opinions on floor repair

tbrom · 11-01-2006, 03:18 PM

I am removing at least the last two feet of floor in my 65 Ambassador. I know I have some frame repair that will be done once the floor is out and the holding tank and pan are removed. Should I go ahead and remove the remaning aprox 20" of floor to get to the first seam or should I cut the rear section of floor that is in good shape?

Tbrom

TomW · 11-01-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbrom

... Should I go ahead and remove the remaning aprox 20" of floor to get to the first seam...

That what I did on my '67. Details are at my Overlander's web site (link below).

Tom

tbrom · 11-01-2006, 06:54 PM

Nice site. I actually have so of the same questions that you had about the cut out around by dump valve. I am a visual learner so I am hoping some one has a simular set up as what I am supposed to and the can take a picture.
Thanks Tim

LI Pets · 11-01-2006, 07:09 PM

Not the same model but I think same idea?

I made the repairs to the frame, used POR and new ply with fiberglass.

It's now rock solid, the other side was fine, this was caused by a leak by the tail light.

tbrom · 11-01-2006, 07:32 PM

I am not 100% sure what caused my floor rot. I know I had a vent leak. The PO also left the rear hatch panel door off for any where from 3-7 years.The water heater looks as though if it had leaked, there is still no gasket to speak of around the rear hatch(not sure what is supposed to be there) May have been and still may be more.

Tbrom

CaddyGrn · 11-01-2006, 10:41 PM

For a 1965.... I would remove as much as you can so you can por as much of the frame as possible. Have you removed the belly pan? How much repair/redo are you expecting to do? While you are in there you can replumb at least the part you are working with!

Got pictures?

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)

tbrom · 11-04-2006, 06:46 AM

I have removed the bathroom. I am planning to remove the belly pan as the frame repair dictates. I am in no hurry to remove the belly pan due to the weather. I am thinking it is more of a spring project.
Tbrom

LI Pets · 11-04-2006, 10:20 AM

It's not a big job to drop the belly pans, I'm sure you will find soaking insulation which will continue to damage over the winter.

If you drop the pan now remove the wet stuff, it will dry out over the winter and you can plan your spring work list after a look see under.

toga · 11-04-2006, 10:55 AM

Lipets,

I don't want to but in on this thread, but I looked at the picture you posted on your 11-01-2006 reply. I have a 1978 Soveriegn and think I will be in to something like you have shown. I know from removing the front subfloor section that I have at least a few rotted outriggers, and some pretty good rot in at least one location along a main frame rail where the outrigger had joined. All that is left on e few of the outriggers I could see was the top "angle" metal part.

How did yo go about repairing your frame? I recall seeing some of your posts before - are there pictures showing what you did?

Regarding replacing outriggers, I see that out-of-door-mart has them for about $20.00 US. Are they worth it, and how hard are they to get on? Can you advise on welding method best to work with for the airstream frame( I have no experience but someone has offered to lend me a small welder and get me strated).

I'll be getting my trailer up om ramps and dropping the belly pan in the next few weeks. Have posted earlier on my plans. Kind of new to the forums and still trying to find my way around re: subscriptions, etc.

Thanks,

Toga

LI Pets · 11-04-2006, 11:34 AM

I have a pic, can't find it at the moment.

But what I did is had a alum 3/16" C channel made up by a local fabricator with a welded flange at the end, to ty into the cross member.

The C channel fit inside the old C channel it was made to fit very close, I used a sledge hammer to help it in.

I was going to have it made out of 1/8" steel and weld it but the guy at the shop said the load in this part of the frame didn't need it.

He's doing this stuff a long time so I did it his way.

Then we can't weld alum to steel, so he drilled a bunch of 5/16" holes and I drilled thru the steel and used SS bolts.

I also used 1/4" self tapping flat head screws to fasten the plywood to the frame. So everything is tyed together like a rock.

LI Pets · 11-04-2006, 04:25 PM

C channel

TomW · 11-04-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lipets

...I was going to have it made out of 1/8" steel and weld it but the guy at the shop said the load in this part of the frame didn't need it...

The load did not necessarily need it, but now you have mixed metals; Add humidity and you have the recipe for galvanic corrosion.

Tom

LI Pets · 11-04-2006, 04:34 PM

Not sure I agree, the steel has 3 coats of POR, and
no insultion below the floor to keep it wet.

Time will tell.

tbrom · 11-04-2006, 04:44 PM

When you drop your belly pan do you leave a little material to reattach the new pan to or are you removing it completely? I have thought about removing the pan as soon as I get accsess to a good welding machine. My little buzz box dosen't cut the mustard.
Tbrom