The story of the Airstream 310 Jacket

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Back in 2002 I replaced the power steering pump on 79. I always remembered it to be very difficult. I just did the same on the 350 and it as as horrible as I remembered or maybe even worse, because of all the additional crap they stuck everywhere. Congratulations to who ever completed this task!

I've done two, both times with the radiator removed and even then it was a pain to change the pump. I can't think of a worse task than trying to replace the power steering pump while parked on the side of the road.

[bobmiller1]

Ahhhh.....the water pump ??? Regards, Bob

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

Ahhhh.....the water pump ??? Regards, Bob

Yeah, you got a point there. Let's just say I'd rather not have to do either one on the side of the road!

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Yeah, you got a point there. Let's just say I'd rather not have to do either one on the side of the road!

I pick the waterpump any day or night for a roadside replacement, its only a few bolts and a couple of belts I just don't have all those fancy tools, some people have, like a pulley puller and installer. You also need a 1" socket, if you have to swap the tank

The power steering system on this 350 holds 2 quarts and that just in the tanks and lines.

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by bkahler

I've done two, both times with the radiator removed and even then it was a pain to change the pump. I can't think of a worse task than trying to replace the power steering pump while parked on the side of the road.

ok my best roadside was the front brakes on the side of the road on the side of a mountain in colorado when it threw a pad right off (yes I had a set of spares on board )
pretty crazy leveling that baby enough not to roll down hill with the nose up-log chucks and big rocks

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Paul J Mauro

ok my best roadside was the front brakes on the side of the road on the side of a mountain in colorado when it threw a pad right off (yes I had a set of spares on board )
pretty crazy leveling that baby enough not to roll down hill with the nose up-log chucks and big rocks

Now that sounds scary. Did you happen to take any pictures of that little adventure?

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Now that sounds scary. Did you happen to take any pictures of that little adventure?

ok now my weakness at keeping photos organized comes out years later
probably take me a year to find them but heck we are still at home killing time until we launch west in a month -with a new engine tranny -wahoo !

[PeterH-350LE]

New front brake pads, rubber hoses and Master Cylinder. Like Brad said to me "that should be easy, right ?"
Well, yes, pads are easy, if you soak your fittings that's easy, if you Bench bleed your Master Cyl, you are in for a mess. Unless, of course, you are some genius in getting those lines in just the right spot that they will engage the thread immediatly...enough said

[Ultraclassic]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

New front brake pads, rubber hoses and Master Cylinder. Like Brad said to me "that should be easy, right ?"
Well, yes, pads are easy, if you soak your fittings that's easy, if you Bench bleed your Master Cyl, you are in for a mess. Unless, of course, you are some genius in getting those lines in just the right spot that they will engage the thread immediatly...enough said

I use a bench bleeding tool that was from Bendex I think in the 80s I used to do it the old way, fill the master and stroke it with a screw driver, and maybe use little sections of brake lines threaded in to return the fluid to the chamber's but still messy

On a 1979 or 80 Nissan 280 or 300 it wouldn't get all the air out.We had a spongy pedal,

Bench bled it, mounted it and bled it at the lines, bled it at the wheels, still couldn't get a Firm pedal,

so sent the master back and replaced with a second unit and still had a spongy pedal, then I found this tool from one of my suppliers (it's still available but obscure) visualize a oversized syringe with a tapered rubber tip

Put the master in the bench vise, fill with fluid, and suck up in the syringe some fresh fluid, and Inject it it through the holes forcing the air back in and up to the surface while forcing fluid into the cylinder.

Install the master and bleed at the lines at the master and at the wheels but there shouldn't be any air there.

The Nissan was fixed after this tool was able to get all the air out of the new master, 30+ years later and I still use it But not as much....

[Ultraclassic]

This is the syringe tool.
https://www.amazon.com/Cardone-10-50...=fsclp_pl_dp_3

[Smartstream]

I bought a Motive pressure bleeder. https://www.motiveproducts.com/colle...nd-marine-kits It works great but make sure to cinch the plate down pretty good to get a good seal on the master cylinder.

[propstrike]

X2 on the pressure up brake bleeder!

Question: Consensus time, after all brake parts are brought up to serviceable levels, is the stock brake system still the way to go? I was just going over a Wilwood replacement system for the 72 C20, and wondered if there was an upgrade for the 280?

thanks!

And I'm doing window seals! I'm having search issues, finding seal numbers and such? Can I get a steer in the right direction?

PropStrike

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by propstrike

..

And I'm doing window seals! I'm having search issues, finding seal numbers and such? Can I get a steer in the right direction?

PropStrike

AS1268, do not use something that looks similar, it will not work in the cockpit windows

https://www.jjautofabrics.com/as1268...ow-channel-96/

[Ultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

I bought a Motive pressure bleeder. https://www.motiveproducts.com/colle...nd-marine-kits It works great but make sure to cinch the plate down pretty good to get a good seal on the master cylinder.

With the Nissan Story we had one of these on it also. Like I said it bit me in the you know where. And I have changed probably over 30 master cylinders in my 35 year career and The only way I was able to get all the air out was the syringe...

[propstrike]

Thank you, Peter! AS1268

[PeterH-350LE]

Do you ever feel like you are totally stuck with no solution in sight when you are working on one of the countless project these Classic Motorhomes present you with?
Well, you are not alone! I took it upon myself to fix the A/C system that was converted to 134a 20 years ago. The system was empty, so I didn't have to have it evacuated.
I replaced the compressor, the drier, and the charge fittings and related schrader valves and the binary switch. I pulled a vaccuum many times, because there was a hidden shut off valve on the low and high, I didn't know about.

If it wasn't for Brad, I would have thrown in towel days ago. I don't know how he puts up with my limited knowledge of electrical circuits, but he had the patience to guide me through things that just had me stumped.
Thanks, Brad, you are a true asset to the Airstream community!
Of course,it didn't help that some PO messed with the wiring and disconnected a few things here and there, which made the challenge even bigger. I had to replace the heater hose shut off valve and find the other end of the clutch feed wire under the dash (which is some story all by itself)
I learned about sourcing and sinking a device and also discovered for myself the phenomena of a floating or ghost signal (oh boy, did that have me stunned)

Now the AC blows beautiful cold air, but the clutch is not cycling. The binary switch which had the odd thread size of 3/8" -24 may not be the correct one pressure wise, per Brads suggestion.
But I am super thrilled to have it working to this point and happily engage and disengage the clutch manually for the time being.

[PeterH-350LE]

Should someone have any specs/source in regards to the hi/lo pressure switch, I would certainly appreciate it

[propstrike]

Wow, that AC description goes in my archive files... to get the rig out of a bad place during engine work years ago, I opted to not reinstall the AC equipment. I figured I’d be better off going back in with new OEM, or maybe find an upgraded aftermarket to install after getting home. That day is approaching.

I was dinking with the speedometer yesterday, they sure didn’t put much bracing into those dash control panels! PK screws right into the plastic pedestal. Reminded me I need new AC scat hose and air deflector outlets, too..... It. Never. Ends. Is this like the old Japanese guy, continually working on his house and garden? The day he finishes them is the day he crosses over?

Safe weekends to all- I dodged hail, yesterday. Feel pretty good about missing that!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Should someone have any specs/source in regards to the hi/lo pressure switch, I would certainly appreciate it

Peter,

It might be worth contacting the guy that runs the Acme Air Parts website. Back when I was rebuilding the evaporator box on my Argosy I contacted him about vacuum actuators and he had them available. I "think" his name is Richard but I could be wrong.

Brad

[bkahler]

On the Mill Supply website I ran across this fan clutch switch.

It might be worth contacting them as well.

Brad