'74 Argosy 20' Motorhome restoration/rebuild

[dadstoy]

Brad, when I "RV'd" my cargo trailer a few years back, I was asking myself the same question on the gray tank discharge.

I went with the standard 3" for a couple of reasons. The 3" pipe, fittings, valve and sewer hose are all readily available and easy to get anywhere. I could also swap sewer hoses between the MH and trailer if needed (when one or the other takes a crap (ha ha), I can just grab the hose from the other. I do have a cap with the "water hose" size fitting for the trailer and I have actually taken it with me for use on the MH when going to Burning Man, but never used it.

Another reason is that I didn't want to clog up a small hose drain with food, etc. that will go down the sink. Also consider when you are sitting at a dump station and draining the gray tank through a garden hose sized drain hose and folks are lined up behind you looking at their watches. It's nice to be able to dump quickly!

If I were to do such again in the future, I would still lean toward a 3" drain.

[bkahler]

The GM29 gas tank arrived today, at least a box labeled GM29 arrived. Unfortunately the tank inside was NOT a GM29 It's some odd ball shaped tank that looks like it's supposed to wrap around a spare tire.

So now I have to deal with returning the tank and either getting them to ship the correct one or find a different source. I hate dealing with returns!

Oh well, just one more day in the life of an Argosy


On a somewhat better note I did receive the rest of the ball joint tools that I bought off ebay.




And from RockAuto I received the fan clutch that everyone seems to be ordering these days I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was actually made in the U.S.A. which is something you don't see much of these days.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Good thinking! The macerator pump system have small diameter discharge hose, but it ends up in the same 3" screw in adapter for the sewer connection. I have been in campgrounds where they insisted on a tight connection to the sewer system, either via the threaded type or a rubber grommet type. I would probably consider a 1 -1 1/2 hose, so you have sufficient drainage for taking soapy showers.

Peter, after reading your comments and Dean's comments below it sounds like size does matter

I wonder how difficult it would be to find flexible enough hose in 1-1/2". The could be a stumbling block to using smaller than 3".

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Brad, when I "RV'd" my cargo trailer a few years back, I was asking myself the same question on the gray tank discharge.

I went with the standard 3" for a couple of reasons. The 3" pipe, fittings, valve and sewer hose are all readily available and easy to get anywhere. I could also swap sewer hoses between the MH and trailer if needed (when one or the other takes a crap (ha ha), I can just grab the hose from the other. I do have a cap with the "water hose" size fitting for the trailer and I have actually taken it with me for use on the MH when going to Burning Man, but never used it.

Another reason is that I didn't want to clog up a small hose drain with food, etc. that will go down the sink. Also consider when you are sitting at a dump station and draining the gray tank through a garden hose sized drain hose and folks are lined up behind you looking at their watches. It's nice to be able to dump quickly!

If I were to do such again in the future, I would still lean toward a 3" drain.

Dean, you brought up a good point about drain times. While the Argosy gray water tank is rather small compared to the larger Classic's draining 20 or so gallons through a 3/4" hose would definitely take some time.

Right now the black water tank sits on the left and the gray water tank on the right. They are tied together with a Y pipe in the middle. I'll have to look and see how difficult it will be to cut off the line going to the black water tank and figure out a way to cap it. After that's done if the arrangement doesn't take up a lot of space I might leave it. Otherwise I'll look at alternative locations and routing.

Thank you both for the feedback

Brad

[PeterH-350LE]

Hoses for pool equipment are 1 1/2 ", same stuff I used for the water inlet
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sioux-Chief-1-1-2-in-x-50-ft-Polyethylene-Pool-and-Spa-Hose-900-17600B00504/202257712

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Hoses for pool equipment are 1 1/2 ", same stuff I used for the water inlet
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sioux-Chief-1-1-2-in-x-50-ft-Polyethylene-Pool-and-Spa-Hose-900-17600B00504/202257712

Pool hose would definitely do it although it wouldn't collapse to a smaller length like the 3" black water hoses do. I wonder if they make a collapsible hose in 1-1/2"?

By the way, your link takes me to your craigslist ad for the 31' trailer

[bkahler]

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The LED headlight housings arrived today as well.



The LED bulbs haven't arrived yet but I'm using the same ones in my TR6 so I was able to do a trial fit.



Fit seems to be just fine. Sometime this weekend I'll try and power them up to to get an idea of how they will look.


Quality for the housing seems to be decent but only time will tell how long they last.

Brad

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

By the way, your link takes me to your craigslist ad for the 31' trailer

now thats hilarious, you know, nowadays you just have to use all the marketing tricks in the world. You will be wondering why you want that 31" trailer when you wake up.

[bkahler]

Nice try but I ain't buying your your excuse...at least not this time

[bkahler]

I spent most of the day underneath the Argosy ripping things out. The transmission is now sitting on the floor, the two compartment doors on the drivers side have been removed, the black water tank has been pulled and is now sitting in the barn.

I removed more of the propane copper piping. Not sure what Airstream was thinking but there were three 3/8" lines running from the passenger side over to the drivers side with no protection at all

I also started removing most of the wiring and hoses that run along both frame rails. The plan is to give the frame rails a stiff wire brushing and then paint.

I plan on converting the black water tank space into a battery drawer similar to those used on the Classics. Plenty of space for a drawer with the tank removed



The transmission had been hanging in place since I removed the engine back in 2008. The PO indicated that he had rebuilt the transmission prior to my taking possession of the coach and not that I don't believe him but it's now been sitting unused with no fluids since 2007 so I'm going to pull the pan and take a peek to see what it looks like inside. If it looks new I'll put the new oil pan on and use as is. If it looks "funny" inside I'll take it to a shop for evaluation.

One of the more annoying things I found about how Airstream constructed this coach is there is no room to get the bolts out from the top part of the transmission cross member. The floor sits on 3/8" spacers above the frame which is not enough room to push the bolts out so the cross member can be removed


What I will probably do is grind the rivets off of the center section of the transmission mount which will allow the center section of the mount to be unbolted allowing room for the transmission to drop straight down during removal and installation.


One of these days I'm going to be able to say I'm done tearing things out and actually putting things back in place, but not quite yet


Brad

[PeterH-350LE]

Brad, let me know if this helps. Looks like a very simple mounting method
I didn't take any measurements, figured you had the drawer to take them.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

...

One of the more annoying things I found about how Airstream constructed this coach is there is no room to get the bolts out from the top part of the transmission cross member. The floor sits on 3/8" spacers above the frame which is not enough room to push the bolts out so the cross member can be removed
Attachment 254696

What I will probably do is grind the rivets off of the center section of the transmission mount which will allow the center section of the mount to be unbolted allowing room for the transmission to drop straight down during removal and installation.

That was 1 of the reasons that I decided not to drop the crossmember when I installed the new Pan. There is an inch or so space above the frame in the 310, just enough to be real annoying to remove.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Brad, let me know if this helps. Looks like a very simple mounting method
I didn't take any measurements, figured you had the drawer to take them.

Wow, didn't take you anytime get those pics! Maybe I shoild have asked for something more challenging

Actually I don't have a drawer. The 345 drawers went to Wisconsin and I forgot to take measurements of the 310 drawers before it moved to greener pastures. Dumb move on my part

Thanks!

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Wow, didn't take you anytime get those pics! Maybe I shoild have asked for something more challenging

Actually I don't have a drawer. The 345 drawers went to Wisconsin and I forgot to take measurements of the 310 drawers before it moved to greener pastures. Dumb move on my part

Thanks!

No problem, I just got it done in time for some 1/2" hail to move through. Luckily both my Airstreams are under cover. Do you need measurements?
Would have to wait until tomorrow eve.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

That was 1 of the reasons that I decided not to drop the crossmember when I installed the new Pan. There is an inch or so space above the frame in the 310, just enough to be real annoying to remove.

Apparently Airstream didn't feel it would ever be necessay to remove the transmission....easily that is

Hopefully removing a total of 6 rivets will solve that problem.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

No problem, I just got it done in time for some 1/2" hail to move through. Luckily both my Airstreams are under cover. Do you need measurements?
Would have to wait until tomorrow eve.

Measurements would be great but no hurry at all. I won't be working on the drawer install for a while yet. I've got more stuff to remove including the gray water tank. The metal shell around the tank is rotting away and I want to fab a new one.

Lots of stuff to rebuild on this poor old Argosy.

[martin300662]

When I get back I can get pictures of the tray on Bella, Brad.

To get enough height for two batteries and the tray, the floor of the compartment on the drivers side had to be dropped by nearly 3" - the original compartment height was not enough. This also allowed the new Manchester propane tank to sit next to it. Of course this meant the compartment door (which pivots from the bottom) would not fit and the guys came up with a clever double pivot hinge system to allow the standard compartment doors be used.

[bkahler]

Martin, pictures would be great! It would be nice to have options for a battery compartment/tray.

Which ever choice I make it's going to be a fair amount of work.

I've been meaning to ask, what kind of parking brake arrangement do you have in your coach? Mine uses a small pedal to set the brake and a T-handle just above it to release. Similar to pickups of the era. However the parts manuals all seem to indicate I should have a hand lever that sets and releases the parking brake. This is about the only thing that I have that seems to be at odds with the parts manuals.

Brad

[martin300662]

I have the same as you Brad, small pedal to set/handle to release.

[PeterH-350LE]

Brad,
Curved drawer front: 34 1/4" wide
Drawer 27 1/8" wide and 27" deep at the top, less at the bottom due to the curve
depth of drawer 8 3/4"
Hope this helps you decide what to do
sorry these pictures are fuzzy, but they show where i took the measurements

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

I have the same as you Brad, small pedal to set/handle to release.

Makes me wonder if these early Argosy motorhomes were actually built on the G30 series chassis instead of P30. Thanks for the info!

Brad