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Sparky57 · 02-25-2012, 01:51 PM

Ok- Thanks for all the advice. I am going to soap up the panels inside, pressure wash and tsp, maybe not in that order, then mark and label all the panels, take 1000 photos and then start taking them down for long term storage.
When I put them back up I think I will be just sanding and then priming painting over the zolatone paint job- it is in perfect condition, not a scratch or flake missing anywhere. Then the floor starts coming out.

BTW- I will be ordering tanks for the floor- at least one grey and one black...where's the best place to get such a thing? What are the best options- I was thinking a wash out valve and I plan on wiring in one of those electronic fill monitors. Anything else I should consider? I have 3 daughters, so I am thinking 2 grey water tanks....one big one for the shower, another for the sink area that is smaller. Thoughts?

Mark

Someday'59 · 02-25-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmbosa

Take a look at Someday59's blog. They hit a point where their shell began to fall off the frame. It can be done, but you just have to be aware of the fact that once the bellypan and floor is removed, the shell is airborne and can come crashing to the ground around your frame.

A scary few moments, indeed!!!

1959 Airstream Overlander, "Someday": Lessons Learned

I agree with Steve, too. If we did ours again we would try to find a way to do shell-off and flip the frame over to redo the belly. That way just seems so much easier.

Minno · 02-25-2012, 03:57 PM

We did a shell on floor replacement on Little Girl. We did the rear two plywood sheets first to build confidence, and then the rest of the trailer at once. To support the shell, we clamped pieces of 1x4 (about 9 to 12 inches long) to each outrigger as we removed plywood. The edge of the 1x4 was slipped into the c-channel and it supported the shell. This kept the shell from becoming air born and falling off the frame. As we installed pieces of plywood, we would remove the 1x3 supports and slip the plywood under the c-channel. I also made a tool to help pull the sides back in together and seat the c-channel on the new plywood fully. If interested, you can see pictures of this process here, starting at post #30, and again at post #47: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f185...b-50967-3.html

Chris

Sparky57 · 02-25-2012, 04:39 PM

Minno your scaring me! I am beginning to see that the shells are very light, can shift easily when detached from the floor, etc. I will be super cautious now.

So the C channel is held in place by elevator bolts, and the floor is also screwed to the frame in other spots too, so if I take all those bolts out then the floor should slide out.

So, I have to go slow, brace as I go, do a section at a time, go it!

Minno · 02-25-2012, 05:16 PM

Well, I meant to help you, not scare you!

One problem with doing it a section at a time - if you leave the shell and c-channel bolted to the frame right next to the plywood section you're replacing, you won't have any flex in the shell for sliding the new plywood into place. So, you'll at least want to remove the elevator bolts holding the c-channel to the next section of plywood. I did have one spot where the c-channel and shell dropped off the outrigger, and I used a bottle jack to raise it back up into place. My experience from that was that the shell will pretty much hold itself up, even if a 2 to 4 foot section slips out of place.

There are a few threads where the owners replaced the plywood floor by splitting it front to back over one of the main framing members. According to some folks, there are drawbacks to doing that type of floor replacement, as the theory is the floor isn't as strong as if you left the plywood in one piece. I mention it because it is another option for you to consider.

Chris

Sparky57 · 02-26-2012, 09:17 AM

Here are some photos of the bits and pieces some of you were curious about. I will post more pics. I have more of all of those handles, and hinges too. Thinking it is all original, most of the trailer was untouched

Sparky57 · 02-26-2012, 09:29 AM

Here are a couple of the reading lamps- might keep these ones, they have a cool Canadiana feel to them.The medicine cabinet is in good shape, and there is a magazine rack just like the black metal patterned lamp. The material is the original curtains- plan on turning them into pillows or something. In strangely good shape and almost stylish.

I got all the plywood exposed yesterday in the trailer....nothing rotten really so now I am wondering why replace it.....but I think I will anyway. You only get one chance at this don't you?

As for the stuff - let me know if there is something you are interested in.

Mark

Someday'59 · 02-26-2012, 09:37 AM

I would really love the round center light fixture!

Disneysue925 · 02-26-2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky57

Here are a couple of the reading lamps- might keep these ones, they have a cool Canadiana feel to them.The medicine cabinet is in good shape, and there is a magazine rack just like the black metal patterned lamp. The material is the original curtains- plan on turning them into pillows or something. In strangely good shape and almost stylish.

I got all the plywood exposed yesterday in the trailer....nothing rotten really so now I am wondering why replace it.....but I think I will anyway. You only get one chance at this don't you?

As for the stuff - let me know if there is something you are interested in.

Mark

I would love the magazine rack and the black metal lamps. The ones from the first pictures and the one from these pictures. Please let me know if they're available. They would be going to a good home.

Thanks!
Sue

Disneysue925 · 02-26-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disneysue925

I would love the magazine rack and the black metal lamps. The ones from the first pictures and the one from these pictures. Please let me know if they're available. They would be going to a good home.

Thanks!
Sue

I forgot to say Welcome, Congratulations on a great find and Thank You!!

Sue

nmbosa · 02-26-2012, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky57

Here are a couple of the reading lamps- might keep these ones, they have a cool Canadiana feel to them.The medicine cabinet is in good shape, and there is a magazine rack just like the black metal patterned lamp. The material is the original curtains- plan on turning them into pillows or something. In strangely good shape and almost stylish.

I got all the plywood exposed yesterday in the trailer....nothing rotten really so now I am wondering why replace it.....but I think I will anyway. You only get one chance at this don't you?

As for the stuff - let me know if there is something you are interested in.

Mark

I'd be interested in that last light that has the onion skin shade with metal grate. I need something for under our kitchen cabinet.

Norm

Sparky57 · 02-26-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Someday'59

I would really love the round center light fixture!

PM me your address and we will sort out the shipping. BTW-Love your blog

Sparky57 · 02-26-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disneysue925

I would love the magazine rack and the black metal lamps. The ones from the first pictures and the one from these pictures. Please let me know if they're available. They would be going to a good home.

Thanks!
Sue

OK- PM me your address and we can sort out shipping. I will have to double check on the magazine rack- my wife may want to keep that one, but if not it is yours.

Sparky57 · 02-26-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmbosa

I'd be interested in that last light that has the onion skin shade with metal grate. I need something for under our kitchen cabinet.

Norm

Hi Norm,

Just PM me your address and we will sort out the shipping.

Mark

Disneysue925 · 02-26-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky57

OK- PM me your address and we can sort out shipping. I will have to double check on the magazine rack- my wife may want to keep that one, but if not it is yours.

Thank you!

Sue

utee94 · 02-28-2012, 06:25 AM

Mark, it's very kind of you to share out your extra parts like this. Our good friend here on the Forums, Frank aka 62Overlander and who is also a trailer restoration specialists and VAP special contributor, talks often of The Airstream Spirit. It appears to be strong in you.

Sounds like you have a lot of great advice on this thread, and a good plan in place. All it takes from now on is a ton of hard work, probably some bloody knuckles, and numerous showers.

Good luck and keep us posted!
-Marcus

Edit: If you're asking what The VAP is, you really need to do yourself a favor and check it out here:

http://thevap.com/

webspinner · 02-28-2012, 08:20 AM

If the floor is mostly in good condition, consider leaving it in place and protecting it with penetrating epoxy. We replaced just the rotten parts and that was enough work. You'll camp in it a heck of a lot sooner if you're not wrestling with perimeter rivets.

My husband wrote up a bit about our floor work in our blog, below my sig.

Good luck with your project!

Sparky57 · 02-28-2012, 02:03 PM

Took out the interior panels last night, will take out the rest tonite and start carefully labelling and documenting how they all came out so I can put them back in 6 months from now. Considering polishing the end cap in the bathroom area...so I might leave it in place and strip and polish it....decisions decisions!

utee94 · 03-01-2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky57

Took out the interior panels last night, will take out the rest tonite and start carefully labelling and documenting how they all came out so I can put them back in 6 months from now. Considering polishing the end cap in the bathroom area...so I might leave it in place and strip and polish it....decisions decisions!

For the lower interior panels, I found it easier to polish them mounted, rather than flat on a work bunch. Some of them are quite large and unwieldy, so polishing them on a bench isn't necessarily possible, and polishing them on the ground really sucks.

Not sure how it would work out up overhead on the endcap, though. You'll have to let us know.

Good luck!
-Marcus

mjoregan · 03-02-2012, 02:47 PM

All interior panels are out and now starting on 3 things at once. Windows will all come out and get resealed, polished, new gaskets and new glass....the floor will come out and the frame repaired in sections, and start the electrical planning...

A couple questions ... Cheapest place for Herh window gaskets,seals? Sooo expensive, and i need 100 feet of each type...Know of any good threads on how to do this?

And how the heck do you get the elevator bolts out? From below? They are solid, grinding off the head just leaves them in the flooring...so Should I cut the belly pan off now, save myself time? The pan is coming off anyway so is now the best time?