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Old 10-01-2017, 01:43 PM   #1081
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1984 34.5' Airstream 345
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Wow!
Amazing work Brad, and you too Martin!
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Old 10-01-2017, 05:51 PM   #1082
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Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
Hmmm......I have no idea Brad.

I had assumed the channel was just formed by the gap between the frame and the lower section of the body, so was formed when the body was reattached!
The wood is sandwiched inside a channel at the bottom. When the shell is built (before being placed on chassis) the bottom channel is wrapped around the plywood floor and then the shell is lowered onto the channel and riveted into place. Then the whole floor/shell assembly is lifted onto the chassis and bolted and/or welded in place.
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Old 10-01-2017, 06:00 PM   #1083
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Another problem has reared it's ugly head

While adding in the strip of tubing down the center of the floor I found that some of the tubing had sagged over the years, to the point where they were almost 3/8" low compared to other sections. Looking closer at the problem I realized that either some wooden spacers between the floor and the chassis were missing or never installed. So while adding in the tubing I jacked up the shell which allowed me to add the spacers. Now the center of the floor tubing is pretty much flat front to back. Unfortunately that helped manifest a sagging problem between the rear wheel wells and the back edge of the cockpit along the outer wall.

The picture below shows a straight edge placed side ways across the floor. You can see just how bad the sagging is on the outside edge of the shell. It works out to about a 1/2" sag on each side. I always knew the floor sagged a little but didn't realize just how bad it was until I repaired all of the rusted areas and added the spacers.

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I've got some ideas on how to solve the problem but it's not going to be fun.

Stay tuned.....
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Old 10-08-2017, 11:52 AM   #1084
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Brad, that just reminds me of a saying I love...

"No Good Deed goes unpunished!"
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Old 10-09-2017, 05:47 AM   #1085
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Brad, that just reminds me of a saying I love...

"No Good Deed goes unpunished!"
Ain't that the truth!

After lots of measurement taking, crawling around underneath, looking at old pictures and head scratching I've come to the conclusion that the coach was build with the sag already present. It's possible it sagged a little more over the years but based on what I've found other than the sag in the floor all of the "lines" seem to match up with each other. The one exception is on the drivers side there is some distinct sagging beyond what the passenger side has and the curve in the drivers side belt line supports this. I've used a jack to raise the area in question on he drivers side and most of the sag in the belt line comes out. I now need to figure out how to add a diagonal support to keep it in that position.

Never a dull moment....

Brad
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Old 10-09-2017, 12:31 PM   #1086
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkahler View Post
The wood is sandwiched inside a channel at the bottom. When the shell is built (before being placed on chassis) the bottom channel is wrapped around the plywood floor and then the shell is lowered onto the channel and riveted into place. Then the whole floor/shell assembly is lifted onto the chassis and bolted and/or welded in place.
I have been searching back through email exchanges and it appears the channel was un-riveted from the body at the time, so I suspect they actually repeated the construction process used originally and fitted the channel around the plywood and then re-attached the body!
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Old 10-09-2017, 03:37 PM   #1087
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Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
I have been searching back through email exchanges and it appears the channel was un-riveted from the body at the time, so I suspect they actually repeated the construction process used originally and fitted the channel around the plywood and then re-attached the body!
It does sound like they did it the right way when they re-assembled Bella.

What I would really like to know is whether your 75 was build with tubing on edge or laying flat. I peeked at Peanut but didn't see anything specific. I guess I'll have to crawl around underneath to see if I can find something....
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Old 10-09-2017, 05:22 PM   #1088
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Just took a closer look at Peanut. The floor tubing is just like my 74, laying flat

I did find that Peanut had an extra support brace installed that mine doesn't have.

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I was looking to install something just like this on the drivers side to get rid what little sag that I can. Apparently it helps

Martin, whoever rebuilt Bella's floor did you a big favor!

Brad
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Old 10-09-2017, 10:54 PM   #1089
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkahler View Post

Martin, whoever rebuilt Bella's floor did you a big favor!
The previous owner bought Bella from Kathleen DeNault who is a member here, but who sold it because the frame was rotted out. His plan was to mount the body/new frame onto a Isuzu truck chassis and make a 'bug out' vehicle and the body/new frame was only bolted back to the original chassis after I bought her, as the first step of Bella's build.....with hindsight I should have changed as well!

Equally the floor was already back in by the time I bought Bella or Tony's suggested coosa board would also have gone in instead, and I would have used thicker material with the 'Tony chamfer' to narrow it to fit the channel.

Maybe this is the subject of a new thread 'what would an ultimate rebuild look like?'
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Old 10-10-2017, 04:41 AM   #1090
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
The previous owner bought Bella from Kathleen DeNault who is a member here, but who sold it because the frame was rotted out. His plan was to mount the body/new frame onto a Isuzu truck chassis and make a 'bug out' vehicle and the body/new frame was only bolted back to the original chassis after I bought her, as the first step of Bella's build.....with hindsight I should have changed as well!
Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing

Quote:
Equally the floor was already back in by the time I bought Bella or Tony's suggested coosa board would also have gone in instead, and I would have used thicker material with the 'Tony chamfer' to narrow it to fit the channel.
Tony and I have privately been discussing the Coosa replacement option. He more or less has me convinced but I'm still a little hesitant due to the sagging in the framework. I probably ought to just bite the bullet and use the Coosa

Quote:
Maybe this is the subject of a new thread 'what would an ultimate rebuild look like?'
That could make for an interesting thread.
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Old 10-10-2017, 09:37 AM   #1091
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What is the cost of Coosa?
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Old 10-10-2017, 10:22 AM   #1092
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I've found some in Knoxville which is about 2 hours away. Cost is $158 for a 4'x8' that is 1/2" thick.

Yes, my Argosy only uses 1/2" flooring.
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Old 10-16-2017, 10:08 AM   #1093
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Been dealing with lots of side issues lately so progress has been slow. I did manage to get the headlights mounted on the Argosy this weekend. The work entailed five hours of fiddling around with mounting plates, cutting odd shaped holes in aluminum plate and snaking my way into the front wheels to get the work done. The older you get the harder it is to get wrapped up inside a wheel well

This coming weekend I should be getting the TR6 body back from the painter which means I will be splitting my time between the Argosy, Peanut, TR6 and winter yard work. The body needs a little more buffing and cleanup and it will be ready to go.
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Old 10-16-2017, 11:42 AM   #1094
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Nice!
Went to get some Argon for my welder last week and stopped at a A1 Foam and Fabric while I was there looking for materials.
As I left this little gem rolled in and I chatted to the owner for a bit. Quite the story. His wife’s car since new, and whilst the body and interior was all restored nicely the bumpers were straight but shabby. I asked why, assuming it was the next stage, but he pointed out the original college parking stickers on the bumpers and windshield.... he said they had to stay!
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Old 10-16-2017, 09:20 PM   #1095
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This coming weekend I should be getting the TR6 body back from the painter which means I will be splitting my time between the Argosy, Peanut, TR6 and winter yard work. The body needs a little more buffing and cleanup and it will be ready to go.

Attachment 297124
Nice colour! Just like a really nice dark battleship grey, it will really show off the bright work.

Cheers
Tony
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Old 10-18-2017, 06:13 AM   #1096
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Nice!
Went to get some Argon for my welder last week and stopped at a A1 Foam and Fabric while I was there looking for materials.
As I left this little gem rolled in and I chatted to the owner for a bit. Quite the story. His wife’s car since new, and whilst the body and interior was all restored nicely the bumpers were straight but shabby. I asked why, assuming it was the next stage, but he pointed out the original college parking stickers on the bumpers and windshield.... he said they had to stay!
Attachment 297136
Nice looking TR4A. I like that he kept the bumper stickers!

I wish I had kept my 73 TR6 but I was young when I bought it and was more concerned with getting to work and back
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Old 10-18-2017, 07:39 AM   #1097
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Did the Triumph Stag ever make it to the US? They come in at 2800lbs with the original engine but that is often swapped to the Buick/Rover 3.5L V8 which reduces the weight significantly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Stag

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Old 10-18-2017, 07:57 AM   #1098
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Love the color Brad. What color are you going with for the interior? I vote a nice tan or black
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Old 10-18-2017, 02:21 PM   #1099
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Nice colour! Just like a really nice dark battleship grey, it will really show off the bright work.

Cheers
Tony
The color is called Damson Maroon and is a nice deep burgundy color.

The trick is going to be in getting the bright work to look good enough to put back on the car. The bumpers are ok, they just need cleaning up, but the rear tail light housings could be better. New replacement housings aren't available and finding good used ones are like trying to find good cockpit windows for the Argosies and Classics...
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Old 10-18-2017, 02:26 PM   #1100
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Did the Triumph Stag ever make it to the US? They come in at 2800lbs with the original engine but that is often swapped to the Buick/Rover 3.5L V8 which reduces the weight significantly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Stag

Yes, Stags were imported to the US. A friend of mine in Connecticut has one and uses it as a daily driver. When you go to the national shows there are generally a half dozen to a dozen that show up. Nice looking cars. I'd buy one if I had the money
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