1984 Airstream 345 owner (Newbie) need advice!

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by WayneG

Thanks
I guess the original owner of mine took the cheap way out!

Not necessarily, the alloy wheels have their share of cons as well.

1) You have two steelies as inner wheels on your dually anyway, so you can only rotate the outer wheels.

2) alloy wheels have been known to crack; as well as steel ones I should add.

3) Have to keep polishing, where as the SS covers just need a wash every once in a while.

I decided to keep my steel wheels.

Steve, do you have the original hub covers and caps?

Cheers
Tony

[Keyair]

Hello Mr Tony!
All valid points, as always!
Unless I put longer studs on, of course and that would mean finding another pair of hens teeth... [emoji3]
Yes, I will have some SS covers available sometime this Century....

[Keyair]

Busy day!

It was time for a stock taking....
3 done, 3 to go!



And of course #4 was ugly as me!



Convex went quite quick... about 90 mins to go from 240g on the DA, then 400g wet, into my home made course paste, fine, then buff...

Attachment 1


Convex side started at 120grit and took me about 4 hours...

[Keyair]

The beers were well earned today...
But look what I found in the mailbox....


It's like they know.... [emoji14]

[WayneG]

Before you go to Krazy on the fuel injection, check out my conversion to TBI here:
http://theouterlimits.ws/projects/ai...de_Page01.html

and the in-tank high pressure fuel pump needed for the TBI here:
http://theouterlimits.ws/projects/ai...uel/index.html

And all the problems I dare admit to in accomplishing those two projects here:
http://theouterlimits.ws/projects/ai...y.html#TBI-PgX

My methods were based on my ability and minimal cash to work with. If you have the ability and deep pockets, there are lots of options you can pursue.

For me, with all the frustrations, hidden costs and segways, it was worth it. This is the kit maker that I used https://www.affordable-fuel-injection.com/product/chevrolet-tbi-complete-system/ mainly because it is all stock GM parts

[Keyair]

Thanks for the link.
In fact I already have 2 complete 454 TBI setups in my possession so my costs would be minimal. It's just the PITA of doing the conversion and getting it approved with the Smog Referee that I disliked.
Still an option tho.

[WayneG]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Thanks for the link.
It's just the PITA of doing the conversion and getting it approved with the Smog Referee that I disliked.
Still an option tho.

I forgot about that part, No smog tests here in NY.
Too bad you cant register it in a Classic Motorhome friendly state.

[Keyair]

Took a break from polishing today. I was hurting!

So, As stated before, tools maketh the parts for the Airstream.
Step 1, I modded the mill to be able to take the collet chuck.

Step 2, make the tool I need. A radius or ball turning attachment. This is basically an adjustable pivot lathe tool.
This was the start of it.
A 6 x 6 x 5/8 chunk of steel for the base, to bolt the tool to the lathe saddle, and a couple of chunks of round to get me up to the correct height, and various bolts.


Lots of work to get to this point, which is bolted down, with pivot bolt.


Top milled flat and parallel, then slotted to take the the tool post base.

Attachment 1


Then setup and milled, drilled and tapped for the toolpost lock bolts.




More tomorrow!

[Keyair]

Progress on the tool...
Almost there but need the carbide bits to finish the post and they are a week out...


Moved on to wheel #5!
This one was not as bad as #4 by a long shot but I'm sorry, but Alcoa calling these wheels "Polished one side" is hardly my idea of polished... machined roughly one side would be more apt.
Anyway, would you believe there was 6oz of stick on weights on this rim!



Anyway, again I had to calm myself and just not get too crazy.

[WayneG]

Dont know if it will work for you, but I use the loose beads for balancing my wheels.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/

[Keyair]

Thanks Wayne, but I will be using Centramatics.

Hope to be getting out to the Motorhome this week. I have a big list of items to do and look at.

[Keyair]

Total fabrication day today.
Beadroller made advances.

Needed to make a quick release for the head.
My TiG welding is improving!
This was a lots of machining, and welding to get here.


Up and down...



Some shop art too that sums it up!

[Keyair]

Bead Roller is pretty much done.
Frame braces, quick release, and pivot , and adjustable top and bottom shaft mods too.







Hopefully the carbide tool bits arrive next week, so I can turn up the tank roll Dies for it.

Only one wheel left to polish now!

[bkahler]

Looks good Steve

Looking forward to the next installment.....!

[Keyair]

Thanks Brad!
Couple more pics from the build.

After that long day of fabrication, grinds and finishing, I shot some primer on it and went inside. Robyn said “What’s that horrible smell? I replied, “Is it the paint smell or me?” She replied “I’m not sure....”
😬

[Keyair]

Bead Roller reassembled.
I still have to weld on the mounting but ran out of gas![emoji849]


Wheel #6 only had 4 1/2 oz of weights on it!


Done!

Front side was not too bad....


Done!


Here is a “stack o shine”!


Tired just looking at it!
Into the shower I go....

[Keyair]

Pretty much done. Mounts on the same spot as the wheel polishing station.

[Isuzusweet]

Just curious......How many moho Airstreamers with Alcoa wheels are now rethinking their travels for next year to include Foothill Ranch California.......

Nice work Steve.....or is it Batman?

Cheers
Tony

[Keyair]

LOL, Tony, one for sure, judging by my PM's.
Batman?
Well, my sidekick is Robyn....

I am actually less happy with the results than I care to mention, and may redo some of them based upon later upgrades to my techniques and methodology, but then again, sometimes I need someone to "Box my ears" and get me back inline!

Today was a "Clean the Decks" day... so just sweeping up and clearing the bench for the next onslaught on these panels...

And, in doing so I found an old Pexto sheet metal brake buried, so as I might need that, and I forgot my ADD meds, I got busy on that for a few hours, blasting the remaining parts and painting....




On another note, last week, I spent a few hours in the company of a local gentleman who just bought a used Airstream Sprinter.... who was trying to figure out his charging system... and I offered to help,
Very nice rig, which I enjoyed examining, because not only is it an Airstream, and a Mercedes AND a Diesel... all things dear to my heart...

It all seamed to be working as it should according to my meters, with 14.2v from the motor alternator, and solar adding some boost too.....

But seriously, you need to remove 4 difficult to reach bolts, holding the rear bench seat/bed in place, remove that, then a bunch of screws just to even see the House Batteries, to check the water level... about an hours work????

I need to take a drive to Jacksonville and make the person who came up with THAT idea check the battery water levels 10 times per day... or maybe a brief "Discussion" behind the bicycle shed is in order to drive the point home that Lead/Acid house batteries need maintenance and therefore easy access...

I expect better if I'd paid that much $ or even $200k plus....



Now, where was I... yes, painting and polishing time...

[Keyair]

Well, I got the Pexto back together well enough to be functional.... missing some bolts and a sheet metal cover it turns out
And the first job I will do with it will be a replacement cover for the Tool itself!
It’s come a long way from how I got it...


Now ....



I was hoping to get out to the Airstream today, but I said that Monday, but Monday, the Canyon fire locally had the road out there shut down. Lots of people were evacuated, including some family, but our guys got it under control! Kudos to OC Firefighters! Some homes were lost but we got away light compared to Napa it seems.
It kinda worked because i wanted to have the prototype wrap patched together enough to do a test fit.
Need to try it, and see if the dimensions/angles I estimated were correct or even close! Didn’t happen cos during the assembly process I was struggling with the welding and blew thru all over the place... turns out I had run out of Argon! That’ll do it!
After a 3 hour round trip the the welding supply place with idiots cutting me off, and crashing into each other all around me, all texting and looking at their phones! I arrived home in a bit of a funk... which is not a good place to be when trying to do “Zen TiG welding”!

Anyway, here is where I am today, warts and all.
Still a little patch piece to go in on the front edge, some trimming, and maybe a brace, but the basic shape is now there. Shape wise, it’s a bit lumpy on the radius, and the surfaces need refining, going forward. The welding is definitely my struggle, so need to get that down. This one is 7 pieces welded together but I think with the learning curve, and practice I’m thinking 4 pieces for the next attempt.



I hope to get that done tomorrow, and then get out to the Motorhome see how it fits.
I had to guesstimate some of the angles and shape changes to go from the original shape that envelopes the front bumper to my plan, for it to disappear into the bumper as the rear does.