Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-07-2015, 06:39 PM   #181
Rivet Master
 
Gregsch's Avatar
 
1979 24' Airstream Excella 24
Tipp City , Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 551
Looking good Martin! Can't wait to hear about your first camping trip. Can you let us know how you ended up updating the dash AC?
Gregsch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2015, 05:10 AM   #182
3 Rivet Member
 
1978 28' Argosy 28
Austin , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 207
Wow. Just.. wow Martin. What an amazing build. Who on earth would want a new AS when you could be driving around in Bella instead. Congratulations for setting the bar so high.
bpg_austin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2015, 06:21 AM   #183
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregsch View Post
Looking good Martin! Can't wait to hear about your first camping trip. Can you let us know how you ended up updating the dash AC?
I certainly will Gregsch, I am holding off detailing individual systems until I know they work - last thing I want to do is give a recommendation which then fails.
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2015, 06:41 AM   #184
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpg_austin View Post
Wow. Just.. wow Martin. What an amazing build. Who on earth would want a new AS when you could be driving around in Bella instead. Congratulations for setting the bar so high.
Thanks for the comments Ben.

I have said several times in this and other threads that I regard your rebuild as less of of 'personalization' but more building what I wish Airstream still made.....a classic style, A class motorhome. If they did we would have simply bought one.

Judging by the number of folks that have seen the rebuild at the dealer and commented that they would still buy an Interstate size classic, there is a market.

I have no issue with the van conversions, it just wasn't what I wanted. Even if Airstream wanted to stay in the Daimler family they could offer a MFTBC (Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation) cabover chassis based classic, using 90% of current trailer parts.

Actually I think we would have changed chassis on Bella if it wasn't for one thing. We are looking to ship to UK/Europe in the future and exporting/importing a 1975 Argosy is like exporting a vintage car vs importing a modern Fuso chassis with a Argosy body requiring UK/European Individual Vehicle Approval.
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2015, 06:47 AM   #185
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Quote:
Originally Posted by Isuzusweet View Post
Very sage (get it, sage) colour choice Martin. I bought a similar colour on my 07 Altima 3.5 SE 6 sp as it doesn't show dust, scuffs or scratches near to the same extent as darker colours do. It will reflect quite a bit of light and a rain will be enough to wash it.

Cheers
Tony
I think the word 'sage' is really appropriate. Seems sometimes Willow Green comes out with a slight blue tint what I am looking for is a slightly 'old school' color.....like the Porcelain Green they used on Morris Minors/Classic Minis except deeper/richer

martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2015, 11:59 AM   #186
Rivet Master
 
bkahler's Avatar

 
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond , Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
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.
Wow! I learned to drive on a Willow Green 1965 Biscayne Chevy! My parents bought it brand new in 1965 with automatic transmission, manual brakes and manual steering. Great color choice!

Click image for larger version

Name:	168691_11023835_1965_Chevrolet_Biscayne.jpg
Views:	193
Size:	64.0 KB
ID:	240256
__________________
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)
bkahler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2015, 04:39 PM   #187
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Hmmm.....so, the 'dry run' weekend of camping locally has not been a total success.

Total distance traveled = 0miles
Amount of water mopped out from inside = about 2pints, maybe I should have called it a 'wet run'.

The trouble is this doesn't account for the water that has leaked into the dash/cab carpet/engine bay etc which probably accounts for the engine refusing to start and causing the 0 miles traveled. I couldn't even get it to run so I could drive under cover. Luckily the rain has stopped, the sun is out, so maybe it will dry out enough to start and drive make into the workshop tomorrow, because there are 3 of the newly installed windows leaking as well as the freshly installed, brand new windscreens.

Water had also got into the compartments housing the interior electrics (magnum inverter, distribution panel, furnace and fridge etc) so I wouldn't risk hitting the master switch to enable the interior systems to be tested.

Earlier in the build I said it felt like we were having a brand new motorhome built, maybe the shop wanted us to fully experience the 'new Airstream' experience by letting us QC their work?

The trip to Maine for the NEU Rally at Lake Permaquid is definitely looking in doubt.
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2015, 04:54 PM   #188
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
So sorry to hear this, Martin!
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2015, 07:44 PM   #189
Dazed and Confused
 
Isuzusweet's Avatar
 
Currently Looking...
1983 31' Airstream310
Hillsburgh , Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,805
A friend of mine use to be big into the 50'-60's Shepherd mahogany powerboats and told me the story of someone who had bought a Shepherd, that hadn't been in water for years. He brought the boat to my friend to have a once over before he was to take it to the cottage and launch it. My friend suggested they take it down to the local boat ramp to show him one big problem with that idea.

Using my friends Dodge Cummins diesel they backed down the launch. The boat floated free of the trailer and the proud new owner looked on with delight wanting to take her for a spin...........it wasn't long before the boat settled lower and lower in the water until it settled right back down on the trailer. It took a pretty souped up Cummins 3/4 ton to get her out of the water with water flowing from practically every seam in the hull.

The shocked new owner was told to lower the boat at a marina in a cradle and leave her there for two plus weeks.

Airstreams are "Land Yachts"

Cheers
Tony

PS It can only get better; stiff upper lip old boy, what?
__________________
Per Mare, Per Terram and may all your campaigns be successful.

“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.” "Harry S Truman"
Isuzusweet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2015, 05:34 AM   #190
3 Rivet Member
 
1978 28' Argosy 28
Austin , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 207
Martin, really sorry to hear about the water leak. I do hope you lay down a firm hand with the shop. They should be liable for this and treat you well. Correct their negligence and go through everything again. I hope you get a positive resolution.

Hang in there.
Ben
bpg_austin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2015, 08:36 AM   #191
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
The 'first read' from the shop is the the water leak has taken out either the power to/or the fuel pump itself, so that isn't too painful.

Biggest issue is stopping it leaking again - they claim to have soaked tested it during a previous rainstorm with no issues, so are a little surprised.

Good news is I dropped off the custom window trims this morning, so the shop has to cut the skins to insert those, which will expose the outer skin where the worst leak is coming from and they should have access.

I do like Tony's analogy....but it sounds familiar. I live by the ocean in a 'boating' community. When we moved in we bought a 'break out another thousand' (typically shorted to 'boat') from the local marina. We had it inspected before handing over the cash, and it got a clean bill of health, but it had been out of the water for about 15 years. Of course as soon as they put it on the cradle and dropped it in the water, water poured in. The marina claimed that old boats dry out and need to rehydrate, until I pointed out it was a fiberglass boat and a porous fiberglass hull is not going to rehydrate. They replaced the gel coat and it looked fine and we had it for about 4 years, during which the bilge pump run constantly, before we were lucky and whilst in winter storage someone stole the engines. I didn't get any money back from insurance (the value was below my deductible) but the relief to simply 'get rid' was worth it....just hope Bella doesn't turn out to be the same!
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2015, 09:09 AM   #192
Rivet Master
 
mayco's Avatar
 
1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign , Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,071
It wont.....
mayco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2015, 04:17 PM   #193
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Well the fuel pump is back up and running, but it appears to be the catalyst for other problems.

After the fuel pump repair the engine wouldn't idle so the guys at the shop popped the top of the carb to make sure nothing nasty got through. Bearing in mind I have a brand new tank, new hoses, new fuel lines, new main fuel filter, they weren't expecting to find what they did.....its nasty, and obviously has been nasty for a while.





I have already been in contact with Dick Paterson up and Springfield Ignition and started the ball rolling about getting it re-manufactured - but that will take a little over three weeks (being peak season), so considering options in between time. Summit Racing do a reman'ed Quadrajet off the shelf but reman'ed Quadrajets have a pretty bad reputation; or I could switch to a Holley/Edelbrock but long term we have already been looking at a MSD Atomic EFI system or even a Nash Fuels LPG so I don't really want to convert to another carb and then convert again pretty soon after but also want to start using Bella so don't want to get too involved in conversion now.....or maybe I should just be more patient!!!
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2015, 04:40 PM   #194
Rivet Master
 
dadstoy's Avatar
 
Currently Looking...
_ , _
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,382
I'd rebuild it for you for free, but I'm on the "other" side of the country!
__________________
May a Firefly land upon your shoulder
and bring you good luck, good fortune, and abundance.
dadstoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2015, 04:51 PM   #195
Rivet Master
 
mayco's Avatar
 
1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign , Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,071
Pita!!!!
mayco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2015, 05:15 PM   #196
Rivets?
 
nvestysly's Avatar

 
1992 29' Excella
2010 22' Interstate
Van By The River , Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,361
Quote:
Originally Posted by dadstoy View Post
I'd rebuild it for you for free, but I'm on the "other" side of the country!
Nothing that overnight shipping can't solve!
__________________
Lucius and Danielle
1992 29' Excella Classic / 2010 Interstate
2005 Chevrolet Suburban K2500 8.1L
2018 GMC Sierra K1500 SLT, 6.2L, Max Trailering
Got a cooped-up feeling, gotta get out of town, got those Airstream campin' blues...
nvestysly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2015, 06:39 PM   #197
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Quote:
Originally Posted by dadstoy View Post
I'd rebuild it for you for free, but I'm on the "other" side of the country!
Would almost be worth flying over, and hand delivering, just to get to see your rig and the ranch in person!

I would love to have a place like that in reachable distance, and that's coming from someone that lives 400 yards from the ocean and only 40 mins from Cape Cod.
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2015, 10:12 AM   #198
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
I am digging into the fuel filter situation a little, as I can't see how the 'crud' got into the carb (maybe the timing with the water ingress is just a coincidence). The PO had fitted a marine fuel filter/water separator (Racor S3227) which appears to have a 10 micron filter element. Does anyone have any experience of these?
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2015, 10:29 AM   #199
Rivet Master
 
bkahler's Avatar

 
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond , Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,115
Sure looks to me the gunk in the carburetor is just years worth of build up.

With the crap that's in modern fuels today, condensation build up and who knows what else I'm not surprised by your pictures.

I'd never thought about it before but having a moisture filter on a gas engine doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Hopefully others will chime in about that.

I'm curious as to what the tank builder used as a level sensor on the new tank. Did they use your old one and if so is it still functional?

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)
bkahler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2015, 10:47 AM   #200
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,533
Yes Brad, they just used the sender straight off the old tank, but new fittings, you can just about make it out in this photo.



The sender is still working, although that is only just verified - they installed the circuit board from your cluster and the gauges are working (well at least the ones the can test without the engine running).
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
'74 Argosy 20' Motorhome restoration/rebuild bkahler Argosy Motorhomes 2112 08-05-2023 07:43 AM
Lake Logan Martin Pell City, AL chuman70 On The Road... 0 05-23-2015 04:52 PM
Phipps Park Martin County Florida chaimemet On The Road... 2 12-06-2008 09:28 PM
Argosy rebuild list bkahler Argosy Motorhomes 2 07-25-2008 01:21 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.