A '63 Overlander Followed us Home

[HiHoAgRV]

The bolts finally arrived! :30 minutes later the floor is bolted to the frame, the side "C" channels are attached and it's time to flip it over for insulation, gray tank install and then the belly pan. A couple of lucky phone calls turned up a local supplier of 4 x 10 x .025 3003 aluminum for $42 per sheet.

So what is holding up the progress?

Camping in the 34' Headed for Charleston for a week...

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

A couple of lucky phone calls turned up a local supplier of 4 x 10 x .025 3003 aluminum for $42 per sheet.

That is a great deal! Enjoy your trip.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Top

That is a great deal! Enjoy your trip.

You have heard "when the stars align"...well, when "2 stars" get involved...so much for vacation...

I can tell you...the poor folks in South MO are having a BIG problem...and it ain't a shortage of water...

Charleston and vacation...maybe next week...

[HiHoAgRV]

Dolly must of gotten a new outfit in the mid 1970's...here is the ZipDee paperwork that was in her.

Ya think the pricing is still the same?

[HiHoAgRV]

After almost a month of no progress...today I snagged 6 sheets of .025 3003 for $42 each...It's time to flip the chassis and do the belly pan...

I still gotta grab some rigid insulation and brake wires...

[HiHoAgRV]

For the first time in a month...the frame/floor is rolled out of the back yard and flipped over. It's all leveled up and I went ahead and cut some floor pan sections to test fit. I have to get the foam insulation in the next day or so, install it...brake wires...some plumbing...gas lines...

Hummm...maybe I'll just hook to the 34' and go camping again

[HiHoAgRV]

Insulation time...
I'm not that wound up about floor insulation...3/4 ply plus a 1" air gap then a section of R4 foam...lots of tape to seal the gaps...

Cutting foam with a table saw is, um, interesting...the blade sorta melts thru and if given a chance...will grab the foam...keep your fingers clear!

[wasagachris]

Looking great Vern. Man that is so much easier when you're not fighting gravity. Building it down side up is the only way to go.

[JIMandPJ]

Slick method for installing insulation and bottom skins. What have you got in mind for the gas lines that stub up threw the floor? Drill them? From the top or bottom?

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by wasagachris

Looking great Vern. Man that is so much easier when you're not fighting gravity. Building it down side up is the only way to go.

Yeah, this way when I drop something, there is at least a small chance it ends up in the location that was intended. I don't know about ya'll but I've gotten to the point where I hate working over my head even though I tend to get into things-over-my-head quite regularly...

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by JIMandPJ

Slick method for installing insulation and bottom skins. What have you got in mind for the gas lines that stub up threw the floor? Drill them? From the top or bottom?

Gas lines...hummm....yeah, I plan on running the thru-floor sections as I install the interior. I can't see a show stopper with using a long 1/4" bit as a pilot hole thru the wood and belly.

That plan leaves me open to do some last minute adjusting of the interior. For instance, I'm still considering moving the water heater to a forward position and eliminating the forced air furnace, both of those choices will impact my gas line routing.

[HiHoAgRV]

More progress...
All the pieces are cut and removed, the center section spacers are glued in place. I ran out of adhesive...

It looks like the Pink Panther exploded in my driveway...

[nmbosa]

Very nice looking work. I have found myself wishing I spent a little more time focusing on the underbelly insulation. I was in a bit of a rush at that point of the project and did not seal it up as well as you are doing. Our floor is like a sheet of ice on a cold morning.

Norm

[HiHoAgRV]

Thanks for the positive feedback...I can say one thing without any hesitation...

My hat is off and I salute the folks that have done the insulation and belly pan from underneath! This is day #2 for me, working with the frame inverted and I cannot imagine getting this done - much less doing a good job - while laying on the ground!

I ran out of washers...tomorrow we have friends over to cookout...anyone wanna bet if I can stay away from the project for a full day?

[wasagachris]

Vernon It's really looking neat and clean under(above) there.
I used nails for attaching styrofoam insulation to walls. They have the plastic washers already on them. They are dead cheap to buy in bulk, $2.99/lb and install really fast. Just set them through the foam and one quick tap with the hammer and they're set. I also glued the foam in place.

[HiHoAgRV]

Ya know that you don't go to the grocery when you are hungry....

Don't go to Fastenal when you are rebuilding an Airstream...

1,000 rivets and 100 washers...$95

I only needed 50 washers...

[Lance M]

Ahh, yes. Good ol' Fastenal. I can't seem to stay out of the place either! It is a place that I'd never walked into before starting my project and now I'm on a first name basis with them. It is nice to be able to get just about any type of clamp, wire, fastener or other goodie in a day or two.

[HiHoAgRV]

Done with the center section insulation. The taping is no fun...Time to start riveting on the center belly pan. I will make the side wraps as seperate pieces. They will be rivited to the belly pan just outside of the frame rails. I hope to have the inverted frame ready to flip in a few days...then it goes back under the shell...

90 degress at 8:00 pm...summer is here...

[HiHoAgRV]

Baby steps...with the heat and humidity...baby steps...

Tonight I have the front belly pan sheet pan rivited into a single piece, the locations of the cross members marked, jack hole locations noted and we are ready to start riviting on the aluminum...

I'm just waiting on 65 degrees and low humidity...

[slowmover]

You're quitting until Christmas?