It's a girl!!! - Page 18

InsideOut · 06-07-2008, 12:23 AM

So the following are the pics we did take...

InsideOut · 06-07-2008, 12:29 AM

This week we re-built one of the windows...the other two we will do tomorrow. Rob also finished reattaching the belly pan and tacking up the insulation to the underside of the floor.

This weekend we plan on re-installing all three windows and drilling out, re-building and re-installing the last one - a small one on the curbside. Pretty ambitious...but if we have time leftover I think we'll start on the Fantastic Fans and/or electrical re-wiring...we'll see ~

Although we have been working our tails off...the jury is still out as to whether Birdy will make it to Bozeman as a "hard tent" or we have to resort to "Plan B".

Shari

utee94 · 06-07-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

This week we re-built one of the windows...the other two we will do tomorrow. Rob also finished reattaching the belly pan and tacking up the insulation to the underside of the floor.

This weekend we plan on re-installing all three windows and drilling out, re-building and re-installing the last one - a small one on the curbside. Pretty ambitious...but if we have time leftover I think we'll start on the Fantastic Fans and/or electrical re-wiring...we'll see ~

Although we have been working our tails off...the jury is still out as to whether Birdy will make it to Bozeman as a "hard tent" or we have to resort to "Plan B".

Shari

Y'all are just amazing. Your work is incredibly impressive. Thank you so much for sharing, it really is inspirational.

Does "Plan B" = Maxwell?

Keep it up and thanks for the updates!

-Marcus

InsideOut · 06-07-2008, 01:03 AM

Thanks for your kind words Marcus!

Plan "A" is taking BOTH trailers to Bozeman...one for us & one for my parents.
Plan "B"....uhhhh, anything but the four of us together in Maxwell for twelve days!!

Shari

Levon · 06-07-2008, 07:30 AM

Shari, Birdy is coming alone. Rob and you are doing nice work. Hope the temp is mild. I am working on a 67GT in 97 degree weather, trying to finish in time for the Vintage East Coast Rally. Looking forward to our paths crossing again down the road.

Levon

InsideOut · 06-07-2008, 09:05 AM

Thanks Levon ~

It's been in the low 80's...not to bad but don't forget the sunscreen working up against all that aluminum ~

Look forward to our paths crossing again sometime soon, I understand you trekked out this way last month...sorry we missed you! Oh well, next time ~

Well, said I'd get out there at 8...better get moving ...long day ahead, will try to post progress later.

Shari

InsideOut · 06-15-2008, 01:50 AM

The thing I LOVE most about Birdy (besides the 13 panels) is all the windows.
Right now the thing I HATE the most about Birdy is all the windows!

I now know why Airstream went away from the Hehr Standard windows...they are SO unpractical! In order to just re-screen a window, it must be removed completely from the trailer! And in order to replace the weatherstripping gasket, the windows must be removed completely from the trailer!

This entails drilling out about 75-80 rivets per window. And before you can drill out the window rivets you must remove the drip caps...on the streetside, that's another 90-100 rivets! All the while, knowing you will have to re-rivet all these once you're through. We have (4) 42"x18" windows, (1) 24"x18" window and (2) 8"x18" windows...that's a lot of windows.

They had obviously never been re-screen...the screens had holes and tears in them from 52 years of use & abuse...there was probably 1 window that could have been salvaged, but once all the others were done it would stick out like a sore thumb. So, out they came ~

InsideOut · 06-15-2008, 01:57 AM

Each window was caked with dirt, %#$@*! silicone, weatherstrip adhesive, black butyl tape, gray butyl putty, remnant weatherstripping and corrosion.

**azflycaster** · 06-15-2008, 02:17 AM

Those screens sure look like a PITA to replace. You guys are doing a great job, thanks for the pictures.

InsideOut · 06-15-2008, 02:17 AM

Then once you have the windows out there are all these little screws and trim pieces that have to be taken apart. Our windows had lost their seals somewhere along the way and the glass was held in with %#$@*! silicone.

The best thing I found to work on the %#$@*! silicone was McKanica Silicone Caulk Remover. It comes in a tube and it's like gelatin...really weird stuff. You let it sit about 2-3 hours until it drys out then scrape off the %#$@*! silicone...sort of. This stuff is not cheap...but it gets 98% of it off. I think we have gone through 5 tubes. I also used Permatex Gasket Remover to get the black "goo" and orange adhesive off...it usually took 3-4 applications to get it all off.

Then for the interior of the frames we used these cool finishing sander wheels to get the corrosion off and give them a nice brushed finish. The frames are not Alclad, just solid aluminum, so there is no problem with burning through the finish. I polished the outside of the frames with a buffing wheel on a drill. Not to full polish, just to get the scratches out and the corrosion off. Mr.InsideOut will finish off the polishing with the rest of the trailer.

While I was inside working on the frames, Mr.InsideOut was out cleaning off the same goo on the trailer and polishing around the areas of the drip caps.

InsideOut · 06-15-2008, 02:32 AM

We then re-screened the inner frames...using an Off-Set Screen Roller and galvanized screen. You can't use fiberglass screen because to hold it in, you just fold it over & crimp it in the groove...see the last picture in Post #246. Aluminum screen is not as strong as the galvanized, it's thinner so it would not last. And Lord knows I don't want to do this project again!

We then glued the Hehr Standard Backframe Gasket to the screen portion of the frame and Hehr Standard Glass Seal to the window portion of the frame.

We also got all new fasteners to hold the glass and trim together...they are almost identical to the originals and it sure beat cleaning all the old ones!

InsideOut · 06-15-2008, 02:36 AM

Then riveted the screen portion back onto the trailer - two side & bottom with bucked rivets & the top with Olympics because the ceiling has been left in the trailer (just about the only thing that has!). The line of rivets on both sides & the bottom is under the gasket and they go through the frame, gasket, trailer and c-channel frame of the trailer. The top edge we sealed with Parabond. This is before the Olympic rivets are shaved and the gasket is cleaned up. You can also see in the last picture the tab that is folded out to separate the glass portion of the frame from the screen portion of the frame.

InsideOut · 06-15-2008, 03:05 AM

Finally, we were able to slide the window portion back in place and attach the new window operators and re-used locking handle & catch. I did paint them all to match and with silver hammer paint before installing them.

One down...how many to go??? Actually, we made good progress...two glass portions are ready to be installed in the morning - then we just have the small ones on the front to go. The 18"x42" windows basically have taken about 12-15 hours each...argh! But the end is in sight! I'll take more pics when the sun is out ~

Shari

Zeppelinium · 06-15-2008, 04:46 AM

Shari, you deserve a grade higher than Rivet Master! Zep