1984 Airstream 345 owner (Newbie) need advice!

[streamquest]

Hey Key,

Its 95 degrees and you are out there with your buffer. I am concerned for you. Polishing is a powerful drug. Is there anyone to intervene before it's too late? I understand completely though, I'm generally covered in so much silver/gray splatter that friends say I look like the Tin Man from OZ.

The good news is that summer is coming to an end, and the weather only gets better for you. On the East coast, I'm getting my snow plow tuned up. UGH!

Stay cool.

Charly

[Keyair]

I stay well hydrated, and do it in steps... out and buff... in and stand under the A/C!
I don't have a rake for the wool buff, so I need to get one, plus some more buffs, so I can rotate them.
My Girlfriend took one look at me when I got home, and said "Aww, Honey..!" I was black with a silver tint too!

This morning the Girl and I walked the 4 miles to the Storage with the Dogs, while it was cooler.
She was stunned how much better that front 3/4 view looked with the light polish I did!
We started the Gen, and cranked up the A/C.. within 5 mins we were cool, and began cleaning and organizing the interior!
The walk back was a bear tho... must be over 100, and she was struggling... the dogs wilted a little too, so we hosed them down... They are crashed out on the cool floor now!

[Keyair]

More work on getting my Drawers looking respectable..

Two coats of Rustoleum Metal Primer, and thier Aluminum Primer for the inside, so the next layer will stick good... I hope.



Then, after much thought I decided to do the whole of the inside and outside with Herculiner, except under the lid. With 2 coats, it should be water, chip and scratch proof!
First Coat, applied with a course roller..

[Mike Leary]

Nice work! The "bed-liner" I used (Rust-Oleum) on the inside bonded zero once I started storing stuff inside.

[Keyair]

Thanks Mike...
I have not used the Rustolem Liner, but I have used the Herculiner before on my '73 Chevy K10, and its has really been used and abused. I also felt it should have had another coat, but its stood up pretty well... The only places its come off is where it ripped right off to the metal.. I have hauled engines(454 BBC's dont take no prisoners when they fall over...), lumber with nails, rocks, and dragged my cherry picker in and out on it and its hanging on well.
Before and after...

[Keyair]

Two updates tonight... or it maybe Three!

Rolled #2 coat of Herculiner on the Drawer... Not much to see over the previous pics, but feels thicker and looks tough.... Now I will have to protect the contents from the drawer, not vice-versa.

Dropped over to afix my newly tayored Window sun deflectors...

Windshield..



Behind sofa..

[Keyair]

Next we got... kinda Scientific!

I wanted to record some sound levels at various places when the Genset was running... with the stock, read... non existant sound insulation
But first...
Without it running the Baseline noise level was about 52Db, 6' away.

Outside, with Genset running, no load.. peak was 65Db peak about 6' away..


Inside, door shut, it was 62,6 Db peak..


For reference, i walked to the back, in the Bedroom... 55.5Db peak.


Now I put both A/C's on Max, and put the Genset under close to Max-load.. 82.6Db.


Next, I opened the Genset upper door... 85.8Db..


Shut the door again and walked to front wheel, again, about 6' aside the Airstream... 73.5Db..


Then I walked to aside the rear wheels... as I wanted to know if the Exhaust was noisier... Its not.. 73.5Db..


Inside, Genset Loaded, Both A/C's on max cool, and Max fan... 69.9Db..


I have my references now!

[Keyair]

Oh, for fun I recorded this, as I wanted an opinion on how the Genset runs without load... it kinda Cycles... is this normal?
Click on Image to hear...

[Keyair]

Still working on the ABS top and lid, but Finished the main Drawer...
The Hurculiner feels really good, solid and seems to damp down the sound.
Not worried about stone chips, or stuff sliding about inside now!



I painted the area where the lid will sit with Rustprimer then 2 coats of satin black rustoleum.


Closeup of the inside texture and how it seals the joints...



Before I put it back in I need to clean up and rustproof the area behind the Drawer... then that whole area will be DONE!

[Keyair]

Noticed something yesterday...
Had the Roof A/C running, and spotted a trail of moisture running down from the front A/C unit...
Something to investigate or be concerned about, as there should be a drain?

[Keyair]

Anyone?

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Noticed something yesterday...
Had the Roof A/C running, and spotted a trail of moisture running down from the front A/C unit...
Something to investigate or be concerned about, as there should be a drain?

My old a/c did the same and my new a/c does the same. Don't know if this is good or not.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Anyone?

Your drain pipe is plugged and/or there is a crack in the plastic pan that the air conditioner is sitting in.

I'm betting it's your drain pipe.

Brad

[dadstoy]

My pan is cracked!

[Keyair]

Thanks for the diagnosis Brad, and good to see ya here Buddy!

Looks like we are in the same Boat Dadstoy..

Ok, so onward with the dirty stuff for me...

Genset pulled!


Phew, soundproofing crud everywhere..



So I now have it mounted to the slides... The slides are not bolted down yet..

[dadstoy]

Yup, we are! I saw that it was cracked in the front corner when I installed the new one. Problem was I had a "helper" that was only interested in finishing it all up. My friend is a general contractor and is to used to slamming it all together to finish the job. I really do appreciate his help but I would prefer to work with someone that "understands" if you know what I mean. We didnt even get the a/c situated right on the drip pan and roof. I have to loosen it up and align it. I'm afraid it will leak come winter. Will wait until October when the heat drops below 105 degrees up in Red Bluff.

[dadstoy]

Just wondering what the advantage might be to put the GenSet on a slide out will be? Mine is an Onan 4000. Replaced the fuel pump a couple years back. It needs a good tune though. It sure would NEVER pass a Calif smog test!

[dadstoy]

...and it is NOISY. Will be taking my Yamaha 2000 with next weekend to Mt. Lassen.

[Keyair]

Well, I thought it was a good Idea....
The plan was to make it easy to service and get at the wiring etc, as well as apply the soundproofing.
If you notice, ther is about 1/2' under it now, so I plan to lean the whole compartment up and put soundproofing around and under too..
It will be interesting to take some more readings when its done!

[dadstoy]

I'm really interested in the sound/vibration mounts that you end up with. My GenSet seems to vibrated the entire coach!