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Airstreamdmb · 11-12-2010, 08:31 PM

Am renovating my 1965 Ambassador and have been posting various questions already over the past couple of weeks.. Thought it makes sense to start one main thread for people to follow and make suggestions as my work progresses. I gutted the bathroom last night while listening to music from Dave Matthews Band (DMB). Here are some initial photo's as found..... more to follow.

cms4140 · 11-12-2010, 08:36 PM

Sweet Up & Down...

Look forward to hearing of your progress.

Airstreamdmb · 11-12-2010, 08:43 PM

here's a glimpse of the electrical. anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to where to start to test things? My goal is to get it covered for winter and get the floor covered for keeping the critters out. I have removed the old oven,fridge and furnace already too. Bought the 1965 owners manual to get an idea of the wirting layout and diagrams etc. Also found a converter in the closet when i got it home and started going through the trailer. Don't know if it works, but it looks like it's in good shape. Any thoughts???

Airstreamdmb · 11-14-2010, 05:53 AM

Gutted the old bathroom Friday night. Added a new dome skylight yesterday. Plan to seal roof seams with 626 today.

bwaysteve · 11-14-2010, 07:19 AM

Great find!
Welcome to the site.It is interesting to see the differences in the sreetside between yours and mine(I think yours is a double w/rear bath?)Mine is a twin.Your floor looks good in the pics.I had a few large edge spots so did a total replacement.
The walls look really good.Check TKasten profile for a look at his 65 walls.He did them with Watco mahogany red oil.I plan the same.
Please post a pic of your curbside if possible.Does your spare fit behind the P tanks ok?Does it look factory?

Check my redo "Gutting the 65" Long live 65's Steve

Airstreamdmb · 11-14-2010, 08:52 AM

Steve;

Here are some curb side photos. Wasn't sure if you want interior exterior or both. Let me know and I'll take specific pictures for you and post them later today.

Airstreamdmb · 11-14-2010, 03:38 PM

Attempted to use a couple small suction dent pullers but no luck. Couldn't get enough of a seal to exert any force. Has any one ever attached a couple rivets and use the posts as leverage to pull a dent? A) will it work, and B) will it look strange to have a couple stray rivets in the middle of the panel afterwards? any other thoughts?

Airstreamdmb · 11-16-2010, 11:10 AM

Anyone have any suggestions regarding my electrical question I posted earlier on this thread?

cms4140 · 11-16-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airstreamdmb

I gutted the bathroom last night while listening to music from Dave Matthews Band (DMB).

I am curious. Which DMB tunes took you through this bathroom gutting piece of the project?

I'll Back You Up? Say Goodbye? Busted Stuff? Digging A Ditch? The Last Stop? Don't Drink the Water? Crush?

Some of tune titles seem fitting

.

tkasten · 11-16-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airstreamdmb

Attempted to use a couple small suction dent pullers but no luck. Couldn't get enough of a seal to exert any force. Has any one ever attached a couple rivets and use the posts as leverage to pull a dent? A) will it work, and B) will it look strange to have a couple stray rivets in the middle of the panel afterwards? any other thoughts?

If you have the bath already out you might try removing the interior panel to gain access to the dent. Some would say it's better to install a new panel. If some extra rivets allow you to pull the dent I have see some very creative patches. You gotta love all the options you have and will continue to run into. This forum is the best place to find out what's possible for any given problem. Looks like you have a wonderful AS to work on.....Tim

PINKBIKE · 11-16-2010, 03:01 PM

Another DMB fan...right on man !

BWH-Utah · 11-16-2010, 03:02 PM

Great pictures.
Your bathroom looks identical to the one I am presently redoing on my '65 Safari.
Same drain-pipe layout, same rotted section of plywood floor, same cracked black-water tank. I am posting progress on my project here:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f191...ion-69770.html

The Photos of your electrical distribution panel also look the same as mine. I haven't done any work on that, but I suspect the small boxes that the wires all hook up to are circuit breakers. You could check them for continuity, other than that I'd figure work on electrical follow fixing the floor.

Good luck with it.
BWH

BWH-Utah · 11-16-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airstreamdmb

Attempted to use a couple small suction dent pullers but no luck. Couldn't get enough of a seal to exert any force. Has any one ever attached a couple rivets and use the posts as leverage to pull a dent? A) will it work, and B) will it look strange to have a couple stray rivets in the middle of the panel after wards? any other thoughts?

Since you have already gutted the bathroom, I would say pull the interior fiberglass end-cap (will require drilling out a bunch of pop-rivets) and pushing it out from the inside. That will unquestionably give you the best looking final result. I don't believe the rivet pulling system could get anywhere near a smooth finished surface, and you will have those rivets to look at for ever.
In addition, while you are in there (interior end-cap off) you can put in new better insulation, that would be nice to have back in the bathroom. There is a lot written about upgrading insulation.
BWH

Airstreamdmb · 11-16-2010, 05:08 PM

I have another dent question. My model has a cabinet as well as interior shell that will be a nightmare to attempt to remove and risk making a mistake damaging the shell etc. I wanted to know if that panel can be removed by a professional from the exteror side and then replaced from the outside?

Airstreamdmb · 11-16-2010, 05:13 PM

rear bath area

Airstreamdmb · 11-16-2010, 05:21 PM

I don't have the shell out so I can't get to the insulation because there are too many obstuctions in the way that are in good condition.

wasagachris · 11-16-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airstreamdmb

Anyone have any suggestions regarding my electrical question I posted earlier on this thread?

Stephen Do you have any working 12VDC or working 120VAC in th trailer now?
I looked at your pics and it seems like the red and white wires coming from the left should be to the battery. The bottom blue wire should be charge line from the umbilical and the red should be from the converter.
Do you have a convertre working in the trailer? Do you have agood battery in the trailer? What about when hooked up to the TV does any of the 12VDC work?

bwaysteve · 11-16-2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airstreamdmb

Attempted to use a couple small suction dent pullers but no luck. Couldn't get enough of a seal to exert any force. Has any one ever attached a couple rivets and use the posts as leverage to pull a dent? A) will it work, and B) will it look strange to have a couple stray rivets in the middle of the panel afterwards? any other thoughts?

I have one with a crease on back panel.I was able to push mine out from the inside ,but had skins off.At the resto rally in June Kip had a roller he used which I duplicated to roll the dent from the inside.Since your skins are on you might try a body shop for help with the suction as these guys know all the tricks.Thanks for the pics .Love that scroll work on the screen door!

bwaysteve · 11-16-2010, 07:31 PM

PS You can replace the panel from the outside and reistall with olympic rivets if you want.I am trying to get my dent in basically the same place decent looking though not perfect.If it really bugs me down the road will replace from outside.In the pic on post 15 what is the aluminum shelf in the cabinet? Does anyone know?I have one too, but was bare when I got the trailer.

Airstreamdmb · 11-17-2010, 05:09 AM

Chris;

Thanks for checking in. It would appear the trailer hasn't been used for several years don't currently have a working 12V. I discovered a replacement converter in the closet in a box. It's used but we don't know if it works. Just by pure coincidence I discovered it may have actually been owned by someone else active on these same threads. I wanted some advice and guidance before doing anything. Not sure about the 120V. I plugged in cord but didn't flip any switches at that time. they may have been all flipped off at that time too. Here are a couple photo's of the converter from the box and the old one still in the trailer secured under the cabinet. I'm assuming the existing one wasn't working which may explain why there is an extra on in the closet. Just a guess though. I can supply much more detailed or specific photo's for you to view. just let me know what you would like to get a better look at. Thanks. Steph.