1975 Argosy Value

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Just checking to see if anyone actually reads my posts.

I'm still trying to work out if the Belize element of the story is 'for real'!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

I'm still trying to work out if the Belize element of the story is 'for real'!

If it's not then he's been lying to a whole bunch of people!

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Well, it's official.....Tony has gone over to the Dark Side!





I'll leave it to Tony to fill everyone in on the rest of the details



Brad

YES!! Tell all!

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by martin300662

? it will cost you money (in my case $1300) just to get rid of what is left after windows, doors, etc are removed.

Martin- you had to pay that much to haul your “junk” away?!

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by jamimes

Martin- you had to pay that much to haul your “junk” away?!

Yep, and to be honest I have no confirmation it actually happened.

AS NE agreed to getting a parts donor, and for them to get rid of what was left afterwards. Turns out that option didn't pan out and we went through about 4 other scrap yards each who said they would take it for a price, only to then refuse or to no show. During this the cost went from $400 to $700 to $1000 to almost $1400.

I was back in the UK by then and just paid the money to get it sorted!

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by martin300662

I'm still trying to work out if the Belize element of the story is 'for real'!

Yup! Doing the reverse snowbird thing; instead of having a house in Canada and paying huge property taxes and to heat it, with a trailer or condo in Florida or Arizona, we're buying property in Belize and touring across Canada in the 310 in the summer time. We may end up renting out our house in Canada, just to keep our foot in the door so to speak.

No lie. DW wants to retire in two years, so she has given that to me as a deadline to complete the Argosy for its maiden voyage to Belize.

You know what and where Belize is, right?

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

You know what and where Belize is, right?

For sure Tony, never been there and had never heard of it is an snow bird location.

I am guessing being part of the Commonwealth factors in for you? Jeez, they may even let me in!

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by martin300662

For sure Tony, never been there and had never heard of it is an snow bird location.

I am guessing being part of the Commonwealth factors in for you? Jeez, they may even let me in!

Shhh, don't tell anyone!

Actually Belize is starting to get on a lot of peoples radar as it has the British Rule of Common Law; ie, what you own, is yours, and can't be taken away from you by a government without due process and compensation.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[Isuzusweet]

Yay! Thanks to Brad for e-mailing me a link to a garage here in Southern Ontario that I knew, but forgotten about, I now have the most important piece of the puzzle. I have someone interested in the project that may know a thing or two about Cummins conversions.

https://debossgarage.com/about/

WHEW! Now to find that engine.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[bkahler]

Any news from the shop?

[Isuzusweet]

I G-mailed them the other day with the master list of to do items; haven't heard back.

This is the list of what I asked them to do:

First of all, thank you for your patience. This project has landed quite by accident in my lap, so to speak; and I, a Canadian has been given the task, by a bunch of Americans (and one Brit), of restoring and renovating this piece of Americana. LOL

I did manage to finally get in contact with Jeremy at your diesel place. He seemed very unsure about how to go about this conversion and the price kept on going up, and up. I did manage to find a guy in Ontario, that only does Cummins conversions, who seemed to be happy to do the project. It also means I’m closer to the build in order to keep it on track with possible answers to questions, or problems that may arise during the conversion.

So, this means I need to get her home in one piece and I have no choice but to put money into the engine. Understand that the trip home will take 6-8 hours. The trip will be completed during daylight with no rain and as much back road 40-45 mph roads we can find.

Work to be completed:

1) Radiator re-core, also please quote removal of gas tank and boiling, sealing and painting/epoxy outer coating, if you can find one shop that will do both. Tank is 50 gallons capacity. Radiator will have to be removed from down below, as removal from the front is almost impossible due to the million of rivets holding the front grille on.

2) Engine does run, but not well due to dirty carburetor. Carburetor will have to be cleaned and adjusted, (maybe check timing?).

3) Fuel filter has been changed and supposedly Don Varian has a few more filters in a plastic container in the Argosy.

4) Oil and filter change, again supposedly Don Varian has an oil filter in the Argosy

5) Replace rubber fuel line to motor as we (Airstreamers) have lost many Argosy’s and Classic motorhomes over the years from leaking fuel onto a very hot motor, also replace lines to gas tank if tank is taken down. Ethanol is terrible on old rubber fuel lines.

6) Replace fuel pump on motor as the rubber diaphragm on it will most likely fail on the way home.

7) Inspect water pump for any signs of roughness in bearing, or leaking. Contact me if you feel it should be replaced.

8) Replace thermostat

9) Replace drive belts, (at least the ones for alternator, power steering and water pump.

Brakes:

1) Replace master cylinder

2) Replace all rubber hoses leading from metal lines to callipers and rear brakes.

3) Inspect, but most likely replace front callipers and pads.

4) Check condition of front rotors

5) I hate to do anything to the rear brakes as I’m considering converting the rear to disc brakes, or replacing the entire axle to a newer version, but don’t want a wheel cylinder going bad on me on the way home. I’d really like to just somehow cap off the rear brakes all together and very carefully drive home with just the fronts.

Wheels and tires

I have six 16” steel rims with good rubber on them ready to go; so, if you have everything else done and ready to go, other than putting the wheels back on, I will drive down with the wheels, pay you for your efforts while you put the wheels on, and we should be ready to go. The current tires would only be good for very low speed testing, and I do mean low speed, maybe 30mph max ( they survived almost 40 mph behind the tow truck).

I also added to inspect and grease ball joints and driveshafts, but told them that suspension would be swapped out with a Cummins installation.


Did I miss anything?

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[bkahler]

The list pretty much covers what we discussed while in Wooster. You'll probably have to drive with the cockpit windows open due to the exhaust leaks but if I remember right Don said the windows do open. The only thing that concerns me is your rear brake plans but we've already discussed that as well

Here's the links to the wheels Martin and I are using. They are $20 less per wheel compared to when I purchased them!

Rear dually wheel

Front dually wheel

You might have mentioned it but I've slept since then. Where did you find six wheels and tires?

[Boom Sounds]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Shhh, don't tell anyone!

Actually Belize is starting to get on a lot of peoples radar as it has the British Rule of Common Law; ie, what you own, is yours, and can't be taken away from you by a government without due process and compensation.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

I've been to Belize. I loved it, but nearly got turned over. Was saved by a nice bar owner who called the local cops. They walked in and we were escorted into a waiting taxi; great service! Travelling from a Spanish feeling Central America into Belize, felt weird. Waved straight in on a UK passport, red post boxes in some places, just like home.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Boom Sounds

I've been to Belize. I loved it, but nearly got turned over. Was saved by a nice bar owner who called the local cops. They walked in and we were escorted into a waiting taxi; great service!

Just to make things clear, back in my days in Belize, the local taxi doubled as the police car. Like Starsky and Hutch, they had the little domed magnetic blue light they throw up on top. Belize is the very last place on earth you attempt a high speed getaway though as the sleeping policemen are over weight, and not signed in advance.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[SteveNdebbie]

Hello from SteveNdebbie,
Well, I see the thread I started has been hijacked by a Canadian! Don asked me yesterday if I noticed anything different at their place and I said “It’s gone!” He said to check out the forum thread I started about his Argosy, and, Wow! I don’t think the Argosy could have found a better savior for it’s second life! Thanks Isuzusweet and you have my blessing and approval for continuing this story. And thank you Brad, Martin, and the rest of the members for steering me in the right direction.

To complete my story, after my last correspondence last June, my wife and I toured the Airstream factory, started looking at travel trailers, and almost one year from the date we looked at that old Shasta we purchased a 25 ft. 2006 Airstream Safari SE. We found out through the forums that our 2011 Acura MDX was capable of towing the Airstream with some modifications by Can Am in London, Ontario. So, we purchased it in Traverse City, towed it with our MDX to Canada (never been there before), slept in our Safari overnight, got the modifications the next day, had Can Am do a set-up, and went on a test drive with Andy. They were great! Amazing how differently it towed. Then we left in the afternoon, drove through Detroit (i75 was closed) during rush hour, and back to Dalton Ohio late in the evening (oh, and I had never towed a camper before).

For our 30th anniversary this September my wife and I plan to head west to Yellowstone, go down 101 through Oregon and to the Redwoods in California, come back through Utah and Colorado...enjoying seeing America and whoever we encounter along the way. We were able to purchase the Airstream using whole life insurance funds - a reinvestment.

The Shasta was the inspiration, the Argosy gave us vision, and here is our reality. Thanks to all!

Steve and Debbie

[martin300662]

Great way to end a story; everyone is happy!

[Isuzusweet]

Has there ever been a Canadian hijacker? I maybe the first ever Canadian hijacker.

Sorry, eh?

Great trailer; just watch out for the front beltline at the subfloor. Supposedly the person responsible for sealing the belt line against water intrusion, didn't get the memo. I have heard of 2006 and 2007 models being affected.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[SteveNdebbie]

Thanks for the heads-up Tony. We had looked at and almost purchased a new 23 foot Serenity but noticed some quality issues. The factory was having trouble keeping up with the demand. Our older model was well taken care of by the previous owner and the fit and finish seemed better, but I did wonder what problems may arise. I’ll keep an eye out for leaks.

Steve

[SteveNdebbie]

Here are some pics of our first walk through of Tony’s Argosy

[bkahler]

Wow!! Those pictures re-emphasize just how much cleaning Don did to the Argosy before Tony and I looked at it!