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Big G · 02-01-2016, 04:02 PM

Spent the past weekend cleaning up the light supports, wash them with Dawn dish soap both sides and a scrubby pad they cleaned up good. Let them dry then wipe them with denature alcohol this is so that the tape will stick to the aluminum supports. Installed new three way switches for them. Next pleased the LED strips onto the supports and tested each of them with a nine volt battery to make sure that they worked independently. Am weighting for the connector leads that i order to come in from Amazon so i can hook them up to work on the new switches. Will post my progress after the leads come in. Should be in a couple of weeks.

Big G · 02-24-2016, 05:13 PM

Hi all just got back from my vacation over seas. let me tell you what i have completed so far. Installed six led lights to each of the four aluminum plates that held the incandescent lights. Had to wait for the connector to come in, back order from Amazon. Received them while i was on holiday, installed them last Saturday. Have them connected to new three way switches just like the old lights. Photo to follow. Short six connectors for the last light will order them next week as well as more led lights. am going to put them over the windows in the front as well as the sleeping area and bath room. The photo below are of the lights in each position with one set for the first light and so on.

Lights are tested using my jump start battery 12v.

Big G · 03-09-2016, 06:39 AM

Hi All, Well last night i finished changing over the incandescent light fixtures to LEDs. Started with the over head lights that attach to the ceiling then moved on to the two lights that were over the twin beds, then lastly replaced the six lights that were over the bathroom mirror. photos below of all seven lights. Need to replace the switches on the twin bed lights, one works part time and the other dose not work at all. Come spring will remove the shell and finish the frame welding and save up for new axles to replace the worn out ones. Will keep you up dated as progress go on.

Big G · 03-21-2016, 08:15 PM

Hi all
I just spent the last couple of weeks in my spare time reading the book I order from amazon. The title is Restoring a Dream by Tim Shephard. I found that the way he did his overhaul is kind of the same way that I am doing mine. But at a slower pace. On the east coast ware we have to deal with colder winters that he does not have to.
To start with you should have a solid frame under your AS. In my case I had to remove some rust in a long area 1”x 12” behind the rear wheels on the street side of the trailer. This was simply cutting out the damage area and replacing it with new steel that I welded into place, than I had to inforce two lower side rails on both side of the front area, one on the street side and on the curbside in front of the stairs.
Come spring after the ground firms up I will continue working on the rest of the frame and finished it. Once the frame is secured than I will install the precut sub flooring that is secured to the “c” channel on the shell and bolt it to the frame.
Over the winter I have spent my time overhauling the incandescent light that was used on the overhead panels. Time well spent. I will be using Tim’s book as a reference when I come across an area that I am having a problem with. Thank you Tim for the book. If someone is thinking about doing an over haul I highly recommend this book to start with.

dbj216 · 03-24-2016, 07:26 PM

I also enjoyed Tim Sheppard's bood Restoring a Dream. He discusses his experiences which are similar to most of us who renovate one of these vintage Airstreams. And his Vintage Airstream Podcast (the VAP) series was great fun too as well as informational. Listen in sometime.

http://www.thevap.com/

Keep us posted as you progress down your renovation journey.

David

Big G · 06-25-2016, 02:50 PM

Was getting ready to per install the fresh water tank when i notice a smell coming from the tank. Looked inside and did not see anything in the tank. I then added about ten gallons of water to see if could loosen up anything and lo and behold I found the dead mouse at the bottom of the tank. Next I drained the tank and proceeded to remove the mouse but it came out in pieces and smelled so bad that I had to put on a respirator to finish removing it. Removed all remients of the mouse from the tank. Now I have this problem should I wash out the tank with bleach at a 50 50 mix or replace the tank?

rmkrum · 06-25-2016, 03:06 PM

Bleach it at about 25% solution. That will kill anything, including viruses.

Dead mice can really smell bad, but flushing tank thoroughly a couple times with bleach will cure it.

I'd be looking for mouse holes unless the drain valve was left open or uncapped. (bad practice, IMHO)

Had a dead one under the sink at home. That was really awful.

Try not to think about it too much. It's disgusting but curable.

Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

Big G · 06-25-2016, 04:51 PM

Thanks rmkrum, The tank was removed last fall and stored in my garage last winter standing upright with the opening were not taped closed. Will try your mix and see if it works. I just do not to get sick from this little critter.

Big G · 03-11-2018, 10:39 AM

Have not posted any thing for some time, because i have been sick and working on the Overlander between Dr. appointments. Have cleaned the inter panels with comet or Ajax, simple green. have photos of before and after

dbj216 · 03-11-2018, 06:57 PM

Hi Big G: Hope you are getting better. Working on a vintage Airstream helps the healing process so I'm told.

Since we last posted, I've acquired a 75 Overlander that I am currently working on. I wonder what differences there were between 74 and 75. Maybe just interior decorating.

David