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pullswitha40 · 01-01-2013, 02:25 PM

Really enjoy this thread.....please keep us posted.

Look forward to seeing much more.

I just purchased 1946 Spartan....mine needs a new floor and was jutted inside, just an emply shell........but the shell in nice.

DavidsonOverlander · 01-01-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pullswitha40

Really enjoy this thread.....please keep us posted.

Look forward to seeing much more.

I just purchased 1946 Spartan....mine needs a new floor and was jutted inside, just an emply shell........but the shell in nice.

Welcome to the "club"! I hope you'll start a thread of your own so we can follow your project. I won't get to work on our '46 for at least a few years, but I love thinking about it while I read what others are doing.

Pillow · 01-02-2013, 07:37 AM

Thanks for the great feedback!

Alan, it is always good to keep a P car for sunny days

FWIW Pelican Parts has a good P car forum if you like to keep up with the chatter. No depreciation! Agreed, and it hasn't been expensive IMO over the last 10+ years I have owned it, granted I dounbt I have put 10-15K on it in that time period.

40, keep us posted on your '46! Since there is no interior at the moment you can go wold on what you want to do. There have been wonderful conversions done over the years.

The next project is putting on the Alumibond tape, and I think it has been a bit cold to do it. Once a sunny day hits (and I have time) we will have some more updates.

I have been toying with tow vehicle 6.2 Diesel motors lately and has taken time away from the Spartan... There is only so many hours in a day! LOL On a side note the wife just picked up a new Escalade ESV for Christmas to replace the '05 Escalade ESV, so I might rearrange tow vehicles. I did not like pulling with the '05, but the new one promises to be better with the 6 speed transmission. We will see.

Happy New Year!!!

pullswitha40 · 01-04-2013, 02:16 PM

I got what I feel is a good deal on the trailer.

PO dropped it off at the home of a mechanic who builds trailers due to an axle failure...it has been sitting there for a few months waiting for her to fund replacement of axle system......she gave up and put it up for sale or trade around x-mas time.

I think I was her only caller after about two weeks.

The trailer is about 100 mountainous miles from my home and the mechanic is being very fair with his fees.....cost plus 10% and $100 labor.

I have a family member who also builds trailers and he checked prices for me and said the prices are correct, the axle system is the way to go and that he would not want to do the work for a stranger for $100.

Once the axle is done I will tow the trailer home and get started......I'll start a thread then with photos.....

Hope I have not hi-jacked this thread too much.

girlscan2 · 01-04-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pillow

Thanks Cheryl!

The Shellac is what came standard way back in '48. Granted in stock form it was Clear and then gained patina over the years. The new Amber color should give it a close to old look. Also the new Shellac cleans up environmentally with water and a little Ammonia. The big benefit to Shellac is that you can touch it up again and again by deglazing and adding another layer, a normal Poly is unforgiving in that regard.

I bought the amber shellac and put on a coat today over the new wood as well as the old where there were a lot of dings. It matches the old really well. Suffice it to say you were right about using it rather than the poly

Thanks for your info. Much appreciated!

FC7039 · 01-04-2013, 09:00 PM

I put several coats of the amber until I get close to the original patina and then a final coat of pecan poly stain last. This combo works for me. I think maybe the pecan mimics 60 years of dirt and grime

girlscan2 · 01-05-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC7039

I put several coats of the amber until I get close to the original patina and then a final coat of pecan poly stain last. This combo works for me. I think maybe the pecan mimics 60 years of dirt and grime

I'm thinking that will work for me too. One coat didn't do the trick but it looks so much better. It soaked up one can very easily (with the wood being almost 60 years old and probably not having been done before EVER.) So glad this is an easy fix

Thanks for all the great ideas!

Pillow · 01-28-2013, 07:01 AM

Wow, I need to get back on track here!!! LOL The cold weather really is a drag for me.

The Mansion has been being kept warm with a little ceramic core heater so it doesn't get chilled inside. Also the pipes have been filled with the RV anti-freeze, probably not needed but why not.

The tow vehicles have been changed around a bit! The '99 Diesel Suburban will be put up for sale. Which is sad as it has been great! But the wife got a new Cadillac Escalade ESV which is capable of towing the Mansion... I just cannot justify 3 TVs! The third being a '71 Chevy C-10 which is getting a 6.2 diesel conversion and HD C-20 suspension. We sold the old '05 Escalade ESV, but it was a terrible TV!... For my daily I picked up a used Cadillac CTS-V, I am going to chock that up to middle age crazies, but it does hold the kids!

Yesterday I was in the garage working on the 6.2 cylinder heads... It was so cold that the die grinder was clogging up with ICE! I would have to stop and place the die grinder in the house periodically so it would defrost. Crazy! Yes, I do need a "dryer"/water catch on my compressor system, since I do not paint with the compressor I just never have bothered with a dryer.

... Come on Spring!!!

ALANSD · 01-28-2013, 12:32 PM

Just caught back up on this thread-- I've been a Pelican member for a long time. Love the books too, 101 projects for your 911.
Had mine almost 20 years, and it is still a joy to drive. Wish I could take it with me when I go Airstreaming.

Pillow · 03-11-2014, 07:46 AM

Spring fever! I'm getting some work in on the Mansion.

This weekend I updated the propane paint and setup. The white that the propane bottle stand comes in stock just didn't match well IMO for vintage. Also putting in a breakaway kit, this is a highly recommended addition to any vintage trailer! Updated the holding latch with the reproductions from Vintage Trailer Supply. And then attempting to replace the steal wheels with a polished aluminum set. Maybe do the roof in Alumibond tape as well.

Cell phone pics to come!!!

I did have a chance to run the polisher over a few spots for clean-up... This trailer is going to be easy to shine up

The wife just shook her head thinking of the time that will be wasted. LOL

Also in a few weeks I will be on a 3 week tour of the south-east for work in the Mansion, so stay tuned for trip reports!

dkrug · 03-11-2014, 10:24 AM

I am so jealous of your progress. We dragged our Spartan home last summer and I doubt we will ever find the time or energy to work on it.

DavidsonOverlander · 03-11-2014, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkrug

I am so jealous of your progress. We dragged our Spartan home last summer and I doubt we will ever find the time or energy to work on it.

Ours too is just sitting and waiting for the day when we have time to do something with it. At this rate it will probably be a retirement project.

dkrug · 03-11-2014, 02:31 PM

Grant, we are retired and still doubt it will ever get done

Pillow · 03-17-2014, 12:53 PM

Time is always an issue! If its lasted 60+ years, there isn't much urgency to completing restorations on the quick in my book

Here is the Vintage Trailer Supply door catches. Fit perfectly from the vintage originals! No screws included. You can see one hole was tore out a bit so I had to up-size to a #10 SS screw. All the other screws are aluminum #8s. I did polish under the new latches (committed myself to polishing!) and added regular old butyl rubber tape under for water protection coming in the screws.

All in all VTS for the win on this product!

You can see the 5 min polish job took the "rust' stain off the decrepit latches.

Pillow · 03-17-2014, 12:58 PM

A little tank area R&R. New coupler was never painted, until now. Also I hated the new tank carrier in white, so it is now Semi-Black. Also adding a breakaway control, more on that later.

Freshened!

Pillow · 03-17-2014, 01:07 PM

New shoes!!! Lightest forged wheels out there - GM PYOs. A more modern look, but I think works. Cheaper than Alcoas by a country mile as well.

I stripped and polished these wheels, the stock GM "plastic" coating breaksdown and ruins the wheels. Then covered with a wheel clear coat. Lets see if it lasts. Lots of time killed here.

I used CounterAct Balancing beads instead of normal weights. Size LT245/75R16 Load E. You need to deflate the tires for them to slip in easily, remember this was designed for skinny bias plys.

Not well shown, but I did clean and paint the brake drums and hubs semi-black as well.

Mock up.

Is that V really towing a Spartan! (no)

Of course one stud broke. At 115lbs on the torque wrench I was very surprised, but it is old so it served it's time. I suspect an impact wrench weakened it years and years ago.

Pillow · 03-17-2014, 01:11 PM

Just a cool shot IMO.

Jammer · 03-17-2014, 02:08 PM

nice

Pillow · 03-17-2014, 02:17 PM

Time warp! Day 1 of picking up the Mansion!... Somewhere in NC...

Slept at the rest area that night and this is the next morning, Day 2.

And home later on Day 2.

DavidsonOverlander · 03-17-2014, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pillow

New coupler was never painted, until now.

Is that coupler welded as well as bolted to the frame? I've paid to have them welded on a couple of trailers, but bolts would be easier and cheaper. I weld, but not sure I want to trust my skills to something as critical as the coupler.