Argosy Redo

[skyclad]

Not sure what we're looking at here. Are those black things your tanks? They look crazy thin! What type and capacity?

[DDOK]

Looking Nice !

I just finished dropping my belly wraps today. Pan and Belly wraps are off on mine. I just need to remove a little more flooring and start cleaning up the frame.

--DD

[rugjenkins]

Back- 23 gal black tank- poly
Center- 32 gal grey tank-poly
Front-27 gal grey tank- abs

Not thin at all- just the pic

[rugjenkins]

Correction: center is a 27 gal poly. PPL rv parts has it labeled wrong on there website

[skyclad]

Ok thanks. I haven't figured out my tanks yet but want to plan ahead. Mind sharing more pics of how you installed them?

[rugjenkins]

The floor is screwed to the 2x4's running down the center. Drilled and installed an elevator bolt. I tried to get it flush with floor to see if I need to use a forcner bit to countersink. I broke the elevator bolt! Yep I will need to use the bit to make them flush. I used lock nuts. I was surprised to the holding power😄

[rugjenkins]

Por-15 all the elevator bolts and nuts

[rugjenkins]

Floor is installed!
These are elevator bolts, Nyla nuts and self tapping screws that brought it together. all if these can be ordered on vintage supply

[skyclad]

Looking great! Congratulations on this milestone. I hope to follow close behind!

[DDOK]

Matt: Quick Question - Did you remove the wheel wells entirely? If so, how dow they come out?

Also, what's the trick for removing those bolts from the floor? Did you use an Angle grinder with a cutoff wheel ?

You are a month or two ahead of me in the redo work you are doing, so following this thread is a perfect tutorial ! Thank you for posting and sharing all this great information.

[rugjenkins]

Yes, the wheel wells were cracked and flimsy. I accidentally burned the interior ones (over zealous taking out the olds&#128513. I can't remember if they are caulked and screwed into the frame. They are attached to the exterior skin with rivets. Should be two sets of trim. One goes over the other. The wheel wells and 2nd trim piece are riveted together. The wheel well fits into it. Undo the rivets and it should come apart. I made new ones out of 20 gage sheet metal. Hope this helps.
I'll post some pics if the trim and how it goes together when I get home

[rugjenkins]

Here's the pics of the wheel well trim

1st pic - inner trim that attaches to skin and wheel well slides into the rivet both together
2nd pic- outer trim that goes over 1st trim
3rd pic- under side of wheel well and 1st trim piece.
The bolts are usually rusted out- vise grips and bend to break. Other wise is used a cutoff wheel or grinder.
Hope this helps

[rugjenkins]

Installing 2 in foam on underside of floor. This stuff is not cheap!
I think it will help on sound deadening too.

Painting the belly wraps so I can install them Saturday! For me this will be a huge milestone. All the exterior back together.
The paints not perfect but if can live with it. I may paint the camper soon, before the pollen hits this spring. I don't have a paint booth so I'll be painting it outside. I know it won't be perfect but it will look great anyhow😜

[skyclad]

What's the idea behind painting the belly pan? Are you making yr entire argosy black?

[rugjenkins]

No not the whole camper. I'm thinking of incorporating shiny metal and paint.

[rugjenkins]

Maybe something like thishttps://www.google.com/search?q=painted+airstream&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&safe=active#imgrc=kEEVkbiuHQ MhfM%3A

[rugjenkins]

Drying time is as slow as molasses using mineral spirits to thin. I'll use naphtha next time

[rugjenkins]

http://www.rv123.com/blog/painted-ai...b2b0830a04282/

[DDOK]

Matt - Quick question I was thinking about the other day. Once you put the floor in, and put the insulation in, how do you fasten the bottom pan back to the Trailer ? Mine had Buck Rivets that I removed, and with the floor installed I wouldn't be able to get a bucky bar behind them. Do you just use sheet metal screws or something similar?

[rugjenkins]

I will use sheet metal screws with flat and lock washers, just in case I need to get back under there. Many use wide flange rivets.

On mine the belly wraps were overlapped on the skins. To much opportunity for leaks. My shell is jacked up 4 inches so I can underlap the belly wraps to the shell. I will use screws to attach the bottom half. I'll post pics this Saturday.