Remodel of my 68' Ambassador.

purman · 08-24-2008, 05:40 PM

Well I bought this knowing it was in pretty good shape.... Everything worked and the inside is in good shape... But I also new I was going to slowly replace wood with lighter maple. So we are headed for the Tetons next weekend and the Gaucho was broken... So I thought got five days shouldn't be hard to redo that.. SEE PICS BELOW>>>>

Well I thought I would check under the water tank.... Didn't feel very solid.. I think the only thing that has been holding it in the trailer is the spare tire under it.... I have had it full of 30 gals of water a few times... There was a patch of some kind of martial, but what you see in the sheet metal skin above the spare tire under the trailer... The plywood just flaked away...... Got to replace a section of this before I can go any further....

I will keep you posted... Back to work...

I almost forgot the first thing i did was put a new rock guard on the front, that old fiberglass had to go.... Also put the flag pole holder over the hole the old antenna left when I took it off... the front looks so much better now...

willyd · 08-24-2008, 06:25 PM

We will be looking forward to hearing and seeing your progress. Best of Success.

purman · 08-24-2008, 06:53 PM

Got the rotten ply out.. Have to pick up some 5/8 tomorrow morning...

The spare tire was the only thing holding that 30 gallon water tank in the trailer... Kind of scary....

I'm sure I'm gonna find out quick the trailer isn't in as good of shape as i thought when I start tearing into things....

CombatMedic · 08-24-2008, 09:05 PM

just make sure you find those pesky leeks so your floor doesnt end up like that again
It would be a good idea to go somewhere that has a seal tech and get hooked up to find leaky spots. Best of luck with your trailer hope to see progress pics! Welcome!

Amy

purman · 08-25-2008, 07:13 PM

Ok, here is the patch in place... Man that was tough getting it in under the wall but I got it in... Finished both sides with marine Varnish as it was all I could get right now, And I have to get this back together by thursday for our trip to the Tentons....

My wife has her doubts, but I know better...

Got the Gaucho apart and will start rebuilding it tomorrow...

Area63 · 08-25-2008, 09:16 PM

Jason,

Nice fix. I am doing a client project on a 68 Ambassador, and it's a very fine trailer. Ours is an International with originally a double bed, but we will convert to 2 singles. I love the front room on the Ambassador - it is gorgeous with teh Vista Vies and all the light and air it has. It looks as though ours has an extra window in the street side front.
Anyways, good luck with your project.

purman · 08-28-2008, 12:49 AM

Ok I have my gaucho coach built (well almost)and I used birch ply on the bottom front and sanded through it so I have to redo it... "will use solid wood 2nd time.."But we are leaving for the Tetons Tomorrow.. I still don't have it completely done I figure 2 hrs. tops in the morning.. Then 1hr to clean up the mess... They grocery shopping, and packing. Pic my daughter up from school at 3 pm and the wife up at 3:30pm and off we go...

I have to put some of the old stuff back in around it to make it look and work right....

I will post pics at the end of next week of the finished product. Just got to get it usable for this trip...

Also I am going to upgrade the water tank. Thought about keeping the same size but up it to 39 gallons.. In doing this I had to make the Coach higher... By 3 inches. Ok it's more comfortable at the table... I thought is was a little low before..

purman · 08-28-2008, 07:03 AM

Got up early and got the coach done...(sorry inside joke. my wife keeps saying the cach better be ready to sleep on" But yes the couch is know ready... Just got to clean up the trailer and pack.. Thank God, I can't wait to get on the road..

63Silver · 09-09-2008, 07:39 PM

Purman,
Sounds like a great trip, coming from a man that has never been West of the Mississippi. I have heard the Tetons are really something to experience. How about posting some pictures of the Airstream so we can see what you have been working on.

63silver

purman · 09-24-2008, 02:08 PM

Ok, started ripping out the front half of the '68 today

... Surprise , Surprise...

I new there was a rise in the floor in the kitchen and new it would be bad ....

They glued this 1/8 ply down with liquid nails.....

Man that sucks.....

Looked like the old fridge had leaked.... Gonna have fun tearing this up, but I am gonna have to replace a section of the floor here... The rest is looking good so far....

purman · 09-25-2008, 10:55 AM

OK I new there was a repair by the door but come on......

The door frame was broken and PO tried to weld it or use JB weld on it... my neighbor is a retired machinest and has a full shop... So we are going to weld the door frame back up...

Well last night I though i better clean it up... thought this was a small patch,,

Wrong.......

The wood rotted out under the door frame which put stress on it and I'm guessing thats why it broke... though i might get by by leaving this patch in place as it wasn't soft but after getting into it there is no way...

Another patch on the floor... not to big just back to the frame, and then the door frame will have a support under the frame ...

It gets better and better.....

SteSpot · 09-25-2008, 02:27 PM

Hi Jason, looks like you have made great progress. Our 68 Ambassador has 2 windows streetside in the living room....does yours have one or 2? Is yours a twin bed? Ours is not but it is going to be......this is a before photo......thanks, paula

purman · 09-25-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteSpot

Hi Jason, looks like you have made great progress. Our 68 Ambassador has 2 windows streetside in the living room....does yours have one or 2? Is yours a twin bed? Ours is not but it is going to be......this is a before photo......thanks, paula

Nope we only have one window, our fridge is where you second window is... Yes we have twin beds.. Looks like you have windows on the roof line, I don't... would have like them...

Gonna make road side into bunks and curb side into a smallish dinette for the kids to be at, or us, that makes into a bed also...

Here is a pic of the weld job my neighbor and I did today.. neither of us have welded much aluminum but it turn out ok..... Just need to clean it up tomorrow....

See what it use to look like in the previous post pics..

SteSpot · 09-25-2008, 05:48 PM

Sounds like you have good ideas.....nice job. Look forward to seeing more of your progress...paula