1963 owners manual???

[Ambassador]

Hi everyone, just seeing if anyone has a 1963 owners manual for a Ambassador??
Thx again for the help.

dave.

[overlander64]

Greetings Dave!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Airstream ownership!

Originally Posted by Ambassador

Hi everyone, just seeing if anyone has a 1963 owners manual for a Ambassador??
Thx again for the help.

dave.

Your Ambassador pre-dates factory owner's manuals by one year. The first time that Airstream offered owner's manuals was with the 1964 models. Those first year owner's manuals are rudimentary at best, but do provide some valuable information. In 1963 and prior years, the only documentation was an envelope of individual manuals and brochures describing the installed accessories and options.

There isn't a tremendous amount of difference between the 1963 and 1964 Airstreams so it would be possible to use the '64 manual. The biggest difference between the two would be on the side of 12-volt electrics -- 1963 pre-dates by one year, the introduction of the Univolt. There are other differences, but the Univolt is the main one that I is often mentioned.

Copies of the 1964 manual are available from Airstreams's on-line store, or may be purchased through Secretarial Services in Jackson Center, OH.

Kevin

[63Silver]

Ambassador,
Welcome to the forum. I also have a 63 Ambassador and have most of the original papers. Most of the paper work is useless and gives very little info on maintenance. If you would like a copy of what I have just let me know and post some pictures.

63silver

[LHall]

Another early 60s Ambassador owner, Welcome to the forums. If you have some specific questions, I may be able to help.

[Ambassador]

Thanks for the info guys. I am pretty new to this so I dont know much yet.
I have some paperwork that came with the trailer but its more about the 1963 models.
So none of the earlier models are self contained right?? Meaning that the sink water and toilet, shower etc...... go in the same tote or at the park in the sewer??
I am also kinda wondering about the hitch size on the trailer. Mine is a 2", shouldnt it be a 2 5/16??
Just wondering.

Thx,

dave.

[overlander64]

Greetngs Dave!

Originally Posted by Ambassador

So none of the earlier models are self contained right?? Meaning that the sink water and toilet, shower etc...... go in the same tote or at the park in the sewer??
I am also kinda wondering about the hitch size on the trailer. Mine is a 2", shouldnt it be a 2 5/16??
Just wondering.

Your coach should have a blackwater tank, but it would not have had a gray water/wash water tank. Depending on whether your blackwater tank is above the floor or below the floor, you may be able to "force" gray water into the blackwater tank as well -- this only works with the below floor blackwater tank -- I know that the '64 models had below floor blackwater tanks, but I am not sure about the '63s.

Your coach came standard with a Marvel 2" coupler. Kits are available to rebuild this coupler should it become necessary. The 2 5/16" couplers did not come into use until 1969/1970. The challenge may be in locating a 2" ball with a 6,000 pound rating -- it is something that may need to be special ordered as many non-Airstream dealers do not stock the heavier-duty 2" hitch balls.

Good luck with your Ambassador!

Kevin

[LHall]

Originally Posted by Ambassador

Thanks for the info guys. I am pretty new to this so I dont know much yet.
I have some paperwork that came with the trailer but its more about the 1963 models.
So none of the earlier models are self contained right?? Meaning that the sink water and toilet, shower etc...... go in the same tote or at the park in the sewer??
I am also kinda wondering about the hitch size on the trailer. Mine is a 2", shouldnt it be a 2 5/16??
Just wondering.

Thx,

dave.

We need pictures !

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Ambassador

So none of the earlier models are self contained right?? Meaning that the sink water and toilet, shower etc...... go in the same tote or at the park in the sewer??

Dave, depending on how your waste water system is plumbed, you may be able to drain the kitchen sink water (the nastiest stuff other than poo) into the black tank. It will fill the black tank faster, but you will then be able to reserve your toe-a-long tank for shower water almost exclusively. I did this on our '63, simply by running the drain pipe into the vent of the black tank. It worked well in that configuration, and it is still plumbed that way through two successeive owners.

[bjond]

The VAC's web site has a copy of a 65 Owners manual and a 63 Airstream Story (slick glossy sales literature).

The VAC web page is at www.airstream.net
and the mentioned files are under the tab
vintage online library

Also some of the appliance manuals that would be appropriate for a 63 are available there.

[Ambassador]

Originally Posted by overlander64

Greetngs Dave!



Your coach should have a blackwater tank, but it would not have had a gray water/wash water tank. Depending on whether your blackwater tank is above the floor or below the floor, you may be able to "force" gray water into the blackwater tank as well -- this only works with the below floor blackwater tank -- I know that the '64 models had below floor blackwater tanks, but I am not sure about the '63s.

Your coach came standard with a Marvel 2" coupler. Kits are available to rebuild this coupler should it become necessary. The 2 5/16" couplers did not come into use until 1969/1970. The challenge may be in locating a 2" ball with a 6,000 pound rating -- it is something that may need to be special ordered as many non-Airstream dealers do not stock the heavier-duty 2" hitch balls.

Good luck with your Ambassador!

Kevin

Thx for the info. I will have to look and see where the blackwater tank is. It looks like everything is plumbed together, but not sure.

Ok I am glad that 2" is the normal size for my coach. I might update this to the 2 5/16 in time.
I am using a alu drop hitch that is rated at 10 000 I believe so that should be fine.

Once again thanks for all the help and picture will follow.

dave.