I got mine from Aircraft Spruce. If you can get it for $30 from the place Lipets mentions, go for it...I paid a lot more but I need it right now so I'm not returning it. Here's a picture, and it's definitely a must-have tool. Saved me a lot of armwork and frustration, removed rivets cleanly, whether they were the shaved smooth ones or the ones with holes. Even the pieces of rivet that get stuck on the drill come off easily from the bit.
The concept is almost exactly like the rivet shaver, there is a piece that you hold with your other hand that centers over the top of the rivet. The difference is instead of shaving the rivet head, you are drilling down through it.
I also figured out just now that the Corning window a fellow forums member sent me -- free, indeed fits the window frame where it needs replacing. I was measuring the equivalent window curbside, and they are two different sizes. I'm so happy! I can start on taking out that old window now.
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
Got busy and removed another inner skin today, here's pics. I also removed the lower "vista view" window from the streetside, third picture. I really have no idea how to put the new window glass back into this part. Any help?
Also, should I remove the front and back lower panels, for bracing up the shell for shell-off? We're eventually taking that panel off anyhow. I guess I'll just go ahead and do it. The end caps stay in for now, but we'd like to get the insulation out from the upper skins eventually: but that comes after shell is back on!
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
I also figured out just now that the Corning window a fellow forums member sent me -- free, indeed fits the window frame where it needs replacing. I was measuring the equivalent window curbside, and they are two different sizes. I'm so happy! I can start on taking out that old window now.
Ingrid, I'm glad I'm not the only one here that can't read a tape measure.
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Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
Got busy and removed another inner skin today, here's pics. I also removed the lower "vista view" window from the streetside, third picture. I really have no idea how to put the new window glass back into this part. Any help?
Also, should I remove the front and back lower panels, for bracing up the shell for shell-off? We're eventually taking that panel off anyhow. I guess I'll just go ahead and do it. The end caps stay in for now, but we'd like to get the insulation out from the upper skins eventually: but that comes after shell is back on!
What was the reason for removal of the lower window?
Do remove the front and rear lower panels. Your taillight wiring comes in under the front panel, more than likely. It makes bracing easier, too.
It is plexiglass, scratched up, leaking, and I can't get the rest of the window tint off. It looks awful, and then someone sent me a free Corning replacement.
Next step: front inner skin removal. This is fun!
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
I got mine from Aircraft Spruce. If you can get it for $30 from the place Lipets mentions, go for it...I paid a lot more but I need it right now so I'm not returning it.
I called USAtco and theirs is $70 and change - so Aircraft Spruce is only a little more.
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Murray
AIR #189
"If aluminum isn't magnetic- why am I so attracted to to it?"
Mine was lack of common sense and not being able to read a tape measure. I measured the wrong window, and knowing my cluelessness, I really should have marched over to the window that actually needed replacing. The good news is I put my bad window karma to good use by breaking the window (on purpose) sure made removing it a lot easier. Yes, now that I'm doing something I'm good at (removing/dismantling) I'm really motivated on this!
Murray that made me feel a lot better, thanks...I thought they sold them for $30.
Happy Halloween!
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
I removed another set of panels this morning and removed insulation. The panels were definitely painted over the original zolatone and we're not putting them back in. Saving them for templates to cut new inner skins, but I don't know what material yet. The back left and right corner panels are really hard to get out, there was a repair job done and there are actually two panels sandwiched together and probably a lot of rivets there holding them that I can't see. I might break out the snips and just chop them out and try to keep the piece together as a template for the back. Amazing how one rivet can hold on that piece so stubbornly, they are strong.
Insulation came out in big pieces, very easy to remove. Took two minutes. Not sure if Jeff can do the bracing or shell off this weekend, he said "maybe, not sure".
That one window is a mystery. I am not sure what the stuff was that served as gasket (or the equivalent of putty?) but it was grey and formed a sort of slot around the frame where the window pane stayed in. I either need more of that or to figure out another way to put in that window. It doesn't open when it's installed, it's a pane that stays in place. Anyone?
Next up: removing that back set of panels and getting the window put back in.
here's pics:
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
I finished removing the inner lower skins today, and cleaned up the work space. I also measured for water tanks. It rained quite a bit yesterday and last night: great news: all of my window replacements are water tight!
The pics with measurements are for you Murray...
Next up: lay out the interior and start shopping for insulation, belly pan aluminum, tanks, and more plywood for the floor. I can't WAIT until this phase is done.
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
Thanks for the input. I usually dont feel like I've made that much progress, some people finish theirs in the time that we've only dismantled ours. But then I look at how much I've done and feel like I've done quite a bit. I also feel that I'm reaping the rewards of all the posting, thinking and learning I've done, now that I am really getting down to the nitty gritty of taking off the shell, I feel much more confident and not so panicky since I took the time to learn all about how Airstreams are made and all the lingo. It takes time to absorb all this new information and now that I've done that my thoughts aren't swirling around while I work and I know what to do and what not to do. We're about to really jump into this now, and start making the big purchases that we need to make.
I still love this trailer! Tell Rick I said hello (again!).
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
Ordered aluminum shears from Harbor Freight today. If you shop online, try to click on the vendor's site through The Vap's site, www.thevap.com so that our VAP guys are able to thank the vendors who support them through helping them advertise.
I need some practice using these shears, maybe I'll cut some squares tomorrow. Hubby says he'll try to help get that last pesky front window in tomorrow, too.
Anyone have input on my "marine lav" thread? Look up "marine lav" and post away...
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
I'm wondering, is the Prodex good insulation for the whole trailer? We plan to re-insulate anyway and it comes way cheaper in rolls.
In the meantime, we're saving our next big check for airstream stuff, can't make progress until we do some shopping. Can't do that until the next big check, so...until then...any tips?
How about an aluminum primer? What do the four digit numbers mean (2024, 3003, 5051)? What's good for the belly pan? What's good for the exterior panels? How about interior, if you want to re-skin the interior to look like CCD; or not? Where to get it at the lowest price? Which way does it go on the trailer? I have the answers to some of these but my head is spinning...know I'm not the only one in suffering from alumifusion. Confusinum?
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"Let's look Death in the face and say, 'Whatever man.'"
~ Hurley
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- so Aircraft Spruce is only a little more.
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