72 Ambassador renovation

[Minno]

Yeahhh, that's why we never started. Tooooo long!

Kay

[trashbag]

i have polished as much as i'm going to. now its time to put everything on the shell. I got replacement leds for the tail lights. they are a perfect fit. has anyone reattached the tail light assembly? did you run a pop rivet into the back of the casting or used something else?

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by trashbag

i have polished as much as i'm going to. now its time to put everything on the shell. I got replacement leds for the tail lights. they are a perfect fit. has anyone reattached the tail light assembly? did you run a pop rivet into the back of the casting or used something else?

We used 6/32 and 8/32 riv-nuts with stainless screws for the tail lights and marker lights. I used Parbond to get a good waterproof seal. VTS sells those. Good luck

[trashbag]

i have access to the back because my interior skins have been removed. i don't want to drill through the face. originally they were installed with a pop rivet into the backside.

[trashbag]

too cold to work outside so I have been cleaning polishing and painting parts

[Bubba L]

They look great. It has to be done so may as well stay busy when it’s too cold to work outside.

[dbj216]

A great thing to do during the winter months. So much of an Airstream renovation is exactly that. Cleaning and restoring each and every part. They look good in the photo. I'm sure there is more to do.

David

[Aerowood]

I installed 10-32 helicoils in the taillights and bolted them in from the backside. It’s outlined somewhere in my 71 Globetrotter Full Monte thread listed below.

[trashbag]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

I installed 10-32 helicoils in the taillights and bolted them in from the backside. It’s outlined somewhere in my 71 Globetrotter Full Monte thread listed below.

thanks again you always have great advice. is there a reason for going with helicoils versus taping the hole?

[Aerowood]

Aluminum casting is really soft. You can tap but I chose heli-coils because it’s a better thread and bolts can be replaced multiple times. And basically because I could.

[trashbag]

replaced license plate light with a festoon led and a pad type led for above the door.

[trashbag]

cleaned up compartment doors and added aluminum piano hinges

[trashbag]

putting windows back together. used hubcap paint on steel parts

[dbj216]

I put piano hinges on my cargo doors also. I never liked those "J hooks" Airstream used back then. I have J hooks on all the windows, but they would be difficult to hinge.

Hey you are making progress. Rebuilding windows is tuff. Maybe you used steel paint on the hubcaps?

David

[trashbag]

i will be using regular paint on hub caps. I had someone suggest the hubcap for durability. since these parts will be under a lot of friction the paint might hold up better. can't hurt

[dbj216]

Hi trashbag: Seems like there is a paint formula for every surface. Some paints are formulated for house interior walls, and some paints for aircraft exteriors. It doesn't surprise their is a special "hub cap" paint.

David

[trashbag]

3 done 5 to go. I would not recommend taking windows apart. yes they needed to be redone however putting glass with new gasket into frames is not easy.

[dbj216]

Lots of people say that about renewing the windows. I've never done one. I wonder how Airstream does it in their factory. Maybe it was you that said buying a new window would be a lot easier. Your time isn't cheap.

David

[trashbag]

it would be interesting to see how these were assembled in the factory. it would definitely be cheaper to buy replacement windows if I had to charge myself for labor. that being said it would be cheaper just to buy a new airstream. I probably have a couple hundred thousand in labor so far.

[dbj216]

Well said trashbag. We all have too much labor in our projects. David