Visit our Popular Forums

Aviator · 08-11-2013, 06:36 PM

Very true. I am sure you found as we did that as much as we love our 34' and the room that goes with it, there are just some places that it is hard or impossible to take her. The Overlander should fit the bill nicely.

Aviator · 08-12-2013, 03:31 PM

I managed to get a bit more done on the belly pan today, but then the rains came. The pink stuff is all cleaned out back to the axles. It looks like one outrigger has more than surface rust and should be replaced. As my wife said, "If we replace everything we might as well have purchased a new Airstream".

I am amazed at the amount of dirt that had accumulated inside the pan. I think I have enough to start another garden!

Aviator · 08-15-2013, 01:52 PM

Needed to do some work to pay for the Airstream the last few days so I didn't get anything accomplished.

Today I was able to get the rear belly pan off and the nasty pink stuff out. Fortunately no surprises were found. I think I will only need to replace one outrigger which is great news. I haven't been able to free the section between the axles. The roadside aft is pinching just a little to tight. That will have to wait until the body is off and the axles come off. I will have to remember to put it back before the new axles go on......

I am starting to see something which is a mystery to me. Every one of the renovation threads I have read talk about the "C" channel and how the deck fits into it. So far it appears that the "C" channel on mine is sitting on top of the plywood with the opening facing up. The middle of the "C" is bolted to the plywood, and the body is riveted to the side. Is this something Airstream did in 1970?

I also need to get started on the deck bolts. I think I may try straightening them enough to get the nuts off instead of just cutting them.

utee94 · 08-15-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator

I am starting to see something which is a mystery to me. Every one of the renovation threads I have read talk about the "C" channel and how the deck fits into it. So far it appears that the "C" channel on mine is sitting on top of the plywood with the opening facing up. The middle of the "C" is bolted to the plywood, and the body is riveted to the side. Is this something Airstream did in 1970?

I also need to get started on the deck bolts. I think I may try straightening them enough to get the nuts off instead of just cutting them.

That's what they did in the 50s and 60s for sure, the c-channel is actually a "u" channel or even a "j" channel, sitting facing open-site up and bolted down through the floor and outriggers where they intersect. I know Airstream eventually switched to the setup you're describing above, but don't know when. Unless yours has already been repaired once, I'd say it was obviously post-1970.

A lot of folks just use vice grips and twist the bolt back and forth from underneath, until it snaps off. That's what I did. Mine were so rusted there's no way I could have straightened the bolts and backed off the nuts, even if the threads were still unmarred.

Good luck!
-Marcus

Minno · 08-15-2013, 02:51 PM

On our trailer, the "C" channel sits on top of the plywood floor only at the front and back ends. It's a U shaped channel with the U facing up.

Along the straight sides, the C channel is a different profile - the plywood fits into a C that sits under the U. This link shows the profile of our straight C channels, even though it's intended for the front & rear ends.

Floor Channel Bow - Narrow Body104463 [104463] - $58.95 : Out-of-Doors Mart!, More Airstream Parts on-line than anyone!

Aviator · 08-17-2013, 11:46 AM

Another "washout" day here in Atlanta. I was trying to strip the clearcoat from the trailer before installing the new window and hatch seals and riveting a patch over the spot where the old Armstrong AC was. There a just too many screw holes up there and I think a nice alclad patch would solve the problem. If I decide to put a new AC up there, cutting a hole would be a simple matter, and if I go with a split system, I will need the old hole sealed up.

I think I may try drilling out some rivets on the interior and get a jump on that process. I have had a break from work over the Summer, but it is going to get very busy in a couple of weeks and I want to get as much accomplished as possible prior to that time.

Jim & Susan · 08-17-2013, 05:08 PM

Isn't all this rain just insane? Makin' me crazy. It's rained at our house nearly every day since late May. I've been trying to paint (or finish painting) the outside of the house and haven't gotten very far with it.

Your project is moving along really quickly (despite the rain). Keep up the good work.

Jim

Aviator · 08-17-2013, 05:58 PM

Thank you for the encouragement. I did manage to get inside this evening and drill out the center piece in the ceiling. One thing I am looking ahead on is a source for a compound curve aluminum end cap. I don't like the plastic one from 1970 in it now.

Jim & Susan · 08-17-2013, 06:39 PM

That center piece can be a real pain to get out and back in again. I helped a fellow forum member put one back in just last month. As far as the end cap.....I've seen several members here build one from scratch, which is about the only way you'll find one. Look for threads by Zep and Utee94. One or the other has made one, I'm pretty sure. The memory is the first thing to go you know.

Jim

Skatiero · 08-18-2013, 07:20 AM

Nice progress! Check out those homemade interior end caps for sure! They're beautiful. Interesting about your c-channel, take photos!

Aviator · 08-18-2013, 06:33 PM

Today I managed to strip part of the clearcoat from one side of the trailer. It looks like it will take two applications of the Citristrip product. It attacks the coating on the first coat, but doesn't rinse cleanly. I still prefer it to the more aggressive aircraft paint remover that I have due to the water solubility. However, the trailer needs to be dry to apply it, and IT KEEPS RAINING!

Soon I will have to devise a way to support the shell when off of the frame. The side panels extend down to form the banana wrap which of course doesn't have any ribs behind it to rest the shell on. I need to come up with something stable which is high enough to let the lower portion hang down beside it.

Aviator · 08-19-2013, 07:14 PM

OK today starts with a note to self. DO NOT TRY TO REINVENT THE WHEEL!

As I am working on this project, I am of course reading and re-reading all of the restoration threads I can find. One I have been following and now can't find the author to thank him properly, talks about removing the old clear coat with Klean Strip or Citristrip and a pressure washer. I think that sounds easy, but I know I have a pretty good garden hose nozzle and surely that will do the job......that wasted a day and a half. Rented the power washer and boom the entire Overlander is clear coat free in 3 hours. to quote the famous philosopher Homer (Simpson) Doh!

Now to remove the interior panels and find all the hidden rivets to free the bosy from the frame......

Aviator · 08-25-2013, 08:25 PM

After of couple of day hiatus required for gainful employment I was able to return to the Overlander. Most of the interior side panels came out today along with the nasty pink fiberglass insulation. Tomorrow should see the completion of the panels, endcaps and insulation. I was surprised to note that none of the longeron's were connected to the ribs. I remember from reading Kip's thread that some of his weren't. On mine, none of them are.

Aviator · 08-28-2013, 07:17 PM

A bit more has been accomplished the last couple of days. All of the interior is now out including the interior skins and end caps. (The end caps will be for sale on the classified section as soon as I can take some pictures and figure out how to make a listing). Next up will be power washing the interior to get the last of the pink stuff off, building my frame for lifting the shell, and then drilling rivets. I will probably buck rivet patches on some of the holes to keep the rain out as well. I need to find a time when I am ready and my son is available to buck for me.

On big thank you I want to mention is to Colin Hyde. I emailed him a question this morning about the "C" channel on this trailer, and he answered my question over what was most likely his lunch. THANK YOU!

For those who are interested, I was a bit confused as my 1970 does not have a "C" channel as I was mentally picturing from reading other posts. Mine looks like a "U" in form and sits entirely on top of my plywood floor. The floor doesn't fit into any channel or other aluminum form. The "U" is screwed and bolted to the plywood and the body is then buck riveted to the outboard upright leg of the "U".

rumrunner · 08-28-2013, 11:25 PM

if you wish to tie the ribs and stringers together as Kip did it is actually fairly simple. check out my thread or Kips to get the idea but I actually recycled some C channel that I replaced by cutting it into 1.25 lengths (with my table saw of all things) then cutting off one side with tin snips to end up with a lot of 90 degree pieces which can be riveted in place to stabilize the ends of the stringers. doesn't look like much but made a HUGE difference in the stability and strength of the shell. I have actually tied together the ribs and stringers on every joint on my shell and the result is ridiculously strong and solid.
tim

Aviator · 08-29-2013, 06:20 AM

Thanks, Tim. Kip said he replaced all of his with ones he fabricated. That sounded a bit daunting. I think I will make something along the lines of what you did.

KAYAKAMPERS · 09-01-2013, 06:30 PM

Great shots Craig. You guys are so ambitious, but you need it to bring it back to good camping form. we're looking forward to more progress shots.

reinergirl · 09-01-2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator

On big thank you I want to mention is to Colin Hyde. I emailed him a question this morning about the "C" channel on this trailer, and he answered my question over what was most likely his lunch. THANK YOU!

Actually , not his lunch, but he answered you on his vacation time no less! He's currently camping and enjoying his Airstream!

Aviator · 09-02-2013, 02:49 PM

Wow, even bigger kudos to Colin then. Thank you, sir.

Craig

Aviator · 09-03-2013, 06:38 PM

After a nice weekend camping with members of the newest WBCCI Unit "Southeastern Camping Unit" on Lake Lanier, it is time to get back to work. I thought it might be a good idea to patch some of the holes in the shell before lifting it off. Two of them are secured with Cleco's just waiting for my rivet bucker to have time between homework and soccer practice to hold the bucking bar for me.