Norm, it's stunning. I'm all for making a trailer your own, but there's alot to be said for fixing what is needed and retaining originality. It's not often that one is blessed with a so completely original 50's trailer.
__________________ TRAVELING WITH ELVIS LIFE WITH A 1956 SOVEREIGN OF THE ROAD • • • Aluminocentricity • • • WBCCI# 14674, WDCU & 4CU
I was able to center the FC on my cement pad so I can better use my neighbor's scaffolding that we are going to dig out this later this week. I got quite a bit more polishing done and even had a friend over and was using a polishing wheel and Nuvite F7 with a drill for some detail work.
I was able to make the extra room because I sold the Overlander today. I have mixed emotions about it as I really loved that trailer but my better and WISER half said "only one at a time" so I kept my word.
Today I finished up rebuilding two of the small front windows. The street side was more difficult because someone had broken a window and in the process bent the outer window frame and broke the inner retaining rail. I took it to a race car fabricator friend and he bent me a new profile in 2 minutes and I finished drilling and fitting it. Window rebuilding is slow going because you have to polish every piece while you have it out.
I got my 12 year old son, Beau, into the act - brief as it was.
Notice the small holes in the bottom corners? The previous owner chose to screw the windows shut instead of fixing them. As soon as my bucking riveter comes in, I'll fill those holes with rivets.
Rebuilding these windows is time consuming, and quite a PITA in some cases. While most people polish while they are out, I will do a polish once I reinstall them. Hopefully you won't have to re screen any...that is a huge project with window removal being the easiest choice.
I've been working on the 3 small ones I have for the last 3 or 4 days. Unreal how much time they take for something that seems so simple. Every time I get going on them, I have an idea of how much I'll get done that day, and each time I'm so very wrong.
Slow going for sure....
I'm going to try to get both of the larger stationary windows rebuilt today. If I there is enough time, I'm also going to remove both of those drip caps, straighten, polish, vulkem and reinstall. We'll see.....
Looks great Barry-- in so many cases, the 50s trailers are just the coolest, but this is one of those areas where I'm glad I have the 60s windows instead of the 50s. Keep it up.
Having had both, I can totally agree with you. The windows were greatly improved the next generation after my 55. The frames are not very rigid and the single crank is not really strong enough to pull the windows really tight. Having said that, they do look very cool with the rounded looking edges.
After reading a post this morning, I found out to install new window screen, I may need to remove the entire window frame and drip caps. Has anyone successfully installed new screen without removing the window frame? I don't mind doing it if required but don't want to go to the trouble if not necessary. I also have ordered (it's on back order at VTS) the new black window seal that goes between the trailer shell and the window frames but I was only planning on doing the bottom piece as is the most likely to be shot. Ideas?
I removed my drip caps and windows to rescreen and add new back frame gasket to the windows. I thought it was the easiest way to do so. Since this is a shell off total rebuild in my case, I figured to redo everything the right way to first time and have it be the last time.
Hi Shari,
Slippery slopes can be fun if you're skiing - I'm not sure about Airstreams
Thanks for the advice. I have a bucking rivet gun on the way and since I'm going to be removing the lower inside skins to replace the floor, I may wait and do the gaskets and screens at that time and only restore the outer windows now.
After reading a post this morning, I found out to install new window screen, I may need to remove the entire window frame and drip caps. Has anyone successfully installed new screen without removing the window frame? I don't mind doing it if required but don't want to go to the trouble if not necessary. I also have ordered (it's on back order at VTS) the new black window seal that goes between the trailer shell and the window frames but I was only planning on doing the bottom piece as is the most likely to be shot. Ideas?
I have heard of a couple people figuring out a way to replace the screens in place...but for the life of me, I couldn't see how it could be done - stretching & crimping - in place. I've never seen (that I know of) a trailer that did it in place though. Also, to replace the riveted-in-place-gaskets the frames have to be removed - some people have replaced with other gasket types to keep from doing this also. However, with our wanting to keep things "original" and combined with the fact that we were going to be replacing the street side panel - meant we were going to be removing a good portion of the rivets there anyways. We came to the conclusion we could do a better job with the windows in the garage.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do...looks like you have a trailer with great bones to get you started ~ be careful, it's a slippery slope!
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
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