Shell off restoration 1954 26' Cruiser! Let the Renovation fun begin!!

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by jjmtb

Incredible work so far. Keep the info coming. I will be following along. The new step looks nice. Did you get it from VTS? I need one but havent pulled the trigger until I was more certain on what to get. What you have looks like a good solution.

Hey jjmtb! Yeah that step was from VTS, I read the reviews and did see it mentioned that it didn't come out as far as the original step. After I got it here I found that is in fact the case. Unfortunately there was nothing left of my original step beside one side.

Looks like measuring the old and new step there is a difference of about 2"- 3". I'll be replicating the old step as part of phase two of the restoration.

[RankAm]

Originally Posted by Jakattack

Anyone have a good recommendation for a thread that does a good job on rehabbing the windows and all that's involved with that? I can't seem to find anything with much detail, I know it's probably simple but I feel like that would be something someone would have covered pretty well in here already

Sorry to be late in responding, but here is the starting post of my window rehabbing. The window work picks up again here.

Good luck (and allow a lot of time for working on windows!).

Hank

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by RankAm

Sorry to be late in responding, but here is the starting post of my window rehabbing. The window work picks up again here.



Good luck (and allow a lot of time for working on windows!).



Hank

Damn Hank! That's some serious detail!! Thanks for the info, I haven't gotten to the windows yet and looks like it will be part of phase two. For now I'm going to remove the ones that need the most work and place a piece of skin material over the opening for my travels down south.

I love the ideas you had laid out in you posts, and will be using those for sure!!


Thanks again Jak

[Jakattack]

So after another week I got the shell back on!!

Redid the bearings, shackle bolts and U-bolts. Then I put down some MDO plywood on the frame (MDO is an exterior grade plywood with resin soaked fiber overlays between the veneer layers and on the surface) and secured it in place with ceramic coated screws that worked like a charm!

I had to come up with the radius on the ends myself by reading up on the treads and doing some math since my floor was practically non existent. I did have the original width of the flooring which was helpful, that was 85 1/4".

Then I cut out some new C-channel for connecting the shell to the frame and secured the down with Lexel caulking (instantly waterproof and sticks to anything) and screws until I get a chance to run the 1/4 bolts to the frame (I was working against the weather). I ran the laser on the frame to make sure I had it all straight the with a little bit of finagling, I was able to get the shell connected again and the wheel wells riveted back on as well.

I started patching up the windows with some temporary aluminum. I'll have to do most of them but we'll at least have two working windows and the roof vents. Also doing some small temporary patches where I had a few utility holes in the shell. I'm not to concerned with the random patches cause they will be coming out once I can rehab the windows. Also most of the bottom panels will need to be replaced, nbd!

This week I'll have the exterior done and the inside should be painted, getting close to the deadline but all you got to do is "prioritize and execute!!" I'll be taking this baby on its maiden voyage at the beginning of June, anything I'm missing??



The tail lights and marker lights are going in as well as the trailer wiring junction box, those just arrived.

I order new door hinges since I didn't have any on the trailer.

Safety chains and weight distribution has been ordered.

New rims and tires and being picked up this week.

I'm still trying to figure out the damn shocks for this thing though, anyone have any ideas? I also sheared off the mounting bolts the attached to the bottom of the leaf spring but am sure I have found the right replacement one, it comes in a kit from Monroe 33033 shock.

Thanks for looking, information always appreciated!! and keep in mind I'm just getting this road ready and weather proof, it'll be doing the full renovation once I'm in California and converting it to a tandem axle.

[goransons]

Things are looking great!! Can wait to start on the frame on our 55! Just a few more weeks. Keep up the good work, you're getting me motivated to finish up other projects!

[Jakattack]

Originally Posted by goransons

Things are looking great!! Can wait to start on the frame on our 55! Just a few more weeks. Keep up the good work, you're getting me motivated to finish up other projects!

Thanks goransons! I've been working long days since we get almost 18 hours of light this time of year up here... it's hard to quit when you still have daylight, plus I'm having a blast working on this thing!!

Excited to see what you have going on with your '55

[Jakattack]

So now that the shell is on a secured with bolts through the C-channel, the plywood and down to the outriggers, plus through bolts in between. I decided to do a quick fix on the windows and decided to place something temporary in instead of glass, I think it turned out alright. I also straightened out a couple of the drip caps while I was at it. I need to completely redo the windows and since I don't have time I thought this would be easier, which it was.



We added the new roof vents and patched up the holes on the out side, there were quite a few to deal with and the rain didn't help much, but that won't stop us!!



I also got the trailer lights wired up using replacement beehives and tail light I picked up online from the vintage campers site, I still have the original plate light with all the glass intact. Speaking of I do have the old glass beehive and base plates that need some TLC if anyone is in the market for some let me know or send me a message.



I had to make a new drip cap for the door since the original one was completely trashed as well. I flattened out what was left of the original one and traced it on some old material. Then I cut it out and started to shape it slowly with a pair of pliers I had marked to make sure I kept the same distance from the edge. This being the first time trying this method I was pretty happy with the results.



The next problem I had to work through was dealing with the main door, what a nightmare! The only thing original left of it was the main outside frame and the internal part of the door hardware with the interior handle. The problem was this door frame no longer matched the curve of the shell, so I got creative and created a template for resetting the curve. Once I had my shape dialed in I screwed it to my workbench and started to reshape the frame.

Caution!! Use leather gloves for this next part if you attempt something like this or else you'll end up finding out the hard way why it's necessary.

I clamped one end down to the template and using a mapp gas torch I heated up the aluminum evenly moving back and forth over the metal for about a minute or so. Then with gloves on and a 3/8 drill bit as a help I placed the bit between the metal and the wood starting from the clamped end and slowly added pressure around the template moving the bit every 8-10"... it worked like a charm!! Way better than I had expected for sure. I got a perfect fit on the frame and am now ready to add the skins.




Can't wait to get to the lower 48 where everything is easier to find and I don't have to pay crazy shipping prices!!

[Jakattack]

Its been six weeks of work and phase 1 (getting her road ready) is about a day or two away from being done.

We decided shell off because it was necessary.
We replace all the cross members and out riggers with slightly heavier gauge square tubing and the primed and painted the frame.
Installed all new break system and wiring.
After that we installed 3/4 MDO (sign board) over the frame and c-channel around with elevator bolts.
Dropped the shell back on and started filling in the windows with 5mm plywood covered with aluminum flashing on the outside (just temporary). I had to remove a few windows and add patches instead cause the windows were so badly abused.
I also created a main door almost entirely from scratch using some of my carpentry skills and hot rod classes from years ago. I think it turned out great even though I don't have a screen door [emoji22]
We sanded, primed and painted the inside as well and it really changed the way things look.

Here are some more pics showing before and after. Let me know what you think... Honey Bucket kinda looks more like Mad Max!!

[Stanley29]

Looks too familiar. I did a ground up on a 54 cruiser 2 years ago. You can check out my thread under Stanley29. Also check out tinman. I know he went through all his windows. I'm interested to track your progress if I can help feel free to ask. Cheers, Mike