A '63 for me!

[uwe]

Here some shots of the new metal. I replaced all the belly pan sections, starting with the outside, of course, to get the shell back on.
The lower skin is not attached yet, I still have to make some "adjustments".
The curved sections were challenging. I look forward to installing the straight pieces under the coach.

[markdoane]

Uwe,

That looks great! What alloy/thickness did you use for the belly?

[uwe]

Some detail shots of where shell, belly, and floor meet. The creature in one of the pics is Buffy, Murray's dog. He assumed the roll of supervisor during the procedures.
Now if I only could remember where I put the missing axle......

[uwe]

My new tanks! 55gal fresh, and 56 gal grey.
The detail pics show the fresh water tanks service recess, with a 1 1/4in inlet, two 1/2in vents, one1/2in drain connection, and one 1/2in suction port for the water supply pump.
The grey tanks simply has a 1.5in threaded outlet. It will exit with an elbow behind the street side wheel.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by uwe

Now if I only could remember where I put the missing axle......

Ask Buffy. I think she buried it. Better call Corky and order a new one.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by uwe

The grey tanks simply has a 1.5in threaded outlet. It will exit with an elbow behind the street side wheel.

Uh, you need a vent on the grey tank. And an inlet?

[uwe]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Uwe,

That looks great! What alloy/thickness did you use for the belly?

I used .025 6061

It is MUCH MUCH tougher than whatever it was I took off. The old belly felt like thick aluminum foil compared to this stuff.
My advise would be to buy the softest alloy in .025 or slightly thinner to make the curved pieces.
the front left and right, as well as the rear left and right corners have a nasty multi compound curve to them. Not hard to do, if you have yielding material.
My fingers hurt so bad from bending all the tabs over, I have to take a week off from tinkering so all my muscles and skin cuts can heal. Nope, can't work well with gloves.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by uwe

I used .025 6061

It is MUCH MUCH tougher than whatever it was I took off. The old belly felt like thick aluminum foil compared to this stuff.

I agree! I used .032" 5052-H32. Way too hard to work with.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Uh, you need a vent on the grey tank. And an inlet?

Yes, indeed. The inlets will come through the floor, into the top of the tank. I ordered the tanks un-cut for inlets, because I don't know the exact locations yet.
One ( shower, bathroom sink) will go through the bottom of the rear curbside closet, the other ( kitchen sink) will enter the grey tank from under the front of the bed. Both of these drain lines have vents connected, exiting through the roof. I assume that this is enough venting to properly fill and drain the tank.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by uwe

Yes, indeed. The inlets will come through the floor, into the top of the tank. I ordered the tanks un-cut for inlets, because I don't know the exact locations yet.

Good for you. I did a lot of Autocad before I figured out where mine should go. One comes up in the pantry and the other under the stove/sink.

What temper aluminum did you sue for the belly? If it was 6061-T6 or higher I can see where you had problems bending it.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by markdoane

I agree! I used .032" 5052-H32. Way too hard to work with.

.032 would be great for the straight parts, I used this on my Tradewind under the rear.
Even the .025 is great for the straight and level parts. It's the curve-compounds that gave me trouble while using this heavy material.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Good for you.

What temper aluminum did you sue for the belly? If it was 6061-T6 or higher I can see where you had problems bending it.

I used 6061 T4 Alclad. I have to admit - I did little research, just picked the cheapest .025 metal from the Airscraft Spruce catalog.

[Ken J]

Uwe

Looks great - I talked to Airparts, and they said the 6061 is very hard to work with - I ordered some 5052 for the belly - they say its easier to work with - maybe not?

Ken

[uwe]

Ken,
It's definitely a tough material. I do like it for the straight sections, as it is easy to attach due to it's strength. It's not too bad for the curves, just more challenging. Now that my fingers are starting to heal, I might even go back to it for a few hours...
I do not know what 5052 feels like.

[uwe]

Well, it's been a while since I last posted to this thread, and lots of small stuff has been done, and some big chapters have been finished.

Floor replacement: Done. Shell is partially attached again, awaiting sheet replacement and more help with bucking rivets. Floor insulation is applied everywhere but under the step.

Frame repairs and modifications: Done. The welding, grinding, burning, blinding and cutting phase is over, everything has a double coat of POR15. Looks nice down there... What's left for the welder is the propane bottle bracket and some mods to enclose the C-channel at the tongue for future ease of hitch component installation.

Belly pan: outer sections done, inner parts go on later, after plumbing and wiring is finished.

Tank installation: Done! ( yesterday) Grey tank and fresh tank are now securely part of the trailer, black tank came in last week, and is a perfect fit.
The fresh and grey tanks fit snugly in the planned recesses inside the frame structure, and the finished installation ( less plumbing so far) looks like I wanted it to look: integral and sleek. Nothing sticks down more than 2 inches so far, and I've got 55gal fresh and 55gal grey, approximately, give or take a few. The new black tank holds about 20gal, and is a perfect fit as well.

I am getting ready to measure for new axles, so that I can finish the hydraulic installation for the planned disc brake axles. The electro-hydraulic actuator will reside in the bottom of a future closet, right above the axles, one hydraulic line going to the floor, and then split off to mweet junction blocks on both sides. From the junction blocks to the calipers, I am thinking stainless braided lines. ( need a source, btw.)

I am working on a wiring plan over the weekend, as well as a plumbing plan. The plumbing will be in place tomorrow where it connects to the tanks, the ends sticking out of the floor awaiting the interior to be finished. Maybe I'll do a loose fit for everything, and glue things together as I go along. Note to self: learn all about PEX...! I am quite unfamiliar with plumbing procedures - and am open to suppestions on what to use. Have not purchased much yet.

I am behind on picture taking, but the last few month of work were messy and very dangerous to a digital camera. Will take some pics later of the finished areas and post to this thread.

[Ken J]

Uwe

I'm really excited to hear your progress - got me thinking I need to update my 58 restoration thread - pex is supposed to be pretty easy - I'm going to learn that too next summer. Also sounds like your catching up to me - I'm kinda stuck due to winter. Up to my eyeballs in snow.

Ken

[uwe]

Here are a few pictures of recent work. More to come.

[uwe]

I won this Par-Jabsco pump on e-bay a few weeks ago and finally got around to rebuilding it. It will take care of the water supply needs of this trailer. i thought it to be more fun than a modern cylindrical pump.
I really like those Jabsco pumps for their quality and functionality.
This one has dual dampning chambers to avoid water hammer noises with the pump running, a common problem.
The parts to rebuild these are readily available at Marine Supply stores, such as West Marine.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Looking good there Uwe! I saw that pump too a couple of weeks ago and smiled - I have to take a good look at mine - it may be simular. What section of West Marine do you look at for parts - I'd like to rebuild mine too.

PEX - I don't remember the month, but I did check out a "Fine Homebuilding" Magazine from the library about a month ago that had a nice overview of the different types of PEX connectors and tools needed to do the job. Depending on manufacturer, there are different types of connectors to use, and the corresponding tools make the job easier (or harder). I got the impression that one could rent the tools as some of the better German units are more expensive to buy. I'm sure you're familiar with it, but my Brother in law used it in his new house in Germany (I love how solid those houses are, by the way).

Keep us posted!
Marc
P.S. - I'm jealous of the Baja pictures. I may make a trip down there this summer though with the family and my nephew from Germany (age 16) - he loves the U.S. and stays with us every summer.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by 3Ms75Argosy

Looking good there Uwe! I saw that pump too a couple of weeks ago and smiled - I have to take a good look at mine - it may be simular. What section of West Marine do you look at for parts - I'd like to rebuild mine too.

PEX - I don't remember the month, but I did check out a "Fine Homebuilding" Magazine from the library about a month ago that had a nice overview of the different types of PEX connectors and tools needed to do the job. Depending on manufacturer, there are different types of connectors to use, and the corresponding tools make the job easier (or harder). I got the impression that one could rent the tools as some of the better German units are more expensive to buy. I'm sure you're familiar with it, but my Brother in law used it in his new house in Germany (I love how solid those houses are, by the way).

Keep us posted!
Marc
P.S. - I'm jealous of the Baja pictures. I may make a trip down there this summer though with the family and my nephew from Germany (age 16) - he loves the U.S. and stays with us every summer.

Marc,
here is a link to WestMarine's website page containing the repair kits.
Let me know what you need,I have leftovers. You might then only need to buy the valves and diaphragm.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...27&storeNum=11

Baja is a must do, especially with children. Camping by the beach is something they'll never forget.
The building trade in Germany is a whole other world from US. Makes my house here look like only a template for a real house.