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Baseman · 02-19-2011, 12:28 PM

This looks like it needs to be addressed before towing any significant distances. This is the area right behind the rear tires and one picture behind the steps.

Inland RV Center, In · 02-19-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baseman

This looks like it needs to be addressed before towing any significant distances. This is the area right behind the rear tires and one picture behind the steps.

Your photo shows major frame damage.

I would suggest that you remove the "entire" underbelly and check for even more frame damage.

Andy

driftless · 02-19-2011, 01:04 PM

If the firtst three photos are of the same area, it appears to me that is the axle mounting plate. It is as bad as it looks and significantly reduces the function of that plate. You may or may not have significant damage at other areas of the frame, but the deterioration of the plate suggests you most probably do. You won't know the extent of the damage until you expose the remainder of the frame. Good luck and keep us posted.

Baseman · 02-19-2011, 01:07 PM

That was what I was leaning toward. The good news is that the body does not seam to have shifted yet.
at the bottom of the body where the wall meets bottom curved pieces, do you know if that is removable? That would make the frame repair a lot easier. I'm thinking that there are rivettes under the bottom blue stripe trim.

DanielB · 02-19-2011, 01:15 PM

Dude, don't even play around. Do what Andy said.

Baseman · 02-19-2011, 01:23 PM

I was talking about pulling the belly pan and the bottom curve, I definatly don't want it to come apart on me on the road. Not wanting to wind up taking the whole shell off because I'm afraid I'll never get it back on right. If the curve will come off then it will be a lot easier to repair/reinforce the bad spots in the frame.

driftless · 02-19-2011, 02:27 PM

There are a lot of threads under the restoration topic for belly pans and banana wraps. This one may give you some guidance:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f476...pan-58333.html

Now if I could just figure out how to link to a thread without the entire address I would consider today successful.....

Baseman · 02-19-2011, 02:43 PM

Thanks again guys. If I did not have access to this wealth of knowledge, I would be much worse off. The more I think about it and get myself ready, it doesn't seem so depressing. Looks like it's going to be a big project at best, but when I am done she will be good n solid. It may take a while, but we will get years of use out of it.

webspinner · 02-19-2011, 08:35 PM

That's the spirit!

And the project itself is educational and satisfying, in my experience.

Nashville · 02-19-2011, 09:45 PM

To answer your question...."Is it as bad as it looks?" The answer is No....it is most probably much worse. I grew up in the South and have been stationed there many times while I was in the military. We used to have a term for vehicles that are in the the condition that your Airstream frame is.... it is called "deep fried". Vehicles that sit around in the South look like they were dropped into a deep fryer....giving them that dark golden brown look. Like Neil Young says...Rust Never Sleeps...

Andy is spot on with his assessment and recommendation. Doubtful anyone on the planet has seen as many frames as he has. I would heed his advice.

Right now you are dealing with unknowns and assumptions.... get up under there and turn them into assessments and facts. My son and I are doing a shell off right now and if were not for this forum and the members....there would be no way we would undertake it. All the information you need is here...if you have a question....I promise you there is a thread here that answers it....and if for some
reason you can't find it.....the members are here for you....trust me.

We have turned our daunting task into a family project....and are having fun with it... Isn't that what Airstreams are for? Having family fun.. You will not ever find a member who has done a shell off or restoration that says they regret it....the opposite is true... Hang in there.... your answers are only a few clicks of the keyboard away..

rideair · 02-20-2011, 06:49 AM

Baseman,

I remember bringing a car back from Florida to Virginia one time when I was not sure if it would make it. The buddy with me said "Just sign the title and put it in the glovebox, that way if you don't make it back you can leave it on the side of the road when then next guys picks it up, it becomes his project "free and clear"".

Since you don't have a glovebox, you can always tape the title to an inside wall.

Do what Andy said unless you like living on the edge, if not, "Let'r Roll"

Baseman · 02-20-2011, 08:03 AM

I'm going to go ahead and remove the belly pan on Weds and thurs, then I'll be able to stop guesing and figure out a plan.
Thanks again for the encouragement and links.

wasagachris · 02-20-2011, 10:43 AM

Baseman your rear belly pan will be sandwiched between the axle brackets and the frame rail. It will be nearly impossible to remove without cutting it around the axle brackets. To properly reinstall it you will need to drop the axles down a couple of inches to get it back up between the axles and the frame.

Baseman · 02-20-2011, 11:38 AM

Yes, that is certainly the case. It's in there pretty tight.

Baseman · 02-24-2011, 04:29 PM

Today's progress. Got the belly pan off from the back bumper to just past the front wheels. So far all the cross members except the rear most one. 2 out riggers in need of repair or replacement. One rear corner out rigger is missing, and the other one came off with the bananna wrap ( looks like it only had about 1/2 inch of weld). The main frame rails look good except for one spot on each side behind the rear wheels. Across the back of the trailer, the bathroom floor stops about an inch from the back wall. Looks like the water was getting in around the door in the bumper. So far it looks a little better than I had feared. Then again I am only 1/2 way done opening the bottom.

Baseman · 03-11-2011, 12:09 PM

Progress so far.

driftless · 03-11-2011, 01:00 PM

Thanks for posting the pics. I'll be opening up our belly pan in the next couple weeks and expect to find about the same thing. Is your frame cracked behind the rear axles or rusted?

Baseman · 03-11-2011, 05:01 PM

Yep! The main frame rail (roadside) was rusted through directly behind the rear axle. Reinforced with a couple of pieces of 3" channel. The curbside wasn't to bad. Got a few bad out riggers(new ones on the way from Inland RV). The rest of the frame and crossmembers are in good shape.