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Old 10-22-2007, 06:51 PM   #1
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1952 25' Cruiser
longview , Texas
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1952 Cruiser - please help!

Hello Airstream world!
I just purchased an Airstream (1952 Crusier 25' )that is in desperate need of a total restoration. I have read the forums on the various phases of restoring a vintage unit like mine, but I need some of the most basic help. Can someone describe for me the process of removing the "inner skin". I want to redo the insulation, plumbing, and the electrical and will need to remove the inner skin for this. How do you remove it and how do you replace it? Special tools needed ,etc? Please help!
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Old 10-22-2007, 06:55 PM   #2
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Wow, a 52! Unless they did things different then, they are held in place with pop rivets. Drill the heads off them and remove the inner skins. Use a rivet gun and rivets to install them. I suggest you make the back of each panel as you remove it to get them back in the correct places.
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Old 10-22-2007, 07:03 PM   #3
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welcome to the forums and congrats on your new purchase.

here's a link to a thread that links the major renovations. many of your questions can be found in here.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ons-35399.html
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:10 PM   #4
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1962 22' Safari
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Welcome to the forums! I suggest you check out various Flying Cloud restoration threads. The older trailers have different frame structures, tube framing. Be sure that whatever you put in the trailer on your restoration/upgrade will be supported by this frame type. When you get the interior walls out I suggest while you are "in there" you rewire the entire coach! You won't regret it!

Please post pictures ~ we love to follow progress and see what a great find you have!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis ~ from the Great State of Jefferson)
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:14 PM   #5
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1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
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A 52 Cruiser. How exciting! Welcome to the forums and wishing you the best with your restoration.
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:36 PM   #6
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Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. Gee, what a find. Take lots and lots of pictures as you disassemble. Rewire and replumb completely no matter how good the old stuff looks.
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:47 PM   #7
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mccannrd,

As a Native American from Oklahoman, we view Texans as the undocumented workers of the 1800's.

That being said, as a new, fellow Airstreamer, welcome.

You're a lucky Texan, you found the best comprehensive internet site for Vintage Airstream ownership information anywhere on the planet.

You just need to learn this sites' map and research and research and research somemore.

The folks here have years of experience dealing with commom problems that they have shared in past posts. Please, research before you ask.

If you find problems that was not addressed before in the forums, ask away. Everyone here is so willing to help you, you will receive many, many responses to your questions.

Good luck to you.
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Old 10-23-2007, 08:37 PM   #8
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1952 25' Cruiser
longview , Texas
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Getting started

Thanks everyone.
Today I started my "project". I have been kicking around a few names for the new addition to the family and I thought I would bounce a few of them off of the faithful. I like the idea of naming the trailer after a famous figure of the era in which it was "born", which as far as I can determine was sometime in the 3rd quarter of 1952. This was just before the production facility was moved to Ohio from California. Harry S. Truman was President at that time, but Dwight Eisenhower was elected in November of that same year. Of course Bess was Harry's wife, and Mamie was Dwight's first lady. So there are some possibilities. I have usually named my cars with feminine gender names (currently I have a gray Mercedes named "Pearl" and a red Corvette named "Ruby"). I have considered "Harry S", "The Truman", "The Harry S. Truman", "The Eisnehower", "Ike", "Bess", and "Mamie". I suppose like naming a child, after a while the name just seems to fit. Any suggestions?

Now, the question for the day to all of the professional (or should I say experienced) restoration specialist out there. What is the best type of rivet gun to purchase for this job? I am not ready to put things back together yet, but I am in the process of accumulating the proper tools for the job at hand. I have looked at a number of rivet guns but need some advice as to which one to purchase for my restoration/renovation project. More suggestions please.
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Old 10-23-2007, 08:51 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mccannrd
Hello Airstream world!
I just purchased an Airstream (1952 Crusier 25' )that is in desperate need of a total restoration. I have read the forums on the various phases of restoring a vintage unit like mine, but I need some of the most basic help. Can someone describe for me the process of removing the "inner skin". I want to redo the insulation, plumbing, and the electrical and will need to remove the inner skin for this. How do you remove it and how do you replace it? Special tools needed ,etc? Please help!
mccannrd,

The interior skins on my 1954 Liner are installed with buck rivets. The end caps are buck riveted together. The skins have buck rivets around the edges and pop rivets in the center. The end caps went on first then the upper skins from the back to the front, the bottom skins last and they are pop riveted in.

Bill
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Old 10-23-2007, 11:54 PM   #10
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Hello, and welcome!

To make a quick reply, there are basically two types of rivits you will probably want to use: A aircraft rivit type gun with bucked rivits (do a search on rivit types) and Olympic rivits. There are also the cheapie pop rivits, but those are only good for temporary repairs or one or two little fixes in my opinion. We found our rivits at an aircraft supply place near a local airport. You can also find them online. Others will have different opinions, but here is a link to my hubby's thread on the restoration of our 1963 Bambi... some of the rivit issues may be the same. He has lots of pictures, so grab a cup of coffee and scroll through his pages!
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...mbi-17925.html

Good Luck!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis ~ from the Great State of Jefferson)
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