The front c-channel seems to be held down by four steel drive rivets. Why did they use them there? The heads were extremely rusted so it was hard to tell exactly what they were. I ground the heads off but the subfloor is not going to move until I can get the rest out at least to the frame. I don't seem to be able to punch them on through like the bolts. I tried to drill them out but it is impossible to keep the bit centered even after using a center punch. Anyone have any good ideas on this?
The front c-channel seems to be held down by four steel drive rivets. Why did they use them there? The heads were extremely rusted so it was hard to tell exactly what they were. I ground the heads off but the subfloor is not going to move until I can get the rest out at least to the frame. I don't seem to be able to punch them on through like the bolts. I tried to drill them out but it is impossible to keep the bit centered even after using a center punch. Anyone have any good ideas on this? Attachment 61282
That's a new situation to me? Are you able to see the bottom-side of the rivet from below? Why wouldn't you be able to pull the shank out from below with vice-grips?
Also if it's now free on top, head is ground off, why wouldn't you be able gently pry the floor up away from the frame to unstick the shank?
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Todd
“Complications arose, ensued, were overcome...savvy?”
The front c-channel seems to be held down by four steel drive rivets. Why did they use them there? The heads were extremely rusted so it was hard to tell exactly what they were. I ground the heads off but the subfloor is not going to move until I can get the rest out at least to the frame. I don't seem to be able to punch them on through like the bolts. I tried to drill them out but it is impossible to keep the bit centered even after using a center punch. Anyone have any good ideas on this? Attachment 61282
I hope you are setting down when you read this so here it goes. Airstream did this just to piss you off. How they put this together is: frame and plywood floors attached with elevator bolts then "C" channel on top of elevator bolts and then the steel rivets going through the whole mess. the procedure that I did to remove the front floor was to first cut a big whole in the floor about 4 ft wide and 18 inches fore and aft in order to get a saws all in to first cut the fasteners between the frame and the plywood floor and then come back and cut between the "C" channel and the plywood. The assembly engineer that came up with this needs to be cut and bled out a bit. Good luck I spent the better part of a day getting this area apart.
I first got out my circular saw and drew out my lines to cut out an area to get my sawsall in (like Kip suggested) but the rivets are so close to the front hold down plate I wasn't sure the blade had enough room to make its stroke. I then decided to try a procedure that I am not sure will work or not. I will let you know tomorrow. Since I am from the oilfield area I stole an idea from them and slant drilled. Since the front hold down plate is there to protect the outer skin I decided to slant drill a hole on each side of each rivet to sort of cut the plywood so to speak on each side. Still didn't budge! Then I discovered that the old Airstream prankster had located two elevator bolts below the c-channel and that did piss me off. About that time my lawn mower guy at my store showed up and I had to roll up my extension cords. I will get back on it tomorrow. Hopefully I can drill a hole (maybe 1-1/2") next to the c-channel so I can get my Dremel cut off wheel in there to cut the bolts off. Man, it is always something!
Good luck with that Vernon. Sounds like some real tricky trouble. Keep us posted on how you resolve it.
If it's any consolation to you and Kip AS must have fired, and bled, that guy after 70-71 since my '75 had all the fasteners on top of the floor channel.
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Todd
“Complications arose, ensued, were overcome...savvy?”
Good luck with that Vernon. Sounds like some real tricky trouble. Keep us posted on how you resolve it.
If it's any consolation to you and Kip AS must have fired, and bled, that guy after 70-71 since my '75 had all the fasteners on top of the floor channel.
Wow, who knew Todd was so evil when he seems so nice?
I first got out my circular saw and drew out my lines to cut out an area to get my sawsall in (like Kip suggested) but the rivets are so close to the front hold down plate I wasn't sure the blade had enough room to make its stroke. !
I measured the blade from the front steel vertical and back to the Saws All blade shoe and made my first side to side cut in the plywood so that the Saws All blade would miss the plate
I measured the blade from the front steel vertical and back to the Saws All blade shoe and made my first side to side cut in the plywood so that the Saws All blade would miss the plate
That's the reason that you get paid the big bucks.
I was thinking Dremel also. I had to use mine to cut off a bunch of the elevator bolts. One thing I found with the Dremel working in tight spaces is that the cut off wheels shatter very easily.
Good luck.
Jim
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What is that line from "Miracle on 34th Street"? Something like "Maybe he's only a little crazy, like those men in Washington."
Why didn't you guys tell me I was saving the worst for last? In addition to the steel drive rivets in the front c-channel there ended up being five (5) additional elevator bolts underneath the front channel plus the two that I had already found under the curved side c-channels! Seven hidden elevator bolts total. I ended up using a wood chisel to gain access to them.
Then the floor still would not budge! I then found that last sheet metal screw that we had overlooked. There is always one somewhere. Anyway I got it out. I slide it a little aft with the help of a ratchet strap then sawed it down the middle for easier removal. Now I will clean it up and see if there are any more surprises in store for me.
BTW - here is how I got the first two out. The other five were removed the same way except I cut the hole with a wood chisel.
It did take me a half a day to get that one last sheet out. I still do not understand why they didn't run these bolts through the c-channel. That's what I am going to do.
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I will get back on it tomorrow. Hopefully I can drill a hole (maybe 1-1/2") next to the c-channel so I can get my Dremel cut off wheel in there to cut the bolts off. Man, it is always something!
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