HELP! I bought a disaster

[WhatidIdo]

There are so many things I could ask but for the sake of the thread I will stick to the a few. I bought a 1973 streamline crown imperial for almost 4k and discovered that its a dump. I bought it impulsively and it would be an excellent candidate for a frame off restoration.
Problem is, I don't think I can do that in my driveway...
Anyhow I'd like to replace all the insulation and rust proof the frame but the belly pan on this thing is as hard to remove as it possibly could be... Many of you are probably already aware of what kind of construction I'm talking about.
Basically it involves ALL the rivets.


Would it be easier/safe to cut the and lift plywood floor into sections (leaving the part attached to the frame) and work on the frame that way? Then just lay the sections back in and perhaps biscut joint and seal them back together?

[OTRA15]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your sense of humor!

You are probably going to need it IMO . . .



The shortcuts you are suggesting are only the beginning of a long long long long, did I say long yet?, . . . . long long road.

Have you considered selling the trailer as-is?

[Bob662]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Have you considered selling the trailer as-is?

This is good advice. Thinking about it from the field of aviation, there are those owners who like to work on them, and those who like to fly them, but not too many who like (or have the time or skills) to do both.

So if you like a long-term project, great. Go for it. But if what you'd really like to do is travel and camp, you may be better off to sell it (even if at a loss) and do a restart with a more "finished" TT.

[Hittenstiehl]

That had been done. It's a version off a full Monty without disconnecting the shell from frame.

In the end will you be happy with that version and how much of the floor needs to be replaced.

[HowieE]

I would not rely on biscuits to hold the seams. I would construction glue and screw half of a 3 in. wide 1/2 in. ply strips to the underside of a floor piece and then glue and lay the next of floor down. This would make a continuous strong joint. To ensure the glue is pulled into position I would predrill clearance holes in the floor section and use sheet rock screws. it may help to hold the strip in place and drill a starter hole about mid strip for the first screw. Once that is holding the strip work out in both directions about every 3 in.

[Argosy Heir]

I have a 64 Streamline Duke that I am sure is a "disaster" by many persons standards. I came across this thread and found it to be quite helpful as the Streamline and Silver Streaks are essentially twins. He did an awesome job of renovation !!
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f417...er-116055.html

[Lumatic]

FYI/ The Streamline may have factory blown in hard foam insulation in the walls. Should still be good. I would consider keeping it.

[Ray Eklund]

Sometimes any of us can take on an apparently simple looking project that develops in a previous owner passing on a project to another StreamDreamer.

Without a place of your own to take this trailer (you did not give the length), it is most likely more cost effective to SELL. Obviously the previous owner could not and the owner before, could not, and so on.

Restoring a car back to life can become a black hole. I learned forty years ago that sometimes you have to loose money to learn a lesson. Try to break even, but let someone else work this project into something road worthy. ...and keep in touch. When it is finished, you may want to take a second look.

[Cleareye]

Compromise. Is the frame in such dire need? Can't you just replace subfloor where absolutely needed? Your project does not have to Concours worthy, just livable fro camping. Lighten up and there may be a way out.

[Titansection]

In Feb. I bought a 74 Argosy.. The perfect shinny turd. It looked good until I got it home. Then the excitement of a piece of the Airstream community wore off quick!
I replaced all the water lines and pump, the sofa was recovered with new foam and upholstery, sub floor cut out at front door, new vinyls flooring through out, new Temper Pedic bed mattresses, new axels (twice), wiring connectors, Fantastic Fan upgrade, new bubble wraps, re-painted end caps, and we haven't touched the bathroom upgrade yet or upgraded the 12 volt convert (it's next).
I know I have much more in it than it will ever be worth, but, I'm currently camping on the best trout stream in Tennessee, my wife (who would have thought) and I love the experiences, the Airstream Community, and our shinny turd!
It's getting every better time I work on it.
PS: You ought to see my wife go wild when she sees another Airstream as we pull ours down the road!
Amazing!
Should you keep your disaster?
I don't know. But I do know I know my camper better than anyone else, and I can fix anything on it, and that is worth twice the price!
And I'm not a trained trailer mechanic, I just wanted to do it myself and this forum really helped.
Thanks to everyone, I appreciate all!

[John&Vicki]

We had a saying in my previous life as a stockbroker: "Your first loss is your best loss.".

John

[WhatidIdo]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

That had been done. It's a version off a full Monty without disconnecting the shell from frame.

In the end will you be happy with that version and how much of the floor needs to be replaced.

Well, I would consider leaving the middle section untouched because it's in good shape and the front could be salvaged with some git rot probably, but the back is almost Fubar down to the bones.

Almost all the outriggers in the rear bathroom section are completely disintegrated. I just finished removing everything back there (tanks floor and all)l to expose it.
I'm attending Welding school so I'm going to take the opportunity to practice some real metal fabrication.


I was hoping to full-time in this thing but that looks pretty far fetched.
I'm afraid if I don't address the insulation it will be drafty as hell even with a wood stove.
What dose everybody think? Could it be livable in a mild climate with minimal additional insulation?
It dose have spray foam insulation in the walls but Is that good enough?
Even worse the ceiling is all one piece of aluminum held in place by hidden rivets so I cant take it off to run wires or put in that reflective bubbly stuff.

[WhatidIdo]

Originally Posted by Cleareye

Compromise. Is the frame in such dire need? Can't you just replace subfloor where absolutely needed? Your project does not have to Concours worthy, just livable fro camping. Lighten up and there may be a way out.

I would consider leaving the middle section untouched because it's in good shape and the front could be salvaged with some git rot probably, but the back is almost Fubar down to the bones.

Almost all the outriggers in the rear bathroom section are completely disintegrated. I just finished removing everything back there (tanks floor and all)l to expose it. luckily the main frame (although pitted from rust and probably bent slightly) is still in tact.

I'm attending Welding school so I'm going to take the opportunity to practice some real metal fabrication.

[WhatidIdo]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

FYI/ The Streamline may have factory blown in hard foam insulation in the walls. Should still be good. I would consider keeping it.

That's literally this thing's only redeeming quality. Do you think that stuff alone would be warm enough in a mild winter? The Ceiling is also one piece of aluminum with hidden rivets so I cant really add more.

[WhatidIdo]

Originally Posted by Argosy Heir

I have a 64 Streamline Duke that I am sure is a "disaster" by many persons standards. I came across this thread and found it to be quite helpful as the Streamline and Silver Streaks are essentially twins. He did an awesome job of renovation !!
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f417...er-116055.html

Awesome, Yea I see the simulates in the "before" pics already.

[rmatkovich]

If U cut the floor out U will have a problem around the perimeter because the floor is under the body. Best to remove the under belly and do it that way. Drill out rivets and do a section at a time. U can jack up the trailer wheels high and put some 2x8 under for more room under to work with.

[Monza]

Google "air forums floor restoration" and various titles like that and you'll get a good idea of what your getting into. Then decide. There's tons of info on the forum but the forums search function is weak at best. Good luck. I'd say unless your looking forward to the Reno portion of the adventure get out now.