Visit our Popular Forums

Ed Emerick · 12-26-2009, 06:06 PM

The destruction is done! (except the pulling of the belly pan, can't do that yet its snowing and 21 degrees out!) I have removed all of the inner skin and have removed all of the rotted floor. That turned out better than I thought, all the rot was confined to the curbside. Next weekend I replace what I removed from the floor, Git Rot the weak spots and move on to stripping the interior skin panels. Oh ya, I only found one spot of frame rot that I can fix with some iron I have, now I get to weld! Nothing more manly than welding!

This is going much better than I thought it would!

Ed Emerick · 01-10-2010, 04:32 PM

Well this weekend went poorly, very poorly. I found more frame rot, looked over the floor I removed and figured that I just can't piece in new floor. I'm now looking at an off the frame (something I have never done before) restoration. I have spent the afternoon watching the Packers loose and looking over the older posts on off the frame floor replacements. Again NOT HAPPY!

I'm going to attempt to remove the shell from the floor over the next couple of weeks, this means removing the belly pan and with the outside temps at 15 or less this will not be fun!

I think I have the bracing of the skin down; a trip to the lumber yard will take care of that, now I have to see if the skin will fit through the garage door so it doesn't end up in Michigan with the winds!

Any suggestions warnings, inspiration is appreciated!

I am just bummed.......................

soldiermedic · 01-10-2010, 06:24 PM

Ed,

Take a look at my blog in my sig. I did a shell off after being told it was easier. It did allow much easier access to the frame, and was easier to replace the floor. You could brace exactly the same as I did. I braced across each rib, and there are only 5 in our trailers being 21 feet.

It took me a day and a half working part time to build the bracing, jack the shell up, and shore it up by myself. Once it was elevated and I pulled the frame out from underneath, I just lowered the shell back to the ground a few wood blocks at a time.

Your welder will thank you unless you plan to weld yourself (then you can thank yourself

). Painting the frame will be much easier as well.

Good luck and have fun drilling out a million rivets.

Steve

Ed Emerick · 01-10-2010, 06:42 PM

Thanks Steve,
I bracing is a big help, now to drill rivets and more rivets and more rivets........

Hope it warms up some.

Airslide · 01-10-2010, 07:32 PM

Ed,

You are dedicated! A true airstreamer!
15* outside and you laugh at danger! Ha...

Ok.. or your crazy...

Im going to go with the dedicated part..

Love the pictures, keep the great attitude and we will standby and watch your progress.

Armchair quarter back signing off..

Vin

tallytwo1994 · 01-10-2010, 09:26 PM

Nice looking trailer. Too bad about the floor and frame. I'd really think about doing a floor replacement "on the frame", like Insideout / Shari did on the Safari, unless you have inside storage space. Good luck either way.

Carol

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f91/...irl-31084.html

InsideOut · 01-10-2010, 10:26 PM

Ed ~ One of the advantages of do a shell-on floor replacement in the dead of winter would be you could use an electric heater to at least keep the nose-cicles down to a minimum! Seriously - we were able to work in sub-freezing temps with two little electric heaters and/or a propane heater while replacing our floor. It doesn't make it warm, but it does make it better than the outside temps, if you can't work in a heated garage/workshop...

Shari

aircooled4 · 01-11-2010, 04:18 AM

Its gotta be easier than when we did my friends 31' shell off...
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...fun-56566.html

Let me know if you need help...might be fun!

Frank's Trailer Works · 01-11-2010, 04:59 AM

Buy one of these tools. Not doing any advertising, it is just the best thing since the invention of the Airstream. Your rivet removal will be very fast....

aircooled4 · 01-11-2010, 05:04 AM

With what are you goign to replace the removed insulation?

Ed Emerick · 01-11-2010, 06:33 AM

Shari,
I would like to do a shell on, started down that road but when I found 3 rotted frame members and the very rusty frame I figured off is going to work better for me. There is a couple of reasons, I can take the frame to my welder and then to the body shop to be sand blasted and painted in the cold weather, also when I have the welder fix/replace the frame I can have the supports welded in place to hold the tanks. Also the belly pan needs replaced it is shot. Now the key to this is to see if the shell will fit through my garage door, if not I plan on setting it in the drive where the trailer now sits and I will use sandbags to hold it down in the wind.(I think that will work) The part that has me freaked is when I removed the old floor along the curb side we got a 14 inch snow and that weight shifted the skin on to the frame, so its sitting crooked. I need to jack that side up from the inside so that I can get some 3/4 between the inside supports and the frame, then I can build the supports for the shell when I remove it. Looking at those threads last night also has me a bit freaked, I think I know what to do and how to brace it but I'm still not real comfortable with the whole thing. From what I see I need to go from support to support front to back and side to side before I pull the rest of the bolts and screws from the floor. I guess these supports are held to the inside frame with metal screws through the rails into the 2X4 ect. Oh well there has go to be a first time for everything!

As far as the cold, a good pair of boots and socks, a heavy Carhart jacket, lined jeans and snow pants and I'll be yelling "hey guys wait up" when I fall and lay in the snow like a slug! Heck we ice fish here at 20 below!

Still not looking forward to this..........

Frank,
Thanks for the link to the tool that will get ordered today!

Aircooled4
You have been there and done this, I enjoyed looking over your posts last night, now if you have the urge to visit you would be more than welcome! Also I will use the same materials to insulate as Shari did in Its a Girl.

Airslide,
Crazy, just crazy............

InsideOut · 01-11-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Emerick

Shari,
I would like to do a shell on, started down that road but when I found 3 rotted frame members and the very rusty frame I figured off is going to work better for me.

<snip>

Still not looking forward to this..........

Bummer..

As far as the rivet removal tool - we have one too. Although I felt it was easier and more accurate to drill them out without it. IMO, save your money - or better yet, do you want ours? Let me know ~

Shari

Ed Emerick · 01-11-2010, 03:07 PM

Anyone needing any Git Rot I have two large cans I can sell now, no need with a new floor

My cost plus shipping.............................

Airslide · 01-11-2010, 05:04 PM

Ed,

Here is my favorite description of the remaining airstream that was flooded in Georgia.
The ebay seller quotes "DAMAGED BY WATER IN ATLANTA FLOOD OF LATE 2009---THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD IT CLEANED =COST OVER SIXTY THOUSAND NEW ===I DON 'T KNOW WHAT WORKS OR DOES NOT WORK UNTIL I GET IT IN NEXT WEEK--MY EXPERIENCE IN REPAIRING FLOOD DAMAGED AIRSTREAMS USUALLY MEANS THAT EVERYTHING WILL WORK AFTER THOROUGH CLEANUP EXCEPT THE INVERTER---I AM TOLD THAT AIRSTREAM USES EXTERIOR TYPE PLYWOOD IN THE FLOORS THAT WILL NOT ABSORB WATER-- "

So good news! You wont need Git Rot anymore!

If only your airstream used this very special non absorbing plywood!

Ok ok... at your current burn rate you should have the frame repaired, painted and new flooring in place by Thursday...

we'll stay posted..

Vinnie

goransons · 01-11-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62overlander

Buy one of these tools. Not doing any advertising, it is just the best thing since the invention of the Airstream. Your rivet removal will be very fast....

Best tool ever Frank!! Wally introduced me to it, saved hours and much more precise!

Frank's Trailer Works · 01-11-2010, 06:39 PM

I slipped drilling a rivet out the other day on a clients trailer. I got very lucky that the huge scratch is going to be covered by a patch. It can happen so quickly. I chuck the rivet remover in an air drill and crank the pressure up to 120 psi. The tool drills the rivet out in about .75 seconds. I really think it paid for itself in the first use. Just my opinion, the tool might not work for every one's needs.
Ed, take Shari up on her offer..

Tom Nugler · 01-11-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Emerick

Any suggestions warnings, inspiration is appreciated!....

Ed, you’re our inspiration. My dinette conversion seems like small potatoes compared to your undertaking.
Front end furniture pulled on New Year’s weekend, front interior skins off and dents popped out last weekend. New insulation and wiring next.
Working between blizzards and Arctic cold spells is annoying but I’m getting more upbeat the more I do.

Thanks for the updates,
Tom.

Ed Emerick · 01-12-2010, 05:43 AM

Tom,

Sounds like you are making great progress, got any photos? I have to rework the front end, the original owner changed the dinette and I have to replace that. Just looking for ideas, and a way to refocus!

Ed Emerick · 01-24-2010, 05:10 PM

Well I made the run to the lumber yard and framed up the FC this weekend. Now I am slowly removing the floor out of the elements. Today it rained, snowed froze, rained, froze snowed...........

These are the photos of where I am at this point. I hope to have the rest of the floor out by next weekend and move on to drilling out the rivets. As a side note, more frame rot was found and I'm now glad I pulling the shell and reworking the frame.

I have all kinds of things running through my mind including a visit to the scrap yard! I think aluminum prices are up............

tallytwo1994 · 01-24-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Emerick

Well I made the run to the lumber yard and framed up the FC this weekend. Now I am slowly removing the floor out of the elements. Today it rained, snowed froze, rained, froze snowed...........

These are the photos of where I am at this point. I hope to have the rest of the floor out by next weekend and move on to drilling out the rivets. As a side note, more frame rot was found and I'm now glad I pulling the shell and reworking the frame.

I have all kinds of things running through my mind including a visit to the scrap yard! I think aluminum prices are up............

Wow, that looks well braced: souldn't be any movement there. Hope you made templates though.

Carol