Noob with a 1958 Pacer

[Toddzilla]

Well we got the C channels installed and the belly pan attached last weekend.
Today we dropped on the shell for the final time. and most of the rivets installed on the perimeter.

We started with the 24 on the front plate. installed, cut and finished with the cutting tool.





I have a co-worker that lent us a Pnumatic buck riveter.
It works amazingly well. Our first use was the wheel well trim.





We started taking out the bracing today, after the last perimeter rivets are in tomorrow the rest will come out.



I think I'll pull out the new polisher tomorrow and start around the windows and such.

[Toddzilla]

Well, it's now all buttoned down and has the end strips on.



Judy (My mother-in-law) polishing away.



The fun house mirror has started.



We pulled off the eyebrow over the door, polished underneath, gooped it up with Protrem and put it back down with olympic rivets.
We have some pretty heavy corrosion on top of the trailer.

[Becky B.]

Aaah, there's no better feeling than getting the shell buttoned back down when you're doing this kind of project! Now you're on the home stretch! Looks fantastic.

[Jimbcole]

And when your camping, the awning will be there and neither you or anybody else will see that corrosion! Looking very Good!

[prairieschooner]

We have a 1958 California version, just wanted to say hi and great work so far!

[Toddzilla]

We had a very patriotic insulation session today. We're almost done with the first layer of insulation.

[Toddzilla]

Today we finished the first layer of insulation, and dove right into wiring.





We also pulled out a 12 volt battery and tested the running lights.
It feels so good to see this kind of progress.





And poppa Joe hiding.

[reinergirl]

Are you going to tape the edges of the insulation?

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

Are you going to tape the edges of the insulation?

I wasn't planning on it.
Do you think this is important?

I figured the insulation reduced the convection in the walls, and radiation through the walls. I didn't think taping would really do anything since there isn't any air movement through the walls.

We'll never stop the cold/heat transfer from the outer skin through the ribs to the inner skin.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Todd


Giant thumbs on a tiny keypad.

[Toddzilla]

We had a couple of house showings today. So I took off work, and took the kids down to the Pacer to work on for the day.

The kids creating a diversion.



We finished the wiring, got the fan in and did a little more polishing.

[Toddzilla]

insulating one of the inner dome ends.


Finished.


The first domed installed.


Today we got both ends insulated and installed. The insulating is way slower than riveting the pieces in place.
We have about another 1/2 hour to insulate, then the large over head panel will go in.

[Toddzilla]

Productive weekend, especially today.
We finished the insulation and got the rest of the inner skin riveted back in, it went way faster than I thought it would.

I used a photo stitch program to shoot this. It looks like a 33 footer.

[Toddzilla]

Last weekend we started putting the windows back in.



And pulled the hubs to see the bearing and electric brakes.
The bearing were fine. The brakes were shot. literally rusted to pieces.



I bought 2 new loaded back plates from etrailer.com for $55 ea.


Today I installed the loaded back plates, re-greased the bearings, installed the wheels and set her down for good.

We close on our house in Wisconsin on August 29th and I'll be pulling The Dog House to our new home in Oregon. Our first adventure together.
It should be an interesting trip with our 3 beagles.

Nix that last one. we've had plenty of adventures with it. Rebuilding it

The Dog House is ready to roll.

[prairieschooner]

Congrats on the House!
Could you forward the information on your Backing Plates when you get a chance, I am ready to purchase for our Traveler, hopefully they would be the same!

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by piratesteve

Congrats on the House!
Could you forward the information on your Backing Plates when you get a chance, I am ready to purchase for our Traveler, hopefully they would be the same!

Here is what I bought. They have some for $46 also, but I got the auto adjusting. Just make sure you order a left and a right.

12" Nev-R-Adjust Electric Brake Assembly for 6K Axles - LH Dexter Trailer Brakes 23-458

Todd

[Toddzilla]

This is the controller I bought.
Curt Venturer Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 3 Axles - Time Delayed Curt Brake Controller C51110

[prairieschooner]

Thanks! this will be helpful to me and others.

[Toddzilla]

We got the rest of the trim around the window interiors, troubleshot some trailer wiring and put the safety chains on today.

Time for a test drive to check out the electric brakes and WD hitch.

Those brakes will take a little getting used to, but definitely effective.



The sweet WD hitch that came with the trailer. My Jeep has a very soft rear end (No jokes please) And this really helps eliminate the wallowing feel.





And the sweet rear end.



Were just about ready for the first Dog House trip. All the way to Oregon to our new home.

At this point it's just a rolling tent with a 12 gallon water tank.

[prairieschooner]

Still a great looking tent!

[55AS]

Jeep is a pretty short wheelbase vehicle for towing...