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Frank's Trailer Works · 01-16-2009, 05:05 PM

yes, it is me that keeps asking that question too...

goransons · 01-16-2009, 05:19 PM

More work today, hadn't posted photos in a few days. Frame is painted. The Belly Pan is still on

.

After the paint dries insulation and plywood. Then yes, its time to take off some of the belly pan and drop it down!!!!

Frank, you are only one of many (not to make you feel any less special) who bring it up, and I know you only do it to help out, so I don't mind!

utee94 · 01-16-2009, 07:20 PM

Scott should be honored, for Rob Baker of great VAP fame also asked that question on Scott's blog.

But now I actually DO have a question related to bellypan and ebolts-- if you're putting the insulation in NOW, are you going to remove it temporarily once you drop the belly, in order to install those bolts? Or, are you just planning on working around it?

Anyway, I am once again jealous of, yet motivated by, your progress. Tomorrow morning I begin installation of elevator bolts, and I'm actually looking forward to it!

-Marcus

goransons · 01-16-2009, 07:48 PM

I cut the insulation pretty snug without cramming. I'm sure I'll have to tuck it back in and reset it once its back, but figured it was better to have some fall and have to put it back in place than to have to be on my back that long cutting pieces and fitting them into place one at a time. I hate working on my back under trailers/cars so figure I'll get as much done from above that I can, even if it is somewhat displaced when I take the bottom off. I guess I'll find out if that was a good move or not next week.

goransons · 01-18-2009, 12:40 PM

I managed to get one more sheet in today. We have company this afternoon so it will have to do for today. Still have some fine tuning to get it exactly where I want it and get the channels in place.

It was an easy enough piece that after some struggling to get it in the trailer the right way I did manage to manipulate the outside walls and C channel to eventually get the panel in. So no middle seam, which I'm happy with. Took over an hour and a half to just get it into place. With as much as the walls are starting to be able to move,I think before I put the next piece of plywood in I'm going to go ahead and bolt the back 4 feet into the perimeter and into the frame at the back crossmember. I'm worried about a big wind storm causing problems, especially when I find the old bolts rusted half way through all the way around, and brittle C-Channel in areas. I do have stock to bend, will have to have our friend with a sheet metal break make those for us.

After that I can clean up and adjust the main entry step, get that por-15'd and top coated as soon as it warms up. Did run my airstream account down to zero for now, but have a few little projects to keep me busy until pay day.

goransons · 01-20-2009, 04:13 PM

Well I started to get the trailer ready to bolt the rear back together today. I got her level and jacked the back where it should be, just as I was about to hit level, KA POP! and the basketball size dent on the curbside rear panel just popped out and left just the slightest evidence of the dent.

Elevator bolts will be here Friday and I have aluminum stock to beef up the bolt locations ready to go. Tomorrow if I get some time in the afternoon I going to get the rear main connections, the rear cross member (at the wall) and the screws around the rear corners in the channel all in place.

Aerowood · 01-20-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goransons

KA POP! and the basketball size dent on the curbside rear panel just popped out and left just the slightest evidence of the dent.

I would always rather be more lucky then good any day.

utee94 · 01-20-2009, 04:31 PM

Sounds good Scott. You are about to blow past me.

But that's okay, it will only make me stronger and more determined!

-Marcus

goransons · 01-20-2009, 04:57 PM

Nah Marcus,you're chapters ahead. Even after I get the back bolted, I still have just under half the trailer to take apart, plus all those elevator bolts... wiring to upgrade, man oh man are we no where close to blowing past anyone. Plus if I get ahead of you, then I won't have anyone to watch and learn from....

goransons · 01-20-2009, 05:55 PM

First photo is Joe's from when it was on ebay, second is a few minutes ago. The dark spots aren't remaining dents, but actually areas more tarnished than the rest for one reason or another, guessing snow etc was catching there more or something. Small area where the corner panel meets the rear panel that still isn't quite flat, but its because of all the silicone in there I need to dig out, looks like it will pop out the rest once all that stuff is out. Again wasn't in the plan to pop it out yet, otherwise I'd have dug it out first. It won't ever be perfect, but we don't expect it to be. We will reskin the lower street side due to past botched tire changes but other character will be left as is

vswingfield · 01-20-2009, 09:21 PM

Haven’t checked in a while. The progress looks good. Will be watching for more progress, good work!

3Ms75Argosy · 01-20-2009, 11:34 PM

Just one thought. Are the current lenses recessed? If so, you will have to patch the area as the lights I'll be sending are proud (or mount to) the skin (aren't recessed). Does that make sense? Is there area (about 4" diameter) for a non-visable patch? If not, I'd just get some previous year type lights with a chrome bezel and stay with the type you have.

Totally off topic. The fans / motor I have are currently mounted - I can try and dismount them prior to my Fantastic Fan transplant and send them too.

Take care!
Marc

Frank's Trailer Works · 01-21-2009, 03:46 AM

The previous year "1962" is a surface mount bargram 99...

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The blue dot was not a factory option. It was never an option unless you made it one.

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goransons · 01-21-2009, 07:12 AM

A PO had recessed truck lights in a grommet. Fortunately, there is at least a 1/2 inch of skin outside the grommet (so more like 5/8 overall, more in some areas) that is intact (you can see the original outline in the skin outside the grommet). Plan is to patch that from the inside, seal and rivet within those outlines so that when the stock light is installed you can't tell the skin has been cut. Only reason lights are still in and not patched is that any day I have to move the trailer a couple blocks to a friend's driveway so the power company can do work in my backyard.

Fans can definately wait, there is no reason to go out of your way, but the offer is appreciated. Thanks Frank, had the PO cut the hole any bigger I think the option both of you have mentioned would be a good one, but I think I'll make it.

utee94 · 01-21-2009, 08:23 AM

My 63 had Bargman 99s originally as well. They do not have any cool blue dots in the centers, that is an Anna original as far as I know.

The old lenses were not in great shape, Terry put in replacement lenses that work just fine. The mounting plates were a bit rusty, so I hit those with POR15 while I was painting the frame and bumper. I still need to replace the old rusty screws with stainless ones.

Frank's Trailer Works · 01-21-2009, 02:36 PM

See now if I had just looked closer, I might have seen that old ring around the light. I love the big Bargram lights. They remind me of the Devo hats from the 80's. I have always liked blue dots but never had a vehicle cool enough to pull it off, that is until I got Anna.

66Overlander · 01-21-2009, 09:59 PM

Scott,
Back onto the subject of a rear window guard/cover/protector, I just found the attached photo in post in another thread (top left photo):
http://www.airforums.com/forums/show...6&postcount=82

If you blow up this photo of the trailers in front of the Kremlin, you can see several trailers that have rear window guards of the corrugated fiberglass type. Definitely on the 1st and 5th trailer starting on the left, and maybe on a few others much further to the right.

BUT, I think I may see your trailer in this photo. The 9th trailer from the left (behind the 3 or 4 people standing near the trailers) seems to have the extra rear reflectors that your trailer does (not sure if any others had this feature). The rear window also does not seem quite right. Again, from the color, I'd guess that it is more likely covered with an aluminum panel than a fiberglass cover. It also does not have a bumper mounted spare tire and your trailer has no signs that it ever had one. There is also a dark band across where the top of the rear access door would be, which seems similar to the dark band that can be seen in the Caravan Video photo crossing the Adiatic (but not in the Caravan video photo from India, earlier in the trip?).

Conclusive? Maybe not, but we know your trailer went to Moscow and the visible details seem to fit. The possibility is interesting, if nothing more.

goransons · 01-21-2009, 10:15 PM

Post 171, 2nd photo, if you look just above the reflector you'll see a line faintly across the flat back panel of the trailer, I believe this is the reminance of that line seen in the video. I think it was some type of reflector tape. In the same photo, zoom into the bottom right corner of the rear window and you'll see the wing nut coming through (by the lower awning bracket) and you'll see why I think that it was a screw on cover. I agree some type of cover, probably corrigated fiberglass I think with a metal frame from what it looks like.

goransons · 01-21-2009, 10:22 PM

I think this is the beast I need 2 of, or at least how to make 2 of. I think this was a photo by a forums member, but might have been one I found somewhere else, I can't honestly remember.

Bolts on, simliar pattern, simliar color/texture to photos

utee94 · 01-22-2009, 08:53 AM

Yup, that's the standard "murky fiberglass" rock guard that many Airstreams had in the 50s and 60s.

Mine has an ugly green corrugated fiberglass rock guard on the front. I am going to remove the fiberglass, clean up the frame, replace the hinge (it is not aluminum or stainless and is therefore heavily rusted), and install tinted plexiglass in place of the ugly green thing.

You're welcome to my ugly green fiberglass if you like, but I don't think the color matches, and you'd need to fabricate a frame for it.

Here's a small, bad picture of it:

-Marcus