And I’m NOT talking about selling parts to make money. I really don’t think there’s any money to be made selling automotive parts today. Not just because there will always be some guy in a phone booth in North Dakota (not holding anything against the state) but the dissemination of cheap parts has sucked any quality or income. lemme give you an idea why I say this.
So with the steering column now in place on Ruby’s dash, my job now it to integrate that column with it’s components into the engine electrical system. 
never mind the steering wheel itself, to bring this 1973 column up to snuff, the neutral safety and ignition switches should be changed out to new. 
Would have been easier to do this before the column was back in but the electricals are my job. Hey but I need to be sure I can still work my way in laying upside down under the steering wheel..and the new parts were installed 
Right? Turned the key and popped the main fuse going to the electrical system! Whaaaaaaa
BTW, you should replace the black fuse link going to the horn relay up front. That is a fail safe fuse link that if a short were to happen it will protect the electrical system but it will also melt and will need to be replace. Now think about that…..a sacrificial fuse link is supplying ALL of the current to the engine electrical system! Put a heavy sude holder and a 40 amp fuse in place and you will be able to fix the circuit with a new fuse like here.
The new ignition switch was locked up! ^$#$@*(&)*&^^ lets get another one and ohm it out to see it works, Diver down, more painfull labor and it’s in. Turn the key to engage the starter, the main fuse still blows…What The………. Come to find out the new neutral safety switch was internally shorted! Not the froze ingnition but this part too was bad out of the box! Douu, so checking another new one to see it’s not shorted too, another diver down and it’s now replaced. The main fure replaced and now the starter hits. Bad parts causes more work and a really pissed off worker….ME! Hey, it’s our life!
Page 2 didn’t happen yesterday….too much happening but here are the side panels for Texas Tux and project #3 shop and chillin while it cures 
The finish is similar to light textured commercial “knock down” if you know what that surface is. 
A sealed epoxy finish…harder than woodpecker lips, easy to clean and mad does it look good! 
Stay tuned for the installation of these panels.
So getting ready for a road test, I pilled out “Rock The Alps” for a systems check. The coach has been plugged in on out property for a couple of months. Firing up the Ole Troll, I found out something disturbing 
She fired right up but no power came into the coach. A quick check of the output on the utility door plug shows on 6.7 volts AC 
This means either the rectifier bridge is out, the brushes aren’t making contact or something. Yes, you can replace that part but the problem is this coach belongs to someone who does not want to babysite a generator. They are from Switzerland and will melt in the Florida heat without a reliable generator. If I fix this what will be next? When a generator part fails from age or use remember there is a pile of other parts in that same condition. If you don’t mind having the generator a subject for your frustration fix it…and the next and the next problem as they come up. Pretty soon it will just fail, your patience will fail and now what. Think proactive, you really NEED a generator in Florida or anywhere when it’s hot……it’s bullet biting time, we need to install a Honda EV-6010 here.
Jared pulled up…there will be a page 2 today…see ya then
Back….and if we have 1000 people reading this, 250 are right now saying, “Heck, I can fix that…done it before!”. Look, I know that but you fix this worn out part, which one will be next to literally wither out next? Then after that…… all parts of that machine are old, more than not many are near their edge of reliability. When you need a generator …brother you NEED a power source…an unreliable generator just doesn’t cut it. Why stress things out trying to squeeze the last drop of life out of the war horse…turn it to pasture and be happy having a generator that will work. If you really wanna use your coach and know it will work..retire the Barbarian and get something new. 
Fixing old bondo and painting a car like this is a balance of doing a “wack-n-pack” very well. Sounds terrible and hey, this IS a cool car with a cool motor 
But there is so much filler that makes up that slick..no chrome finish 
You dig out the rusted metal and waterlogged bondo, replace the divit with epoxy filler…block the crap out of it ….hit it with hi build primer and fog it back yellow. When you buy or build a car like this you must understand what made it look like it does….It’s a sculpture…..not a car!
This next unit has doubled their investment both in money but also in fun putting an awning on this old thing……Hey, it will keep you dry…..what the heck, these things react to love too!
I hope to be able to post here on the road with my phone…….. A weekend is a nice motorhome……life could be worse and going to a concert….THIS is what a GMC can do, go places, see things, have fun and relax. These classic machines still can do the same thing for folks as they were first designed to do. Think about it…other than aircraft, there are no machines this old that are expected to perfume as good and better than when they were built….think about that, there is no president for this! But a GMC can…aw, go give your motorhome a hug…you know you need it… and it does too!
See later 
