1985 310 Limited

[AirRowan]

I Like what Keyair said to do I would just add 2 very good front tires to start with! you can buy the rest as soon as you can but I would not drive it to the gas station with out checking front ball joints and new front Tires!

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Keyair

You can buy calipers pretty cheaply, but maybe rebuilding them with a light hone would be better than buying a cheap rebuilt unit.

If the pads are replaced, have the rotors turned. A "mechanic" gave me bad advice years ago, that "the rotors are fine, we'll just replace the pads". Coming down the hill from Cloudcroft, NM (one of the nastiest grades in the country) my wife asked me, "what's that smell?"

[97sx]

Originally Posted by AirRowan

I Like what Keyair said to do I would just add 2 very good front tires to start with! you can buy the rest as soon as you can but I would not drive it to the gas station with out checking front ball joints and new front Tires!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I got it to my house A-ok. I had to drive 100 miles on 10 year old tires.....made it without any issues. Surprisingly a couple of the tires only have minimal checking. Tuesday she goes in for two new front tires and a brake overhaul.

The air compressor was not working so I had to drive it with deflated rear air bags. How bad is that on the air bags? I got the compressor running and they seem to be holding air today.

I jumped in head first last night on the remodel. Tore out the couch and all the upholstered panels throughout the coach. Also started working through the wiring. What a mess! Going to need some help from a knowledgeable friend to get this straightened out. Above my skill level.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by 97sx

The air compressor was not working so I had to drive it with deflated rear air bags. How bad is that on the air bags? I got the compressor running and they seem to be holding air today.

The coach has a set of leaf springs (or should) to protect against air bag failure. Keep a eye on those air bags, I replaced mine shortly after we bought the coach because she'd sat deflated for so long. What was the problem with the compressor? We've been moored here for the past month without firing the coach; the bags are low, but not down to the bottom. 8-10" frame to rail is a good rule of thumb for the air bag height.

[97sx]

Blown fuse was the reason the compressor wasn't functioning.

So I just found some moisture and water directly behind the passenger seat in the cabin area and on the floor area. I can't seem to find the leak. I will take some pics. Any suggestions on where to check?

Any other areas prone to leaks? I plan to reseal everything on the outside but would like to replace or check any areas inside for past water damage.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by 97sx

Blown fuse was the reason the compressor wasn't functioning.

So I just found some moisture and water directly behind the passenger seat in the cabin area and on the floor area. I can't seem to find the leak. I will take some pics. Any suggestions on where to check?

Any other areas prone to leaks? I plan to reseal everything on the outside but would like to replace or check any areas inside for past water damage.

Check the caulking above the window frames. I just started doing mine and even though it looked alright big chunks popped off with very little effort.

I'm not sure of your fuse set up but a few of us have installed a relay using heavy wire from the batteries to the compressor which is in the back on our coaches. The factory set up was a long wire run with a heavy amp draw. Some coaches have the compressor up front so you will have to check.

Good luck, Dan

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by 97sx

Any other areas prone to leaks?

I hope you're kidding.

[97sx]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

I hope you're kidding.

Ok...I get the point. Looks like this weekend I will be getting the ladder out and doing a ton of scraping and caulking. I am going to pull up all the flooring so I should be able to find most of the old problem areas.

How about the seams of the rv? Looks to be a thin line of caulking there as well. Suggestions on how to remove the old and how to apply new?

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by 97sx

How about the seams of the rv? Looks to be a thin line of caulking there as well. Suggestions on how to remove the old and how to apply new?

Unless someone did a crappy job (ours was "hurried" in places), and it was "Parbond" aluminum-colored rubber sealant, I would not try to strip it, unless someone else knows of a solvent. I use "MEK" (available at Home Depot, etc.) and a q-tip to clean the seams and trim. The MEK will soften the Parbond and allow another coat to be applied over the top. I do ours when we're south and it's nice and dry, and I stay on top of it every season. You'll look like a fool, but inspecting carefully every seam and trim piece (AND looking for popped rivets) will be of huge help to the coach. Our type of coaches flex, that's the name of the game: keeping up on ingress is a constant.

[97sx]

Well I might run this thread as a sister thread to Keyair's 345.

It is looking like I am going to do a complete remodel after all. It has been one thing after another once I started to tear into it. And the motorhome is apparently a 1984 1/2 titled as an 85.

I have most of the wiring tackled thanks to the help of an affordable electrical engineer! Dropping in a "new to me" converter box tomorrow should finalize that for now. After we changed nearly every fuse and fixed a couple shorted out wires.

In the process of rewiring I noticed a leaky heater core under the couch. Headed to a junkyard to pull one out of a car. If I am not mistaken any core should work as long as it will fit.

Found some major rotting of wood up front. So going to pull all carpet and repair the subfloor.

Installed two 6 volt batteries in series yesterday and realized the compartment can't handle the weight....looks like I will have to take that to the welder.

Found a leak in the fitting for the rear air tank. Air bags hold air for a couple days tops and the pump runs nearly continuous.

Generator fuel pump appears to be bad. Broke the external starter switch to that yesterday working on it.

Entire RV needs re-sealed. Exterior windows and seams and most of the interior windows are shot.

Brakes and tires to be done this week.

I haven't even started to look at the plumbing or engine. Man I should have paid considerably less for this motorhome! Hopefully we will be camping by the 4th of July!

[97sx]

Picture of the subfloor behind the passenger captain's chair.

[Keyair]

Welcome to Airstream Motorhome Joy!

I gotta tell you, this is gonna be rough for a bit... and cost some cash.
but its all gonna be worth it!
There is nothing that looks as Majestic on the road!

[97sx]

My ADD got the best of me last night. My wife loves a stainless kitchen so I decided to see if I could remove the fake wood vinyl (or whatever this material is.) This is definitely not high on my list of must do remodel items, but I did it anyway.

Took out the heat gun and I was surprised how easily this lifted up. Should have it completely off after one more night of tinkering!

[97sx]

Well the kitchen "side-splash" is nearly complete!

[97sx]

Pulled the battery compartment out. Going to have a new bottom plate welded in and lowered a half inch so that the new 6 volt batteries will have enough clearance.

[Keyair]

Doublecheck your heights...
I was thinking it was a 1 1/2" drop...

[97sx]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Doublecheck your heights...
I was thinking it was a 1 1/2" drop...

Yeah they nearly clear right now. Only really needed about a 1/4 inch.

[Keyair]

What is your drawer height, and battery heights?
I may have added extra, because I was concerned about the battery posts touching, especially if the extra drawer depth gets high centered...

[97sx]

Got the battery compartment finished. Lowered 1 inch. Primed and ready for paint.

[97sx]

Painted with Bedliner in a can. Turned out ok. Next time I would use Hurculiner.