1957 Caravanner Full Monty

[islandtrader]

Originally Posted by jjmtb

I see where this hobby can get addicting.

So I walked. Hopefully I can find it again.

Should of....
would of...
could of...
The only thing that counts is "I DID"

[jjmtb]

I haven’t been neglecting the Airstream. I just don’t have much to do right now. What I planned to have done by winter I completed.

I have been working or getting ready for the next steps though.

I am finding the true cost of remodeling this thing. First thing is that I only had a car. A four door sedan. So on my list of things was to buy a truck. So, I sold my car and bought a truck. Then, if you look back through my pictures you will see how cramped my garage space is to do any work. I always knew I have going to have space issues. I wasn’t sure where I was going to store it when I was done. I wasn’t sure where I was going to work on it when I put the top back on. I had all kinds of concerns. I told my wife I needed my own shop. She said fine but she gets a farm house and I have to remodel it. Hesitantly I agreed. So I sold my house and bought something in the country. I get a shop to work in and she gets me to do whatever she wants.

I just kind of breezed over that last part. Do you have any idea how much work in involved with finding a new house, cleaning and updating an existing house, packing, lenders, moving trucks, paperwork, unpacking, organizing, …etc. Any idea how hard that is with three kids under the age of 6? Well as luck would have it I found something, bought it, and sold my house in 7 ½ days from when we decided to pull the trigger. This house looks like a construction zone now. I have changed every light fixture and mirror. Painted three rooms. Trimmed out two rooms. Changed every outlet and switch. Replaced more electrical than I can describe. Moved a doorway from one side of the house to the other. Remodeled a bathroom. Swapped out a floor. Replaced a couple appliances. Fixed a chimney. Replaced a broken toilet flange in the floor. Installed an attic ladder… There is more I am sure. All this so I can have room for my Airstream project. Well, not just for it, but I don’t know if I would have even thought about it if I didn’t have this project going on.

In the end I got my shop. A nice heated and insulated 30x40 space that is all mine (for now). Plenty of space to park and move Sylvi around. Plenty of space for tools, equipment, and parts. Plenty of space for more if I decide to do this again. I even got enough space to camp without having to leave the comfort of my own property. All things I never considered in the true cost of this project.

[Becky B.]

Merry Christmas to YOU! The things Airstreams make us do....My plan to move isn't as near as yours, but the property is almost ours!

[Hittenstiehl]

Jjmtb: were right there with you.

Friends ask how we ended up with a big older house on an acre when we might be of the age to downsize. We sheepishly say we needed somewhere to park the Airstream (s).

[DDickey]

You're a man after my own heart! Wow, a 30x40 shop is super cool, I just have a little 24x12 shop, but it's fully equipped. I love it that you're all in!

[albert]

Can you guys offer advise for removing the windows and the screen frames? I have a similar AS and I am trying to replace the windows (broken) and the replace the screen material. I dont see how to get the frames out and put back without disassembling everything. Any advise or leads would be appreciated!

Originally Posted by DDickey

I don't think it really matters when you remove the windows, but they'll be a great winter project because they're extremely time consuming. I removed them and broke them down completely so that I could get to every nook and cranny. It's an i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e amount of work, but I'm more concerned about doing it right than doing it cheap or doing it fast. Depending on how much time you have they could take you all winter.

At the stage that you're at I'd be more concerned about getting an accurate template for the subfloor. Mine was in relatively good condition so I just laid the new plywood over the old and traced it, but it sounds like yours might be a little more complicated.

Measure, take pictures, take notes, measure some more, measure again, measure three different ways and write it down. Then take more pictures. I was certain I would remember how things go back together, so I didn't take too many pictures, but now that I'm rebuilding the bottom end I wish I would have taken more. It's the danged details that get you

[jjmtb]

Originally Posted by DDickey

You're a man after my own heart! Wow, a 30x40 shop is super cool, I just have a little 24x12 shop, but it's fully equipped. I love it that you're all in!

Thanks. All I ever needed was a little nudge to make a move. I am fortunate to be in a position to do it. It's funny you say "all in". That's exactly how I described it to my wife.


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[jjmtb]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Jjmtb: were right there with you.

Friends ask how we ended up with a big older house on an acre when we might be of the age to downsize. We sheepishly say we needed somewhere to park the Airstream (s).

We originally thought we needed to go bigger. We went smaller with more outside. Seems like a great trade and the with little kids we will never regret it.

Plus... room for more projects. 👍


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[jjmtb]

Originally Posted by Becky B.

Merry Christmas to YOU! The things Airstreams make us do....My plan to move isn't as near as yours, but the property is almost ours!

Merry Christmas to you as well. I hope it all works out.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[jjmtb]

Originally Posted by albert

Can you guys offer advise for removing the windows and the screen frames? I have a similar AS and I am trying to replace the windows (broken) and the replace the screen material. I dont see how to get the frames out and put back without disassembling everything. Any advise or leads would be appreciated!

If yours is anything like mine there doesn't seem to be short cut to it besides full removal and rebuild. There may be a few ways to do it but only one way to do it right. Follow DD's advice and others and it will pay off in the end.


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[jjmtb]

I have been working on collecting parts I need for structural replacement. Now that the weather has turned in the land of cheese it's time to get going.

My axle is order and should show any day. The axle shocks mounts are made. All the c channel is new and waiting to install. The rear cross member that was rotted is ready to go as well as the missing outrigger. I sketched out what I needed and had a local fab shop make it all.

[islandtrader]

Could you do me a favor and tell me what the total length is of your floor? Also what is the length of the front piece and the back piece. Thanks.

[Vagabond Bob]

As a Yooper Finnlander, I wish you good luck. I am glad the trailer is not just lost in the North Woods. It is a fine project. BTW I spent 16 years in Door County. You have a task ahead but you can win..
Bob

[jjmtb]

Originally Posted by Vagabond Bob

As a Yooper Finnlander, I wish you good luck. I am glad the trailer is not just lost in the North Woods. It is a fine project. BTW I spent 16 years in Door County. You have a task ahead but you can win..

Bob

Thanks. My wife's family are all finns. I have learned the correct pronunciation of sauna.

Yes. A fine project. I just want to do it justice.

[jjmtb]

Originally Posted by islandtrader

Could you do me a favor and tell me what the total length is of your floor? Also what is the length of the front piece and the back piece. Thanks.

I am not sure what you are looking for. My floor isn't on right now. Waiting on the axle swap then I will put it on. I could measure the frame. It not sure that what you are looking for.

[islandtrader]

Originally Posted by jjmtb

I am not sure what you are looking for. My floor isn't on right now. Waiting on the axle swap then I will put it on. I could measure the frame. It not sure that what you are looking for.

Lets see if I can try this again. I used 5 sheets of plywood. Each sheet was 85" left to right(road side to curb side).

Front to back each piece section is not 48 inches the front piece is greater than 35 and less than 40 inches and the rear piece is less than 48.

Just double checking to see where I need to line up. My front plate is not welded in place (yet) and my rear cross member was also modified when the frame was repaired. So I am trying to get other peoples measurements so I can be sure that I am close to where I am suppose to be... does that make any sense?

[jjmtb]

I can't really answer that right now. My floors aren't on or completely trimmed up. The frame is not at my house. It is still in winter storage waiting for the axle.

From what I remember I used 5 sheets. The rest was less than 48 and the front was much shorter.

[jjmtb]

I received my new torsion axle from Colin Hyde. I am in the middle of replacing it. I made the mount to bolt the axle to the frame. I am having a problem understanding the shock mounting. It looks like the shock mounts to the axle and then how does it mount to the frame. The only existing hole is tow inches away. I assume I need to weld a new stud on or bolt a new stud in place where the axle will mount?

Can anyone help me? Pics of completed mounting would be so great.

[jjmtb]

Img_0182.jpg

[Bubba L]

I just went through the top shock mount issue. We also received our axle from Colin and it turned out great. Don't remember the shock Colin recommends, but that is the one we used. We have a thread on our 55 renovation that shows pictures on how we fabricated the mount bracket. "Tale of a 55 FC Whale Reno" should show the way we made it. It is tight in the wheel well, but the shock can be replaced someday if needed. Just make sure you place the bolts appropriately where you can remove the nut and shock easily. Good luck. Bubba