1975 Argosy Value

[MaxD]

The "War Department" has already declared "WAR" on it. I tried to sell it for parts several months ago and although some interest was expressed in making a group purchase, no one (in Air Forum) made an offer. I have already started taking out the walls and bedframe in the back (only) bedroom. I found a recycling yard that will take the RV if I gut the interior and take out the tanks. I will save the gasoline tank for my farm use (tractors etc.) and sell the aluminum by the pound. I'll keep the generator and some miscellaneous pieces but otherwise it's going going gone this summer. I might keep the fridge, generator and AC since they work well. but otherwise it's selling by the pound as soon as I finish gutting it. I won't be doing a whole lot in the next few weeks but by the end of this summer I will be done with it. Orders from Headquarters, if you know what I mean.......

I can send current pictures if you like.

Don

[bkahler]

Don, post the pictures here.

Since you're likely scrapping it are you pulling the hard to find bits for resell?

[MaxD]

Brad, Yes. I'm saving obvious things for resale, but not for long. I have a regular "Glass Guy" that will take out select glass pieces upon request.
I know shipping will be tricky. I would prefer "pick up" for glass but will ship with "handling/packing charges added. I don't know exactly how much that might be right now. I suppose it will depend upon size and costs to remove.
Don

[MaxD]

Brad, Oh Ya - I'll try to get some pictures out later today. The pictures from 9-17-17 are still valid for everything except the rear bedroom area.
Don

[MaxD]

Brad, Here's some things I have on file. I'll send update later today.
Don

[mayco]

Is there a for sale listing somewhere for the Argosy? Did you ever get it running? What am I missing here, that looks like a pretty nice Argosy to be scrapping. Is it a 24'? 454 I assume.

[mayco]

Someone added electric baseboard heaters at some point, never seen that before. They must be wired for 120volt.

[MaxD]

Hello Brad, Mayco and ?,

I'll try to answer all of your questions and then post an "up to the minute" group of pictures. I have been working since 5:00am and need to get sleep soon.
1) This RV is not listed for sale anywhere at this time. I bought it as a gift and eventually received it back. I don't want it, even though I put a lot into it. I thought some people were going to buy it so I put too much time and effort in it to make them a good deal. No deal happened.

2) I did get it running. It hadn't been started for maybe nearly a decade. It ran well at higher rpm but had a rough idle. I put in plugs, wires, dist cap and rotor plus a new starter, batteries, fresh filters, gas etc. I drove it to where it had set for over a decade. The day I filled it up with gas I took it "home" and ran it about 70mph just to "blow the dust off it". For health reasons the people I gave it to never got to drive it (after I put 6 new tires, new airbags, alignment etc {just about everything that I could think of} into it) We then used it as a "guest cottage" at a private picnic area.

3) I put the electric baseboard in it so that it would have an easy, clean source of heat. It was hard wired to 120v power so that it was good to go for all the creature comforts, microwave, TV, stereo......

4) It is a 24' with a 454/ turbo 400 Chevy drive train. It has 55k miles on it. It had 55k one owner miles on it when I (we) got it. The first owner bought it new at a factory dealer in Ohio (Vandalia?). I have the paperwork somewhere.

Any way, here's some current pix. I'm done for the day.

Don

P.S. Brad, the tank is approx. 55"x24"x12"

[MaxD]

A little info on the latest pix of the 1975 24' Argosy

As mentioned earlier I'm in the process of readying this RV for scrapping. I haven't got much accomplished to date due to other projects that are more important. Actually I have gotten less done than I thought to date. (imagine that) I spent a lot of time on the front floor area because of the "bubble" in the flooring. I had installed a seamless vinyl flooring w/underlayment in maybe 2004? (Dates are estimated with this project because it has spanned many years.) A window was left open for fresh air on the "leeward" side of the vehicle. Strong east storms(uncommon here) blew rain water inside , pooled on the edge of the flooring and eventually seeped under the subfloor. Over time it bubbled up slightly. When Steve (of "Stevendebbie") had interest in buying the Argo he thought that the floor was rotten and I had to show him that the factory flooring was sound. By the time I got the original floor exposed he had lost interest in the vehicle. So much for THAT project.

IMG's #4760 (4) and 4761 (5) show the front floor original plywood flooring. It is structurally sound, as I expected.

IMG's #4753,4755 and 4757 (1,2 and3) Show my initial attempt to "gut" the interior. I am trying to save all of the aluminum as "gas money". Also I do not want to damage the sidewalls in case someone want's the vehicle for a "custom" project, IOW a "Blank Canvas".

IMG's #4763 and 4764 (6 and 7) show the bathroom. It, at this time, is untouched by the scrapman.

IMG #4767 ((8) Is the rear bumper showing that I removed the spare tire and mounting bracket. I took it off for access to the generator compartment. I still have the spare and bracket.

IMG's #4769 and 4772 (9 and10)are of the gas tank. It is empty. It needs some exterior cleanup and rustoleum but I will do that if/when I mount it for a storage tank. It is solid and leak free.

This unit is for sale "as is/where is" for $1000-FIRM/CASH and carry. I have a clean title in my name. I can run the engine, generator, fridge and AC for SERIOUS buyers only. I will schedule viewing appointments within a week or two of requests. The vehicle must be removed within two weeks of purchase or deposit money($500) will be forfeited.

Any ??'s

Don

[bkahler]

Well, it's official.....Tony has gone over to the Dark Side!


It was determined the best approach would be transporting to a reputable repair shop for some much needed repair work before Tony can drive it home.



Tony heading to his chase vehicle



And the chase is on.....







It's now resting comfortably at the repair shop.


I'll leave it to Tony to fill everyone in on the rest of the details

Brad

[martin300662]

Really looking forward to the 4 pot diesel swap. I already have a couple of routine searches running looking for a possible NQR donor. Most here are the earlier 4.8L variant so I am hoping Tony does a bit of background on his selection to kick off the thread!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Really looking forward to the 4 pot diesel swap. I already have a couple of routine searches running looking for a possible NQR donor. Most here are the earlier 4.8L variant so I am hoping Tony does a bit of background on his selection to kick off the thread!

I'm not really sure whether he's looking at a Cummins or an Isuzu diesel. Next weekend at the get together I believe he's going to be taking hundreds of pictures of Mel's Cummins conversion

[Isuzusweet]

Part 1

Okay people, I know I have committed the unlawful act of thread hijacking a thread before, but in this case it seem appropriate.

First of all, a big shout out to Don and Missy for being very patient with us while we waited over six hours for a tow truck to come and pick up (to be named by my DW later).

Also thanks to Brad for coming up and presiding over the events of the day, it was a long drive up and an even later one going back home for him; but I think he enjoyed puttering around inspecting all the goodies. I did almost have to give him a sedative when the tow truck arrived and it wasn't the roll-on-off we ordered; and the driver told him that driving slow for only 5.3 miles wouldn't require removal of the driveshaft; and the Argosy was winched to the sky for hook up; but he made it through.

Thanks to all that helped, including Two Brothers Towing

[Isuzusweet]

Part2

Braving hurricane force winds driving rain, fallen limbs, toppled over telephone poles, an extremely long high bridge that was closed off behind me by police; (seriously, I was the very last car going over the four lane Hamilton Skyway, and no way was I passing the semi in front of me); getting pelted by pea stone gravel whipped up by the wind from nearby construction on the Buffalo Skyway; on a seven hour tour across one province and three states to Wooster Ohio, it did occur to me the Airstream Gods maybe were trying to tell me something.

However, all their fury and demonic weren't able to stop a mad Englishman from adding an Argosy to his flotilla, (Argosy is an English term for flotilla). The Argosy is in amazing relatively unmolested shape. The exterior is dent free, other than smaller than a thumb size dimple in a back panel down by the belt line, which took Brad hours to find, it was that small. The end cap doe have paint spalling of them, and a bit of corrosion, which I will use rust converter on when it gets back home. The interior floor and dash are in crazy good shape for 43 years, with no unsightly PO modifications, other than a what looks like a boat trailer braking device hooked up to the dash and wired to the front of the Argosy, close to the front mounted receiver.

Don started the Generac generator which cranked to life easily, and once the airfilter was replaced, purred as loudly as a kitten. It shocked me how quiet she was. The water heater is no more and will replaced by an instant hot in the future. There is a 35 lb propane tank to compliment the 50 gallon fuel cell, both in surprisingly good shape. The fridge uses the old style Ammonia refrigerant, so it would have to be removed, turned upside down and driven over a rough road to re-agitate the cooling system to work; it will probably be replaced. Roof A/C worked and there are two roof openings for roof fans. The 454 did start with some coaxing and fluid in the tranny was red, not brown.

[Isuzusweet]

Part 3

Reality, Radiator needs a re-core; master cyclinder is leaking badly; brakes are probably shot; fuel pump, water pump, thermostat, radiator hoses, new fuel lines, oil and filter change, new rims and tires, drive belts, tank dump valves, carb cleaning and fixing a couple of broken grounds or bulbs in the lights will have to be done before the drive home. Window tracks and seals, new front drivers side windshield, finish cleaning the interior, finish taking up the additional flooring, and many other items have made the honey-do-list already in progress.

[Isuzusweet]

Part 4- the fun stuff.

I have started the hunt for a turbo diesel replacement. I did find a 6BD1a, not far away from the Argosy, but the asking price was a bit steep. I also looked at the Isuzu 4HK1 tcc 5.2L 4 pot turbo diesel, out of an Isuzu N series, or GM W series medium duty trucks, but discounted them due to excessive engine height, width, too many sensors, and to many computers. The same applies to the 4BT, so I have decided on a Cummins 6BT 12 valve VE rotary pump with possible intercooler. There are conversion engine mounts to swap GM engines for Cummins power are readily available, but I'm still in the early stages of investigation. I just like the idea of a three wire, no electronic simple diesel.

I plan on a Suncoast or Goerend Mopar transmission to get the power to the 4:10 GM full floater rear end. I'm also considering a disc brake, or rear end replacement that has disc brakes for extra stopping power and ease of maintenance. A Gear Vendors isn't out of the question, but I haven't done the math on that yet.

I am actually hoping that the garage it's at would be willing to do the conversion, as the radiator/gas tank are being taken out to be re-core/ boiled and coated anyway, and I'd hate to spend money on a powertrain that I'm not going to use. If this garage won't do the conversion, they might know someone in the area that will, as the area is covered with old school farmer mechanics and competition is fierce for work. I will approach them on Monday with this proposal.

I will post on interior future specs once I have cleared it with the boss.

[Isuzusweet]

Part 5- the future use

I bought this Argosy with the possibility of driving her to Belize and full-timing in her while we build a house and for driving around Mexico and Central America. I wanted a vehicle that would blend in, and not attract unwanted attention, and yet be unusual enough, that no-one would think about stealing her.

Gasoline, last time I checked was over $6.00 US per Imperial gallon (4.45l versus 3.78L a US gallon) in Belize. Most people use diesel, so most fuel flow in the region will be diesel; as a result, gasoline quality could be sketchy; hence the diesel conversion.

I want simple as simple can be, as service facilities, diagnostic tools and qualified techs could/will be hard to find.

I will also be replacing all the subfloor with; wait for it, OSB board.

Any other suggestions for storage, interior bits or pieces, (I did talk to Brad about his and Martin's bathroom, but haven't got the specs or links yet).

I will be documenting this journey far better than I did my 310's, as I was very busy then and often forgot to take pics.

Cheers to all
Sidekick Tony

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

I will also be replacing all the subfloor with; wait for it, OSB board.

Sidekick Tony

Hmm, either you've gone daft or you meant Coosa board

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Hmm, either you've gone daft or you meant Coosa board

Just checking to see if anyone actually reads my posts.

Hey! Did that water heater cover you and Don took off ever make it into the coach, or is it back at Don's place?

Also, do have my phone?

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Just checking to see if anyone actually reads my posts.

Heck, for a Sunday this is high entertainment!

Hey! Did that water heater cover you and Don took off ever make it into the coach, or is it back at Don's place?

I'm pretty sure I put the water heater cover and the associated grille in the clear plastic container that you were using as a seat.

Also, do have my phone?

No, I have your wallet.....