Frame repair and shell off questions

[Dan E]

This is a great thread! I will need to do the same thing with my 1965 Sovereign. My question. What points do you lift the cabin from? 4x4s running side to side under the cabin? Great looking gantry lift.

[Mixter]

Lift through the vents on top. I used 4x4's just long enough to catch the ribs on either side of the vent. One was probably 24", the other was probably 40" or so because the ribs were further apart. The hoists and gantrys are great becauae you can do it so slow and gentle. If its not lifting the way you want, you can lower and reposition. You dont have to be exactly level, but its good to be close. I slid the 4x4s to the side just slightly so i lifted the same angle as the frame was sitting on my driveway.

[Mixter]

some pics

[ehodg66]

I used autocad....I'm a cad draftsman

[shadeemry]

Originally Posted by ehodg66

I used autocad....I'm a cad draftsman

Would be ever so kind of you to include that cad file

[ehodg66]

I don't think it well let me attach a .dwg file. Send me a private message with your email, and I can forward it over.

[cwf]

Question.. on the pdf file of the 'gantry' design.. what do the letters "P.T." denote?

[ehodg66]

P.T. = Pressure Treated. You could use untreated but if your leaving it outin the weather for an extended length of time, I would go pressure treated.

[59Falcon]

I have a badly rusted frame for my 59 Falcon. Can you recommend a good shop to repair / replace the frame?

[shadeemry]

Originally Posted by 59Falcon

I have a badly rusted frame for my 59 Falcon. Can you recommend a good shop to repair / replace the frame?

Wrong forum site, we do air streams.

[Mixter]

Is that an Aeroflite Falcon? Those are pretty cool... Got pics to share?

[59Falcon]

It's a 1959 Airstream Falcon

[markdoane]

Congratulations, Airstream Falcons are very rare. Any good welder can build you a new frame. I would go to a metal fabrication shop rather than a RV place or a truck repair shop.

[JimGolden]

Falcon,

Call Petty's Garage. They restore and rebuild all kinds of cool cars there. I'm sure they could do you an excellent job on your frame.

I bet they'd put you on their website too. You could have the first Airstream fixed up by The King That'd be cool!

"Petty's Garage offerings range from small projects to help your car stand out to money's-no-object and sky's-the-limit dreams. If you can dream it, Petty's Garage can build it! Contact us today to begin your project!"

Custom Site:
Pettys Garage

Contact Link:
Pettys Garage

Take care,

[Mixter]

Ooooh... that's a cool find. You should have a real gem when you're done. Found this on that.

I had a lot of trouble finding a shop to help me. Apparently it was just too much to place the burden of designing the fix AND implementing the fix... I had to design all the pieces I needed, then go have them made. Then hired another shop to do the welding. If you can weld, that's huge advantage... I pride myself on relying on only myself for anything I do, so this was a frustrating part of my project. I like to have a reason to buy new tools, but metal fabrication brakes and presses are way past that line for me. I will definitely buy a welder and learn to use it after this. I could have learned, but this time I just wanted it done now, and wanted it done right, so had to pay the man.

If you have the same troubles as me in finding people to work... (who said anything about a bad economy)... you might start searching and calling welding companys (only some have the fabrication equipment to handle the needs), and you can also call metal suppliers, sheet metal fabricators, and even a trailer manufacturing or repair... this part was definitely not fun for me... Glad to be past that, where the rest in my hands.

Have fun- be sure to post pics.

[Mixter]

Oh, and whatever you decide... do your homework on what you need and how you want it done. This is the point of your project when you can make any modifications to the original, so take your time think it through- well past the next step to try and think of anything you'll "wish you had done" while it's at this stage. i.e. tanks, axles, etc. Its easy to get anxious, but its going to take a while, so just plan on being patient and you'll be glad you were!

[59Falcon]

Thank you everyone for your input and words of encouragement.

I've worked as a mechanical engineer and also a machinist. I do not weld, but as Mixter mentioned, I may use this case as impetus for learning to weld.

I am visiting a company this morning Colfax Trailer & Repair here in NC later this morning. They build custom trailers, so I feel quite confident they can either repair or build a new one. It has been difficult to find a shop that is confident to fix my current frame. Perhaps the liability of working on a on-highway application scares some shops?

My vision is to not really change the frame design. It's very light, low-profile, and functional - albeit rusted to pieces in places. After reading some of the comments, I considered adding a gray tank. However, I think I could manage the same function with an external tank, and just run a line to it when I don't have an actual drain hookup at a park. This is more of a guess because I have not recently researched it.

For the inside, I have retained some of the original components: sinks, stove/oven, drawers, bath tub. I would like to utilize some of these original components surrounded by more modern cabinetry and panels.

[shadeemry]

Originally Posted by shadeemry

Wrong forum site, we do air streams.

I take this back completely,I had no idea those existed, so awesome!

[M2HB]

This sounds like it could be an awesome project. If the shell is in great condition a new 5" structural channel frame with a 5,200# Flexiride Axle would be a nice combination. When the frame is heavy enough, you can install a new gray water and black water tank along with more domestic water capacity to make a real nice boondocking rig.

[ehodg66]

Hey Mixter,

I just reread back in this thread and you stated "you didn't brace the shell via Colin's advice" I have already braced for my shell off but was curious why he told you NOT to brace. I would think bracing will keep the shell from wanting to rack.
Thanks
Eric