FOUND!! Wally Byam's '55 Cruiser - 1956 European Caravan trailer

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by goransons

I need help sourcing the plastic wheel well edging. I did a bunch of googling and found some from an expired ad on the forums classifieds, but haven't heard from the seller, they have been inactive awhile. I know there are metal options, but I want to stay true to the original.

http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/...well-trim-kit/

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Your '55 had plastic edging originally? I didn't even know that existed and I have never seen that on a vintage Airstream, but then you have an experimental trailer. I know my '55 Safari had the typical metal edging as do Airstreams to this day, although the profile has changed over the years.

[goransons]

It did on the wheel wells yes, and they used the same thing on the edges of the metal roof lockers. On the wheel well edges there was a pop rivet about every 6". Unfortunately on the one side I ruined it because I never thought it would be plastic, and the paint stripper melted it. The other side was petrified. The link shows the exact profile stuff, and the rivet install. I wish I could reach that member but nothing so far.

[prairieschooner]

My '58 Traveler had that Plastic Wheel Well Molding as well. I found that the Trimlock with Mylar that 57Vintage suggested was a close replacement. I haven't installed yet due to polishing but it shouldn't be very hard.
I got mine at J&J Auto Fabrics in Rialto, CA;
http://www.jjautofabrics.com/
& Go to the Trims & Seals section. They were very helpful when I walked in for help.
Here is a link to the suppliers with one close to you;
https://www.trimlok.com/distributord...YID=219&SID=70
PS hoping to get the polishing done & these installed before VAC starting at Baker City in June.

[goransons]

I’m ordering some off jj’s site this evening. Thank you all for the help. It’s been a long weekend, almost 20 hours of prep and prime but the epoxy primer/sealer is on all the panels except the door and the edges of the belly pan (I ran out of primer!).

Pictures are of primer wet, but it gives you an idea. It’s finally looking like it should.

[goransons]

This morning I spent my Sunday prepping the door. I replaced all the door in a door hinge rivets (most were rusty screws) and removed weatherstrip.

Other less photo worthy projects included reinstalling the roof vent interior trims and installing the toilet flange and toilet.

The trailer is all white now in sealer primer. It’s going to get wet sanded this week to take care of any imperfections. 13 days until paint... but who’s counting.

[goransons]

I’ve been continuing the last bit of prep. The entire exterior has been wet sanded. I’m starting to haul all the materials and equipment to the shop where we are putting up a temporary paint booth.

In the last picture in the previous post if you look carefully you can see some ripples in the wheel well. In the perfect sunlight I got a picture. It’s from the factory that way.


Here’s it at its worst. It had me going “why didn’t I fix this”. Well to be honest with the dull aluminum I didn’t notice it.




After some going back to photos I felt better knowing it was that way with a little crane help



$1504 for my paint. PPG DCC Concept paint. Alpine white. 3 gallons of sprayable



The Solex bike rack is repaired and back from the powder coater.



The next pictures will be final color. A good friend is painting it for us. He’s painted some limos as well as some very complicated pearl and metallic street rods but this is a big job! Wish us luck!

[steinVT]

After seeing that photo, it would have been wrong to fix those wrinkles. You were preserving history.

Curious, what grit did you do your final wet sand? The reason I ask is that I have had some trouble with the epoxy primer if it wasn't properly roughed up. Especially tough on motorcycle frames because there are so many nooks and crannies. The final coat didn't seem to adhere well where I got sloppy in my sanding. Your body shop guy would know for sure.

I have sprayed some large cars, a '72 Cadillac comes to mind and I had trouble reaching the middle of the hood. How are you planning to spray the roof? A cherry picker maybe?

Can't wait to see to results, it's going to be fabulous.

[goransons]

We are mocking up two plans this week to play with. The first Is two sections of scaffold with a bridge across that we can run down the trailer with the painter on top. The second looks more like a diving platform only from one side. We only need to overlap the side wall by a couple feet to get him close enough. He has long arms. We shall see what works. We thought about a lift but there isn’t enough room and the railings would be in the way.

The whole trailer is wet sanded to 600. Out of the gun the sealer has a semi gloss appearance. After wet sanding it looses that. The areas where there are rivets are sanded with the gray scotch pads from the body shop supply. I’ve actually reshot a couple panels because I oversanded and cut through on accident.

We considered masking the roof to the awning rail and shooting it first. Then a few days later shooting the walls and end caps but the last 4 feet of wall metal runs from below the windows up and over to below the windows on the other side and there is no good place to stop.

[HiHoAgRV]

(Snicker) You could always use a long handled roller...

There are a bunch of us anxiously waiting to see it painted!!!

[goransons]

It’s in the booth.

It towed well. I haven’t pulled it since bringing it home





The booth is roughly 20x36. All plastic with 2x4 braces. Large fresh air intakes in the back low and high with air filters




Exhaust is with 6 24” box fans. It gets us great airflow. A tarp zipper gets us in and out. The outer two bays allow fresh air in to the rear of the shop.

Led shop lights on the walls plus some spots in the corner get us good lighting



The booth took us 12 hours to build. I’m out early in the morning at sunup to mask and start final cleaning.

[bweybright]

WOW!!!! and when did you start this project??? I am so totally impressed.
When it is all said and done, I really do hope you can take it out and enjoy it, forgetting that you have "stuff to do".

[steinVT]

Nice booth. Your paint guy is going to have one sore arm. Seeing all the work and money you are putting into this, makes me happy "all" I have to do is polish.

You will be camping before you know it.

[goransons]

Another 12+ hour day. Here’s some sneak peeks of the paint










Tomorrow I pull tape and pull it forward to remove the scaffold

Off to the shower...

[HHPJ]

Bravo!

[GMFL]

I am so impressed with your work on this restoration. You are putting history back together. The DNA of Airstream is in the unit.

[goransons]

The big reveal. Door will go on in a few days. Tape is off and the booth is down. Lots of hauling and cleaning

[DDickey]

Are you going to reproduce the painted travel log, or leave it pristine?

[GMFL]

Gotta recreate it. Just got to.

[goransons]

Everything as you see it goes back on the 30th. We have a very talented sign painter from Seattle coming over to hand letter the trailer.

[Hittenstiehl]

If Airstream offers you enough money for it will it go to the museum at the new location.