'63 Safari - It 'Bee' Traded (#8671)

[3Ms75Argosy]

Scott, actually, Frank's blog showed me this trick which I'll be using... jack the body up from the ground after the belly pan is off... put a screw or bottle jack on the ground, and then use a 4x4 up to a long 2x4 on the roof in the center... that will put pressure on the roof, and lift the body.

I actually have an intact bellypan, and leaving it on. So MY trick is to put the jack on the floor of the area I'm not replacing, and then jacking up the roof from there. I'll also be placing a jack on under the spare tire holder on the front of the trailer to lift the trailer body the required amount for the front part.

You don't have to go too far, it just needs a bit of help.

FireflyinVA had a pic of this on her blog.. I'm not home (at work actually! ), so canpost a link later tomorrow.

The snow's finally gone, so I hope to get moving myself this weekend on my trailer.

Marc

[goransons]

Thanks Marc, I had an idea similiar to that last at about 2 am, but not using the roof, that makes more sense (of course making sure to span a couple ribs). If you have a link when you get home, love to see it. Tri-Cities on Saturday had a warm wind (like 45 degrees) come blasting through at 40 mph and wiped out the snow there, but it missed us entirely so we're all white here still. think we made it to 34 yesterday, just enough to let enough snow melt to get the pavement wet then freeze again. thanks!

[3Ms75Argosy]

Hi Scott - here's the post with the pics that I was talking about... this will be my method, as my belly pan is still attached. Mary adapted her method from Frank... (oh, how the AS wheel turns! )
Restoring Front End Stabilization to a Vintage Airstream | Tales of the Toaster

I wish Mary were still posting on her blog, as it was really a great read while it was going.
Marc

[goransons]

Great, that I think will work easier than what I was going to try. Weird weather today. Had 3 inches of snow between 7 and 10 AM, then about 45 minutes of pouring rain as it hit 33 degrees, then sun up to 36 degrees and slush everywhere!

Mary's blog so far is great reading, I definately will be doing more following of their process. Megan and I have come to the conclusion to go a head and keep replacing plywood all the way to the front, one or two sheets at a time.

Took the door lock into the lock smith who made me new keys (newer L-100 but no keys) so now can lock the interior up. Also cut and removed the rear crossmember, and have cleaned that immediate area of the frame so we can weld Wednesday. Then lots more grinding to finish up the rest of the back 4 feet. Hopefully will be able to get that one piece of plywood in after New Years.

[goransons]

Pictures to follow, but managed to get the new rear crossmember welded into place and ground about half the rear section down to bare metal. Hope tomorrow to finish that step then apply the first coat of por-15 if it is warm enough in the trailer.

Also received the title from Rob today (we were waiting for California to finish processing it since he had just registered it) and its now titled in my wife and my name and we have new Washington Plates.

Did also hear bad news today, Cecil Copley, the gentleman who had it up until December 2007 was going to send me the original TV antenna from the back corner that was in his barn, but while he was out of town the last three weeks, everything metal at his place, including some exterior wiring was stolen, the antenna being swiped also.

So we'll be looking for one of those down the line too.

Happy New Year Everyone.

[goransons]

As I prepare to put new rear plywood in, I'm also going through and making sure the rear is water tight. The area around the rear window is really caked up with different sealers. Before I clean this up, I was going to figure out how to deal with this old awning rail. I'm considering removing it and installing rivets in the old holes and sealing it up well. The rail is pretty hashed up and we have no plans of putting a rear awning on, and if we did I'd assume we'd use a new rail anyway.

thoughts?

[3Ms75Argosy]

Hi Scott! Well, I will tell you that we have the front awning rail.. that I too was wondering about removing..... we don't have a rear awning rail... was it a factory option - I have no idea.

I say take it off.. the rail would probably contribute to leaks, and doesn't look too attractive IMHO.

Warming up in Seattle! Almost 40 degrees.... yeah!
Happy New Year!
Marc

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Sorry to always step in and bring the happy level down, but it is not possible to properly intall floor without having the belly pan out. I know some out there have done it using glue and self drilling screws, but that method will not hold up over time. To do it right, you need to bolt through the frame and plywood. There are also some areas that connect the frame floor and channel and skin. I strongly encourage you not to follow the glue and screw method of reconstruction. Do it the same way it was originally built and you will have no problems changing the structure of the monoquate. Just my(and many other professionals) opinion.

[goransons]

Thanks Frank, yes belly pan will be coming down enough to bolt it together, just not until the plywood is in place. We have lots neighborhood cats looking for warm dry places to sleep. I have a piece of scrap material over the tank valve opening in the belly because that little hole was enough to have a cat sleeping on the goucho in the morning.

My plan is to install the back 8 feet, then drop the rear pan to bolt it all together up to the axle, then reseal the belt line etc and button it up, then repeat up front.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Oops.. I think Frank was talking to me....
I forgot to say I was making some access holes for the bolts in the bellypan (as I was the one saying it was staying on)..

Where the trailer is parked for me to work, it's not possible to show "exterior renovations" to one's trailer... I don't want to loose my parking spot! Again, I wish it were closer to home.. but it's not.
Happy New Year!
Marc

[goransons]

Now that welding and grinding is done the first coat of por-15 is on, here's the result so far. Second coat tonight..

Tomorrow hope if things are dry to cut some plywood and start test fitting the first panel.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Hey Scott... I see right in the middle of the pic... looks like you still have a blind bolt or elevator bolt left on the center crossbeam.... I used a punch and they came right out... just fyi

My favorite tool for getting out those elevator bolts is a hand held bolt cutter... made quick work of the bolts after the wood came up.

Wish I lived closer.. it'd be fun doing frame repair together! Well, off to work I go....
Marc

[goransons]

Good eye!! Yes I do, neighbor I was going to borrow a bolt cutter from was gone, so went ahead and painted it, and will cut it off. Have it now and will be lopping that off tomorrow. Can't wait to start to get plywood down. Have to make the panel, insert it, confirm plumbing holes for the sink, tub, and black tank and install all the ABS for that all at the same time. That way I can limit the amount of time under the trailer later.

Love to see your project too. Can't believe EVERY east west past in Washington is closed today. Lots of new snow this morning, and rain all afternoon and still going, and just at freezing.

[utee94]

Wow, nice work Scott. You're about to pass me up, and your weather has been much less forgiving than mine!

-Marcus

[goransons]

I must confess we're on winter break until Monday (wife and I are both teachers), so I've had a little more time to play with. Things will slow down when reality hits next week. My hope is by the end of the weekend to have the back 4 in, and the next 2 sheets out. We'll see how I do.

[utee94]

I think it's a manageable goal.

I have to say, cutting bellypan and breaking and cutting elevator bolts from below are my least favorite endeavors so far, by a wide margin. It's filthy work, and I have a mild case of claustrophobia, which kicks in and forces me out from under the trailer every 10-15 minutes.

[goransons]

I did all my plywood removal from above. What I did was make two cuts with a sawzall just to one side of the elivator bolts, then cut the head off and drift punched the rest of the bolt down into the floor. Only one I didn't find when removing the floor was the one Marc caught in the photo. That one was hiding until floor tile and was an unexpected crossmember as well. It pulled through the plywood easily (just lifting the panel by hand)

[3Ms75Argosy]

I know.. I was POR 15'ing my frame and found 2 forgotten bolts.. my lighting in the trailer is about nil (one handheld light), so I know the feeling... seems we all have our ways of getting the plywood up. (I use a 1" hole sawaround the elevator bolts). Glad you have the boltcutter (mine was $19.00 @ HD.. best $20 I spent so far).

For me, the girls go back to school, and then I can work MORE on the trailer... we have so much family stuff to do.. Once I get the front floor rebuilt, I can trailer the AS back home for 72 Hr stays over the weekend for more productive work. Right now, the body sags so much the front door won't close all the way (after I took the floor out).


Time to train the girls on AS restoration....

Marcus, I cringe evey time a board comes out. I am a girlyman (although, I say this in jest, as I know LOTS of women that can stomach more than me) when it comes to what I find in the bellypan... the mouse nests just turn my stomach (and I see some pretty gross things at work as an ICU RN). Bleh!! Can't wait to be done with the floor.
Marc

[goransons]

So it took a lot longer than I anticipated and nothing is bolted in place but it is amazing already how much more solid the trailer feels. Back 4 feet is in, including the drain lines and insulation. Took 3 people on the bumper to get it in place. Here's a few photos of the progress.


4 down, 15 to go...

[3Ms75Argosy]

Woo hoo! Looks good Scott! Hey, I've got a trade idea for you...

I'll buy you a rivet shaver, and you replace my street - side panel... heck, I'll go even one better... I'll find a rivet gun, and rivets for your trailer and mine, you just do the labor?
Deal?

Marc