Argosy 20' MH restoration

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Yuki,

When you get a chance google the phrase "Shipwrights' disease".

I think you are suffering from it

Brad

Brad,

I've searched that word on google.
Wow! I probably have that disease..

I have to declare "I'm a shipwrights disease" when a doctor asked "Do you have any chronic illness?"


By the way, the transmissin shop said "the parts have shipped from the USA, we'll assemble the trans when it has arrived" to me yesterday.

Hopefully I could get it next month!

[Isuzusweet]

There's a reason the saying " Let sleeping dogs lie" came about.
There are many things that I could "fix" in my 310, but I know what lies in wait for me. I just pray I don't smell smoke.

Yuki, I'm amazed at your tenacity and determination; I just hope you find enjoyment with the final product, in the use it was intended for. I pray you enjoy camping in it one day.
Still interested in this thread, but getting worried.
Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[chevy2man]

Keep up the great work Yuki. I’m really enjoying all the pics from your project. Can’t wait to see the finished motorhome.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Hi Tony,
Thank you for your message.

I'm Shipwrights' disease, so no worries and no problems!
That's way to treat of cars and motorcycles of mine.
e.g. Nissan sunny truck (it's being progressed), Yamaha XS750D, Vespa etc..
My symptom is very serious though..

There's a reason the saying " Let sleeping dogs lie" came about.

We have a similar proverb over here which you taught me.
I like that phrase but we have a proverb "Prevention is better than cure" as well. haha

Anyway, I hope the project is finished in near future then I will fully enjoy camping and driving. (Of course I'm still enjoying the restoration work.)

If you keep on supporting this thread and me I'm glad of that!

Best regards,
Yuki

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by chevy2man

Keep up the great work Yuki. I’m really enjoying all the pics from your project. Can’t wait to see the finished motorhome.

Hi chevy2man,

Thank you for the encouragement.
I'm pleased to hear that.

Yes, I'm going to keep on progressing the restoration work.
I cannot abandon my project!!

Stay tuned..
Thank you,
Yuki

[GREEN ARGOSY]

I've started dismantling the rear part.
The first, I removed a fridge.


I found nests between a top board and the fridge.



Hmm it's rusted..
I'm considering to keep it or not.


I put out the fridge from the coach.




Anyway frame is very rusted or rotted.
I need to repair it after removal the floor and some components.


I've already removed a galley.



What is this?
I found a hole at in the front of a wheel-well..

[martin300662]

Your timing is perfect Yuki...Brad and I are exchanging emails about doing exactly the same with Peanut.

Here's Peanut's proposed layout.

[RVH Argo28]

I'm sad to report my 28' Argosy project came to a crashing halt.
It went from this to this: 80% of new subfloor was done just awaiting bathroom area, most of it done inspired by the progress Yuki has made. Now I have a boat load of new parts and no motorhome...sigh.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by RVH Argo28

I'm sad to report my 28' Argosy project came to a crashing halt.

It went from this to this: 80% of new subfloor was done just awaiting bathroom area, most of it done inspired by the progress Yuki has made. Now I have a boat load of new parts and no motorhome...sigh.

Ouch! That is painful to see.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Your timing is perfect Yuki...Brad and I are exchanging emails about doing exactly the same with Peanut.

Here's Peanut's proposed layout.

Attachment 350627

Hi Martin,
That layout is nice!
Will the peanut get new furnishings?
And will it acquire pano windows too? If so, I'm jealous of them.
I like pano windows so much!

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by RVH Argo28

I'm sad to report my 28' Argosy project came to a crashing halt.
It went from this to this: 80% of new subfloor was done just awaiting bathroom area, most of it done inspired by the progress Yuki has made. Now I have a boat load of new parts and no motorhome...sigh.

Ohhhh...
I cannot find the words to say..

[chevy2man]

Originally Posted by RVH Argo28

I'm sad to report my 28' Argosy project came to a crashing halt.

It went from this to this: 80% of new subfloor was done just awaiting bathroom area, most of it done inspired by the progress Yuki has made. Now I have a boat load of new parts and no motorhome...sigh.

Oh wow! That stinks big time!! So sorry to see this.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Dismantling work has being progressed.



I removed cabinet and closet.


I don't know why manufacturer used wood for a water section.


There is a lot of damaged around a wheel well. Probably I need to redo it.

Next I tackled other side.


I needed to remove a control panel before eliminated an over head cabinet.


I've done with work.



We can't charge LPG easily in Japan.
So I'm thinking to replace a boiler and a heater to diesel ones.
But those are pricey..


Anyway I removed the heater.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Dismantling work has being progressed...........

You are making great progress Yuki.

Could you please make some measurements as you now have everything exposed?

What is the height of your wheel wells (I am trying yo work out the distance from the top of the wheel well to a standard height counter-top)?

What is the distance from the drivers side wheel well to the back of the coach (I am trying to work out if a fridge could go behind the wheel well)?

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by martin300662

You are making great progress Yuki.

Could you please make some measurements as you now have everything exposed?

What is the height of your wheel wells (I am trying yo work out the distance from the top of the wheel well to a standard height counter-top)?

What is the distance from the drivers side wheel well to the back of the coach (I am trying to work out if a fridge could go behind the wheel well)?

Martin,
Thank you!

OK. Of course, I can measure those.
I'll check it tomorrow or within a few days.

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Removal inner skins and insulation.


Here is behind of a galley.


There's some nuts in there.
I have found those all over the place in the coach.


I have removed most of the inner skins at the driver side except the rear end and ceiling.


I really hate that the insulation drift in the air.
So I cleaned the wall with water and a sponge file (It's like scotch brite) at this moment.

[bkahler]

Looking good! Since your Argosy is the same as Peanut it's interesting to see what things look like after they are removed.

One thing I noticed, on your's the plastic wheel well housings are under the plywood. On mine they were setting on top of the plywood which was a source for water leaks because the plywood was exposed to the water that would have been splashed around when driving in the rain.

Brad

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Looking good! Since your Argosy is the same as Peanut it's interesting to see what things look like after they are removed.

One thing I noticed, on your's the plastic wheel well housings are under the plywood. On mine they were setting on top of the plywood which was a source for water leaks because the plywood was exposed to the water that would have been splashed around when driving in the rain.

Brad

Brad,


Yes, the wheel well housings are under the plywood.
But it might have some gaps or bad sealing so there was heaps of dust and rust around it..

Does the early Argosy's wheel well housings set on top of the plywood?? I wonder why the manufacturer exposed the plywood at the wheel well.
Water would penetrate the plywood and make rot easily!

However I know that you already have strong water proof plywood (a.k.a. Coosa board) and special wheel well covers!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GREEN ARGOSY

Brad,

Attachment 351074
Yes, the wheel well housings are under the plywood.
But it might have some gaps or bad sealing so there was heaps of dust and rust around it..

If Airstream didn't use any sealant between the bottom of the plastic wheel well cover and the metal frame then water would easily migrate from under the plastic into the metal frame area. That would cause your "heaps of dust and rust".

Does the early Argosy's wheel well housings set on top of the plywood?? I wonder why the manufacturer exposed the plywood at the wheel well.
Water would penetrate the plywood and make rot easily!

I think Airstream made them that way because they weren't concerned about the long term problems that would be caused by building them the way they did.

Mine sat on top and I had a lot of rust and rot. I had to replace sections of the metal floor tubing due to the rust.

However I know that you already have strong water proof plywood (a.k.a. Coosa board) and special wheel well covers!

Yes, I'm glad Tony pushed me to use Coosa! It was expensive and I had to spend a day just making the trip to purchase it but I'm glad I did.

I made the replacement wheel well covers out of steel because in the later years Airstream did the same thing and the results were better.

Brad

[GREEN ARGOSY]

Martin,

I measured those value which you told me yesterday.
Please check below.

What is the height of your wheel wells (I am trying yo work out the distance from the top of the wheel well to a standard height counter-top)?

There is about 230mm between the top center of wheel well housing and floor.

What is the distance from the drivers side wheel well to the back of the coach (I am trying to work out if a fridge could go behind the wheel well)?

I haven't removed a water tank, a shelf, a door and etc.. at the rear end, so I measured the distance from the wheel well to some points.


Here is place between the wheel well and a water tank, there was a heater in there.


This is measurement of the wheel well and a closet wall.
It's about 440mm.


This is measurement of the wheel well and a bulkhead.
It's about 545mm.


This is measurement of the wheel well and a bathroom sink.
It's about 900mm.


Next I measured in the closet there is two of trays.


This is a tray "A". It's about 490mm between the closet wall and a tray "B".


This is a tray "B". It's about 340mm between the tray "A" and the end of coach.


I think the distance from the wheel well to the back of the coach is total value of the measurement from the wheel well to closet wall (440mm) + the tray "A" (490mm) + the tray "B" (340mm) = 1,270mm.

However those values are just "about".
If you need other dimensions please feel free to ask me!