The Fun Begins

[Lance M]

WC,
Glad you are still here! Nice work. The A/C shroud looks great! The gas plumbing is excellent. Where did you get the clamps? They look like MilSpec Aircraft clamps. Nice.

[wasagachris]

Lance the clamps came from fastenal. I can get you the sku # if you need it.

[wasagachris]

ND are you really that happy? LOL. Happy New year to you as well. Thanks for the support and encouragement.

WC & Kay Thanks yeah I rally like the color as well. I did the same with theroof a/c on my van. I had it painted the same as the van. They just seem to look like they belong up there instead of a big white box on the roof. The scaffolding was for four sets and two platforms. As you can see they clear the roof and the a/c. I don't rmember the height but I think close to 10 ft would be right. You could always dig a trench for little girl to sit in. LMAO. Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

Lew Thanks so much. What exactly are you adding to your list. New gas lines or painting the a/c shroud. The new one I have is the replacement from Inland RV. It's fiberglass and much stronger than the original plastic one. The old one was crumbling apart in my hands as I removed it. The screen will really help keep out all the mess that was in there before.

[driftless]

Well, Chris, I already knew I was going to have to replace the AC shroud, but I hadn't written it down on "the list". The screen is a great idea and I'll be adding that as well.

My gas lines look ok to the front of the AS, but I need to have the valve replaced on one of the tanks.

My list will be broken down into the items necessary to make Betty useable and those items that I'll repair/replace while we are enjoying camping in her. The goal is to have her road ready by June 1.

[marzboy]

Happy New Year Chris welcome back! Do you have any pics of your Gennerator?

[mello mike]

Love the Silver A/C shroud, blends in nicely with the rest of your 'stream. Oh, and glad you're back and that you didn't let some nut scare you off.

[ND10CentCan]

Originally Posted by wasagachris

ND are you really that happy? LOL. Happy New year to you as well. Thanks for the support and encouragement.


WC & Kay Thanks yeah I rally like the color as well. I did the same with theroof a/c on my van. I had it painted the same as the van. They just seem to look like they belong up there instead of a big white box on the roof. The scaffolding was for four sets and two platforms. As you can see they clear the roof and the a/c. I don't rmember the height but I think close to 10 ft would be right. You could always dig a trench for little girl to sit in. LMAO. Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

Lew Thanks so much. What exactly are you adding to your list. New gas lines or painting the a/c shroud. The new one I have is the replacement from Inland RV. It's fiberglass and much stronger than the original plastic one. The old one was crumbling apart in my hands as I removed it. The screen will really help keep out all the mess that was in there before.

I was very happy that you didn't let anyone run you off. I think it is great that you are willing to help all the rest of us by documenting what you are doing, how you did it, and answering questions all the time. People like you are what makes AS Forums so valuable. So I remain,

[wasagachris]

Marzboy there is a pic upstream in this thread of the genset. It's a unique little thing that runs on propane and generates 12VDC. It was a rare option in the early to mid 70's. It's basically a lawn mower engine with an alternator attached and is really only a battery charger. When I can get at the pics I will post another one if you need it.

Mike Thanks I also am really happy with the look of the shroud and am glad to be back in such good company as all you folks.

ND Are you definately probably completely almost partially sure that you are sometimes mostly always sometimes pretty much happy all the time. LMAO.
It's down to folks like yourself and the others who make this site so enjoyable and fun to be here. I enjoy the help I can provide almost as much as doing the work itself. Thanks ever so much for the support and compliments.
Chris.

[wasagachris]

I wanted to continue with the interior by installing the new wiring. The wiring will be installed after the insulation goes in. The insulation goes in after the new awnings are attached. The awnings are attached after the shell is polished. The shell won't be polished until spring so everything is on hold until then. So in the mean time I'll find some little jobs to do. I started polishing the inside edges of the windows and the insides of the window frames themselves. It is tediously boring to clean up all the edges and the hardware for the window lift mechanisms and the window locks.
I am using steel wool in fine and super fine grade to clean up the 38 yrs of corrosion. I know everybody will disagree with using the steel wool but I can obtain a near polished finish with it. I bought a bottle of Mothers aluminium polish from Wallmart to finish off the job. It's not quite a mirror finish but looks very good and a lot shinier than before. It takes the better part of a day to do one window and frame including all the hardware, bolts etc.
Here's a few pics but I'm not sure how well the results will show up on camera. I don't have a very good camera so close ups are not clear. Ignore the tags on the pics I am not polishing a widow it's a typo.

[Lance M]

That looks fantastic Chris. Really nice detail work. Great results.

[Aage]

Wow, that sure does look good, Chris. Wish I could that kind of method to polish, but I'll have to wait till I get some mechanized way of doing that, I have a bad rotator cuff, shoulder hurts like hail for days if I do that kind of thing.

As for your camera, two thoughts. One, avoid using the flash if at all possible. On any clean surface, and ESPECIALLY on shiny ones like your window frames, the reflections will always make a super-nova hot spot. Use daylight, or ambient lighting, but be sure to have something to lean the camera against to stop movement, and hold your breath when you shoot.

Also, maybe you already know this, but most cameras now have a macro setting, and that setting makes close-ups worth taking, really gets the focus dialed in. Look for a button or selection somewhere (maybe in a menu) that has a little flower symbol.

Keep up the great work and lovely photos!

Aage

[Wabbiteer]

Metal Prep Supplies from Aircraft Spruce

Alodine. I've got friends into aircraft who use a flavor of that anytime they work bare aluminum. May not be a 100% shield against old pitting reawakening but it will passivize fresh bare metal against a sweaty fingerprint etching itself into an owner identity plaque.

[wasagachris]

The first 2 shots are after and the next two are before. The last two are of the second window on the bench. I still have to do the frame.
Thanks a lot Lance.
Aage I have looked at my camera it's very old. Ther is no macro setting just a close up button but everything comes out blurry. Like I said it's so old there is a slot in the side where the coal goes. LMAO.
Len thanks for the tip. They have an outlet up here in the great white north. i'll give them a call.

[Aage]

Originally Posted by wasagachris

Like I said it's so old there is a slot in the side where the coal goes. LMAO.

Now that's an O-L-D camera!! LOL!

[driftless]

Nice work on the window frames Chris. Your attention to detail is amazing!!

[wasagachris]

A couple of days ago I ordered my new cyclo polisher and some Nuvite from VTS. It`s on the way now by USPS. I also ordered some compounding bars and polishing pads from a local outlet here. They arrived today and on the way here I bought a new Dewalt DW849 variable speed polisher.
I couldn`t wait to get started. I tried a test patch at the rear curbside of the end cap. I also tested the compound on the banana wraps and the new side wraps of the belly pan. All parts came out pretty good. Once the cyclo gets here I will see exactly how shiney it gets. I was surprised how good the banana wrap came out.
So far i did about 5 sq ft of skin and I guess ther is about 800 sq ft to go.

[Lance M]

That's gonna look great, Chris. Nice pack boots ya got there! You Canuuks crack me up!

[wasagachris]

Originally Posted by pb379_2010

That's gonna look great, Chris. Nice pack boots ya got there! You Canuuks crack me up!

Thanks Lance they are known here as Canadian sandals. As you can see I am wearing the traditional headress of the Canadians. A toque(pronounced toouke). It`s still very cold in the shop. I haven`t had the heat on all week. Electric heat costs a fortune to leave on all the time.
I just discovered this smile named after me. Why it is is beyond me.

[driftless]

I'm glad you mentioned the temperature in your shop Chris. I had been wondering how much I would have to warm mine when I start polishing in March. I was under the impression it had to be at least 50 degrees but I don't know where I got that idea....

[wasagachris]

Lew I was just looking at the suppliers website. They don`t say anything about temperatures. Here is the link so you can look at the stuff they have.
Caswell Canada: Electroplating Kits, Car Restoration Supplies, Powder Coating, POR 15