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07-20-2015, 07:34 PM
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#241
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Rivet Master
1979 24' Airstream Excella 24
Tipp City
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 551
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I live 10 minutes from the crossroads of America (I-70 and I-75). I would be happy to to put you up for a night or two if your journey takes you that way. Would love to see your rig and share stories about restoring 35 year old motorhomes.-
Greg
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07-21-2015, 08:28 AM
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#242
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Gunter
1966 24' Tradewind
1984 34.5' Airstream 345
Greenville
, Ohio
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662
Nearly certain it will be Willow Green (Ditzler PPG 43391) as used on the mid to late sixties GM models. However before we jump in, the paint shop is doing some checking (they are a PPG shop) as the same color code seems to result in quite a range of finishes, dependent on how it is applied
Either way we will keep the center-line the original Argosy main body (off white) color.
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Another color to consider is called Mosport Green that was 1966 Corvettes.
__________________
Gunter
2000 Land Yacht XL 355
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07-21-2015, 10:47 AM
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#243
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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I will check it out Gunner, thank you
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07-25-2015, 08:01 AM
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#244
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Well it has been 10 months 'in the making', but Bella is back in her natural habitat!
All systems working fine, even down to the PC based media/AV systems.
Only issue so far is the campground has 20amp power (which is enough to run everything on-board - including AC), but doesn't have city water, and our hose doesn't reach the shared spigot, so we are literally dry camping!
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07-25-2015, 08:06 AM
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#245
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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Awesome!!
And since we're spending your money now 😃 you'll love one of these:
http://m.campingworld.com/shopping/i...i-hose-50/1646
Can't wait to see you guys in your Argosy!!! Congrats!!!
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07-25-2015, 08:48 AM
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#246
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Rivet Master
1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign
, Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,071
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Good on ya Martin!
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07-25-2015, 07:10 PM
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#247
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Rivet Master
1979 24' Airstream Excella 24
Tipp City
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 551
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Great News ! Thanks for sharing. You give me hope. I am 18 months into my restoration and sometimes it seems that first camping trip may never happen.
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07-26-2015, 09:08 AM
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#248
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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First trip over (just a couple of nights camping), and the drive back was uneventful. There are a few teething issues, for example the engine access panel isn't shutting properly and 'clunking' over every bump, and the drivers wiper arm is obviously installed one tooth out as it only covers half the screen and hits the base of the screen on each 'wipe'.....small things really.
Parked up temporarily in front of the house
Now the cascade beings of:-
- Bella is now usable so we can get rid of the toy hauler/trailer
- With the trailer gone, I don't need my truck
- We can also trade my DW runaround for something that is tow-able
All which will free up space to get Bella parked down the side of the house and close to the services.
Over the next week or so I plan to post some posts on specific elements of the rebuild (new dash AC, seats, air conditioning, electrical, water system, wet room etc) but will do one at a time looking for some comments and discussion around performance and improvements as I look to get everything as locked down as possible before it goes to body and paint. However there maybe a 'fly in the ointment' on that topic; for the first time DW has shown some interest in colors for the outside, and wants to keep the Argosy signature cream plus a color.....maybe the (a slightly darker) sage green has just become the color of the accent stripe and lower body!
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07-26-2015, 09:30 AM
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#249
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
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Glad to hear things are coming together to the point you can enjoy using it.
I've been wondering if you're going to do anything about the outside mirrors. After putting up with the crappy mirrors on the 310 for way to long I eventually upgraded the 310 mirrors to a pair of large Velvac mirrors.
For my Argosy mirror upgrade I opted for some smaller electric Ramsey mirrors.
I don't know if they will vibrate but I've done all that I can do to make sure that doesn't happen!
Brad
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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07-26-2015, 09:48 AM
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#250
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Airstream Driver
1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662
'.....small things really.
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I call that the ACSL (after camping shi t list) I never goes away, only the content changes.
__________________
1994 30' Excella Front Kitchen Trailer
1990 25' Excella Travel trailer
1992 350LE Classic Touring Coach
AIR #13
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07-26-2015, 06:15 PM
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#251
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkahler
Glad to hear things are coming together to the point you can enjoy using it.
I've been wondering if you're going to do anything about the outside mirrors. After putting up with the crappy mirrors on the 310 for way to long I eventually upgraded the 310 mirrors to a pair of large Velvac mirrors.
For my Argosy mirror upgrade I opted for some smaller electric Ramsey mirrors.
I don't know if they will vibrate but I've done all that I can do to make sure that doesn't happen!
Brad
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Hi Brad, the standard type mirrors seem pretty stable on our little Argosy, with no vibration so to speak.
I would live more coverage, there is a huge blind spot area to the passenger side; not that I am going to be overtaking much but when looking out for traffic merging in to the lane you are occupying.
That said I have already come to the conclusion that driving one of these units is a two person operation - I definitely need a co-pilot. For example even waiting to turn left into traffic there is zero view of the road/on coming traffic unless you actually position the nose pointing slightly right.
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07-26-2015, 06:16 PM
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#252
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer
I call that the ACSL (after camping shi t list) I never goes away, only the content changes.
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07-26-2015, 07:40 PM
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#253
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
1977 20' Argosy 20
Charleston
, West Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,226
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662
for the first time DW has shown some interest in colors for the outside, and wants to keep the Argosy signature cream plus a color.....maybe the (a slightly darker) sage green has just become the color of the accent stripe and lower body!
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Quick piece of advice. Have the DW pick the creme color that she wants and don't use the original factory color codes (unless you really want to). We used the original paint codes and while we love our Argosy, it has more yellow tint in the beige than we'd like! The yellow tint really comes out on overcast days. When my DW first saw ours after the paint, she said our Argosy was now "smoker tooth yellow". I guess that was desirable in 1977. We do feel better about it now but we'd pick a different beige if we had to do it all over again.
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08-05-2015, 07:46 PM
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#254
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Well I decided to take a '30min a day after work' approach to the ACSF (actually it is that plus a 'detail stuff Airstream NE didn't finish' list).
So far
a) adjusted the drawers so they don't fly open going around any bend (actually it is a little unfair to blame the shop as they didn't fly open until we put stuff in them!) - I'm not convinced this will work so have already bought some thumbscrews and will insert though from the double sink unit.
b) Fix the first broken mini-blind (broken when we picked Bella up from Airstream)
c) Fix the second broken mini-blind the broke on the first camping trip
d) Move the drivers side wiper arm to the correct alignment
e) Adjust the engine access panel closing, although this appears to be a long running issue as someone has installed an aftermarket truck catch on the upper side, and in the past it also had a second catch on the lower side. I can see me having to switch the engine access panel from the donor
f) Body work.....I know I said I was going to leave it until the end of the summer but a couple of old previous repairs have opened up in use. Just trying not to get too carried away.
Couple of bigger issues have arisen. First was when I went to refill the propane (local Uhaul). The guy says, this looks like a new install....I say yes using certified parts by a certified shop. He says "can I see the system certification". I say "what system certification". He then quotes some legaleeze, and suggests I contact the shop. I contact the shop and the they say "oh we have never put in a whole system, just replaced parts" and they now have to find out if they are even certified to do a full install....until then I have no hot water (or gas option on the fridge, or furnace).
Second is a real pain. Fairly late in the build we hit the issue of mounting the seats and went with the quick fix of adding a a couple of pieces of 5in channel (had to be 5in to give a long enough 'leg' to accommodate the difference in hole pattern between the seat and the mount), but 5in makes the seat too high. So I measure up the holes and got my local fab shop to make some custom brackets. Yesterday evenings '30min job' was to unbolt the passenger seat and fit the new bracket. Good plan I thought; until I removed the four bolts attaching the 5in channel to the base, at which point the seat rails sprung another 1 1/4" wider (ie 1 1/4" wider than I had just had the new brackets made). Worse they can't just be redrilled, as the new width means, the difference between the seat and mount holes cannot fit on the current leg length and they need to be remade. The fab shop is not happy throwing away perfectly good work and pretty much insisted they had a seat and a mount, in their shop, rather than work from drawings....I can't blame them. So before work this morning I am around at Airstream NE to pick up a spare mount, to go with the seat that was still out.
And there was me thinking 'its done'.....in the words of another MH thread "its never done".
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08-07-2015, 05:37 AM
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#255
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662
e) Adjust the engine access panel closing, although this appears to be a long running issue as someone has installed an aftermarket truck catch on the upper side, and in the past it also had a second catch on the lower side. I can see me having to switch the engine access panel from the donor
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I never liked the engine compartment covers that were used in the Argosy motorhomes. They just seem so big and bulky. I have the fiberglass cover from the 345 that I am going to install in it's place.
Quote:
Couple of bigger issues have arisen. First was when I went to refill the propane (local Uhaul). The guy says, this looks like a new install....I say yes using certified parts by a certified shop. He says "can I see the system certification". I say "what system certification". He then quotes some legaleeze, and suggests I contact the shop. I contact the shop and the they say "oh we have never put in a whole system, just replaced parts" and they now have to find out if they are even certified to do a full install....until then I have no hot water (or gas option on the fridge, or furnace).
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Ouch! Hopefully your worst case scenario would be the need to be certified by a licensed installation shop.
Quote:
And there was me thinking 'its done'.....in the words of another MH thread "its never done".
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Yeah but think about all the fun you're having....
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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08-07-2015, 07:17 AM
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#256
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Don't suppose you have any photos of how the later access panel is mounted Brad?
The issue with mine appears to be that the hinge/pivot rod (or whatever it is called) needs bending back into shape, or there are some tension springs missing somewhere. So it has a big gap (about an inch) at the top edge and clunks as I drive along.
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08-07-2015, 11:43 AM
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#257
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662
Don't suppose you have any photos of how the later access panel is mounted Brad?
The issue with mine appears to be that the hinge/pivot rod (or whatever it is called) needs bending back into shape, or there are some tension springs missing somewhere. So it has a big gap (about an inch) at the top edge and clunks as I drive along.
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The later Classic coaches (84 and later?) had fiberglass covers that you could lift off and were held in place by 4 stretchable T handles. Later today I can probably take a few pictures of the access on and off of the 310.
Like I mentioned previously I like that style a LOT more than the style in your Argosy. One of the benefits is you get a lot better access to the top front of the engine.
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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08-07-2015, 02:28 PM
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#258
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
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__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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08-07-2015, 03:26 PM
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#259
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Keen amature
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield
, Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
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Sorry Brad...I have had you chasing the wrong thing. By engine access panel I actually meant "forward service door" (I should have looked up the correct name in the manual - sorry). In other words this
You can see it shuts tight, but the clues are the extra latches (or rather an extra latch and one hole where a latch was) which actually do nothing.
When driving the "forward service door" comes forward and leaves about a 1/2" gap, which then rattles and clunks over every bump
The issue appears to be there is no tension on the rod/hinge pivot (definately don't know what to call that), which locates in holes in each side but is a continuous rod and runs under the battery.
There appears to be a kink in this rod directly in the center and I suspect there used to be some sort of clip into which that should go when the "forward service door" is shut.
Hopefully the donor will give some clues!!!! If not I will add a couple of rubber T hood catches to solve it.....after swapping the panel to the one from the donor so I don't have the extra latches/holes.
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08-07-2015, 05:36 PM
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#260
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
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Oops, sorry for the confusion!
When I got my Argosy the whole front end had been removed for engine removal. When the time comes for me to re-install the front end I'm probably going to need a lot of pictures to help figure out how it goes back together!
I'll run down to the shop in a few minutes and take some pictures of the 310. There is a definite difference in how the covers attach and their hinge arrangement.
Brad
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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