1967 Airstream Restoration

[Grossy]

TurkeyRun,

The idea of getting rid of the rear access door is intriguing. The benefits are huge, I will have to decide where to put the fresh water valves that were planned for that location.

I am missing one door, the access door to the refrigerator, but since I am upgrading to a 12v fridge that door is going away anyway.

Dan

[dbj216]

Since you are eliminating things, think about not replacing those "fresh water valves". Airstream has installed "low point drain valves" for years. I have found them to be quite ineffective in draining the system. I like to use compressed to blow the water out of the system, and then pump RV antifreeze to every faucet and drain trap. But that is just me.

The black tank in you 67 looks a lot better than the one in my 66. The bath was upgraded in 67 and was much better than the "sink over tub with hidden toilet" they used in 66.

David

[Grossy]

David,

I will not be getting rid of the "Fresh Water Valves", but they might get relocated.

Winterizing is not the 1st thought that comes to my head (We live in Tucson).

The plumbing lines will be Pex, which can withstand freezing quite well. Maybe not 20 below. And if necessary, anti-freeze.

Dan

[dbj216]

Okay, understand. I don't use them but other people certainly do. And certainly true, you folk don't get a lot of freezing temps. I winterize in October and get ready to travel in May. A long winter here in Colorado. We had a nice snow storm last night. No grilling today.

David

[Grossy]

Day 10,
October 22, 2022
Hours Worked: 3
Total Restoration Hours: 50

This post is long over due.

Summer is over, time to get re-motivated, and back to work.

Did some more cleaning, and placed the new black water tank where it will eventually go.

[Grossy]

Day 11,
November 05, 2022
Hours Worked: 8
Total Restoration Hours: 58

Placed the grey water tanks in, cleaned more.

Painted with Dun Edwards exterior house paint the 5/8" Marine Grade plywood for the new floor, 1st coat. This definitely needs a second coat at least.

[Grossy]

Day 12,
November 09, 2022
Hours Worked: 3
Total Restoration Hours: 62

I just could not take the filth anymore. I bought a $100 power washer from Harbor Freight and went to work. I love this power washer; I should have bought one years ago.

I cranked up the tung jack to lift up the front end and let everything drain out the rear.

Before and After pics:

[dbj216]

Glad you found time to get back to work on your trailer. I don't have one this winter and I will be likely very bored. The 5 year old fridge in my 69 Globetrotter wouldn't ignite on propane. So I've had a challenge trying to figure that out. I learned that fridge is poorly designed and built.

I have a power washer also. It is motivating to work on a half way clean trailer instead of a dirty one. Looks like you will have lots of waste water storage capacity, which is important.

I bet your hours worked tally will approach 1000 before you are done.

David

[Grossy]

Day 13
November 19, 2022
Hours Worked: 4
Total Restoration Hours: 66

I was originally going to work on the back of the trailer, and then move to the front. This would have provided a work space inside trailer. But after power washing the back, I realized that would not work.

So all the floor has to come out.

Spent the day cutting out the T-bolts, and cutting the floor into 1x2-foot sections.

[Grossy]

Day 14
November 20, 2022
Hours Worked: 6
Total Restoration Hours: 72

All the floor is out, all the filth is out.

I am so glad this part of the rebuild is in the past. This was not fun.

[Jimroll]

Hopefully you got it out without injury. When I did mine my grinder caught on a piece of wood, flew out of my hand and into my arm. Required a trip to the emergency room. Now I have a manly scar that I can make up stories about, before I admit to being a dumb ass.

[bambibooth]

That frame looks pretty good!

I am currently working on an Overlander and the frame is one of those that needs some pretty good repair.

In the past, I have taken out the floor just the way you did but this time around, I built a gantry and just removed the whole frame from under the shell.

Today, actually! It really wasn't as hard as I expected. Now, we'll see how the re-attachment goes later on.

I won't even guess on how many hours an Airstream renovation takes me....

[Grossy]

Bambibooth, I might still have to build something to lift the shell.

When I took the floor out of the rear, the shell settled down onto the frame. So I am going to have to lift it up 5/8+ inches.

Not sure how I am going to do that. I need to find the locations on the shell that I can put a jack under.

[Grossy]

There is only one location on the frame that needs a simple weld with some angle iron. And not because of rust.

The benefits of a vehicle stored in Arizona.

[Grossy]

Day 15
November 25, 2022
Hours Worked: 3
Total Restoration Hours: 75

Not much work done, just more cleaning and setting up the work bench.

[Grossy]

Day 16
November 26, 2022
Hours Worked: 6
Total Restoration Hours: 81

My son is home from the University, so just like my father before me, I sent him under the trailer to help fix the belly pan.

This side of the trailer had some damage, and the pan had pulled loose from the frame.

Also here is the work bench, I brought my drill press out to the trailer.

[Grossy]

Day 17
November 27, 2022
Hours Worked: 3
Total Restoration Hours: 84

I forgot to take any pictures this day.

I have started reinforcing the frame and did some more work on the belly pan.

[Grossy]

Day 18
November 28, 2022
Hours Worked: 3
Total Restoration Hours: 87

I have never liked using one stud to attach sheeting, so I am cribbing on to each cross member 1.5" x 1.5" x 1/8 steel angle iron.

The angle iron is bolted to the cross member, the nut is welded on the threads to keep them from loosening up. The angle iron is also welded to the frame at the ends.

Now the plywood floor will have 1.5" of steel to screw into, instead 3/4".

Don't laugh at my weld, its my second one ever.

Also, the pan is now riveted back onto the frame.

It is so much more enjoyable fixing this thing, than spending 70 hours doing demo and cleaning.

[coloradoup]

I agree, there is nothing like progress, especially on the putting back together side of things.

[Uvalde_Born]

What kind of heating are you going to be using? I've got a late 40s to late 50s PanelRay in really great condition if you're interested in it.