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List of GMC owners that will provide assistance in their areas--THE BLACK LIST

Knowledgeable service people for our GMC's are far between on the Oregon coast and many of you will be traveling this way this summer to experience our Garden of Eden.  On the outside chance that you have difficulties, and for those of you who live near Bandon (near Coos Bay) here is a shop that really knows GMC's and also has good old Oregon integrity:

Gary
 RICHARD W. ANDERSON
        BANDON, OREGON
        541 347 2704 (after 5pm weekdays)
 Richard Anderson via email, use andersonr@harborside.com

CHROMING
Several of the Pacific Cruisers have taken their bumpers to a shop in
Long Beach, CA.  They are very pleased with the results.  I am getting
ready to take mine to them in the very near future.  They charge $125.00
per blade ($500.00 for front and rear).
                    Cal Bumper
                  1555 W. Anaheim
                   Long Beach, CA
                    (562)436-1203
Bob Cook

INSURANCE
RV Alliance America (formerly ALEXANDER & Alexander )
1-800-782-9885  FAX 1-800-598-9348
$465 per yr and much better coverage with fixed value at $42K
Andrea Scott, 1-800-521-2942; ext. 2322 (knows the GMC)

GMC information from RVAA
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This may have already been talked about on the net, but if so, I missed  it.  I recently received a letter from R V Alliance telling me in I  bought insurance from them I would receive a discount for being an FMCA member.  I called  (1-800-521-2942) today to find out how much the discount was and if the discount applied to people that already had R V Alliance Insurance. The answer was: the discount is 5 % and it does apply to current members, however, the agent said you have to call them ant
tell them you are an FMCA mamber to receive the discount.  So, if you havn't already called them, give them a call and you will receive a 5% discount on your next renewal.Chuck Aulgur

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GEICO was $1,260 per year
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Farmers Insurance, annual premium $1,208.20.  When I bought the coach my agent told me he had trouble getting the underwriter to sign off on it, they "don't like insuring GMC's".

Called RV Alliance America:  at least $5,000 increase in agreed coach value, lower (disappearing) deductable, roadside service policy included, they have a picture of a GMC on their brochure;  annual premium $376.00.  Hummm, I think I'm gonna switch.Keith
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  National Alliance (MVP Camping World)  800-521-2942,  $158 for six
> months along with three other vehicles. This is an ACV policy -- perhaps
> stickey if you have a lot of upgrades and incur a total loss.  For a stated
> value policy and lots of other goodies like free road service RV Alliance is
> the best.  $382 for a $30K value one year premium.  800-598-9348 is their
> number. RV Alliance quote is for motorhome only.  This is my renewal choice.
> Gary

Now, the GMC.  The same issues regarding damping rates apply, BUT if  you look at the GMC suspension, it is very different from a car, where the top of the shock is the fixed mount, and the bottom connects to the suspension.  On a GMC, the BOTTOM of the shock mounts to the frame, and the TOP of the shock is attached to the bogie arm.  The net result of this is
that when you hit that bump and the wheel recedes into the well, the shock is actually EXTENDING, the exact opposite motion of most vehicles.  As such, to maintain correct damping rates, the GMC shocks must have the high damping rate
on EXTENSION and the low on COMPRESSION, the exact opposite of most vehicles.  Specially designed?  Dunno about that, but the valve rates will be oppisite  most "typical" shocks, but the rest should be pretty generic, depending on
who built it.  The only other issue is that when the wheels hit a bump the shocks extend, a very severe hit with the suspension low can possibly pull a shock apart, and as such, some brands claim to reinforce their products to resist this.

One this is for sure, and that there is no shock make out there for a "typical" vehicle that will drop into a GMC and work.  It may fit, but the  damping rates will be backwards, thus giving very little damping to road hits, and tending to reduce tire contact with the road. I hope this helps, Tim
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Shock Deal-KYB
I have them for $184.00 however that does not include shipping as with pst at that time.  I can usually match their price to about as far west as Texas but to Ca the shipping cost is $22.92:(.  or total $206.92.  Maybe GMCers would rather spend their money with another owner:).  Closer to Ohio I usually beat them by about $10.00.Regards,Scott

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   As we all know, a shock absorber's job is to damp the motion of the suspension and wheels.  It does not carry any significant load, it only stops bouncing of wheels or of coach.  In the days of buggy springs (multi-leaf springs) shocks (if any) had an easy job, as the internal friction between leaves damped the oscillations.  Our GMCs, OTOH, have torsion bars in front, with minimal friction, and air-suspended leading/trailing arms on greased bronze bushings in the rear, with virtually NO friction. To top off, our shocks function as bump and/or rebound stops!  So we need GOOD shocks.
   It seems we have 3 options for good shocks on our GMCs.

Caspro makes (or has made) a very high quality reinforced conventional shock absorber, with an internal cylinder surrounded be a concentric reservoir, running at little/no pressure above ambient.  These are (IMHO) a heavy-duty version of the original GM shocks.  They MAY be the physically strongest (in terms of mountings, etc) of all, and I would consider them if choosing shocks.

   KYB makes the "affordable" mono-tube gas pressurized shock.  I sold these for a number of years, (for foreign cars), with generally happy customers, although NOT without the occasional failure.  I have a set on my '88 4-Runner, installed at ~105,000 mile, now have 153,000 miles.  I don't slow down for bumps.  They're shot.  Though I commend KYB for making "gas shocks" affordable for the masses, I would hesitate to install them on my GMC.  If I did, I would definitely save all receipts and warrantee forms! rick
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 KYB shocks for 29.95 ea at Performance Suspension Technology, PST.  Their number is 800 247-2288. The numbers for the shocks front KG5435 rear KG5436.  To get that price you have to order at least 4 shocks. Six for 178.50 delivered.  www.p-s-t.com
(this price might be out of date 11/19/01)
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I ended up paying 199.00. They failed to recognize any list special. Seems to be a good price at any rate. Mike 1/10/00

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   Finally, there is Bilstein, (B46-940 front and B46-950 rear) the perfector of the mono-tube gas-pressure shock.  Their GMC shock is made specifically for the GMC.  Their reputation is without par, and they work really well.  I have a set on my GMC, and I'm glad I do.  For further details and general sales pitch, see Cinnabar's "GMC Motorhome News", March 1998, pp. 1-2, 10.

   Though I'm still sorting out ride height, front end bushings, alignment, etc., the ride is great.  The only caveat is that if your shock mounts are misaligned/bent (common in front), it may not be worth buying expensive shocks only to have their mounts chewed up by misalignment.
  Rick

Sandy's shock information summary
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6 WHEEL ALIGNMENT

It would seem to be easy to write down the numbers for the GMC alignment.  But there are as many different versions as there are people who do alignment.  I had provided the factory numbers to a shop doing my GMC after a front end rebuild.  They were never able to get the coach to handle well.  They ended up with negative caster when all of the charts say at least  2 degrees positive.  This is lesson to be learned,  the problem was the NEW relay lever was fit too tight.

The result was not an alignment problem at all but a sticky relay lever that would not let the steering follow the road.   after a second $200 alignment and the relay lever honed out, these were the final numbers

    CASTER     = +3 DEG. LH          +3.25 DEG RH
    CAMBER    = + .25 DEG            +.25 DEG
    TOE            =     1/32 IN.

gene
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1)   

2)    

3)  N 

4)   Harolds Frame Shop  44170 Grand River Ave. Novi, michigan Telephone: 248-349-7550

5)   Alex Sirum Auto, 1800 Hwy. 70 East, Okeechobee, FL. 34972, They do everything GMC
      phone 941-763-1121,  fax  941-763-1124, e-mail Sirum@Okeechobee.com

6)   Ken Frey Auto Repair, Quakertown, 215-536-1246 , 6 wheel , and everything.

7)   GMC Coop Motorworks  Need Help? Call Toll-Free 1-877-ASK4GMC

8)  Johnny Franklin's  1340 Santa Rosa Ave  Santa Rosa, CA    707-526-4280

I don't know the "numbers" they used in the alignment but they sure seem to work!  I believe the owner's name is Charlie.  They are on 1396m Santa Rosa Avenue -- just take the Santa Rosa Avenue exit from 101 somewhat south of Santa Rosa proper.  Head north on Santa Rosa and you will find Franklin's on the East side on a corner.  Better get an appointment before driving in. The job took about 3 hours.  Cost was $250 which also included welding on some rear skid wheels and fixing a loose ac bracket.  Worth every dime.Gary
 

9)  Wheel Alignment in San Jose Area

When arriving in California last month I found that I was getting some wear on my front tires and the steering was not quite up to par. Al Singleton a former long time GMC owner, former President of GMCWS,  and resident of San Jose recommended that I call Marty  at 

Reinegger Frame & Wheel, Inc.,
1125 S. Third at Keyes,
San Jose, CA 95112  
Phone 292-8006 (this shop is almost downtown in San Jose).

I called Marty and he agreed to take me right in.  He had another GMC in the shop and Al told me that he was very familiar with them. I was impressed by his knowledge and skill and also by the fact that he even allowed me to get down in the pit with him so he could explain just what he was doing and what he found.

He adjusted the toe, the caster,  and the camber.  He indicated that he liked to see at least 3 deg. of caster and even 3.5 deg. but my passenger side would not give more than about 1.5 deg.  He suggested that I get one pair of the Moog offset bushings and install them on the rear side of the upper A arms.  He indicates that I can then get the caster and camber correct.

While on the hoist he also adjusted my steering box (he can rebuild them but he says that they seldom go bad and an adjustment of the worm gear usually takes care of problems).   He also pointed out that my spline shaft on the lower section of my steering column was just a little loose at the splines and suggested that I repair it myself later.

Marty can do front alignment or all six wheels.  He can has the equipment to balance tires if necessary.

I highly recommend him for anyone in the Bay Area that is looking to improve their GMC handling.  Mine drove like an entirely new vehicle on the was back from California.  Emery Stora
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