1969 Streamline Empress One Month Makeover

[Jim Clark]

That power cord is an accident/fire waiting to happen. Plan on replacing sooner than later.

[Nolavalkyrie]

I worded on painting two sheets of plywood today. The manufacturer might call it "smoky gray" but it looks battleship gray to me. Two coats on the rough side and edges. Oil based paint and I'm one step closer to floors.

Went searching for - extruded aluminum framing - to build a baggage door. Mine is missing one side of the frame - it is also 39" long. Not exactly your standard size.


I found some at Vintage Trailer Supply, but if anyone knows of another source for comparison I'd be grateful for the information.


Pictures: the old propane regulator and hoses (already replaced but thought I would just post these) and my plywood (just to show I did something today).

[Nolavalkyrie]

Oh, meant to post a picture of the baggage door...I'm really tired tonight. It was a two trip to lowes sort of day.

[slowmover]

THe days can be long and wearing. But you'll not ever reproach yourself for the right things the right way (such as PEX for all new plumbing). The rest -- the fit and finish items -- will go together as time/funds allow. My baggage door is to be untouched unitl I can deal with it. So the 30-50A dogbone back in there will simply be replaced versus trying to force fit the door back together.

Boat & RV Molding - Aluminum angle, Aluminum tube, Aluminum extrusions, Anodized aluminum, Aluminum pipe, Aluminum channel, Extruded Aluminum angle, brunner enterprises, Aluminum bar, aluminum rod, aluminum edging, aluminum tubing connectors, square

[Nolavalkyrie]

Wow, the days fly by...

It's hot and inside Nyx it's even hotter. Moving on...

So everyone can fuss - here's the scoop: my budget and time constraints require the floor repair to be shell on without dropping the belly pan. Can we all groan in unison?

The first piece of the new floor went in yesterday.

It was trial and error getting the old floor out. But, we ended up cutting between the frame pieces using combinations of my little oscillating saw, circular saw and a sawzall type saw. Then just prying the pieces off the top of the frames. There were these funky "staples" holding boards together. A pain in the scheme of things but pulled out and discarded. Many of the screws were just unscrewed with the impact drill. Others just cut off with the side-grinder.

I then went around chiseling out debris in the c-channel.

Removed one wall (Masonite) panel to get a good look at the screws and bolt sticking down into the channel. Need to just remove them, stick the new floor in and then put new back in. This really is like a complicated jigsaw puzzle.

Did I mention that the old water tank is out? Can't remember. It was nasty and crunchy. And, much of the odor in the trailer disappeared with the tank.

Really a short description for the amount of labor but we now have the work flow figured out. From here out the floor should go a lot faster.

Yes, the umbilical, electrical is going to be replaced.

Loads of other stuff on my list.

Obviously, 30 days was a touch adventurous on my part... :shrug: And then you move on to the next thing that needs to be done.

Julianne

Pictures:

1. Old water tank corroded through on the bottom
2. Close up of the tank
3. Where the water tank used to go
4. Same area floor replacement
5. Same area floor replacement
6. Same area floor replacement
7. Same area floor replacement
8. Same area floor replacement
9. Same area floor replacement
10. Floor replacement
11. Then panel removal
12. Inside panel
13. Under panel and inside channel (note screws, bolt, wood and linoleum)
14. Those silly, wavy staples
15. The fun photo - windchime hanging on the rock guard

[Nolavalkyrie]

I'm so behind in posting that I don't know if I'll ever catch up - however, as my boyfriend is in Little Rock, Arkansas tonight (he left south Texas today) I thought I would try a quick post.

The past couple of weeks have been full of very long days with much accomplished.

* floor finished (yes, you can do a floor restoration shell on/belly pan on - not fun but doable)
* propane tanks purchased, new black pipe run and system pressure tested
* electrical finished ( new converter and fuse box)
* new cable run from battery to electrical closet (existing wiring either cut or some switch/inline fuse somewhere that we never found was an issue)
* plumbing (new water tank, pump, accumulator and pex run through trailer - kitchen and bath faucets not yet installed. Toilet not yet installed.)
* tankless water heater installed (still working on venting issue as I'd prefer to go through the side and not the roof - space issue in closet)
* black water tank tested (no leaks - thank goodness as it is pretty much a custom fit fiberglass tank)
* removed furnace - gained huge amounts of storage space inside kitchen cabinets and under bed
* rebuilding bed platform to gaucho style to create queen size bed
* purchased new dresser top from reclamation construction warehouse for $9. My best trailer purchase yet!
* everything has been washed down - walls, drawers, removed partitions, hardware (which can be soaked in denture cleaner and comes out looking great)
* stove is being totally rehabbed. It has been disassembled and is being refurbished - then will be reassembled.
* vinyl has been installed and partitions are starting to go back in
* the kitchen cabinet framework has been reinstalled, but the countertop isn't back on yet.

I think that just about covers the past few weeks. I'll try to get some photos up in the next few days. I love riveting things back together, there is such a sense of accomplishment as I put pieces back in the trailer that have been sitting in the basement or the garage or the backyard...

[slowmover]

Wow, and in summer!! A very impressive list. Photos will be appreciated, and especially so by those who've purchased or are contemplating purchasing a Streamline.

And, why furnace removal? Even here in Corpus Christi I probably used it for several weeks daily (auto operation) and warmed up the TT in the mornings otherwise in the last two TT's.

I am using the DYSON HOT/COOL till the furnace is replaced on the current TT, but it is no substitute. I don't have a catalytic heater in this one, and the one to be purchased will be of the type that draws outside air for combustion.

.

[NJtoNC]

holy cow! what an accomplishment. so much work to post just two words ; "floor finished" or "electrical finished". so hard to do, yet so easy to write. im so impressed! and so thrilled you've stuck with it. can't wait to see pics.

[Jim Clark]

Sounds like the worst is now in the past.

[Nolavalkyrie]

Vented the tankless water heater

Really thought we were going to have to go through the roof to vent the water heater. Was pleased when a way was designed to go through the wall instead.

Double wall pipe was required, not the issue, but the end cap or terminator was. Ended up using a modified dryer vent.

The outside vent gets hot enough that I wouldn't want to leave my hand on it for an extended length of time. However, since the heat only vents when the hot water is actually in use, I don't see this as an issue.

Julianne

[Orlop]

wow, really impressed. I redid an Argosy in less than a year, but you really beat that. Not sure what you want to do about heat, but we installed a Wave 8 Catalytic Heater and it does great ...... if you want some spot heat in the bath a small cube header more than soes the trick.

[Orlop]

oops wordo, "does the trick"

[Nolavalkyrie]

Stove redo


I'm going to post before and after pictures of the stove. It's a Magic Chef Model T727





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Attachment 192275

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[Nolavalkyrie]

Small floor redo pictorial

[JeweloJalopy]

Wow, very impressive! What did you do to refurbish your stove? Ours looks like your before photos. We have a stainless top that has rusted, and the internals all look like yours. It works just fine, but I would love to clean it up.

Keep up the great work! It looks awesome!

[M2HB]

You are making great progress. My Magic Chef stove was rusted, but not as bad. I repainted it and it turned out great, except the stainless top has some rust spots on it. We tried cleaning it as best that we could but there are still some spots. I saw that someone on this forum had their stove top powder coated, but I really want to keep mine natural stainless steel. My stove vent hood was also rusted, and I found it easier to just replace it with a stainess steel new one.

[calvincj]

When did Airstream start using particle board for subfloors? I have one and it is all marine plywood.

[ALANSD]

Hey Calvin- this ain't no Airstream...just a close cousin

[JeweloJalopy]

I don't see particle board. Where?

[Lumatic]

I have a 73 and the floor is a bit wavy. I suspect a little sag between the frame members. How thick is ( or was) the plywood floor on your 69? Thanks