old days we might be concerned about a low charge …..but after about 15 minutes to get out to a place where I could make the shot, the already hot batteries (because they were new) had replenished what was taken on the start and has throttled back its output.  I have 12.6 at idle at a traffic light with AC on in drive….. I had 13.1 when the coach fired up on my first gauge scan and now driving at 13.7 AFR air/fuel ratio (really near perfect), at speed, 194 degrees and -17.4″ vacuum…..brother life for that motor is good right now!and my 1 thumb on the steering wheel at 60mph says I’m a happy camper too!  Well, happy driver…..the camper part still needs to tell me it’s good ta go next!  Hey but this rocket flies!Thanks guys at the shop for putting together such a nice running machine.

And I say that….. I want YOU guys out there to understand this….torch if you wanna call it is being passed….the Co-op has become much more than just me, my wife who helped put this all together and my son sweeping the floor but it’s also now the group of what I’d call really dedicated guys and you guys too….some really dedicated enthusiasts ……….

Cooperative Motor Works

Sounds pretty stupid and at the time the name was so long most computers would not hold it in the company name block!  Then the Co-op nickname came on and the world was saved but I still believed in having a business that like minded folks could do something about keeping these classic machines on the road and viable.  Again, pretty altruistic I know but that’s where this started……..and now as it seems will continue.

The guys at the shop have been working hard to pick up the pieces of an enthusiasts Ma and Pa store that blew up!  I didn’t think 30 years when I got into this but it seems the GMC had the time arranged.  Today, the GMC is the talk of the town and it needs a young look at growing its potential.  That’s where we are right now and the growing pains we are all being effected by.  Our output has changed, our project intakes have been forced to change and we’re all reaching for that next ring.  And we’re reaching it with everyone’s help.

Yep….pretty cryptic…theres just so much good stuff to include…..as Bob Segar once emortalized in “Against the Wind”…..what to leave in and what to leave out………

Happy Fathers Day all you guys and hey….as Red Green also emortalized “keep your stick on the ice…we’re pillin for ya”

See ya later………

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