'65 GT 20' my winter project

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The sad state of my wraps.

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Holy smokes. The gantrys are in place

I just wish my worker had taken a shower today.

[Aerowood]

Those wraps don't look that bad, I had all four that were dented worse then that

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Front panel under window just stuck There is a metal piece that is rectangular welded to the frame. Four layers are on it. Fing stuck

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Most stressful moments. T. The shell is barely sitting on that 2 x 10. The balance was off.

Not happy

There was some crazy four layer weld to the trailer that made no sense. Had to cut the damn panel.
It was not elegant but it is done.

[Aerowood]

Oops, that's the front hold down plate that is welded to the frame, the front skin and C channel rivets it it. That is a fairly easy skin to replace

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For sure

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The exposed floor in the state post shell lift off

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. Some lovely drawings from the build I guess on the wheel well.

[jakes_mama]

That's probably what mine looks like underneath too...I shudder to think.

[pbearsailor]

Congrats Dena! That's a big step forward.

Cheers,
steve

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I feel so happy to have crossed the chasm.


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[dbj216]

Happy New Year! You earned the "shell off" merit badge! Yea.. Clap Clap Clap! Not very many of us vintage Airstream enthusiasts get that far. I have not.

Now you can address the subfloor and frame and rebuild them as necessary. You're going to be a busy lady in 2015 with lots of time spent in the garage. Crazy me would enjoy all those challenges getting your Globetrotter back on the road again.

It's so cool Aerowood is following your thread. He is an expert aluminum craftsman.

David

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Thank you thank you! Joy is short lived. I had nightmares last night I made a mistake in the template and couldn't reconstruct the floor and the shell would not go back on.

Kind of real due to the fact so much c channel is broken and needs replacement.

So you know what I am doing today......Reading every thread on the best method for template and worrying about the c channel.

[Del Gurney]

After thinking how to replace the two curved c-channels and how "frail"
they looked compared to the load (they hold the shell to the plywood floor
which in turn is elevator bolted to the chassis). I thought "screw it" and I bought some quality lumber from Lowes (it was the exact dimension).
For the curved end pcs. I ran some of the lumber through the band saw
to 1/4 width strips and then laminated them together and to the ply-wood floor using the curved C-channel as a template.
I intend to through bolt every 3rd-4th fastener and wood screw the rest.
They will be bedded from here to next year to prevent rot and soaked in
West System epoxy.
I double coated all the edges of the plywood with epoxy as well and the rest
will be sealed with teak oil sealant (under) and flooring under foot...also glued
down.
You can find elevator bolts at Fastenall or similar place. I'll need to buy some longer ones now as the wood is way thicker than the C-Channel to bolt to the Out riggers

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Del, If you make it down south towards Everett sometime, perhaps arrange a stop at the shop to see my airstream. It's near Mill Creek, WA

[dbj216]

Franks Trailer Works blog has some good pointers for making luan templates for new subfloors. I believe I recall they were made before the shell was lifted.

It looks like from your photographs you have enough subfloor left to make a template for the four corners. Maybe that will work.

It's just another challenge. You've conquered several already.

David

PS Hope your hired man smells better! You are probably working him too hard!

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Thanks all, I missed understanding the step of making the template before shell off. dang i am scouring the Frank blog stressed. It had appeared to me I had enough existing floor on and understood radius on how to complete in case the rear end bathroom was going to dissolve on me. Pics of my floor post lift off here.

https://plus.google.com/photos/11042...30001717153809

[dbj216]

Well, we know the shell fit the subfloor and C channel before you lifted the shell off. So grab some luan and go trace the outline of the subfloor corners. Cut on the marked lines and that should get you close.

I envision the shell as a "paper bag" and trying to get it to position perfectly on the new subfloor will take some messing around. I used my belt sander on the edges of my new subfloor until I had a good fit. The photo shows my template!

There are lots of vintage Airstreamers that have created ways to make the new subfloor and C channel fit the old shell. I'm sure you will get some good advice here in your thread. Stay tuned.

And don't dissolve like a big Alka Seltzer! You're just building a new old Airstream. It can be done, and you will do it.

David