"new" '63 Ambassador repair questions

[campbell]

We finally found our airstream - a 63 Ambassador 28' in pretty good shape, meaning we towed her 600 miles so far with no problems, although we are waiting on the UPS arrival of new teardrop marker lights without which towing at night was difficult. Now the real work starts! My husband blew a hole in the galvanized water tank yesterday while testing the pressure pump - I guess we need a new tank, or to try to weld this one. Anyone care to recommend either course? We could replace with plastic, which my husband says would be easier, but if we could repair the original . . . ?

[87MH]

Blowing the galvanized tank indicates to me the tank is trash -

Plus - I hope to have had my last sip of water from a galvanized tank -

I would vote to go the plastic tank route with a "newer" pressure demand pump for the water!

Luck

[overlander63]

We removed the galvanised tank, and installed a plastic one in its place, with a Par demand pump.

[airstreamers]

welcome and good luck with your new silver baby! this site has answers to most anything you might need to know (just use the search box along the top) and the friendliest people around. welcome friend! ps i have family in albuquerue, it is a beautiful city!

[Lumatic]

Hi Campbell,
I am just a little east of you, and I just got a 64 Ambassador (although I probably will sell her) Being so close it might be a good idea to compare notes, etc. If you want end me a private message and we can chat.

[flyfshr]

First of all, welcome and congratulations on your vintage unit. If you're half as fond of yours as we are of ours, you've got a friend for life.

Go with a plastic tank and put the galvanized one in the trash heap. Check All-Rite Plastics for a new one, they'll make it to your specifications and put the inlet/outlet ports in a size and placement right where you want them. They're webpage is all-rite.com. I had one built by them five years ago and am very happy with it.

Brad
FF

[campbell]

Thanks, everyone, for all the nice replies. We ended up repairing the galvanized tank because we were in a small town and found a welder who did it for $12. Apparently it had been punctured by a screw some time ago and finally rusted through the weak spot. However, we are planning to eventually replace it with plastic, and to incorporate a grey water tank. So thanks for the pointers. Since I wrote last my husband has gotten the electrical system working well (new teardrop marker lights), fixed the fan over the stove, and gotten the stove to work -test cooked a meatloaf in it today! Now our big project is the furnance, which a PO filled in many places with Great Stuff insulation to keep out mice, and then a new built in dinette\bed in the front, which currently is bare floor. Then a hot water heater, new toilet, polishing . . . I guess we are just getting started, but she's usable!
Mariel

[schwrtzmnn]

I have a 62 ambassador with the original galvinized tank that works good. I would also recommend replacing the tank with plastic especially since you already have rust in it. If you have questions in your repairs feel free to contact me because I recently replaced my water heater,air conditioner, windows, toilet, air compressor for the water system, black water tank dump valve, and just built a front dinette.