[GMCnet] Used 16 inch rim price question.

[Robin Hood]

I am on my way to a heavy truck junkyard. I'm looking for 16 inch rim. How
much do new steel 16 inch rims cost? Used rims should be much cheaper, I
just want to make sure that I neither get ripped off nor insult the junk
yard guy. That is if I can even find any of the correct rims. GM 1 ton
trucks. Bowl shaped spider not truncated cone. Also want to keep an eye out
for the JC4 auxiliary vacuum pump to drive the brakes in case the engine
dies.

--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome
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[Matt Colie]

Robin Hood wrote on Sat, 22 December 2012 10:36

> I am on my way to a heavy truck junkyard. I'm looking for 16 inch rim. How much do new steel 16 inch rims cost? Used rims should be much cheaper, I just want to make sure that I neither get ripped off nor insult the junk yard guy. That is if I can even find any of the correct rims. GM 1 ton trucks. Bowl shaped spider not truncated cone. Also want to keep an eye out for the JC4 auxiliary vacuum pump to drive the brakes in case the engine dies.
> --
> Robin Hood

Robin,

Southwest Wheel want 114$us+shipping (~30$ more).
I tried to never pay more than 40$ for a wheel in good condition. Most were not and needed work.

IMPORTANT: Take along something to measure the hub bore. If it is greater than 4-9/16, it will not center on the hub.

Happy Hunting

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie
'73 Glacier 23 Chaumière (say show-me-air) Just about as stock as you will find
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

[Robin Hood]

The good news is that they appear to have the rims that I need. I'm not
sure about the bore diameter. The bad news is that the guy wanted $60
apiece for them and brand-new ones are apparently around 120 w/shipping.

--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome

[Zhookoff, George]

Robin,

You had better be careful! You're beginning to sound like one of the GMC List "GURUS". ;-9.

George
78 EL II
Atlanta
George Zhookoff

[Robin Hood]

Hey Matt, what is that Southwest wheel part number for the correct steel
wheel?

George, well if one becomes a guru by messing up and learning from mistakes
then I suppose I'm well on my way. :-)

If I pay 60 for these wheels and then I have to pay to get them sandblasted
and cleaned up and possibly painted, I'm going to be rapidly pushing the
territory where just biting the bullet and paying for new is going to make
sense.

[Robin Hood]

Nevermind, I found it. 29857. The price dropped to about $100 each if you
buy six or seven. Shipping is about $100. My wonderful wife is arguing for
buying them right damn now. I want to wait a minute, because I don't want
to sink that much that quickly into wheels. I'd rather save up for the
purchase out over two months and then placed the order. She's also enjoying
the fact that I didn't get her anything flashy for Christmas and yet she
wants to spend all this money on my wheels so this gives her the moral
high ground. "Yes honey I got you a sense of moral superiority for
Christmas"

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

GET THE WHEELS NOW!

If you don't already have new 16" tires, you can get them in
pairs and spread THAT expenditure out over several months!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*


> Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 10:48:42 -0600
> From: lox...@gmail.com
> To: gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org

> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Used 16 inch rim price question.
>

> Nevermind, I found it. 29857. The price dropped to about $100 each if you
> buy six or seven. Shipping is about $100. My wonderful wife is arguing for
> buying them right damn now. I want to wait a minute, because I don't want
> to sink that much that quickly into wheels. I'd rather save up for the
> purchase out over two months and then placed the order. She's also enjoying
> the fact that I didn't get her anything flashy for Christmas and yet she
> wants to spend all this money on my wheels so this gives her the moral
> high ground. "Yes honey I got you a sense of moral superiority for
> Christmas"
>

[James Hupy]

Robin, I have 16" steel wheels on my 78 Royale. I have a good friend who
has a tire store. He has been around since 1965, and his shop looks like a
tire shop from that era. My kinda place. When I first got my coach it had
16.5" wheels and we could not get what I wanted in tires. That prompted the
search for suitable 16" wheels. Friend got 20 or so late model NOT METRIC
(before 1994 or so) chev or Gmc 1 ton wheels. ONLY THE FRONT WHEELS WILL
WORK. Because of the rim offset. The large center hole matches the Gmc hub
flange. I mounted bare rims on his wheel balancing machine and spun them.
Many were bent and wobbled. Some I discarded because they were not rated
for radial tires. They are stamped "radial" near the weld on the inside of
the wheel. I have a further complication in that I have larger front
calipers. Long story short. $20.00 each for rims, $15.00 ea for sandblast,
$250.00 for powder coating. Then I custom made hub extenders so I could
remain hubcentric when using spacers to clear the calipers. You know where
this ends. I just don't have to polish mag wheels. Probably costs about the
same as alcoa wheels when all is figured. But steel wheels will handle 80
psi inflation pressure. Alcoa wheels are clearly stamped max inflation
pressure 60 psi. You get to choose your poison.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Gmc Royale 403

[Dave Mumert]

Hi All

I hope you are all prepared for a great Christmas.

The Alcoa literature shows the 160231 wheel is rated at 95psi not 60.

http://www.southwestwheel.com/pictures5/LTFitment-Screen_10-18-01.pdf

It is my understanding that the 60 psi is the maximum allowed pressure to
seat the bead, once the bead has been seated the pressure can be increased
to 95 psi.

Dave Mumert

> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Used 16 inch rim price question.
>

> i........... Alcoa wheels are clearly stamped max inflation pressure

> 60 psi. You get to choose your poison.
> Jim Hupy

[Dwayne Jacobson]

So if that being true. Do any of u inflate to beyond 65 psi and if so what
are the results.
Merry Christmas
Dwayne Jacobson
White Rock
77 Kingsley

[Dwayne Jacobson]

Aside from rims, I miss Jim Hupy's cooking.
Dwayne

[James Hupy]

Robin, On all of the Alcoa wheels that I have mounted and worked with that
were 16" Aluminum, The wheel has cast into a depression on the face of the
wheel near the lug nut area the Maximum inflation pressure warning of 60
psi. I looked on the Southwest wheel website referenced by Dave and
Southwest wheel information does say maximum inflation 95 psi. Believe what
you will, I guess. I am sure there is a safety factor in the cast in
warning. Dwayne, we are having Christmas at home. Judy's Dad is 95 years
old on Christmas Eve and I am fixing 7 bone beef roast, home canned green
beans with bacon, Potatoes and Carrots and Onions slow roasted with the
beef. Mushroom gravy, good mixed green salad. Plenty extra for a couple
more. You are welcome anytime.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403

On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 9:31 AM, Dwayne Jacobson

[Thomas Phipps]

Inflation that high results is a very stiff ride.
80 cold used to be a pressure expressed by Wes C. But, I don't know anyone who is still doing that high a pressure. I cannot imagine the poor ride on an all steel tire with pressure that high. New meaning of the word, "stiff suspension."
--
1975 GMC Avion, under forever re-construction
Vicksburg, MS. 3.7 miles from I-20

[James Hupy]

Yes. That high of an inflation pressure results in a very small "contact
patch" between the tire tread and the road surface. This on wet or slick
conditions can easily result in loss of control, to say nothing of the
harsh ride. ALWAYS consult your tire manufacturers recommendations
regarding tire loading and inflation pressures. Most of the GMC coaches
that I have personally weighed with the GMCWS portable scales at rallies
would carry around 55 - 65 psi for the weight/tire combination that they
had. A few lower, and a very few higher.

Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403

[Thomas Phipps]

My personal tire pressure setting, with poly wall radials has been 65 up front and 55 in the rear. Really need to weight the coach someday and consult a correct chart for the tire in question.
Tom, MS II

[Mike Miller]

James Hupy wrote on Sat, 22 December 2012 09:49
> Robin, On all of the Alcoa wheels that I have mounted and worked with that were 16" Aluminum, The wheel has cast into a depression on the face of the wheel near the lug nut area the Maximum inflation pressure warning of 60 psi. ...


Sounds more like the "current" Eagle wheel rather than Alcoa.

<http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/1978-birchaven-rear-bath/p39875-hub-centered-eagle.html>

I understand that the latest Hub-Centered Eagles from JimK do NOT have these castings one the "outer face."


--
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
http://m000035.blogspot.com

[Bernd Hoffmann]

I was able to find seven correct 16" rims at Desert Truck & Auto Parts in
December of 2009 for $35 a piece. I don't know if that was a high or low
but I cleaned them up and painted them and they seem to be working real
well. The only down side is that the hubcaps from the original 16.5 rims
did not fit. I had quite a search before I located these. Better luck

Bernd Hoffmann, Colorado
78 Royale 403 TZE368V101387

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 6027 (20110408) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

[A.]

Robin Hood wrote on Sat, 22 December 2012 10:29
> ...If I pay 60 for these wheels and then I have to pay to get them sandblasted and cleaned up and possibly painted, I'm going to be rapidly pushing the territory where just biting the bullet and paying for new is going to make sense. ...
Explain it that way to the wrecking yard guy. If you can't get him down to about $35 each, walk away.
They are worth about $4 each as scrap steel...
--
'73 23' Sequoia
UA (Upper Alabama)
"Time is money. If you use YOUR time, you get to keep YOUR money."

[Todd Sullivan]

I think a decorative set of fake chrome acorn nuts with satin or semigloss wheels and hubs would look cool. If you bought the Alcoa center cap with the correct lugs you could rock the gmc center logo in the Alcoa center cap withe the Alcoa lugs and fake acorn nuts. That combo with flat, satin, or even gloss black wheel coating would look pretty slick I.M.O.

Sully
77 royale
Seattle

Sent from my iPhone

[Carl Stouffer]

Robin,

A few years ago I found a set of six of the correct Firestone steel 16" wheels on the Tucson Craig's list for $50.00 (for the whole set). I mentioned it on this list and was immediately contacted by Peter Bailey, from Australia. Peter had been looking for a set of these for some time because 16.5" tires are not available where he lives, aand aftermarket wheels (ie. Alcoa or Eagle) make his coach 'custom' in the eyes of the local bureaucrats, and cause the tax to go up substantially.

The guy who had the wheels lived about 35 miles west of Tucson, and I drove out there and picked them up as soon as I could make arrangements. He said his father had bought them for a motorhome some time back, never installed them, and they were taking up space in his garage ever since. Steve F. later picked them up from me and got them to someone on the coast who, in turn, shipped them to Peter.

These wheels were not in perfect condition, but peter was very happy to have them. I'm not sure what he did with them, but having them sandblasted is not the only option, although it might be the easiest. you can attack them with a wire cup brush on a grinder, and paint them for a lot less money than sand blasting and powder coating. You could always add a stainless steel trim ring to them like James H. did and have them look really good.

I just got lucky (or I should say Peter did) by finding a set of those wheels, in such good shape, in a desert location, where they didn't get all rusty. Peter gave me $100.00 to cover the cost of the wheels, my gas, and my time (nu-necessary, by the way. I was glad to help).
--
Carl S.
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.

[B Grandoe]

Carl --you (and others here who would do the same) are EXACTLY the reason WE ALL LOVE this group! 
 What a great example you set by helping the next guy achieve his goal...not for personal gain, but to preserve the
legacy.  YOU TOTALLY ROCK!!


________________________________
From: Carl Stouffer <carl...@yahoo.com>
To: gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Used 16 inch rim price question.

[Carl Stouffer]

Thank you. My point was that there are deals to be had if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. Also there are less expensive alternatives for refinishing.

[Bruce Hart]

Steel wheels in my area go for $50 at the junk yards no mater what
condition. I needed 6 16" wheels and was able to get them for $40 as I was
buying in quantity. I had previously bought the 7th wheel to check the fit
on the drums and calipers.

At the local U-Pull-It they are $35 and you take the tire. I would have
had to pay to have the tire dismounted and pay to have the tire disposed
of. The $40 wheels was the better way to go.

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class

[James Hupy]

Carl, I know that hand sanding or wire brushing along with copious amounts
of elbow grease followed by degreaser and urethane paint will deliver low
cost high quality results. But that all takes time, a commodity that many
of us do not have a surplus of. I really really hate to polish wheels. I
sold my 61 Cadillac a few years ago when Mary first got sick. It had real
spoke wire wheels. The only way to polish those suckers was to remove them
from the car, bring em in the house on the coffee table in the living room
and make like the little shoe shine boy with chrome polish and a long strip
of polishing cloth. I miss the Cadillac but not those wheels. Same for the
Gmc. Hose the coach down, a quick swipe with the wash mitt, and you are
done. On to more important stuff. High quality powder coat is very durable.
On another note, the chrome on Gmc bumpers sucks. One of my customers lives
on the Oregon coast. The salt air raises heck with chrome. I took his
bumper to the chrome bandits and had them strip the plating. Then I took
them to line-X and they coated them with bed liner followed by a gloss uv
coating. Last time I saw them, they looked great. No polish on them either.
Different strokes for different folks.

Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Gmc Royale 403

[Chris Choffat]

Where were you last summer. I would have shipped 7 of them to you free plus LTL ($150 shipping) instead they are probably melted down by now... :roll:
--
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
"The Escape Pod" A 77 Ex-Kingsley Featuring: Olds 455, Manny Power Drive, 3:21, Rockwell, Jim B QJET, Quadra bag. Still needs paint!

Photosite: Chrisc "It has Begun"

[Matt Colie]

Let me tell you, if I had known what a PITA it was going to be to first locate and then get the wheels presentable, it would have changed my plans considerably. After the plan to buy new failed, and I could not find an international shipped to bring in the set I knew of in Toronto(iirc), I really am quite tired of this whole cluster ... arrangement. But, I finally have my 7 decent (not great) wheels and will start the transition to 16" next year.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie
'73 Glacier 23 Chaumière (say show-me-air) Just about as stock as you will find
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

[Carl Stouffer]

James Hupy wrote on Sun, 23 December 2012 10:09

> Carl, I know that hand sanding or wire brushing along with copious amounts
> of elbow grease followed by degreaser and urethane paint will deliver low
> cost high quality results. But that all takes time, a commodity that many
> of us do not have a surplus of.

> Different strokes for different folks.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 Gmc Royale 403
> On Dec 23, 2012 8:42 AM, "Carl Stouffer" <carl...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Thank you. My point was that there are deals to be had if you happen to
> > be in the right place at the right time. Also there are less expensive
> > alternatives for refinishing.
> > --
> > Carl S.
> > '75 ex Palm Beach
> > Tucson, AZ.
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Very true, Jim. But, some of us have more time than money, or seem to prefer to do things the hard way. I was just pointing out the alternative to the higher dollar approach. I went with aluminum wheels even though my coach came to me with a set of new looking 16" steel wheels (with covers), which I traded, in part, for the Eagles.

I probably would go the blasting route myself if I were trying to rehab some old steel wheels.

[Rob Mueller]

Carl,

Mark Bennett, up in Queensland had a GMC center section welded into a 16" outer rim.

I'm lucky The Blue Streak's PO bought a set of Alcoa's from JimB.

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Stouffer

Robin,

A few years ago I found a set of six of the correct Firestone steel 16" wheels on the Tucson Craig's list for $50.00 (for the whole
set). I mentioned it on this list and was immediately contacted by Peter Bailey, from Australia. Peter had been looking for a set
of these for some time because 16.5" tires are not available where he lives, aand aftermarket wheels (ie. Alcoa or Eagle) make his
coach 'custom' in the eyes of the local bureaucrats, and cause the tax to go up substantially.

The guy who had the wheels lived about 35 miles west of Tucson, and I drove out there and picked them up as soon as I could make
arrangements. He said his father had bought them for a motorhome some time back, never installed them, and they were taking up
space in his garage ever since. Steve F. later picked them up from me and got them to someone on the coast who, in turn, shipped
them to Peter.

These wheels were not in perfect condition, but peter was very happy to have them. I'm not sure what he did with them, but having
them sandblasted is not the only option, although it might be the easiest. you can attack them with a wire cup brush on a grinder,
and paint them for a lot less money than sand blasting and powder coating. You could always add a stainless steel trim ring to them
like James H. did and have them look really good.

I just got lucky (or I should say Peter did) by finding a set of those wheels, in such good shape, in a desert location, where they
didn't get all rusty. Peter gave me $100.00 to cover the cost of the wheels, my gas, and my time (nu-necessary, by the way. I was
glad to help).
--
Carl

[Mike Miller]

Robin Hood wrote on Sat, 22 December 2012 07:36
> I am on my way to a heavy truck junkyard. I'm looking for 16 inch rim. How much do new steel 16 inch rims cost? Used rims should be much cheaper, ...


You have been given good advice on steel wheels.

If you (or anyone else) pick up used rims, before spending the time and/or money to recondition the wheels, check them for "Roundness" and trueness.

You wouldn't want to find out they wobble after spending the time or money to make them look nice!

--
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
http://m000035.blogspot.com

[Carl Stouffer]

Rob, The rules must be different in your state. The way Peter was talking, he was going to save a small fortune on registration by running steel wheels vs Alcoas, even with all the costs of getting the wheels to him.

--
Carl S.
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.

[Rob Mueller]

Carl,

You are correct, the registration rules for vehicles is different is each state in Australia.

For example, in NSW you have to convert the GMC to RHD whereas in Queensland you don't.

Peter's black GMC was registered in NSW when he bought it. It came with Alcoa wheels on it, as I understand it he would have had to
show it came from the factory with those wheels or have an engineer provide a report that they were acceptable to use on a GMC. He
could fit the 16" tires off the Alcoa's to the steel wheels and pass inspection no questions asked.

I've Cc'd him directly on this response so he can correct me or provide details.

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Stouffer

Rob, The rules must be different in your state. The way Peter was talking, he was going to save a small fortune on registration by
running steel wheels vs Alcoas, even with all the costs of getting the wheels to him.
--
Carl

[Peter Bailey]

Rob/Carl
I am in debt to Carl and Steve in making it possoible for me to have a set of correct 16" steel wheels for 1 of my 2 GMC motorhomes. 16.5" tyres are not available anywhere in Australia.
At the time I was paying A$2800 a year for registration which in any ones thoughts is rediculous when the coach spends most of the year going no where, the possability was to put the coach on historic registration which would have had restrictions but was a much better A$300 a year registration cost. For Historic registration the coach has to be largely as it was sold out of the factory (which means no improvements etc.) and alloy wheels was a definate NO, hence steel 16" wheels needed to be found and there is no way I was going to find a set in Australia, alas the saviour Carl.
I have not used the wheels yet but most certainly will, I have been able to convince the authorities to reduce the registration charge to A$1200, it took 2 years and is a long story and will not bore you with it here.
In South Australia to get a GMC Motorhome approved for registration the requirements are.
(First and formost one must have Federal Road Transport approval to import the GMC motorhome to Australia in the first instance.)

1.MUST have an entrance door on the left side (in the rear would also be acceptable) Changing the vehicle structure which is ofcourse is necessary to fit a door to the left is against historic registration rulings immediate conflict to Aust. Design Rules (ADR) requirements.
2.Has to pass a roadworthy test, very comprehensive (my vehicle failed twice both times the park brake was not acceptable so I had to modify it to be more effective and I had to fit a door to the left side even though it was approved without it in NSW).
3.Headlights need to be changed to point to the left
4.Has to have ADR approved seat belts for all seat belt positions and in some passenger locations they are not acceptable without re configuring the seats to incorporate head rests (seats facing opposite to trave). All require appointed Engineers report on their approval and be fitted with an approved compliance plate stating the number of approve occupiable seats. A plan floor layout of the approved seat belt possitions must be displayed in a prominent position inside the vehicle.
5.Where LPG is installed for the house set up, MUST have Australin approved compliance papers supplied and can only be installed by a licenced gas fitter. 9kg bottle is the acceptable size (Barbecue bottle).
6.Conversion of electrics to 240volts has to have copliance papers provided and can only be issued by a fully licenced electrician and all power points are double poled and there must be a RCD installed.
7.The rear overhang (from the centre rear most wheels to the furthurest part of the rear structure)must not be more than 60% of the wheel base which would mean a stretch GMC which is the rear body section only would not be approved.
8.Width of the vehicle can not exceed 8'2"
9.In S. Aust. LHD is acceptable for vehicles built before December 31st 1979 so all CMC motorhomes are acceptable with the required approvals completed.
I have driven 1 of my GMCs LHD for 500+ miles and I would not want to continue doing that for the whole time of ownership I would have to convert to RHD which means my conversion for S.Aust. registration would have to have an approved engineers report on the conversion and would have to be fitted with a ADR compliace plate. Windscreen wipers need to be shifted to sweep the RH side of screen.
10.In S. Aust. a heavy vehicle license is required to drive a GMC as the state only accepts the factory comliace plate for the GVM of approx 12000lbs and I was told the only way they will accept anything less is that I have to get GM to approve it (AS IF). Mine ways 4.2 tons.
I know other states in Australia will accept a weigh bridge note showing a lesser weight of under 4.5 tons as being enough to bring the vehicle into a lesser catergory (which also means lower registration).

I am sure I probably have missed something but the most important things are covered and as you can predict from what I have stated to own a GMC motorhome in Australia is not one of the cheapest alternatives but it is what we wanted and I guess it is the same for all those other dozen or so owners in Australia.
Peter Bailey
from Ozy (Aussie)

[Rob Mueller]

G'day,

What Peter noted below is why I was over the moon when I found an Avion that had already been registered in NSW! The door wasn't
moved and I have NO idea how the PO got it registered. He did tell me NEVER to let it run out of registration!

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----

[A.]

Robert Mueller wrote on Sun, 23 December 2012 21:25

Just drive in reverse everywhere you go and the steering wheel and door will be on the correct side to be legal.

--
'73 23' Sequoia
UA (Upper Alabama)
"Time is money. If you use YOUR time, you get to keep YOUR money."

[Carl Stouffer]

Wow! My hat's off to you, Peter. You must REALLY love GMC Motorhomes to go to that much trouble to register one in Queensland!

--
Carl S.
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.

[Todd Sullivan]

Ha. Haha

Sully

Sent from my iPhone

[Johnny Bridges]

Gimme a (monetary) reason to advance my schedule.  I'm supposed to get my new aluminum wheels w/tyres Wednesday.  They go on the driver coach.  The set off it goes on the parts coach when I get a round tuit.  I go Starkburg the second (I think) weekend of Jan, I go Clemson the week before.  Clemson is day trippin'.  If there were incentive, I could bring the things to Starkville for the show there.  ?Tires are aged out, wheels are good.  PM me if you've an insterest.
 
--johnny

 

From: Robin Hood <lox...@gmail.com>
To: "gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org" <gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 10:36 AM
Subject: [GMCnet] Used 16 inch rim price question.

I am on my way to a heavy truck junkyard. I'm looking for 16 inch rim. How

much do new steel 16 inch rims cost? Used rims should be much cheaper, I
just want to make sure that I neither get ripped off nor insult the junk
yard guy. That is if I can even find any of the correct rims. GM 1 ton
trucks. Bowl shaped spider not truncated cone. Also want to keep an eye out
for the JC4 auxiliary vacuum pump to drive the brakes in case the engine
dies.

--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome

[Johnny Bridges]

ACK - belay that.  Mine are 16.5s (Originals). 
 
nevermind.
 
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Peter, the challenges of owning an GMC in spite of such restrictions earns you GMC Keeper of the month in my book. Wow.

How do the street rod boys cope? I have a bunch of folks from OZ on the metal shaping site and I haven't heard them talking about the same level of govermental hassle in spite of making much more modifications.

Peter Bailey wrote on Sun, 23 December 2012 20:41

--
Kerry Pinkerton

North Alabama, near Huntsville,

77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler

[Rob Mueller]

Kerry,

I'm not Peter and I'm not in South Australia but I'll fill you in on what the rules are in New South Wales.

The US Government has the Department of Transportation (DOT); Australia has the Department of Infrastructure and Transportation
(DOTARS). DOTARS issues the Australian Design Rules:

"The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) are national standards for vehicle safety, anti-theft and emissions. The ADRs are generally
performance based and cover issues such as occupant protection, structures, lighting, noise, engine exhaust emissions, braking and a
range of miscellaneous items."

Here's a link:

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/index.aspx

Both of these agencies are at the federal level.

Each of Australia's States / Territories also has regulations:

New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory (I believe they use NSW's regs)

The regulations are NOT the same in each state. New South Wales has the Transport Roads & Maritime Services Department which also
issue rules and regulations governing vehicles.

I have a workshop in an industrial park that has 50 units. Directly across from me is a workshop occupied by a fellow gear head. He
builds hot rods for a hobby then sells them. He just finished up turning an old Bedford truck into a rod. It had a Jaguar front
suspension, Chevy V-8, Holden trans, modified Bedford rear end and suspension. In order to be able to register the Bedford he had to
work under the supervision of an engineer that had a degree in automotive engineering who was approved and licensed by New South
Wales to approve custom built vehicles. By "under the supervision of" means that the engineer would look at how he had done
something and if it didn't meet regulations or his approval he would tell my neighbor how it had to be done. For example my neighbor
had bought a set of wheels that had an offset that brought the wheels out close to the edge of the fender. They had a wider offset
than the original wheels fitted to the Jaguar front end. That was unacceptable to the engineer and he had to buy a set with the same
offset. He ran the exhaust up through some 4" chrome pipes on either side of the cab; that was unacceptable because when they got
hot they could burn someone and he had to run it out the back.

Observations / comments:

What the metal shaping guys are doing might not require approval by an engineer to get the vehicle registered.

I suspect the guys in OZ are "used" to the "hassle" and just live with it because that's the way it is.

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder

-----Original Message-----
From: Kerry Pinkerton

Peter, the challenges of owning an GMC in spite of such restrictions earns you GMC Keeper of the month in my book. Wow.

How do the street rod boys cope? I have a bunch of folks from OZ on the metal shaping site and I haven't heard them talking about
the same level of govermental hassle in spite of making much more modifications.

Kerry

[Peter Bailey]

Carl,
I live in Gawler South Australia not in Queensland and Brisbane the capital of Queensland (near the bottom of the state) is 2000kms (eg Tucson AZ to Kansas City MO) from where I live and Cairns further north in Queensland is 3000kms (eg Tucson AZ to Columbus OH) from where I live so I also would be taking my hat off to congratulate myself if I was to comply a GMC motorhome for registration in Queensland.
Rob is right street rods and hot rods have to be approved by a certified engineer in all its aspects of building such a vehicle.
You can not import a motor vehicle for registration in Australia if it is modified from original if manufactured prior to December 31st 1989. Which as an example a GMC motorhome with 4 bagger suspension should not be allowed into Australia being that they are not common here the authorities would not know if you don't tell them..
You can not import a motor vehicle for registration into Australia manufactured later than December 31st 1989 unless it is a vehicle approved for low volume compliance and then it has to be imported by a company approved by the Department of Road Transport for importing that vehicle. Not all vehicles available for importing have approval to be imported into Australia due to low popularity and the approval requirements for the low volume compliance is expensive. eg late model mustangs and comaros are popular so there are more approved Importers/Workshops and the cost is evident as one of those vehicles for sale here new would be A$120,000. The approved company has to carry out all the modifications to meet the required Australian Design Rules for that year make and they all have to be RHD.
Give you an example of a car that most would be familiar with that would not be approved to be driven on the road in Australia and that is Dan Gregg's VW beetle.
You guys are very lucky with what you can do to modify and make your older vehicles more appealing.
Some Examples:
Without appropriate engineers approval
Can not fit engines larger than available for the model (some larger capacity engines are approved but the larger capacity allowable would be no more than 30%
Wider wheels no more than 1" wider track
Rolling diameter of tyre and rim not to exceed original.
Exhaust standard factory size and catalyct converters must not be removed where fitted (have to be replaced if worn out)
Lowered suspension is very minimal and has to be reset springs not lowering blocks or just cutting out coils.
Raised suspension (as seen everywhere in USA)would need engineers calculations and approval.
No wheel tyre combination to protrude outside the body line.
In the case of turbo cars no blow off valves
No after market tinting to front windscrean and percentage of tint darkness is minimal to side and rear windows.
Steering wheels must be of the diameter supplied for the make.
And so it goes on and on so I will stop here as it is depressing me just thinking of the restrictions we have placed on us in the 'Lucky Country'
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and hope everything you wish for, for the coming new year comes to being that and more.

Peter Bailey
from Ozy (Aussie)

[Ken Henderson]

Peter,

It's always stuck me as strange that a people in a "new land" would have
already become so over-burdened with bureaucracy -- I like to think it
takes longer for "them" to take over. And considering the history of your
population makes the anomaly even more striking. Until visiting your
country, and since then communicating with you GMCers, I'd tended to think
of Oz as more like our "Wild West" -- NOT one of the long-tamed,
over-regimented European or Asian countries.

I was disappointed. But not as much as I am by the similar avalanche of
"protection" to which we've been submitting for the past 20+ years. We're
eliminating independence and freedom of thought, along with the innovation
it fosters.

Sorry - not a pleasant chain of thought for today!

Ken H.


On Tue, Dec 25, 2012 at 5:59 AM, Peter Bailey wrote:
...

> And so it goes on and on so I will stop here as it is depressing me just
> thinking of the restrictions we have placed on us in the 'Lucky Country'
>

...

[Kerry Pinkerton]

So we won't see Mad Max if we make it to Oz?

--
Kerry Pinkerton

North Alabama, near Huntsville,

77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler

[Ronald Pottol]

Now we know why it happened.

Ron

[Carl Stouffer]

Wow! They really make it hard to be an auto enthusiast downthere don't they? Fortunately for us, we have organizations like SEMA that look out for our freedoms and interests, but it is still a constant battle. I lived in PA for five years, during my 8th grade through high school years, and they have much more restrictive rules about modifications there than they do here in AZ. It seems that, if you meet a few minimum requirements here, almost anything goes. Pretty much all my vehicles would be illegal in Australia, except for (maybe) my Dodge Truck,with the only mod being a 4" Flowmaster "muffler".

Sorry for the mix up on your location, I made an assumption based on what Rob had said. I guess I misunderstood.

--
Carl S.
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.

[Rob Mueller]

Ken,

I agree that "bureaucracy" places burdens on a lot of things. Here's my take on the Aussie vehicle requirements.

At the Pueblo GMCMI Convention I had a chat with Bill Bramlet and he too felt that the rules that exist here are onerous. I noted
through the eyes of someone like himself (a very skilled and conscientious mechanic) it would appear so. I then asked him over the
length of his career hadn't he seen vehicles that were built by shade tree mechanics that he wouldn't drive on a bet? He thought for
a minute and noted that I had a point.

As I typed this something else came to mind; - what's almost a universal complaint when it comes to our GMCs?

Shonky (shoddy) work done by PREVIOUS OWNERS!

When I drove The Blue Streak back to Sydney from the NSW countryside I had a hell of a time keeping it on the road. Once I started
trying to rectify the problem I found:

1) The brand new tires turned out to be "P" (Passenger car) tires not "LT" light truck and inflated to 45 psi.

2) Neither axle nut was tightened to the correct spec, the passenger side came loose the instant I hit the trigger on my rattle gun
(impact wrench). The driver side was FINGER TIGHT! Further investigation revealed that the bearings had been replaced and the old
spacer used. I reckon that when they tightened up the axle nut to the spec the wheel wouldn't rotate so the bearings were set like
you set the rear wheel bearings.

3) The hub shaft the bearings ride on was worn, out of round, and tapered.

4) The driver side knuckle bearing bore was full of center punch marks to create a tight fit for the bearings.

5) The passenger side knuckle bearing bore was scarred up badly where someone had remove the bearings with a chisel.

6) The rubber in the idler arm and relay lever was shot.

7) The shocks were neither Bilstein nor KYB; they were Monroe and they were for passenger cars or trucks.

I could go on for a fair amount but I reckon I've made my point.

I do agree that additional regulations only effect mechanics that follow the regulations. What I can't figger out is how the PO got
The Blue Streak registered in NSW without moving the door across to the other side; maybe he had a Mate in the RTA or paid someone a
backhander (bribe). ;-)

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder

PS - I have used a bunch of Aussie slang terms in this message with the Yank words in parenthesis following them.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Henderson

Peter,

It's always stuck me as strange that a people in a "new land" would have
already become so over-burdened with bureaucracy -- I like to think it
takes longer for "them" to take over. And considering the history of your
population makes the anomaly even more striking. Until visiting your
country, and since then communicating with you GMCers, I'd tended to think
of Oz as more like our "Wild West" -- NOT one of the long-tamed,
over-regimented European or Asian countries.

I was disappointed. But not as much as I am by the similar avalanche of
"protection" to which we've been submitting for the past 20+ years. We're
eliminating independence and freedom of thought, along with the innovation
it fosters.

Sorry - not a pleasant chain of thought for today!

Ken H.

[Ronald Pottol]

Once the vehicle is legal in the USA you can do what you want, damn near.

Getting it here is another matter, it is essentially impossible to import a
car, and it has been for over 20 years, due to our smog laws. Just ask Bill
Gates about his Porche 959, I don't think he was ever able to get it
registered here.

Ron

[Johnny Bridges]

Ah, they're easy... as long as they're 1967 model year or older!  Newer than that, it's going to have to meet US smog and safety laws, though the safety ones can usually be waived on an individual basis.   If it was nebver certificated in this country (like the 959), it may not be possible even with Gates' pocket to get it certificated.  They'd insist it meet the spec for the model year, and I believe hold that spoec for 50K miles.  Which I doubt a 959 would meet anyhow, poarticularly the crank and idle till warm emissions.  I'm told it's close to impossible to control engine temp in an air cooled engine closely enough to make this happen, maybe some of the test engineers will chime in on this.
 
--johnny
-76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach

From: Ronald Pottol <ronald...@gmail.com>
To: gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 9:52 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Used 16 inch rim price question.

[Larry Engelbrecht]

959? Why bother? The 917-30 is WAY faster. With his money, it's certainly doable (Otis Chandler, among others have made them street legal). Of course, being an earlier model year helps.
--
Larry Engelbrecht
'73 26' ex-Glacier
TZE063V100319 030773