ts; Cortez .

National

11[]22 EAST DAINES DRIVE, TEMPLE IllY, ,CALIFORNIA 91780 • (818) 444-B03O • [8181448-9225.

Jan & Tony Nato, Editors

July 1990

}<'ROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Either we aregetting older nr we are having a Iotof fun astime seems to passmore quickly, Already, we are just a couple uf months away from celebrating The. 17th National Cortez Rally. It is that one yearly event that allows Cortezzers from all over the' U.S. and Canada the-opportunity to gel together, make- new friendships and renew old, exchange news and ideas, and in general, have a Cortezzingly good time.

The rally site for this year'S convention is the Ventura Beach RV Resort in Ventura, California and the dates - October 3, 4, 5. and 6, 11)90. With the FMCA's First Annual Fall International C()nvenlio~ scheduled fur the California State Fairgrounds inSacramento September 28. 29. 30. 19l)(). Cortezzcrs will be able 10 conveniently attend both conventions.

We will have the usual line-up of activities and events. many of which have become a regular part of each National Rally, plus the """,,~'onveniences arid facilitiesof the campground.

Tne rally f",e this year is $65 per coach. II represents the amount which we have determined necessary, on a per coach basis, to cover the parking for the four days and all of the many and varied expenses incurred in pulling on The National Rally. For your convenience, a pre-registration card is included with this newslener. Please be sure to respond and return it to The National prior to the September Rth cut -off date so that we will know how many sites to reserve,

As was noted in our previous newsletters, a Special Eastern Regional Cortez Rally was put together by Joe & Caryl Harton or the Florida Cortez Club. The Regional allowseasternarea Conezzcrs to get together. those who. for reasons of lime and distance, would be unable to make it to the 17th National in California. The site for the Regional is the Kentucky Horse Park Campground in Lexington, Kentucky and the dates are July 16. 17.18, and 19. IYS!O. Although the Regional is just a few days away, those in the cast can still catch the Regional in Lexington,

Cortez caravanning is always a very pleasant way to. travel. Whether it he twoor ten. the fun and camaraderie of traveling with other ':'ortezzers will not only make the trip more

~tljoyable. but it abo provides for mutual assistance, should the need arise, Communicating. while in caravan or traveling solo, can add both enjoyment and security to your [rip. All Cortezzers should have

a CB radii} in their coach. By just monitoring or listening tothe CB. you will be able to acquaint yourself with the active road and local channels, The National has opted to use channel 12 as a hailing orcalling channel. If you are on another channel, and one usually is, switch tochannel 12 when you see another Cortezzer to make eontacr or nearing camp.

We have a good mix of material in this issue dealing with service and repair, lips and ideas, a Suburban furnace update, a few travel suggestions and product information, some recent publications anti suggested reading material. and a number of new members to introduce.

A recenrinquiry regarding the interior cclling headliner and ribbing was forwarded !O AI Canada. His reply, Cortez Headliner Alternative, details the "how 10" of the project. The Service Technical Information Manual, better knowri as STlM, has been around for some time. It is a manual that should be in every Clark owner's library. Harland Ranney has done some research 01] the Clark inner windlace and found a source, He asks that other owners interested in obtaining the inner windlace contact him. If your battery tends to lose its charge in a week to len days of inactivity. then the item on Battery Drain may get you stilted in the right direction. Proper tire care is especially important and the object of the article, Tire Safety. excerpted from-a booklet put nut by the Tire Safety Council. Marvin Kernel of Winnipeg, Manitoba is the first Cortezzer to take advantage of The Nati~ars new fax capability with his item, On The Road. Fred Franke. in his column, provides a history lesson and previews Hernando's.Rideaway, the informal annual trek into old Mexico. 1f you haven't as yet traveled South Of The Border, why not join with the regulars un Hernando's Rideaway.

Once again we want to thank all of those who contributed to this issue of the newsletter and hopethat many more of you wiJI do the same and share your knowledge and experiences. We also want to express our thanks and appreciation to Joe &' Caryl Harton of Del.and, Florida for Wagonmastering the Special Eastern Regional Cortez Rally,

THE 17TH NATIONAL

The 17th National Cortez Rally will be held at the Ventura Beach RV Resort in Ventura. California on October 3, 4, 5. and 6, 1990, At mat time of year the weather can be expected to

be cool and breezy,

The resort has a store, game room, laundry. pool and spa.rand the rec hall will be reserved for our entire stay. You can enjoy volleyball, horseshoe pitching, bicycle riding (there are miles or paved bike trails nearby}, and walks on the beach. There are many places of both a general and historical interest in the area. In Ventura you will find the California Mission and other historical sites; the harbor for fishing, boat rentals, harbor tours, and excursions to.the Channel Islands; and the quaint. refurbished downtown area with its shops, boutiques, and weekly Fanner's Market.

We will have the usual line-up of activities and events - morning coffee klatches and evening happy hours, Cortez mechanics forums and seminars. swap meet, open house, craft sessions and displays, and campfire programs. On-our first evening, Wednesday,.Ocrober 3rd we will. have a fancy hors d'oeuvres happy hour instead of an evening pot-luck dinner. Be prepared [0 provide one of your favorite culinary delights for the hOI'S d' oeuvres table,

Bring your art.icraft. and hobby items; Cortez parts and related items for the swap meet; informational material for the mechanic's forums and seminars; club or individual phOto albums of Cortez trips and outings; sunshades and hats; folding tables and chairs; and whatever you would normally take to the beach, 1'hcela.:trical outlets at the campground are of the 30-arnp and 50-amp variety so be sure to bring along your adaptors. a multiple outlet and a: heavy duty extension cord.

The rally fee is $65 and covers parking and all of the expenses incurred in putting on the convention. For your convenience, a preregistration card is Included with this newsletter. Please be.sure to respond and return it to The National prior to the September 8th cut-off dale sowe will know how many sites to reserve.

You are welcome to arrive early or stay over after the rally, however, any such arrangements must be made directly with the campground, The complete address is Ventura. Beach RV Reson. soo W. Main s.. Ventura, CA .93001, B05-643-9137. The resort is just off the freeway. Traveling south on Hwy 101 to Ventura, exit at Main St., tum right into the campground. Traveling north on Hwy 101 to Ventura, take the California St. exit, turn right and go to Main St; at Main St., tum left and take MainSt. for 2'miles to the campground entrance.

• THE SHADE TREE MECHANIC

CORTEZ HEADLINER ALTERNATIVE

This is in reply to the inquiry regarding the headliner treatment that I had done 0[1 our previous Cortez. a '64 Clark model. The headliner on the coach was pretty well trashed and the roof had been walked-on, so as to require,considerabJejaeking back into its original shape and curves. The new headliner of IJ8ci nch thick (perhaps -aearer 3!16thsJ pre finished plywood p~vided a clean new' look, withstood bumps 'and scrapes, was easy to wipe clean, and opened up. the tunnel-look afforded by the curving of the old headliner at the overhead side cabinets, I also used a piece of the same paneling ro rctace the refrigerator door. This added to the overall bright effeci and gave a nice custom look In the interior.

A new headliner can be readily installedin the Clark Madel 10 replace the perforated paperboard factory material with prefinishcd 1/8-inch to 3Jl6-inch thick plywood. A wide range of finishes and colors are available iii. this material. Full sheets, 4-foot by lHoot, are used, cut in width and length, relative to the coach ceiling spacings of the stee 1. ceiling cross-members In the exposed roof. Seams or edges between plywood panels come out about every 4 feet along the length of the coach. New or additional insulation and any wiring adaptations are easily installed during this modification. Ash wood molding in 1/4- inch by 3J4-inl'h and l/4-inch hy 2-inch sizes with oval-head screws and cup washers are used 10 cover the seams across the coach ceiling and to fasten the assembly to the appropriate metal ceiling cross-member,

It would.appear possible to accomplish.the same type of headliner replacement with sheets of 1/1 Ii-inch thick Formica or similar prod uct , However, to accommodate the compound curves in the front part of the coach ceiling the plywood yields more easily to forcing the headliner sheet into the curves.

Placing sheers cut to coach width and cross-member spacing back to front on the 'coach is easy. at the rear of the coach. The panel can be raised against packed fiberglass insulanon and slipped into place over the top of the close; and. lavatory wuod partitions which avoids marring the prefinished surface of the panels. At some places. the cross seams between panels need La be first hacked by it wider molding strip.Itself fastened 10 a C"lSSmember using flat-head wood screws at the panel edges to that backing strip. Once the headliner panels arc in place, a narrow molding strip is used with stainless, oval-head sheet-metal screw, and cup washers to prov ide a complete finish.

At the overhead cabinets with their sliding doors, rather than trying to bend the plywood panel to fit in the lower groove iii the aluminum molding that forms the top rail and door guide of the cabinet, the cabinet supporting sl;fews are loosened to permit the panelto slip in above the aluminum iop rail. This provides a more squared off modem and open' look to the coach interior. Then ash wood molding is fastened with screws and cup washers into the wide groove of the aluminum top rail fora finished effect.

From the from ceiling vent forward, in the coach ceiling, filling becomes a little more difficult with {he cnmpound curves. Large screws and washers may be used around the ceiling vent to pull in and secure a panel being molded to the cross-member curves. These are later hidden by the wide bezel piece for the ceiling vent, At the front over the windshield, it is necessary [0 provide a sharp angle comer in ihe: headliner, running in an 'arching curve approximately from the windshield-shade bracket to bracket. Then a separate piece is cut to fit thecurved arch of the forward .edge of the last large headliner panel. Cutting a cardboard pattern to make thiscomplex tit is helpful before conuiiitting a piece of finished paneling. To hack this joint or seam in the headliner, several short pieces of galvunizedsheetmetal are beruto the-angle at that point and the panel edges secured by flat-head sheet metal screws and then a molding strip with (Ivai-head screws <J,I1d cup washers,

This leaves IWO long trapezium shaped pieces 10 be fined to the remaining gaps in the headliner over the two doors. Again. sheet metal backing strips are filled to the curved angled jointbetween the main forward headliner and the trapezium shaped fill over the doors.

Al Canada '73 Cortez Grants Pass. OR 97526

SUBURBAN FURNACE UPDATE

Back in December, 1981 Suburban Manufacturing Company of Dayton, Tennessee issued a recall notice (#81E-015) of certain models of its ga~ furnaces. The furnacesaffected were models NT-I7, NT-20. NT-22. or NT-30, all suffixes .cxcept M, manufactured between June, 1970 and January. 1977 and hearing serial numbers between 00li41181 and 0715X65. It was determined that these furnaces were likely 10 be in coaches manufactured between 1970 and 1977. but some may have been installed in vehicles manufactured 'subsequent to thai dale.

Tn the recall, Suburban stated that on

2

luly 199Q

occasion there has been cracking which might leadto separation of the connector tube located between the intake air blower and combustion chamber. Tube separation in conjunction with inadequate sealing or resealing of the exhaust tube at the vehicle skin or other conditions may allow carbon monoxide to enter the living space of the vehicle.

Suburban sent notices to alJ known owners involved, as records would permit, and The National, as did other RV publications, advised their readers of the recall notice. It is possible-that some owners may nnt have known of the recall or whether the modification was taken care of by the previous owner,either specifically or during routine maintenance at a service center.

The replacement kit consists of a new reinforced connector rubetldennfied with a red stripe), an exhaust gasket, instructions, and .a decal. The decal, stating "Equipped with part number 050588" was to be placed on the outside cabinet front, in the upper right hand corner to serve as. an indication that the modification had been done.

. -Chcck.the model and ~ number ~w:r ""'" Suburban furnace. The numbers are located.on

'the furnace name plate attached to the cover

on the combustion chamber or on the furnace housing.

If you have anyquestions, want a.copy of the recall notice, or a list of service centers, contact Suburban Manufacturing Co .. P.O. Box 399, DiiylOn, TN 37321, 615-775c0516. Of note to Southern California Cortez owners, R & J Enterprises has advised The National that they have been authorized by Suburban for the modification and already have done several units. Their address is: 14258 'valley Blvd .. Unit a, La Puente, CA 91746, 818-330- 0096.

TIRE SAFETY

Tire Industry Safety Council Chairman, Thomas E. Cole, reminds RVers that with the summer driving season in full swing, it's essential to check for under inflated and overloaded tires to help avoid poor vehicle handling and excessive heat buildup, which can cause tire failure and accidents.

Since most recreational vehicles are out of service during the Winter months, proper lire care is especially important. RV owners should Check their tires at least once a rnontl ~.l and at the start of an extended trip for recommended tire inflation pressures. Owners should have their own accurate tire pressure .gauge as-those at some service stations may

give inaccurate readings due to exposure or

JI,dy 1990.

abuse. Tires should be checked regularly for excessive or irregular wear, bulges, fabric breaks, or CU\l;.

Cole said that vehicle overloading is the leading cause of tire failure. RV owners should

'-'check their vehicle's weight after it has been fuily loaded for <l trip. This check can be pcrfonned at a truck weigh station. Be sure to weigh each axle of the loaded vehicle separately.

The council also offers RV owners the following tips: Keep tires properly inflated. Recommended pressures are always based on cold conditions. Heat generated during driving temporarily increases air pressure above. the recommended level. This is normal: SO; never "hleed" or reduce air pressure when the tires are hot. Always check tire inflation. including the spare, after long storage periods. Inspect damaged tires carefully. Before repairing a flat .tire , have it removed from the rim and inspected for internal damage by ali experienced tire technician. Drive with care. Prevent excessive heat buildup and uneven tread wear by avoiding high speeds. hard cornering, rapid starts, sudden stops, and frequent driving on surfaces that are in poor condition.

For a free copy of the Recreational Vehicle Consumer Tire Guide, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to RV Guide. Box18DL Washington, D.C. 20013.

FUEL SYSTEM

The engine's fuel and distribution system is the topic of Brian Robertson's Maintenance Plus column in the July. 1990 issue of Motor+lome magazine. Briar! says that the fuel system is made up of just a few simple parts and as such maintenance is quite easy. Often taken for granted because of its simplicity, little attention is paid to the fuel system until something goes wrong. The article begins with an overview of the. system and then follows through with tips and suggestions for a suitable maintenance program. The article is well worth reading and adding to your Cortez service file.

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM The Saturday Mechanic article, What To Do When Your Car Overheats. (Popular Mechanics - June, 1990) is a primer on engine overheating problems and how to avoid them. Author Paul Stenquist's topics include diagnosis, preliminary checks, cooling system pressure test, internal coolant leaks, unexplained boilover, circulation checks, and cooling system blockage. The text and illustrations will provide you with a good

. workingknowledge of the engine cooling

'-"system and how to. keep it running cool. The four-page article is one that you will want to cut out of the magazine and add to your 'Cortez information library.

CLARK INNER WINDLACE

I have had a rubber manufacturing company reproduce the inner windlace for the Clark model coaches. My '66 tan foam was virtually shot and I wanted a product that would correctly seal the door. Some have used attractive tan cloth-covered Chrysler windlace as may have been standard on the Kent models. A friend with that product advises me that it really doesn't seal correctly due to the location of the rubber bulb and the Uvshaped channel.

Due In manufacturing costs. it. was necessary to go with dense rubber extrusion versus the uriginal foam rubber. It also is black in color versus the original tan, but this actually compliments George Blackmore's outer windlace. Anyone interested should send me II stamped, self-addressed envelope (35 cents postage for bulkiness) and I will send a small piece for examination.

It takes approximately 36 feet to do a three door coach and due to the probable interest, 1 can't order a huge amount; Hence the manufacturing cost will result in $150.00 costper set. postage paid. This will cover the footage cost and part of the. die cost. IfI get ten orders, I c an refund $10 per person. Those interested should write to me: Harland Ranney, 1621 Lcesdale CL. Ft. Collins, CO 80521

ON THE ROAD

We took our '65 Cortez on an .8,000 mile trip this past winter from Winnipeg, Canada to Tepic, Mexico. The coach performed beautifully, even in' the mountains. We did, however, break rwofronr shocks. I would caution anyone using the current (Monroe) shocks to check the ride height, You may find them io be bottom ing out and near the breaking point.

When travel ingi n Mexico and using campground electricity, always test the outlets first. We found hot grounds, reversed neutrals, etc. A reliable tester with L.E.D. lights can be purchased fur under $6.

On the subject of wheels and tires, I am using the original l e-inch split rim wheels wi th 235/85R 16E U niroy al tires and have encountered no problems.

Marvin Kernel '65 Cortez

Winnipeg, MB, R2W 224-

BATTERY DRAIN

A question was asked of Auto Q & A columnist Paul Weissler (Home Machariix - June, 1990) regarding a problem of a dead battery 'if the vehicle was not used for as little a lime as ten days. It was obvious to the reader that there was a current drain, one which he was unable to find, and asked fnr suggestions.

3

Columnist Weissler agreed and stated that a short in one of the vehicle's accessories is to blame. Paul suggested the following, "To pinpoint Ihe faulty circuit, begin by disconnecting the. cable from the; battery's negative terminal. After making sure that the vehicle 's doors arc closed and accessories are off. connect a l2cvoJt test light between the negative terminal and battery cable clamp. The lig.ht will probably glow, indicating that there's a current leak. Then have a helper pull each accessory-circuit fuse one a! a lime. When the test light goes out, you have found the problem circuit. If the wiring for that circuit is uccessiblc.check its insulation for cuts or cracks and wrap the damaged area with electrical tape".

Long cable or wire runs may develop a small amount of resistance and cause a dr~in. They can be similarly checked with a test meter. It should alsn be noted that many of the accessories and gadgets today " radios, clocks, etc. - require a few mi Is of current continuously to maintain memory- and/or function circuits. Such should be taken into consideration during resting and analysis.

SCENIC BYWAYS

Falcon Press of Helena, Montana has just released National Forest Scenic Byways, a new guidebook covering America's first.50 national forest scenic byways. Author Beverly Magley traveled throughout the country researching. the byways and gathered cornr ibution s from local writers. The guidebook features detailed. full-page maps, photos of each byway. and descriptive information incl ud ing location, travel season. visitor centers hi stor ic sites, recommended side trips. and outdoor recreation that visitors can enjoy along the route. The book retails for $9.95 and is available at bookstores or by calling Falcon PressaI800-582-BOOK.

RVTVSHOW

A new RV travel teie v i s ion series produced by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association debuted on July 7th on TNN. The Nashville Network. Entitled "Going OuT Way", the 30.min.uto; program will take viewers to fascinating travel destinations and give insider's tips on enjoying the RV lifestyle. Hosting the. program will be popular country music singer Jim Brown and his wife Becky. As hosts of Going Our Way, the Brown's will tour some of America's most popular and scenic travel destinaiions by RV. Each 3D-minute program will feature RV trips to two distinctly different locations and a segment on practical information and tips for RVers. Going Our Way will air on Saturdays and Thursdays at I PM (Eastern) on TNN, The Nashville Network.

lilly 1990"

SALUDOS.AMIGQS:

IN THIS COLUMN (then callcdEI Penodico) several months ago, we-described our most recent trip down-into old 'Mexico, .mentiened rathercasually that we'd probably be going again this year and' that anyone interested.in j oining ouri nfoni1al group would be verY welcome,

Since .then there have-been numerous inquiriesconcerning this-sojourn to the South, originally (way back about i 9(5) called "Hernando's Rideaway", For anyone who's never been into Mexico, we firmly believe this Will be an excellent time to get started. If you're interested, you might re-read January's Cortez National,

Bui first a little history: The large body of water between the-Mexican mainland and the long. peninsul ato the west; is-known most commonly as the Sea of Cortez although some maps show it as the Gulf of California. Naturally, 'we prefer the former.

HOW DID IT GET THIS NAME? you may wonder, Well, as we recall, our heroic namesake, as with most all the explorers of his time, was .constantly secklngmeans to not only enrich himself and his underlings. but to continue. to. receive the support of thepowers back horne. Hispositio.n as governor. of Mexico Was' quite precarious and unless the king and queen ·of Spain were kept happy with more treasurefrom tne New World, Hernando Cortez would be outof a job. '

Therefore.iwhen he heard that there were pearls galore being harvested and wasted by the ignorant natives on that western peninsula, it became the next move on his agenda. The quantity of the peatl s had. been grossly exaggerated and the source was soon exhausted, nevertheless Cortez crossed the sea and it came to bear his name, And it's quite a body of water; ton; much larger than any of our Great Lakes.

Incidentally, the name Cortez is spelled both with the letters Z and'S and this is because those letters are-pronounced very much the same. According to my little dictionario: "In Castilian Spanish Z is .similarto the THin this; but 'in Spanish America it is commonly pronounced as the S in sane". Also, the Spw1ishS,"whal final in a syllable orword. is weak: and brief', .'

Legend has. it thai one of the kings of .Spain, Philip; I think, was affected witha lisp and his court, always anxious to please-and not ·offend his majesty, imitated with a, similar manner M speech and it crept into' the language; hence the softness of those

pronunciations, For further important happenings reported here in TCN; you might also go back and re-read the March J 985 issue in which o~r sub-heading was "Sex and Cortez".Hcwas a very busy guy.

BUT NOW TO RETURN TO OUR TIMES;. we'll anend the. 17th .National Cortez Rally' at Ventura, CA which ends Saturday, October 6th, The followingrnorning, we.Tl head eastward on Hwy iOlthen onto 1-10 all the way to Buckeye, Arizona, where we' it turn southontoHwy l:!S,straightdo.v.to to Gila Bend. This is the bestplaceto gas up if you have less than half a tank, do any last minute shopping and to pick np your mandatory Mexican insurance. Unlessyou intend to be driving-your coach after you've entered the RVpaik, you'll onlyneed it fortheone day going in and .the one day out - about $6 each day:

From Gila Bend it's &0 miles south through the towns of AjoandWhy.tthat's right.WH Y, but don't ask), the OrganPipe Cactus National MOnument 'and then the border town of Lukeville. This is where you'Il have your last chance to buy anything in the. U.S., including 4e.af~.i==.¥oo=~ ptso'; while in Mexico, our Norte'Americauo dollars are very welcome.

From there. it's a mere 62 miles to our destinauon or Puerto Penasco, or Rocky Point. on the Seaof Cortez. The road is good but without the wide shoulders. we're accustomed to in the u.s. so we-drive about 55 - 60. Unless otherwise signposred, the speed limit is 62 KMH - tha.t's KiLOMETERS. (Mexico. like most other modem countries of the world, uses the Metric System, Gasoline is sold by the liter. riot by the gallon. )

THF;TOTAL DISTANCE FROM VENTURA is less than 600 miles but we'll slop overnight somewhere along the wayperhaps 'Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It's. not udvisuble .\0 drive i'n Mexico after dark - cows and other pedestrians without lights sometimes wander alol)g the road. Because this is not an organized tour, however, we'll leave the planning up 10 the individuals concerned. Thc same goes for caravanning: some will. and 'some Won 't - .it's up toyou.

Once there, we 'Il be staying again at the same place' as before (Beach of Gold) where we've always enjoyed full hookups, pure well water and other U.S, style amenities, After ten days or so we'Il head for home in-order to attend the monthl.yr.ally of our Northern California Cortez Club.

JUST TODAY \6-6) ALETTER CAME

4

FROM Playa de Oro inquiring whether our group wants reservations again-in October. "I have enclosed a brochure," the leiter continued, "with our telephone number on it so you may .call me if you prefer .. ." Signed, LE.E FINLEY,

Manage~ . .

The brochure is quite complete with an excellent map of the' town, its principal points (hospital, churches, theater, gas, bakery, Corona beer, drug store, beauty shop, etc.) and

a reservation form. . ."

.Peis are-okaybutmustbe kept ona leach and are strictly not. alln wed on thebeach, as neither are dune buggies. cycles, & ATVs.

'·All spaces ate approximately 25 ted wide and have full hook-up, including safe well water. Hot showers in rest rooms arc metered. 25c forS minutes. In laundry, washers. are SOC, dryers are 25c ....

Rates are $11 daily, $70 weekly and $2,25 monthly. Mail address - PLAYA de ORO~ APDO No. 76,PUERTA PENASCO, SONORA ll/IEXICO. Telephone, Direct Dial 01 i c52c638c3-26c68

"Please givearrival and departure dales and

~,t.mxl~.,~.~ ....

reply, any request should be. postmarked at .

leastthiee weeksprior toarrival date,"

As in past ye.ars, wE! make' our reservations individually and mention that we are with the Cortez RV Club so that we can he parked 'together. Otherwise, because Playa de Oro covers. a sizable area you could fi'iid yourself quite adistancerernoved from our group.

WHAT TO DO AFTER WE GET THERE? Well, some spend all their time fishing and some spend all their time shopping. Many of us simply want-to bethereto enjoy the. three 8's; sun; sand & swlmrnins Otherwise, however, it's rnost lyu do-i~~ 'yoursdfthing just like ai our rallies ~ including the eating. drinking and making merry. Similarly, there's.usually some fixing OJ improving of our Cortezes with theusual

• plentiful supplyof knowhow and spare pans amongst U~, For real serious things, Iike weldins or whatever. there are a lotof expert Mexican mechanics in thenearhvtnwn. With a: fishing fleet of its size (very big) the local boatyards and machine shops are a busy industry,

Well, Companeros de Cortez, there vou have it - now you know about all we can say in

this limited space. Come to HERNANDO'S . RIDEAWAY,sec: and enjoy for yourselves. ...;i

Adios: kan& fred

S.T.I.M. MANUAL

It has been some tirnes'ince we have mentioned the ST.I.M. Manual here in the newsletter. For the benefit of those who may ~,ot know what the S . .T.I.M. Manual is, here is an excerpt from the preface written by Col. Dick Thayer.

"The Cortez Motorhome is the greatest rnotorborne cverbuilt. In addition to its original superb design and engineering, another reason for its greatness is the tender loving care lavished on it by its owners. The manual, titled ·'1963·· 1969 Clark Cortez Service' & Technical Informal ion Manual" (STIM). has been put together for these-welldeserving owners.

STIM is a col le crinn 'of service and technical reports, articies, opinions, and other documents on how to service, care for, and improve the Cortez motorhome, vintage 1963 through 1969. These were written by dozens of dedicated owners, enthusiasts, and engineers of ihe now defunct Clark Division o(Clark Equipment Company and its subsequent; The Cortez Corporation.

As originally intended, STIM was to be primarily applicable to the Clark generation Corteze s manufactured during the years 1963 through 1968, however, much of the material can also he applied to the 1969 mod-els whIch are considered a halfgener aunu removed from. those earlier TIodels. particularly The Standard (6 cyl.)

...:a.cortez which is quite similar. The Deluxe (V·~) 1969 model, except for its manual transmission. is more related to the 1971 and later models:'

The, S,T.LM. Manual was conceived by Fred Franke who enlisted Col. Dick Thayer to pilot the project and act as Editor. It was sponsored by the Northern California Cortez Club and El Pcr ionico , and published by Hc1en and Walter Anrwiler in 1977. In 1980 when all original copies were gone. The National was granted permission to publish the manual for the benefit of all Cortczzers. No Cortez owner of the Clark model coach should be without the S.T.l.M. Manual, It is the ONLY Cortez service manual available 10 you.

For a copyofthe S.TJ.M. Manual, send a check in the amount of $20, to cover Xeroxingandshipping, made out to The Cortez National with your request.

EASTERN REGIONAL

The Kentucky Horse Park

Resort/Campground in Lexington, Kentucky is' the site for the Eastern Regional Cortez Rally. The dates for the 4~day eventare July 16, 17, 18, and 19, 1990. The park is set

~mjdst the rolling hi lis of the Bluegrass country and conveniently located off Interstate 75 at Exit 120. just minutes from downtown Lexington.

NEW 1990 DIRECTORY

Copies -of the 1990 Cortez National Directory are still available. It has been completely updated and corrected. All or the cross-reference part numbers, places of service, new members. directory corrections and additions, whieh have appeared in past newsletters since the directory was last published, have been incorporated into the new '90 edition. The latest listings of Cortez Library Items, the Alphabetical Subject Index of technical articles published in The National newsletter, along with other pertinent information is also included in the new directory,

The cost .of the 1990 Cortez National Directory is $12. If you would like a directory, send a check. in that amount and make it payable to The Cortez National. Your copy will be mailed to you by return first classmail

NATIONAL HOURS

The National hours are from 10 a.m, 10 7 p.rn, daily. Pacific Time. When calling, please remember the time difference from your particular area, especially in the morning hours. For those times when we ate away from home, the. answering machine will intercept your call. Leave a message and a return phone number. If your call is in regard to II need for parts and/or service information, please include a few details as tu the nature of the problem witb your message. This Will allnw us to do some research and gather any necessary information before returning your call,

NATIONAL FAX NUMBER

The National now has a fax machine which allows the sending and receiving of documents via standard dial-tone telephone lines. If you have; or have access to a fax' machine, you can now transmit a letter or document directly to The National. And you may do so at any Time of the day or night as the unit is on-line 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. The Iax number for TheNational is ~18-448"9225.

EAAFLY-IN

Gateway To Aviation is the theme of the Experimental Aircraft Association's 3Xth annual Fly-In Convention. The convention will run from July 27 to August 2, 1990 at the Wittman Reg-ional A irport in Oshkosh, Wisconsm. EAA Oshkosh is the world's largest sport aviation event and offers a full week of family oriented activities that include forums, seminars. and workshops led by the top names in the Internarionalaviation community, The EAA Air Museum at the regional airport contains some of the most significant and spectacular contributions to the:

World of aviauon, Its newest ad-dition, the Eagle Hanger. features WWII aircraft and memorabilia.

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Gateway To Aviation commemorates EAA's roots in general aviation, from first flight to future concepts. Perhaps the most outstandingevents are the-daily air shows and exhibitions. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the EAA expects United Kingdom participation in large numbers in the daily air demonstrations.

Last year more' than 15.000 aircraft visited the convention, everything from Homebuilts, AntiquesrClassics and Warbirds to Light Planes, Ultralightsc Rotocraft, and Acrobatic aircraft. The numbers underscore the incredible number and variety of aircraft/owners that make the annual pilgrimage to Oshkosh, Wisconsin,

For more information, call 4i 44264800 or write to the Experimental Aircraft ASSOCiation, EAA Aviation Center, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086.

GRAND CANYON RAILROAD

The Grand Canyon Railway, because of its growing popularity, has increased its passenger capacity and its days of-operation. The historic 1901 train was originally slated as a weekend-only attractlon. however, renewed interest and reservation demand made it necessary to add an extra train and provide daily service. The day-long trip lakes passengers across Arizona '5 northern plains and forest lands before arriving just a few steps from the Grand Canyon's South Rim at the historic 1908 Grand Canyon Depot. For more information and advanced reservations (advised) call SbO-S43-8724.

NORTHWEST MILEPOSTS

The rugged coastline, expansive parks, unspoiled -deserts and rich culture of the Pacific Northwest attract millions of visitors each year. To help travelers enjoy their excursions, Alaska Northwest Books developed Northwest Mileposts, styled after the popular Milepost travel guide to the Alaska Highway.

Now in its fourth edition, the 1990 Northwest Mileposts is: a complete travel guide to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, and the southern regions of Britisn Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The Major Cities section features nine metropolitan areas, 'Both U.S. and Canadian national parks are covered in the Major Attractions section, along with national monuments and national recreation areas ofthe Northwest. The Islands section provides information on U.S. and Canadian ferry systems serving the San Juan IslandsvWhidbey Island, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Queen Charlotte Islands,

Enlarged page headings and milepost references make following highway logs easier than ever. Reference symbols for campgrounds, picnic areas, fishing spots and

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points of interest arc a useful addition to the text. Northwest Mileposts ($14.95 C.S.: $1 X.9'i Canada) is available in bookstores or direct from the publisher. Alaska Northwest Boob, p.o. Box 3007, Bothell, WA 98041. 800-343-4567 ext 450.

COACH CARE PRODUCTS

You can clean your coach windows and apply a water repellent at the same lime using Permatex Glass Glaze. A simple spray on. wipe off is all that is required. The repellent qualities of the product make bugs and road film less of a windshield nuisance. Permatex Glass Glaze is a product nf the Lucti te Corp .. 4445 Cranwood Ct .. Cleveland. OH 44128.800-321-9188

Keeping your Cortez exterior looking good is the goal behind regular cleaning and polishing. Poly shield "s car-care products help by protecting the finish from pollution, especially acid rain. as well as typical dirt and grime. The product line-up includes a pre-cleaner to remove oxidized paint, wax, water spots, nil, and tar: a liq uid car wash: and a waxless silicone polish. Polyshield Products, 75 Armour Place. Dumont; NJ 07628. 800-228-7659.

Plastic, vinyl. and rubber surfaces can be easily cleaned and protected with 3M's Scotchgard Protective Gel. Unlike sprays, the gel won't overspray or drip during application. II protects these surfaces against heal and ultraviolet light, which can cause fading, hardening, and cracking. 1M-DIY Division. 3M Center. S1. Paul. MN 55144. 612-733-1110.

A penetrating lubricant first developed for the aerospace industry is now avai lable to the general public. Boeshield T9 - a mixture of I J solvents, mineral oils and wax - has a thin viscosity that allows it to penetrate into asseniblcd parts, dissolve minor corrosion and leave a protective coating. Lifetime Automotive Products, Box 2770. Dallas, TX 75221. 8()()-552-5327.

SLEEPING BAG

The new Super Bag byRV n' Sea is a sleeping bag custom-fitted with a set of cotton percale sheets. The sheets are held in place with wide hook and loop strips anl.....,J easily removed for machine-washing. The bag's outer shell is made of a special waterresistant. mildew-resistant hlend of polyester, cotton and nylon. One side is filled with 'i-ounce summer-weight Hollofil,

the other with lO-ounce winter-weight. On warm nights, the bag may be used with the light-weight side on top and reversed for colder nights.

Super Rags can be ordered in. the standard sizes and shapes or custom-made for your specific need, RV n' Sea. 26516 Lope De Vega, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, 714·H30-1292.

Attention All Members - Please check your address label on this newsletter. If any corrections are necessary, please advise The Cortez National. IMMEDIATELY!

TRANS-OIL COOLER

Tekonsha .Engineering has introduced the Defender line of transrnission COlliers. The coolers incorporate a unique stacked-plate de si gn for improved efficiency and compactness, The units are constructed of an aluminum alloy, which minimizes corrosion and reduces the amount of added weight. Tekonsha Engineering Co., 537 N. Church s., Tekonsha, MI 49092, 517-767-4142.

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