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06-19-2011, 06:43 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member 
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Hindenburger frame & floor
The objective is to take a 59 Ambassador and build it from the ground up into a mobile food vending attraction. The project started 4 May with a gutted trailer. Working through heat and rain we have made good progress in 45 days. Stage 1 was the prep and seperation.
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06-19-2011, 07:00 AM
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#2
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Frame-a-saurous Rex
The frame was rotted out (big surprise) and was rebuilt to support a modern commercial kitchen. Weight was increased by 40% over the original frame. Choice of frame steel was solid and heavy. It's a critical trade off for strength that we had to make for the kitchen. (static or short tow trips)
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06-19-2011, 07:04 AM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Frame sandblast prep prime and paint
In keeping with the retro look of the American Icon Airstream we went with bold with the color...
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06-19-2011, 07:19 AM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Lady in Red
What's great about America? Airstreams.... and the freedom to push the envelop of conventional comformity. We are having fun with the design....... with the intent for her to be rock solid...yet elegant.
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06-19-2011, 07:24 AM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Hillbilly Rotisserie
After reading the threads and blogs regarding belly pan replacement we knew that flipping her over was the only solution. Our technique is as old as the pyramids.....substitute John Deere...
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06-19-2011, 07:32 AM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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John Deere
Need a strong frame to pull this off
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06-19-2011, 07:39 AM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Custom belly pan mods
In order to access the bottom of the trailer easier we modified the belly pan a bit. This way we can access systems with a full off beely pan removal. We also built strong custom wheel wells for inside of the kitchen.
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06-19-2011, 07:52 AM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Back upright with floor covering and C channel
All hands were busy rotating her back over....so there were none available to take pics.....it was essentially the same as originally flipping her over....just more delicate due to belly pan. Floor covering choice was in keeping with the retro look.. C channel was custom fabricated in our shop from stock.
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06-19-2011, 07:52 AM
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#9
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Aluminum Falcon Mechanic
1972 31' Sovereign
Wesley chapel
, Florida
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,169
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Fantastic work!
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06-19-2011, 08:05 AM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Time to get the shell back on
She was braced pretty solid so the chasis fit back beneath her very well. With the typical fudging and squeezing we dropped her back on....no worries... well...a few.. We used straps to tighten and hold her down while we clecko'd and riveted her back together. With the shell back on..we are ready to........
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06-19-2011, 08:09 AM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Sweat
Ohhhhhh...is it hot inside an aluminum can in Mobile Alabama in June. Thank goodness we have our hillbilly air conditioner window unit.....necessity is the mother of invention.
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06-19-2011, 08:45 AM
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#12
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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Fabulous project
I love what you are doing, looks great!
But what calculations did you do that makes you fee the single axle will support all the weight you have added, as well as the weight of the equipment that you will add to it in order to have your mobile restaurant?
Perhaps there was another thread where you discussed that, but I didn't see it, if there is.
Shorter trailers than that, ones that are only destined to be campers, have two axles today...
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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06-19-2011, 08:49 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master 
1973 27' Overlander
Currently Looking...
Jupiter
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,062
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Picture seven of post two clearly shows mounting for two axles...
__________________
The days are short and the night is long and the stars go tumbling by.. . ~Airstream~
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06-19-2011, 08:57 AM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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running gear
It's a 2 axle rig. Each axle is rated at 5100lbs.... suspension springs heavy duty.....wheels are rated at 2600lbs each.....tires will be 15s rated at 2800lbs + each
She will be beefy..... so we will have the heavy running gear to support her...
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06-19-2011, 09:18 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
1953 32' Liner
1955 22' Safari
Valley View
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,971
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Keep at it! The photos are great....I'm an avid follower here.
__________________
"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted
then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production."
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06-19-2011, 09:37 AM
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#16
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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oops!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wabbiteer
Picture seven of post two clearly shows mounting for two axles...
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My apologies, I didn't see that one, for some reason. That, after going back over the whole thread when I first thought it was only set up for one.
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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06-19-2011, 09:55 AM
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#17
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Tool Hoarder
Currently Looking...
West
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 907
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Wow that is insane!! I love it!! Keep the pics comming!!
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06-20-2011, 06:21 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Frame & floor complete..switching to exterior body
She is all riveted back together so we are declaring Stage 1 (frame & floor) complete. Stage 2 will be be main body panel modifications and patching. We went into the project with a plan...with the understanding that a plan is actually only a common point of departure. Translation = "we made a lot of changes along the way"
As we dive into the custom panel work we anticipate much the same. We will be switching to a different thread forum for Stage 2. The Hindenburger is mobile now....
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06-20-2011, 08:52 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2020 30' Classic
Derwood
, Maryland
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,515
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This is great - keep documenting please!
__________________
John "JFScheck" Scheck
2020 30’ Airstream Classic
**I Love U.S.A.**
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07-22-2011, 04:59 AM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
1959 28' Ambassador
Great Falls
, Montana
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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Running gear
For a follow-up..... Both axles installed now.....we are running Goodyear Marathon Radial Trailer Tires ST 225/75R-15. They are mounted on 15' trailer wheels 15x6JJ on 5.5 from VTS. We ordered the wheels primed and will paint them to match the red accent color of the frame, hitch, and interior. They are capped of with cone hubcaps..... also from VTS.
*note-New belly pan got dinged by a runaway floor jack...will work it out later.....first beauty mark...more to come later.
Also...curb side service window is built and installed.
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