'74 Argosy 20' Motorhome restoration/rebuild

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by bkahler

The radio has a flip up 7" diagonal screen that displays the gps map.





I've been trying to figure out what to do about Peanut's dash and instruments but so far I haven't come up with any great ideas. The only one that seems to make sense so far is to fabricate a new face panel similar to how I did mine using Front Panel Designer and then having them make it. I suppose the benefit of going that route is once it's designed anyone can have a panel made from the drawing.

I was looking at those radios too, but when flipped up it would cover the a/c vent.. ?

Manouch designer and built my current one, I want to make some changes. He’s afraid to move the wiring around so much. I’m going to look into that software .. I’ll post a pic

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by jamimes

I was looking at those radios too, but when flipped up it would cover the a/c vent.. ?

Manouch designer and built my current one, I want to make some changes. He’s afraid to move the wiring around so much. I’m going to look into that software .. I’ll post a pic

You could always install something like this dash mounted gps system. It wouldn't be to hard to mount this on the windshield pillar.

I don't blame Manouch for not wanting to mess with the wiring too much. The wiring on these things really sucks!

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by bkahler

i don't blame manouch for not wanting to mess with the wiring too much. The wiring on these things really sucks!

hush! 🤫

[bkahler]

I now have a fixed list of items that need to be complete before I can drive the Argosy out of the shop. Over the next few weeks or so I'm going to attempt to work the list as aggressively as I can. I'd really like to be able to move it out of the shop so I can do a shop cleanup before fall hits.

So I've started working the list and one of the items was a catch on the battery tray to keep it from sliding open.



A lot of stuff on the list are piddly things like strapping a wire loom to the frame rail, putting a cotter key in a master cylinder bolt, etc. They need to be done so I guess it's time to do so....

Brad

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by jamimes

I was looking at those radios too, but when flipped up it would cover the a/c vent.. ?

Manouch designer and built my current one, I want to make some changes. He’s afraid to move the wiring around so much. I’m going to look into that software .. I’ll post a pic

This is my new custom built dash.. The old gauges just dont work in my eyes..
Has blue LED's behind them. (They are BRIGHT when driving behind)

Will be changing the left light panel and moving the heat control on the right a bit lower for a radio/gps/backup camera..

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by jamimes

This is my new custom built dash.. The old gauges just dont work in my eyes..
Has blue LED's behind them. (They are BRIGHT when driving behind)

Will be changing the left light panel and moving the heat control on the right a bit lower for a radio/gps/backup camera..

You do like shiny silver don't you!

Looks good. What material did Manouch use for the panels?

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by bkahler

You do like shiny silver don't you!



Looks good. What material did Manouch use for the panels?

I like diamonds more...

It’s an decorated sheet of Aluminum. He he has photos of the steps along the way

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by jamimes

I like diamonds more...

Why doesn't that surprise me

It’s an decorated sheet of Aluminum. He he has photos of the steps along the way

Post pictures of his work in your thread so we can see how he's doing it.

[bkahler]

This morning I finally got the rear anti-sway bar installed. It's amazing how awkward it can be trying to lift a 1-3/4' diameter steel bar up while trying to clamp it in place while at the same time trying to squeeze polyurethane bushings!



The big ticket items left to do before I can go for a test drive are:

Install the drive shaft
Install the gas tank
Install the drivers seat
Install the tail lights

I'd like to think it will be ready by next weekend but I have a hunch that it will be at least another week after that as I still have several small odds and ends to take care of.

Getting close though

Brad

[mayco]

Originally Posted by bkahler

this morning i finally got the rear anti-sway bar installed. It's amazing how awkward it can be trying to lift a 1-3/4' diameter steel bar up while trying to clamp it in place while at the same time trying to squeeze polyurethane bushings!

Attachment 318155

the big ticket items left to do before i can go for a test drive are:

Install the drive shaft
install the gas tank
install the drivers seat
install the tail lights

i'd like to think it will be ready by next weekend but i have a hunch that it will be at least another week after that as i still have several small odds and ends to take care of.

Getting close though

brad

yeeeehawwwwwwwwwwwww!

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Attachment 318155

The big ticket items left to do before I can go for a test drive are:

Install the drive shaft
Install the gas tank
Install the drivers seat
Install the tail lights

I'd like to think it will be ready by next weekend but I have a hunch that it will be at least another week after that as I still have several small odds and ends to take care of.

Getting close though

Brad

Just adding to the list:

Double check brake bleeding,
Double check tire air pressure

Looking very nice by the way.

[bkahler]

Tony,

I hadn't touched the brake pedal for probably 6 months and when I did a brake pedal check last week it was slightly soft on the first couple of pushes and then became solid. This spring I did find one fitting that was weeping ever so slightly and I tightened it up.

One advantage to parking it in the shop is I can watch for spots on the floor.

As for tires, I will be using Peanut's old wheels and tires for the test drives. One of the main reasons I want to test drive it is to verify the TBI tuning is correct. I need to do some test drives and send the data to the Tuner so he can evaluate it. Once that's done I'll look into buying new tires.

Brad

[bkahler]

Anoher major hurdle is out of the way



Trying to get all of the wiring and vent hoses stuffed up inside the dash top was like trying to put 10 pounds of "stuff" into a 5 pound bucket! I eventually managed to get everything in place but it took a while.

I still have to lube the differential, set the toe-in, install the tail light assemblies, install the drivers pedestal and seat, and last but not least the gas tank.

I think the only difficult one is going to be setting the toe-in, I have to roll the Argosy back and forth as I make adjustments

Brad

[bkahler]

Seat and steering wheel are in

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Seat and steering wheel are in

Attachment 318944Attachment 318945

Damn nice looking Dash, Brad!! Were you able to adjust the tilt on Jensen enough to use it?

[chiefair]

That dash looks great!

[mayco]

That dash is outstanding! So cool and clean looking with the aluminum. Love the strip along the bottom that holds the vents, radio, etc.....I remember when you were making that up.

Man you're getting there Brad! It's looking sooooooooo darn good!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Damn nice looking Dash, Brad!! Were you able to adjust the tilt on Jensen enough to use it?

Thanks Peter!

When I had the dash assembled last year for testing I found the Jensen needed to be spaced out about 1" in order for it to open up properly. I did a bunch of googling and found an adapter that spaces the radio outwards 25 mm.

din spacer


Probably not the most elegant solution but I didn't exactly have a lot of options. I may eventually machine something out of an aluminum block that would look a little more appropriate. However for the time being I've got other things I could be working on

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by chiefair

That dash looks great!

Thanks

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

That dash is outstanding! So cool and clean looking with the aluminum. Love the strip along the bottom that holds the vents, radio, etc.....I remember when you were making that up.

Man you're getting there Brad! It's looking sooooooooo darn good!

Thanks Mike

You never really know how something is going to look until it all starts coming together. So far I'm happy with the results.

Brad