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10-11-2013, 11:48 AM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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Noob with a 1958 Pacer
Hello,
First post here.
My wife and I are picking up a '58 Pacer on Sunday.
Lots of work needed, but we are sooo excited.
Questions:
#1 Do we seal up the exterior/windows before proceeding to the interior?
As of now we don't have an indoor work space.
#2 How hard is the backframe gasket replacement?
Wish us luck,
Todd
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10-11-2013, 12:46 PM
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#2
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,493
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Leaks are always the enemy, you'll want to address the leaks before you put in new subfloor (or immediately if the existing subfloor is still serviceable!)
If you polish the trailer, you'll probably need to re-seal the seams after that, but IMHO polishing (or painting, for an Argosy) is the final step of a project. It may be ready for some more seam-sealing maintenance by the time you polish anyway!
Welcome, best of luck, and keep those photos coming!
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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10-11-2013, 01:48 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 263
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What a beaut! Congrats!
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10-11-2013, 03:16 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
Newport
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
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I concur do you have some interior shots? How is the floor?
Cliff
__________________
Gotta get busy! Have a great day! Now where did I put those revits?
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10-11-2013, 03:28 PM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Tryon
, North Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 218
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What a nice rare find! There were only 42 built. It took me years to find mine. The back frame gasket is a bear to change. But at this point, you probably have other things to tackle first. I know I did! Make sure the tires are good, the hitch latch is good and the wheel bearings are good before you drag it home.
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10-11-2013, 03:53 PM
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#6
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Airstream Fanatic
1976 31' Sovereign
1959 17' Pacer
1965 26' Overlander
Bismarck
, North Dakota
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,035
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Another Pacer!!
Good to see another Pacer come online....we'll be watching as things along. Congrats!
Sandy
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10-11-2013, 10:00 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
1968 24' Tradewind
1959 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
holly springs
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 405
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Wow, very nice! Yes you should try to find all areas of water entry before working on the interior, or get it under cover if possible.
Would love to see interior pics!
good luck with your project.
Kevin
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10-12-2013, 01:36 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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Mostly original.
The floor is bad near the back hatch under the bed.
We'll most likely pull everything out initially to see how the rest of the subfloor is.
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10-12-2013, 02:09 AM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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On these models. Does replacing the sub floor always involve lifting the body off?
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10-12-2013, 06:18 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
1968 24' Tradewind
1959 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
holly springs
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 405
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Wow again, nice interior. It can be done shell on or off, most here will tell you shell off. I did the rear 4' on a 64 shell on. Most have problems with the floor in the rear, by the entrance door is often a problem as well. In that trailer you can probably determine floor issues w/out removing much. Just look inside your cabinets and probe edges where floor meets shell.
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10-12-2013, 06:20 AM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1968 24' Tradewind
1959 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
holly springs
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 405
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Oh and don't forget to take lots of pics before you remove anything, it will help w/reassembly.
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10-12-2013, 09:03 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
Lexington
, Minnesota
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,982
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Oh, what a nice trailer! Definitely you'll want to seal out any water leaks before you do anything else. They're talking about a snowy winter for all of us around here.
Wow, nice find!
Kay
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10-12-2013, 03:45 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1957 22' Caravanner
1964 26' Overlander
1954 29' Liner
Washington
, Washington, D.C.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 95
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Just finished a 64 overlander rescue where the restoration shop and I decided to replace 3 of the 5 sheets shell on. It was fairly simple to do. The shell is lighter than you'd think and just a small amount of lift allows one to slide the new sheets in.
If you plan to keep/reuse the original interior (I did on the 64) then the dismantling process is important to do carefully. Work from front to back (opposite of how they were built). Photos of course help but I was pretty anal and bagged all the little parts in zip lock bags then labeled with sharpies where the items came from...yes I kept all the slot head screws even...and yes I polished everything back to new condition. So when the original refinished interior went back in EVERYTHING went back to its original location. A decision I'll never regret.
Just a thought, I bought a 57 Caravanner, before the 64, which is in original condition. I used it extensively traveling from St. Anthony Newfoundland to the Everglades. It has a pretty bad floor at the front and some water damage to the rear. But you know we had sooooo much fun just enjoying the trailer that taking it apart never felt necessary. Now with the other one under my belt taking the Caravanner apart and restoring it will be fun. I'm just suggesting you use your trailer for a season it two and enjoy it....then take it apart
If you do dismantle your trailer I'd highly recommend sealing the panel joints, lights, vents, drip caps with Acryl-R from Airstream (buy the applicator). Start at the top where you can get used to the tool and work your way down. I'd also recommend taking the windows apart and reselling them (the sash) you can also clean up the frame and replace the gasket. That work should seal the trailer up well. They all leak and you'll spend the rest of your time owning the trailer fighting off water, bugs and vermin...but it's not that big of a deal at the end of the day.
Last bit of advice is before you take the front and rear plywood out make a template...a critical step so many people don't realize they need to do.
If you need advice from an honest and very professional shop I can't recommend anyone more highly than Frank Yensan of Frank's Trailerworks in Baltimore. Give him a call and you'll quickly understand what I mean.
Good luck with your amazing find...enjoy!!!
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10-13-2013, 10:11 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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On the way to it's new home.
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10-14-2013, 07:28 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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We got it home.
I knew there was going to be some floor repair in the back, we pulled the bed and frame out. . . . crap.
Time for a complete replacement. Oh no, it's starting.
Front corners are also very soft.
and the sweet 110 circuit.
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10-14-2013, 01:06 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
Newport
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
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And you were thinking maybe no repair needed after just 55 years? Looks pretty good all things considered! Now would be a great time to make a template!!!!
Cliff
__________________
Gotta get busy! Have a great day! Now where did I put those revits?
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10-14-2013, 01:54 PM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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I knew there would be repairs.
I just hope it holds together before we get it replaced.
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10-14-2013, 08:06 PM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
1968 24' Tradewind
1959 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
holly springs
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 405
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fyi the floor tiles are asbestos
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10-14-2013, 08:15 PM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 263
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This is the fun part! Just think about the rock solid trailer you're gonna have when it's all said and done!
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10-15-2013, 06:33 AM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
1958 17' Pacer
Vintage Kin Owner
Damascus
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 111
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Thanks for the heads up Kevin. I hadn't thought of that.
I can pop them off, or pull up the wood with them intact, just don't cut them with a saw. Correct?
Has anyone read this article about body-on floor replacement? seems doable.
Floor Replacement - Vintage Airstream
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