C delivery: Otis is outa here

Not exactly true but close…. Yesterday the guys were again like ants on a cake doing some last minute requests and checks on otis coach.    Otis had a little time so the rush was on to get as much done as we could, in that the coach is going home over 1000 miles we knew it would be a while before it would be back and Otis wanted to make the trip down worth it.  Interesting his coach has actually belonged to his Dad for 15 years and Otis took the challenge of keeping their flag flying and the coach on the road .  As a kid, Otis remembers the coach and how it fit their family.  He’s involved in scouts and he too wants his kids to experience what he did…

Overall with the improvements we added… quad bag, fuel system, brakes and a non leaking roof, the beast was ready to go last night when the launch was scrubbed .  Hank went with Otis to fill the fuel tanks and do a test drive…. the word “test” is descriptive in that you get a positive result wether it works right or you positively proove there is a problem… it was the latter.  Good thing we put in a backup electric fuel pump because the original mechanical fuel pump failed on the test drive!  Yep, that’s it until this morning when Hank got in early for a fast pump replacement .  Hank’s out there now replacing the *&^^$$@% pump so Otis can make Atlanta and picking up his daughter from school.  Hey, the question is not what to replace rather where to stop!  Guess we shouldn;t have stopped at the mechanical fuel filter.  From now on…. SOP is everything from and probably including the crab to the gas cap… just hasta be.

Hank had actually started in on Weldon’s mechanicals and had to put it back together to get Otis back on the lift.  Doing the mechanical review (always first thing on restorations) up on the lift you could see why the exhaust was a little loud… the side of one of the mufflers was blown out   and this 3″ collar was supposed to be welded to the pipe at the crossmember   I like what Avion did as far as LP line artwork but the green means there is seeping going on  and yikes, take a look at the tailpipe or should I say lack there of   Hey, did anyone pick up the back section of the tailpipe?    Hank shook the rear wheels and found the loosest one to open up  and check the bearings….. what bearing!  The inner wheel bearing is ground up in the grease in the hub .  The race is grooved in the hub so it’s gone but I think we can save the spindle …. guys documented proof, these things drive broken!  The hub was using the brake drum to hold the wheel up… the drum is shot too but all I can say is…. I made it!   Rust on the outside of the tanks may not say much for the inside but the outside rust has to be stopped. 

All of these things and so much more have to be attended too before we can go further.  Think about it, this coach drove in from up north… can’t bel;ieve the wheel didn;t fall off… but it didn;t so guys… a GMC motorhome can be a safe place to be!  When you pick up a vantage coach like thins, your “due diligence” tell you all of this must be checked.. please guys, don’t get out there on that thin limb without knowing what’s under you!  This coach still was a great buy and it will again be a reliable comfortable travel machine… as soon as we get all 6 wheels back on!

We have 2 more recent purchase coaches to do our mechanical review on… stay tuned for what we find. 

Thanks for dropping by…. go give your coach a hug, everyone needs a hug from time to time and trust me when I tell you it will appreciate the attention.

BTW, road report from Chauncey…  his Zip Dee armless awning remote lost it’s program…. Ray handled that with David and Chauncey is headed west.  Hey David, post me a link to your web site blog so folks can follow ya 

See all of you tomorrow….

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