Texas Airstream - 1977 Sovereign

[desertair27]

Hello everyone
We just bought our first Airstream.It's a 77 Soverign 31' with the rear bath.I guess I should have used forums to read up on the rear bath issues and rear end separation so common to this model before we made our purchase.It sure seemed to be in good shape and was owned by an older couple who didn't use it much.I have some bare 3500lb axles on the way from Inland Rv to start with and then I'll address the rear end problem.I'll keep y'all post and get some pictures up soon.
Any tips and or advice is greatly appreciated.

[HCR]

Welcome. You will find all the expertise a person could wish for on this board!

[driftless]

Welcome to the forums.

My advice, enjoy the journey.

My tip, always include pictures when you ask a question on a specific detail or repair of your A/S.

Most of all, have a great time!!

[desertair27]

Thank you for the warm welcome and tips.I'm back and I hope I've got the pictures attached properly.
I finished my axle swap and I have to say it wasn't bad even though I did it by myself with the help of a floor jack.It took me about 3 hours for the first axle and a couple days later I knocked out the other axle in about 2 hours.I replaced shocks while I was in there.I also picked up some centramatic wheel balancer from inland.I purchased the bare axles fro them as well and I wish I had ordered them complete with brakes.The PO told me that had just replaced brakes so I assumed I didn't need to buy new brakes and figured I'd enjoy a $500 savings ordering the axles bare.Well...the brake caliper is clearing the inside of the rim.I noticed a 1/4 aluminium wheel spacer once I removed the wheel and didn't think to much about it until I went to install my sweet centramtic babies and the didn't clear the brake caliper.Anyways.my first step is to figure out why the inside rim rubs the brake caliper and then I think the centramatic problem with be solved.
My question is.Could a larger brake caliper been installed?
Also check out my before and after pictures.
I have my fingers crossed the pictures are attached.

[Lance M]

Welcome to the forums. Enjoy your new beauty. See you down the road.

[Aage]

Howdy and welcome to Airforums.com, desertair27! From what I can see in the photos you have posted, your trailer's skin looks to be in fine condition.

As for rear bath or mid bath, they each have an advantage. The mid bath units I've seen from that era, well, they're so small, I'd have to go out in the hall to change my mind! (that's a joke, son )

On the other hand, when you have guests staying overnight, if they need to make a noctural trip to the bathroom, they have to walk past you. To each his own, as they say, but personally, at 5' 17" I prefer the more spacious rear bath.

In post #4, you took off the bumper and removed the rivets from the trim covering the join of the two aluminum panels. At that point you saw the rivets that join the shell to the frame, via a plate that is back there inside the wall, reinforcing that joint.

How did the original rivets look? Were they all there, still holding that assembly together? If you have rear separation, that's one of the points that would show it fairly obviously; the rivets can pull out of their holes, showing a gap on that seam when the rear separates.

I'd love to see more photos, (especially of the interior) when you get more time.

Have fun with your trailer, and don't sweat the small stuff!

[Lance M]

Looks like someone is missing a chock block from the Motor Pool! Here is my resto thread on my Ambassador Abby. Lots of pics.

[4RXLA]

It looks like your trailer originally had the vacuum assisted disc brakes. If you still have the original Ausco assemblies, they should fit with the original rims. There is not much clearance though. I had a loose caliper bolt and it shredded the inside of the rim. I thought the bold sheared off inside the caliper but I was lucky in that the bolt apparently was never screwed in so it did not have to be drilled out. I was toying with the idea of replacing the original Ausco assemblies with kodiaks or dexter discs but wass told I would need to purchase new rims as well as the original rims don't have the clearance for the newer disc assemblies. Post a picture of the caliper and Andy will know what you have. Sounds like the spacer was added to give clearance for a newer brake assembly.

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by Top

Looks like someone is missing a chock block from the Motor Pool! Here is my resto thread on my Ambassador Abby. Lots of pics.

Hey Top
Good to see Abby back on the road.I'm looking for more pictures of your finished floor and other work on her.I can't seem to find them.Can you show me more pictures?
Chock is actually from the Airport.A buddy of mine used to work there and gave me a pair of these guys.

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by Aage

Howdy and welcome to Airforums.com, desertair27! From what I can see in the photos you have posted, your trailer's skin looks to be in fine condition.

As for rear bath or mid bath, they each have an advantage. The mid bath units I've seen from that era, well, they're so small, I'd have to go out in the hall to change my mind! (that's a joke, son )

On the other hand, when you have guests staying overnight, if they need to make a noctural trip to the bathroom, they have to walk past you. To each his own, as they say, but personally, at 5' 17" I prefer the more spacious rear bath.

In post #4, you took off the bumper and removed the rivets from the trim covering the join of the two aluminum panels. At that point you saw the rivets that join the shell to the frame, via a plate that is back there inside the wall, reinforcing that joint.

How did the original rivets look? Were they all there, still holding that assembly together? If you have rear separation, that's one of the points that would show it fairly obviously; the rivets can pull out of their holes, showing a gap on that seam when the rear separates.

I'd love to see more photos, (especially of the interior) when you get more time.

Have fun with your trailer, and don't sweat the small stuff!

Hey Aage
I didn't realize that the mid bath's were smaller.I sure like the size of my full bathroom.
I did have some missing rivets and one that was ripped through the skin.I'm not sure what's going on with the separation.I have quarter skin damage on both side with the curb side being more severe.I figured this is from the wheels that were installed on the frame.I have straightened the frame in this area but now it seems the curbside frame is bent or sagging down.Any idea how to straighten the frame?I attached the skin to the C channel where it sat as I couldn't align the original rivet holes up on the curb side.
More pictures on the way.My response time is a slow.

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by desertair27

Hey Top
Good to see Abby back on the road.I'm looking for more pictures of your finished floor and other work on her.I can't seem to find them.Can you show me more pictures?
Chock is actually from the Airport.A buddy of mine used to work there and gave me a pair of these guys.

DesertAir,
Like the work. Looks good!

The floor stuff starts on page 4 post 54. Pictures of the completed floor are on page 5 post 70 and page 24 post 329.