The GMC Motorhome Coop Went Out Of Business So I Acquired Some Hard To Find Parts

[@TheKubelman]

Wolf Coach was a manufacturer of television remote broadcast units of various sizes and configurations. I purchased one for a tv station in Florida when I was Chief Photographer. Pneumatic towers, microwave dishes and transmitters and on board generators. We added video equipment. Cameras, videotape editing, radio gear.

[@jamessignorelli852]

Ok Mr big shot , how far is the planet Pluto from Modesto California ?

[@jamessignorelli852]

😂 lol

[@markstatzer4619]

For it's vintage it probably had pneumatic masts sticking out of the roof (judging from the size of the holes). A setup for going live to a TV station, in this size of vehicle large enough probably for multi camera productions. The fold down area would have probably been a desk. The meter panel was for onboard generator or shore power. Most tv stations had smaller versions of something like this up until about 6-8 years ago (in e350 vans and Suburbans)

[@ken12269]

These are exactly the type of videos I want leading my EM-50 project.

[@tony64t]

I already liked the elderly gentleman when he was showing us the mods he made on his rig. When he started showing us his collection of Fords, however, I love the guy. That's the type of guy I could spend hours talking about cars, motorcycles, RVs, and racing without getting bored. Thanks for introducing us to your eclectic group of friends and associates. I thoroughly enjoyed your post. You have yourself a new subscriber.

[@V4Motorsports]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim a few days ago in Ogden Utah. He was at the Bonneville High School helping the students with a GMC motorhome they are working on. Great Guy!!!

[@orbitingeyes2540]

Old home! WSU grad here...

[@777jones]

that’s a beautiful high school. Like, stunning.

[@mitchweber7868]

Hey, hey, I'm from Utah!

[@motorhomerehabranch]

Hey man, it was great you guys finding me out there. I’m happy you did and I could help. I KNEW I bought those extra parts for something!

[@captsam54]

Ya, I was a Co-op victim back just before they went out of business.. 11+ grand there and my engine blew 300 miles later.. I can recommend Jason though.. He is a great Guy.. Great video, and I remember all those Coaches. as Mine was there about a month...

[@Wahnerheide]

Hello Renovator Friend, Superb project that you have undertaken, in the video a backhoe destroys a vehicle, a sad image, I think that with a lot of time, patience and Love it could have been revived and still covered millions of kilometers on American roads.... ..........but hey, not everyone thinks like me. GMC has created very beautiful vehicles...nothing to do with those of today...but hey it's modernity and progress for everything and everyone. I can't wait to see your finished project, I like people who go back on the roads of the ancestors and who bring back to life machines from another era, not distant but forgotten because of new technology. Best regards Alain from Belgium.

[@EdwardMorris-p3y]

That is so cool that people have such a passion for these GMC Motorhomes!

[@jaydee3046]

The USAF also had a mobile video lab version. I was at Vandenberg AFB for an exercise in the mid 80's when it had to be loaded on a c-141. The vehicle needed wooden shoring to drive up the loading ramp without dragging the rear end. Since learning more about these I wonder if it was because the people driving it did not know how to use the leveling system .

[@AnAmericanCouple]

I'm restoring a 73 GMC in Orlando and only found out last Sunday that the Co-op was gone when I drove by, very sad. Funny Jim Bounds story. I had alway wanted one of these things and stumbled upon Jim's place on a Sunday afternoon few years ago. My wife and I walked around all the GMCs that were in the parking lot and were looking in the windows.(trying to get my wife interested). Out of one of the doors pops Jim. I think we both were surprised because they were closed. I apologized, but he said "no problem" and told us about his place. we spent the next 2 hours walking around and looking at all of the cool rigs that were there for parts, and ones he was working on. he tried to sell me that purple rig for my project to haul my 73 MG Midget in. He had such a passion for these rigs, and siglehandedly kept the fire burning inside many of us to get 'em running and put them back on the road, and for that I'm grateful. See you on the road, An American Couple.

[@mikemiller8170]

Never mind the GMC stuff... Ray has/had some very significant cars in that collection! Great side story.

[@jamesheath1882]

Although not a GMC, have fulltime in 1975 26ft Airstream Arogsy Moter Coach since mid 90s. Traveled a fair bit and enjoyed every moment. Live on Island in PNW. Argosy has kept me warm and dry. Very fond of these old Coaches. Thankyou for bringing us along with you.

[@Rom3_29]

If I didn’t have other issues. Six wheeler GMC motor home is my DIY dream. 3D printing would be helpful making bezels and other parts.

[@orbitingeyes2540]

Oh look! An EM-50! Haven't seen one of those since my deployment to Italy in the 1980s!

[@GrantRTanner]

Love the updates. These rigs take a lot of love. Even still, hate to see them scrapped. That older gentleman's rig...wow, crazy nice.

[@walterbright1396]

Loved meeting Ray and his cool rides. He needs his own channel. But it was too painful to watch the GMC carnage while another one goes to that big RV Park in the sky.

[@amypoole30]

I want to cry seeing the bulldozer crush one. My camper saved me and my children. She is a 99 and I am rebuilding her to make a cozy updated home since we lost ours during the housing hike and the outreach mission I ran was shut down by the new priest without a good reason. It has had a major leak across the front wall and though the leak seems to be fixed (doubt it) I have a very weak front wall that is soft in a few spots. But it was what I could afford to give my kids a home and honestly ready to bring "Jewel" (what we named her) back to the beauty she once was. We are already in love with our 99 Prowler and we plan to give her a lot of love!

[@michaelpfister1283]

19:30. Nickajack Lake! Just outside of Chattanooga, TN! It is indeed one of the nicest rest stops in the USA. :-) I have been there many times, not all that far from where I live. Glad to see you discovered it! In case you didn't notice, there is an RV park very close to there down on the river. Might be a place to visit with your rig, once its complete. 🙂

[@ppeters480]

Wow, that's to bad to hear about the COOP, Jim was so knowledgeable in those coachs. Good to see a video from you ! Any trip that includes Buckys is always worth it !

[@IndustriousPursuits]

Jim is still available for consulting. The motorhome rehab branch is still going strong. Give him a call. Jason is still working on coaches.

[@t.l.robinson2162]

Ray is doing a fantastic job on his motorhome.

[@TheAndrewWScott]

Hey guy! I just binged your gmc vids over the last few days. I hope your well and will resume the vids soon. I am hoping to purchase one real soon... hopefully this weekend!

[@jamessignorelli852]

Thank you , I really enjoyed watching . I used to have one of the gmc's . Now , I have an 1983 trans van on a Chevy g 30 chassis . It's the transtar version . I purchased it brand new in August 1983 . It now has a lil over 50.000 miles but has never let me down and I live and travel in 24-7 . And everything still works like it did when I bought it . A couple of furnace boards later new water pump and some small odd n ends here n there but she still sales proud down the road . Just got back to Sacramento from new York . And I avarage 14 mpg .

[@elrobo3568]

I helped to fix one of those years ago and found out that they used Olds toronado drive line and some running gear from them also.

[@stevenlight5006]

This fellow is a throwback,and talented,he has the funds to do all this and always did .id wish he lived to 200.😊

[@markwitkop7022]

Good to hear from you again.

[@Prt_3D_RC]

I am glad to see the Motorhome back in the lime life

[@HowardGoldman]

Sad news to learn they closed.

[@ralphedelbach]

Nicely done video. Too bad that Jim couldn't keep his business viable. I met him many years ago at a GMC rally in Delaware when I was working on our GMC. Never finished the restoration unfortunately but had fun while we had it. Good luck with your house project and the coach as well. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@bigbandguru]

The visor over the windshield is a good addition preventing sun from heating the deck.

[@jessekauffman3336]

I’m glad I found your channel

[@genehart261]

A shame! One day these classics will cease to exist.

[@dhelton40]

My Grandparents purchased one new in about 1976. It was overall very driveable, but the number of small things that did not function was problemmatic and led to the unit being purchased back by GMC. I thought the styling was very hip for the time, but GMC was just not committed to the project and soon discontinued them.

[@markdaugherty6378]

What a great variety in this video, thanks for sharing. So many interesting characters, I can see you thinking about all your upgrades.

[@hoffmanshaven]

It's the EM50 Urban Assault Vehicle! Where's the big toe Sgt Hulka?

[@JohnDStrand]

Thanks for the update! Looks like you are busy!

[@JohnReo]

Glad to see I'm not the only one using an LX as a pickup truck 😂

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Super great video. It was a real treat to see the different cars. Good to see these motor homes have a strong following!

[@michaelkoceja5552]

Great to see a video again. I like that your putting in a Mac dash I want to build one for mine.

[@kentmckean6795]

If vibrations persist, you may want to explore "road force balancing" for your wheel/tires.

[@drlong08]

I bought a set of centramatic balancers because of the dropped wheel weights. Works wonderful!!! Easy install too.

[@rayneal1469]

I have only ever seen one GMC motorhome here They are a VERY nice vehicle

[@dionrau5580]

Haven't heard from you for awhile, good video! Love the Old guys Hot Rods!

[@lutomson3496]

Ray is a treasure, what a nice guy

[@moleisrich1]

Wow I watched the whole vid! Nice job. And that man’s garage- o man!!!

[@AshyLarryTM]

Hey! It’s the EM50!

[@davec5613]

I had a friend who used to work on those GM RVs in Orlando, FL. Up near Lancaster and Orange. 🙂

[@tgmotoman1]

Great video, Ray was so cool.

[@IgniteLight]

Glad to see you post!

[@gamitro]

I'm the same problem in NM getting a vehicle that was given to me in TN titled in this state.

[@garylewellen4241]

Great video. I did have to forward through the part that the motorhome was getting smashed. I met Matt Heinz once. After he won the US Nationals in Indianapolis Indiana.

[@Bingo_Betty]

Rey is awesome! Such a cool guy!

[@tommellen8151]

My Dad wanted one of those coaches back in the 70's but instead we bought a 1948 GMC PDA3703 471 Jimmy diesel and made into a motor home. It had 20 inch wheels and my dad put Michellen radials on the front. At 50 mph it was shaking the steering uncronable. We balanced, replaced bearings, you name it. End result was we moved 2 tires from the rear to the front. Non Radial. It went down the road like factory. Radials can only run as pairs on dual axels. Maybe you need bias tires on all your single. Look up what tires it came with from factory

[@Jackknife-TV]

They were the best motorhomes ever made in my opinion except for that one custom motorhome That diesel brother is just bought 😅

[@mcsomeone2681]

Someone needs to put these parts back in production, theres at least 6 of these rvs sitting in backyards in my city. I bet most of them wanted to fix them but couldn't get the parts

[@waynep343]

Magnets in the fuel tanks if not on the outside bottom of the tank. 84 corvette fuel filters are 10 micron and installed directly before the fuel pump protects the fuel pump check valves. That causes hot vapor lock issues. Hot restart flooding issues. Cold start. Runs for 15 seconds then cranks for a minute before restarting.

[@johnbolongo9978]

Enjoyed that......thanks

[@stan525]

keep the updates coming good content

[@MiniLuv-1984]

This is going to be better than I thought...once you get restarted on the GMC.

[@jefferypowell9885]

We use to make tanks for the shop here in Sandusky Michigan who restores GMC motorhomes

[@coastalmonkey7225]

I worked for a Company in Lisle, Il who converted one of these to a tooling demonstration van. Molex Corporation

[@tommellen8151]

An after thought on shakes, rear axle alignment on axles critical . front wheel drive shakes the back end. you pull a wobbling wagon behind the horses.

[@najken]

Good to have you back. Not sure about the channel rename though.

[@IndustriousPursuits]

You're not the only one. And I know it's going to confuse some people. Make Magazine is a brand. I didn't want to be associated with that.

[@stephenmoncrieff2056]

The surrounds for the headlamps are called bezels .

[@Bingo_Betty]

can you talk more about the new fuel tank @ 17:20? Will it be available to buy somewhere?

[@scottschenk5456]

As with ALL motor homes, they were accommodating short people more than normal height people. Airflow trailers were also like this. Itasca was the exception and no others!

[@theodoredugranrut8201]

Very cool Ray is my kind of guy

[@432b86ed]

I'm 60 years old now and half the time feel like giving up on my car restoration project. Seeing that Ford guy motivates me to stop being such a wimp.

[@mennoboon8037]

Take it out that garage if its that most then its almost like a greenhouse😅 Nice video of the motorhomes though they are very cool

[@mikestanley9176]

First time I ever saw one of these was in the movie Stripes. The EM 50. I was wondering if you were going to mention it.

[@tenlittleindians]

Your camper looks familiar. A friend of mine in Iowa named his "the green weenie" because of the shape and color. He upgraded last year to a bigger camper. He either sold the green weenie or moved it to the farm for storage.

[@rjlaxvespa1742]

When I was a kid I managed a van conversion shop in Torrance California near El Camino College, I had a customer that wanted help driving up to Santa Barbara, amazing handling for something that big, drove just like a Cadillac... I still live in Los Angeles I think would like to have one of those, have a huge house I probably need to get rid of... have a bunch of cash - I'm just not sure if it would actually fit in my driveway, probably couldn't go any longer than 23 ft... no suitable place to park it on the street without getting ruined... irritating the neighbors possibly the HOA.. I might just be too old...

[@jonkeau5155]

Don’t forget to have your driveshafts balanced and your coupler bushings checked. Might cause vibrations!

[@IndustriousPursuits]

The Motorhome is front wheel drive. No drive shafts.

[@jonkeau5155]

@@IndustriousPursuits cool! Well then, I think you might be onto something about those axles being bent 😂

[@dwightsmith5174]

@@IndustriousPursuits Bad CV joints?

[@waynep343]

75 quadrajets have a hidden adjustment called the APT. Adjustable part throttle. This needs to be fine tuned no more that 1/4 turn at a time with seat of the pants part throttle acceleration of no more than 20 feet. Backing up. Turning the APT screw upwards 1/4 Turn. And doing another 20 foot part throttle acceleration. Keep backing up and adjusting till its not improving more. Then go back down to get to the best acceleration for that 20 feet. The APT screw limits the downward or lean limit of the primary circuits Coming off the idle transition circuits happens quick. It the APT setting is too low. It will lean out and have a horrific flat spot . If the adjustment is too high. Its too rich and drinks fuel. Get it just right and you won't believe its a quadrajet.

[@rayneal1469]

We used to have offshoots of General Motors,Ford and Dodge here There WERE factories producung vehicles But the factories have been closed down

[@williamlewis7846]

I did a 73. good times.

[@1S1KStealth]

I really want one of these to electrify, and rhd it with an A-Team paint job for an Aussie tour.

[@davidvincent1093]

OK I admit I have only seen the first 57 seconds. But the biggest problem I have had with that chassis is 1) shocks 2) wheel bearings from sitting 3) if this one has them check the air bag pressure. Unbalanced air bags are weird and hard to find. To say they are finicky is an understatement

[@MrHeem94]

I feel like people like Ray don't get enough years in their life.

[@t.l.robinson2162]

I hope that you got a brisket sandwich at Bucees. They are the best.

[@como5555]

those hot rods looked great

[@jeffhiatt4000]

Really enjoyed your video your vibration could it be bad universal joint?

[@azmax623]

My friend's GMC coach was down there. They ended up selling it in pieces after the shop closed.

[@moleisrich1]

When we were kids we thought they were the coolest tv out there. And we had the largest Winnibego

[@rogerdsmith]

Check to see if the motor uses coil packs. I know it wouldn’t seem like it would be related, but if you have a bad coil pack on your motor, your vehicle will exhibit the shaking that you describe.

[@DDGraphicArtandSign]

You should have gotten the brisket sandwich at Bucky's!

[@davidthomas4697]

I know were two of these are sitting right now. Sitting in somebody's side yard.

[@mt9372]

What happened to the Circus GMC at the 25:40 mark? You left us hanging!

[@IndustriousPursuits]

It got scrapped.

[@paladin-ksai7667]

soo many scrap buckets. now we know grandpa max's supplier

[@jessekauffman3336]

I live in NJ never heard of Buc-Ees

[@craigstreetzel7743]

Front wheel drive Oldsmobile power futuristic looking classic

[@WanderlustEstate]

What parts were you able to land, I might be needing some very soon.

[@paulherman5198]

This was a great video.

[@IndustriousPursuits]

Thanks!

[@lookronjon]

a friend has single rear axle GMC. It’s on a workhorse chassis. Duramax. Front wheel drive. Ground effects package. Aluminum rims. Paint is ok but needs a little help. He is thinking of selling it. It’s in franktown Colorado. Needs new tires and a home.

[@seemorbuttes]

Have a 1973 drove it about 31 year but needs now needs complet rebuild . Going have fun rebuilding grandkids what too help I try to document it for you.

[@josephheston9238]

Sad to see those motorhomes get crushed. I would have bought one if I had the money.

[@robmarshall5100]

Put a big dehumidifier in your garage

[@bb-fe9ur]

Bucees is awesome 👍👍

[@williamsedlock3903]

Give me a heads up if you know where I can get a body like the one you bought in Florida

[@PixelatedCanuck]

Have you thought of 3d scanning and printing the headlight bezel and other items.

[@glenc90240]

Wow, the way that GMC roof separated from the side walls by the backhoe reinforces my plan to rivet the roof to the structure where the adhesive has failed.

[@IndustriousPursuits]

Over building is often prudent. Most engineered objects are built to withstand 2 or 3 times the expected stresses. Then again, rivets are penetration points for water ingress. Also, getting smashed by a front end loader isn't a very good test of viability under real world conditions.

[@glenc90240]

@@IndustriousPursuits my roof has delaminated between the rivets at the edge under the driprail. I'll be removing the rivets, cleaning old adhesive out, put new adhesive and rivets about every 1.5" like an aircraft panel.

[@AceInvader]

​@@glenc90240 are you going to buck rivet or pop rivet?

[@IndustriousPursuits]

Aluminum to aluminum seam or Aluminum to SMC (fiberglass) seam?

[@glenc90240]

@@AceInvader I can't get to the back side because of the shape of the extrusion. I'll use 3/16 pop and plan to inject 3M 5200 under skin then seal seam, cover with EternaBond tape and reinstall drip rail.

[@williamsedlock3903]

Wow that sucks I left a email months back about trying to acquire a GMC body with windows as a donor for a project I am building always wondering why they never got back with me now I know :-( :-( I guess I'll keep looking

[@tallgiese1]

I was thinking of making a mod for my light surrounds, as well mine are hanging on by like one screw each. 😅