The day started off with a trip to the DMV to finally pick up the custom plates! Boy they look good. An extra coat of wax on the front one should protect it from road grime!

From there, it only seemed appropriate to go and visit the coach and change out the plates and registration. She was still leaning a lot (See photo below), and I couldn't resist "mugging" for the camera. Notice the attention to detail - authentic looking bags under my eyes and extensive stubble! I worked very hard to achieve this look...

Whilst there, (how about that word?), I took a few moments to check some measurements. In the last several weeks, the final designs have been with engineers being approved and double-checked to see if everything is feasible.

The good news is that everything looks good. The bad news is the cost. For all the time, money and effort going into this project, we could have bought a brand new coach and been driving around right about now. But that's not the point is it? We're having fun and doing something special and unique. (Yeah - keep telling yourself that LOL!)

Okay, that said, there were a few things needed settled. After looking at the frame mods, there will only be room for fuel, grey and black water tanks. To improve the rear departure angle - certain demands have to be met under the chassis. So to make this work, the water tank needed located in the coach somewhere. The aft passenger corner ended up being a perfect location. After calculating all the gear being installed, the results were a 51/49 front to rear weight ratio, and almost perfect 50/50 side to side weight balance. I can live with that! (These figures are cabinetry and gear only - for balance - exclusive of drive train.)

The tank positions have left us in a "wait and see" mode on the toilet. It "appears" the toilet will be over a corner of the black tank. In a basement Class A, that would be no problem. Those tanks are deep. On the GMC, however, with the shallow tanks, "pyramiding" becomes a possibility. So we're looking at tank/frame options and a different toilet option. We'll see more on this at demolition when we mock up the layout.

The other thing that had me break out in a sweat was the clearance from the bottom of the convection/microwave and the top of the wheel wells due to the new kitchen plan. I measured today and there is 18" clearance. The height of the range/oven assembly? Whew - 18".

So, all-in-all, a great day. We're getting closer to our budgets, and have a tentative start date of June 1. Every step of the process will be shot on HD video - separate segments covering every phase of the process. And I've got some old video that I want to edit in the next month. Have a great holiday weekend!

It's been a while since we've updated because a lot has been going on. Take a look at the one drawing below, and you get an idea of the level of detail you have to put into a large-scale renovation. So we've split up the project into three sections: Chassis, Exterior and Interior.

As you can see on the partners page, we've added a banner to Final Touch Coachworks. These guys are near us and do incredible work. Before getting into the RV business, they repaired Ferraris and the like. So when they brought their skill set to the RV business, people were dumb-struck to see such quality.

We've been having a lot of meetings - going over exterior designs and color schemes etc. We all want to be faithful to the GMC concept. The driving thought is: "If they still built this bad-boy, what would it look like today?" So that in mind, our work continues.

I went into their shop, which was crammed with coaches in various states. One had a cracked rear cap. The manufacturer could ship one for $10,000 in a few months they told me. So instead, they were laying one up by hand in their shop - faster, better and cheaper. The group that runs this place is a pretty diverse one. As the coach goes into production, you'll get a chance to know them all as we'll be doing shows on every phase of the project.

Anyway, I went into the shop area and saw the GMC. Clearly, the suspension had gone ka-pooey. It was listing to one side like a ship ready to capsize. While I was out there, I took a look. I don't know if it was funny, sad or both. Dave, in the picture below, crawled under the coach to check a frame section. We're doing a few modifications and moving tanks around. I'm tired of the drag wheels, and don't want to crush the black water tank going out of a parking lot - that would be a stinkin' ordeal!

I gathered some of my personal effects (the hula girl and Tiki salt and pepper shakers) and drove home in my little toad. (I have a Scion TC - probably the cheapest car I've ever owned and one of the best.) Now I've set to the task of drawing out a bunch more "Section Views" of the new coach so everyone can see what I have been envisioning in my head for so long. Now all we have to do is negotiate price. Hmmm. If things go well we're set, if not, we're from California - we can always stucco the coach! I'll keep you posted .

After a few weeks of show production, I had a break and could go get the registration tags for the GMC. It's been sitting idle waiting for me to take in the smog certificate.

In the meantime, I've been working diligently on the plan for the coach. It's come down to three things: chassis, interior and exterior.

So, with a very detailed excel spread sheet, I drove the coach to a secret company north of Los Angeles. It will sit there for a few weeks while they go over it in detail, and convert my notes and design to pricing and project management.

I have to tell you, I have been inspired by GMC owners who have done true restorations, and those who have added their own personality to their projects.

The GMC community has so much depth, so much information to take in. So with that, I can honestly tell you that I've taken my and the shows needs in mind, stolen the best of all your ideas, and shamelessly learned from projects from Cinnabar, bdub.net, GMC coop and Applied GMC to name a few.

If you are in the GMC community – you know these two people. If you are not, they are the kinds of guys that fuel creativity in the RV industry. First is Jim Kanomata of Applied GMCin California. Jim's work has been an inspiration for this project. On the other side of the world (Florida), Jim Bounds at Cooperative Motor Works is doing some truly visionary work. Jim is a no boundary kind of guy. He got me thinking outside of the box. Jim and Jim. One scientist. The other - mad scientist. With both these mens ideas in my head, I was able to complete my design.

So on to getting the price quote (and figure out how to pay for it). If it is too out there, we might do a few interim fixes to use the coach on the road for a few shows. In the meantime, here are some of the major features and highlights of the plan…

First the design is to remain faithful to the GMC concept. i.e. If the product were built today, how might it have matured? So there are a few subtle body styling cues that are planned – most notably losing the chrome bumpers. Paint will be more mono-chromatic – not the curvy styles of today's coaches. That's about all to say at the moment without letting the cat out of the bag. Let's just say this – the coach must be "campable" which means improving the angle of departure. Bump stops are compatible with relaxation!

To start, the interior will be gutted and then the empty coach sent off for chassis work. The 403 goes bye-bye for a 455 crate engine with EFI, headers and free-breathing intake and exhaust. While the front end is exposed, time to rebuild the tranny, upgrade the torque converter and change the ratio to 3.55. Some frame work is needed, along with new tanks and lines. Brakes will be disc all around with upgraded boost. We're looking at an all air suspension solution using off-the-shelf components. Variable power steering will take out the mushy feel. Sort of a crossover will be a complete redo of the air conditioning system in the engine and drivers compartment. It was a bad design from the beginning. Out with the old and in with a high performance custom system - environmentally friendly. Noise insulation and heat shielding are planned - with generous applications to quiet the coach interior.

The new interior plan will be built out. It's designed as sort of what I like to call an RUV (Recreation Utility Vehicle). At 26', this will be the best tail-gate machine around and still be able to do serious dry-camping. Her classic looks with updates will make her welcome at any upscale RV park. (At least I like to think so!) See the layout below from Jan 29 for the floor plan.

Some of the livable features will include the new custom dash layout with GPS and 3 cameras, two sofa beds for single use or that come together to form a king, removable dining table, and truly functional kitchen and bath areas – The shower is a nice size and will have a skylight for added headroom.

Entertainment will feature a 26" 1080P HDTV and blu-ray player. A sine wave inverter will power these components, while audio will be provided by the in-dash controller, six channel amp, ribbon hybrid speakers and LAT subwoofer. (If you are an audiophile - I've got your attention!)

Up on the roof several major items bringing the coach into the millennium will be a satellite receiver and solar panel. Of course, a new 15K AC will keep the chill in the interior!

There are many more pieces to the puzzle. In fact, the spread sheet is 214 lines long. The colors are all muted. Décor schemes that looked good "lived in" and be livable . By that I mean you shouldn't be able to tell if they are dirty or not! I want a coach that is usable (meaning dog friendly).

And nothing against rope lighting and mirrored ceilings, but neither are on the list. It's always interesting hearing people compare some coaches at the shows as brothels on wheels. I'm sure the manufacturer didn't have that in mind. Or did they?

Ultimately, the old girl is destined for a facelift with new, servicable technology. I'm looking forward to being on the road knowing that the coach is usable, functional and dependable.

So is my vision crazy? Partially. At the end of all this, a new coach will have been cheaper. But as anyone with "GMC Fever" knows, that’s not the point. Our project is certainly not purist, which may offend some. At the same time, hopefully the end product will be appreciated by all for its vision.

It has been a hectic few weeks. I was supposed to get the smog certificate to the DMV by today, but alas they are closed on Saturdays. We're starting to shoot a special show on Monday (more news on that soon), and this week is hectic to say the least. So I have to hope the DMV will be understanding when I see them in two weeks.

In the meantime, I decided to take the GMC out for a drive last night, but all the house batteries were dead. It appears the converter part of the charger/converter works, but that's about it. I was upset so today, without the threat of impending darkness, I drove the coach around town and for lunch. That was fun. I have to work out some clearance issues in the remodel - I hate always hitting the drag wheels. It reminds me of when I used to own a sports car and had to be careful of the front spoiler. If this is going to be a good camper - I need to get this chassis to be a tad more functional.

Hopefully, I will get the pictures of the coach boiling over last week to show you. It's pathetic to think after all the work we've done to have over-heating be an issue, and at the same time - kind of funny. Today the drive was in range, even though traffic was stop and go. I won't tell you it was 84 degrees here today. Oh, sorry, I just did!

Part of me wants to get on the road with a simple restoration, and the other part of me is excited about a full rebuild. I think it will come down to costs. Either way, the labor should be about the same. We'll have to see what the material cost differences end up as... For now, I'm back to preparing for Monday's shoot. Have a great weekend.

Oh - here's a VERY IMPORTANT message from Jim Bounds of gmccoop:

"On the insurance people side of vintage motorhomes, take a read on my daily pose this morning about the difference in "full coverage" and "Agreed Value" coverage. An old motorhome has very little value in the book, the value comes in with all the stuff that is done to it, if there is no actual "agreed" price you will be screwed if something happens. This is a "soap box" issue that anyone with a vintage motorhome must understand - a vintage car or lawnmower too for that matter! Progressive writes agreed value policies, I do surveys for them and anyone else seeking such coverage - this is the #1 issue on insuring vintage iron."

In the few weeks following taking delivery of the GMC, I had some fun driving it, and parking it in the driveway. Some of the things I thought might be problems turned out to be okay. Other things I thought had been fixed were still in disarray. On one trip, the choke stuck in the high idel position making braking near impossible on city streets. Upon arriving at the location in the picture below, the radiator was boiling over like mad!

But about that old truck. I can't tell you everything, but there is a pretty high end RV shop in Southern California that used to be in the business of repairing exotic cars. Now they do RV's and when customers pick up the finished product - they are shocked given most of the time you just hope nothing else is broken! Well, this truck is one of their little in-house pet projects. It, like all the folks there, has a story and unique personality.

We're looking at every option from a simple restoration, to the extreme end of the spectrum including frame-off restoration, modernization and a new floorplan. To see a large version of the plan on the right, just click on it and it will open in a new window on your computer. More later as things develop. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to get started on phase 2.

I managed to mount the new bathroom door. The old laced wood was totally rotted and mis-sized. The new light fabric door looks great and fits perfectly. Then into the bathroom, with the original wall coverings! (Temporary for sure!) The new ceiling track mounted, and shower curtain installed. In keeping with our theme - I found the pineapple soap dispenser - a perfect addition to the coach! Up front, the only real damage was to the seats - both passenger and drivers' side. So, until we get new seats, or reupholster, I found these inexpensive seat covers. Nothing stock fits the old GMC. So with a few bungee cords and some safety pins, they are firmly in place and much more comfortable on the seat - uh, the coach seat, and mine

Next, given some uncertainty of parasitic loads, I found this trickle solar charger on sale and couldn't resist. It fits perfectly on the windshield behind the dash pod - so it's permanent. I have it connected in through the 12 volt outlet. If that is corroded, it came with clips to hardwire to the batteries. The hula dancer is comfortable on the dash courtesy of some double-stick tape. Some other arrangement will follow when that is redone. In the background - note the steering wheel cover. The old wheel was literally rotting and was gooey. Your hands would turn black after a drive around the block. Being odd-sized, stock steering wheel covers were too tight to fit. So some black duct tape solved the problem until I buy a new steering wheel - with a dependable horn button!

And as you can see, the boys are right at home in the new RV. Alex has claimed his bunk, and Toby looks out the window wondering when we get to go on the first trip... Oddly it was 80 degrees in Southern California today, and the dash A/C is a joke. I went to start the generator to run the roof A/C and it wouldn't during the trip, but fired right up after I got home. How's that for luck! I hooked up the power and water lines to test all the plumbing and flush out the system. Good thing, the holding tank valves leak. Gotta change those out before the first trip for sure! More soon... The project continues! Oh, here's a special picture under the full moon. What a pretty night...

It seems a lifetime, but it has only been four months since we purchased the GMC. Well, today, she purred like a kitten as we rolled down the freeway. The southern California skies were clear, the sun bright, and the air brisk. A perfect day to open the windows and air out all those dusty old years and the smell of oily shop rags.

Heading down the road, I had forgotten how car-like the GMC is. Changing lanes and navigating is easier than a large SUV. The coach doesn't feel like a typical front wheel drive vehicle. As it turns out, the drive train does have less than 30,000 original miles. The crime is that the coach was idle for so many years. While the exhaust sounds throaty, some stainless steel is in order very soon.

I like the low profile and eight foot width. Storage in my driveway is tidy, and easily masked by the surrounding trees and hedges. Driving along, the rear air suspension spoils you fast. There's one rattle some where in the back - but I didn't feel it to be a good idea to get up and seek it out! Once home, the reality set in. Now the fun can begin. Our plans are extensive, and each of the items will make a difference that when complete will have our 26' coach fully modernized.

You can see in the pictures below that Alex and Toby made themselves right at home. They did their share of sniffing. I would imagine that there have been dogs in this coaches history - but all my nose has been able to smell has been related to all the mechanical work. But with the windows open in a greener setting, the coach is smelling more like nature than grease. More news as it develops.

Well, yesterday was a good day. Pink slip and smog certificate in hand, I went for my DMV appointment, and you can see the results. A nice new custom plate is on the way.

As it turns out, the last time the original plates were tagged was in 1991. How's that for being ignored! And that's questionable given the pink only shows registration through 1985. Either way, it seems entirely possible that the coach has less than 30,000 original miles on her. A compression test will tell the tale. Either way, I'm sure she will be happy to be back on the road.

Dennis is wrapping up some lose ends - literally... A wire was loose on the circuit board and the lights would flicker with foot falls or cabinets closing. A pesky hose reared its ugly head and coolant went flying - but better now than on a freeway. Dennis and Joe have been through the entire brake system, and are pulling the rear drums to check a few final parts.

So, it would seem, that the RV Buddies GMC RV will be hitting the road soon - the plan is next Wednesday. I've been stock piling lots of things around the office for ongoing projects. The list is long - I'll post an abbreviated version sometime soon to share my vision with you. A few things I'd like to hold back as surprises though!

Hope the new year has begun well for all of you. If our new license plate is a sign of good times ahead - I'm thrilled to see what else 2009 has to offer.

I spent all of December 24th, Christmas Eve, going over page after page of punch list items on the GMC. If you think it's hard taking delivery of a new coach, it's even more important to check the details on a used or restoration. A friend of mine volunteered, reluctantly, to join me for the day - knowing full-well what he was getting into. A nice breakfast of fresh waffles and good coffee always makes for a good bribe. Being in Southern California, I won't complain to you about the weather. Our day began in the high 30's with drizzle - so that's nothing compared with what many friends endured across the country.

When we got to the coach, all looked complete. Windshield and mirrors installed. New bathroom vent (recent rains revealed a leak - so better change it out now). Then the daunting task of going down a three page spread sheet checking every switch, valve, line, socket and switch - port to starboard, stem to stern. When you're in the middle of a long-term remodel, you don't care about some things. A leak in an old coach isn't the end of the world like a new one. But propane or electrical issues are always scary. We found one leaky ground and repaired that. Strangley, the punch list was very, very short - which was a good thing.

One funny thing, the passenger wall armrest has an ash tray - a remnant of society past. It was full of rusty water. I found it comical. I'm sure others would have been beside themselves. But to me, it's just part of this evolving story. I think our coach knows she's being cared for and is responding in kind.

All systems go, it was time for a test drive. The generator fired right up - albeit a tad rich smelling. (Not very camp-ground friendly at the moment!) The engine also fired right up - strong and sure. We dropped it in gear, and oddly, the coach didn't want to move. Well, months of work later, we discovered, very quickly thankfully, that the transmission was lacking - fluid (not filled after an extensive servicing). Ooops! Having corrected that, we were on our way. The ride was amazing - GMC's suspension was decades ahead of its' time. Steering was true, although reminiscent of the over-assisted power steering of the era. The power band was awesome. Amazing what new gas can do for an engine! The brakes felt a bit odd. Too much pressure was required and the peddle was going too far to the floor.

So after many hours of inspection, we had a few incidentals on the punch list, but added a thorough inspection of the brake system - pads, rotors, drums, master cylinder, lines and vacuum system. During the test drive, some of the 12 volt lights also flickered. There's a gremlin in the fuse panel - so that's getting changed out.

So that's about it really. No RV under my Christmas tree, but things are looking great. It looks like we will have accomplished a great first phase in the upgrade of this coach. I can't wait to pick her up in the next few weeks. I've got the sofa-bed screen here by my desk just waiting to join her new mistress.

I don't have any new pictures for you this week, but it looks like next week we take delivery of the GMC. It appears that "Phase One" is near an end. The new windshield is in, along with the new RAMCO mirrors. She's as shiny as a weathered second-hand paint job could offer. With all the window tinting off, we had to at least put a levelour in the bathroom! (I'm really shy!) I have a new folding bathroom door, fire extinguisher, shower curtain track and lots of little odds and ends here ready to add final touches.

All systems are go. No plumbing leaks. The propane systems work. The water heater needs a new circuit board, which is due any day. They didn't require CO/LP/Smoke detectors in 1977, but I hate surprises so those are going in now too. It's amazing - with everything we have had to do, there were not too many surprises. One window seal was, well, a joke - but after 35 years, what can you expect?

I've been surfing the web looking for deals and found ceiling fabric for $10 a yard from a dealer buyout. The old wall paper that got demolished needs something, and I have samples on the way. So all is good. I am trying not to get too excited in case there is a delay. But I'm hopeful that maybe I can drive her and park her under a big Christmas tree in a forest somewhere for the holidays!