1958 Traveler Restoration

[prairieschooner]

We were able to get the Traveler on the road! We made it to the Teardrops at Hurkey Creek Gathering. Carousel and Ray did a wonderful job of putting on this event and we met some wonderful campers!
OK just as I was hitching up the jack froze .... and of course in the extended position?! I was able to cut the pin on one side then using a punch drive it to the other side and cut it again. Now I had to raise the front of the hitch to a very uncomfortable position in order to remove the screw jack. Once out I had to use penetrating oil to free it and then and grease to lube it. The original jack freed up so I greased it and all was well with the world again, just an hour and change later . The rest of the weekend was uneventful with all of the new systems working great.

I was very surprised how comfortable the bed was! We only had a mattress topper left over from an older bed, blankets and some quilts as bedding. 1st night sleeping in the Traveler was very rewarding to say the least.
These Teardrop guys are great and put on a very fun event. We had a continuous stream of people looking and asking questions about the restoration .

The Traveler

[prairieschooner]

Just in case you wanted to see the Teardrops and Vintage Campers;

[60's Iron]

Congratulations!

[prairieschooner]

Thanks Greg!
We decided that we would not be going anywhere in the Traveler until we had a Mattress and a Toilet (getting up a couple times in the middle of the night and making the way to the restroom across the campground is not for us!)
I ordered the Mattress yesterday from the Foam Factory. I ordered a Full and also ordered a Full Mattress Cover that are 5" high X 54" wide X 74" long, we will be cutting them down ourselves and should have them in a week or so. I could have ordered a mattress from Walmart for about the same $$ but then wouldn't know how firm it would be.
I have the new Dometic 310Toilet and just need to modify the FRP Holding Tank to accept it prior to installing. With the Closet in place that will be one of the next items to be installed along with the new Axle (with Electric Brakes!).

[prairieschooner]

Wanted to share Patti's Curtains! She squirreled away the material for these for years and was able to get them finished just in time for our 1st Campout!!
The last pic is of our new addition a great Coleman Lantern (that took a little practice to light!)

[60's Iron]

Steve how have you been? No undates lately. Same here been busy on other things. Went to Trailerfest in Lodi........ As a spectator....... Last time I'm doing that. Fun to see the cool trailers, but feel like an outsider. This week insulate the floor and put the belly pan back on. Not looking forward to it. But I'm putting it in gear........ No more spectator!

[prairieschooner]

Sounds like you had to torture yourselves! OK I say that we both shoot for that event next year!
I have been able to get a little work done on the Traveler but emphasis on little. I have started finishing off the closet with the shelving above the batteries and installing the Battery Switch and Circuit Breakers.
I also found that the Window Mechanism on above the bed had a bent arm and was missing the Rollers.
I was able to straighten the arm by putting in a vise and slowly straighten a section and move it to do it again until the window would close properly.
The Rollers were fairly easy as well, I found some Plastic Bushings (used for RC Airplane Props) that had the correct inside hole but were too large outside. I put them on a #6 Screw and nut and then put that assembly in a drill press. I was then able to turn them down using a Skive and finishing it off with a File. The window works much better now.
I have been catching up on other things around the cabin and the cars. Life does have a way of creating hurdles!

[60's Iron]

Hey Steve it's been awhile. Hope all is well. Insulated and patched up my belly pan. I was really dreading it. Ended up not being that bad. Wired my brakes too. I'll only have to crawl around under it one more time to plumb the black tank........ Car project next then back to cabinets after Christmas. At least that's fun!

[60's Iron]

Finished product.

[prairieschooner]

Wow! looks so good. Surely this gets you further ahead. Progress on my Traveler has had to stop for awhile. It has gotten too cold to glue anything and there is a little snow on the ground.
I have been able to work on other gear for it. I am getting a Coleman Camp Stove ready, these are way too cool! here is a link; https://www.google.com/search?q=cole...w=1024&bih=543 They have been out of production for a couple of decades now.

I also now have a few vintage Lanterns and a great Stove as well as other misc. vintage camping equip.
My attention has had to go to family lately but we did get to take the Newell to the beach.

I made my reservations for Trailerfest. Hopefully you can make it there?

[prairieschooner]

The tow vehicle for the Traveler is almost ready for paint! Not sure how long it will take to get the 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery back together but progress is being made and it should come home in a couple of weeks.

[60's Iron]

Sweet Steve! Not to many of those on the road! What kind of drive train? Looks like there's a lot of bling that goes on the hood. Are the tail lights custom? Oh, color? I'm doing a search to see one........
Greg

[60's Iron]

Should have paid better attention. I see it's jammed out and the rear door is painted. It's still hard to make out. It's it a shade of red or orange?

[60's Iron]

OK back from the inter net. Awesome! They got to be rare as I'd remember one of those! Do you have the trim for the side and rear door?
Greg

[prairieschooner]

Greg,
The Delivery is being painted the original Cherokee Red and even that took some research since that color hasn't been used in a while and had to be re-formulated.
We needed a donor car to make all of the sheet metal that had to be repaired and/or replaced. There are no reproduction sheet metal pieces for these Pontiacs and the Chevy reproduction stuff isn't quite the same. Most of the the front clip is from the donor car. The Cargo Door had to be replaced but luckily for me I had found one on CL years earlier just in case (how hard was that to find?)
Yes I now have all of the stainless steel trim, took about 2 years and a donor car to find all of the pieces that will all need some work but I have them all now. I have enough parts to build an original grill and most of the bumper guards, not sure how or if they will go on. I have a very nice Original lighted Hood Ornament (plus other pieces) and all of the stainless that goes down the center.
Depends on how you look at it on the Tail Lights. They are original and taken from a 1952 4 Door Sedan. The deliveries got the same lights as the station wagons and were on stanchions and almost non-existent. They were long gone and since they created other issues we took the sheet metal from the donor car and now they are in the correct location for a sedan or coupe.
It has a 1968 Pontiac 400 with a Turbo 400 Trans. I have been collecting the original parts to have this look correct like it should be in a GTO. It runs great and has plenty of power to tow the Traveler. Vintage Air A/C, Leather Heated Bucket seats and Custom Gauges.
The Production numbers are low and since it was in the Korean War period not many have survived. This project has taken a few years and gone through many stages. Very excited to get it home and get it completed if there is such a thing.
How about this "silvery streak" delivery in red with all of the stainless trim towing a polished Airstream!

[60's Iron]

Steve to say I'm impressed would be an understatement......... As a car guy I can really appreciate the effort that goes into building a car like that. I'm a Chevy guy. If I need something I open a catalog and buy it. Your even using a Pontiac engine, I love it! That is going to be something to see going down the road. You better be prepared to do a lot of show and tell everywhere you stop. I hope your AS feelings won't be hurt when the Delivery gets all the attention!

[prairieschooner]

'nuff about me, do you have one?

[prairieschooner]

Just got back from our winter travels and will start work on the Traveler again. Today I hope to be moving it out of the covered area and get ready for the new axle. After that the Kreft Refrigerator (1st pic taken prior to starting the work) will be painted and put together for testing prior to rebuilding that cabinet.
Also got the Pontiac out of paint but that will have to wait for now. Just thought that I would post pics of the future "tow car". The Cherokee Red looks orange in these pics but it is a dark red.

[60's Iron]

Sweet! Trailer and future tow rig.....

[prairieschooner]

On to the original KREFFT Refrigerator. I had the Cooling Unit rebuilt by Cool Fun a few years ago but they are no longer in business. The best part is that one of the partners opened a shop in Riverside, CA. Rico Pro Enterprise, 6631 Columbus St, Riverside, CA 92504 951-785-7001 is highly recommended.

I set the Cooling Unit up in a corner of the shop and tested it with 120 Volts AC. 1st problem was that the Thermostat didn't function. I was able to find a new Dometic #3890032-02/8 Thermostat and did a retrofit. Next I tested the Cooling Unit on 120 Volts AC for a day and it functions correctly.

Next I mocked up the LPG or Propane System. This System is unique so I will try to explain it.
The Burner is a Teddington Type TZ. When heat is applied to it it allows the LPG to pass and light, if the flame goes out the Burner cools and closes the flow of LPG. Luckily my Burner was functioning after testing it numerous times.
There is a Type TP (Temperature Pressure) Valve that allows full flow of LPG until the plate gets cold and then reduces the flow to keep the burner allowing the flow of the gas. Mine was not functioning but I was able to find a new replacement, a Dometic M style.