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Old 12-27-2017, 09:57 PM   #1141
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1984 34.5' Airstream 345
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Needs a TURBO badge!
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Old 12-28-2017, 06:33 AM   #1142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Isuzusweet View Post
What eighties vehicle did you smurf that emblem of off? Looks GM.
Smurf....me...???

Ok, you got me, they're off a mid 80's Buick
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Old 12-28-2017, 06:34 AM   #1143
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Needs a TURBO badge!
Can't do that, that would be lying!
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Old 12-30-2017, 05:03 PM   #1144
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I finally managed to find a few hours to work on my Argosy today. I was hoping to start installing the wood floor but after looking things over I realized I really should rebuild the rear lower storage compartments before the floor goes in. So I started on that task. Based on what I've accomplished so far it looks like the compartment rebuilds are going to take a couple of weeks to complete. Each piece pretty much has to be hand cut to fit which means trial fit after trial fit to get each piece to fit properly.

Anyway, the following pictures sort of give you an idea of what I'm working on.

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Old 12-30-2017, 05:46 PM   #1145
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Can't do that, that would be lying!
No, you wouldn't be lying to add a turbo badge.....you're running a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission TMH350 or TMH400 aren't you?

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Old 12-30-2017, 06:02 PM   #1146
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Originally Posted by Isuzusweet View Post
No, you wouldn't be lying to add a turbo badge.....you're running a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission TMH350 or TMH400 aren't you?

Cheers
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I have a 4L80e installed. While it's based on a Turbo-Hydramatic, it's not a turbo
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Old 12-31-2017, 09:01 AM   #1147
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1975 20' Argosy 20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkahler View Post
I finally managed to find a few hours to work on my Argosy today. I was hoping to start installing the wood floor but after looking things over I realized I really should rebuild the rear lower storage compartments before the floor goes in. So I started on that task. Based on what I've accomplished so far it looks like the compartment rebuilds are going to take a couple of weeks to complete. Each piece pretty much has to be hand cut to fit which means trial fit after trial fit to get each piece to fit properly.

Anyway, the following pictures sort of give you an idea of what I'm working on.

Attachment 301635Attachment 301636
Attachment 301637Attachment 301638
I am still trying to get my head around what you are doing Brad.

On Bella there are no under floor compartments behind the wheels, just floor and frame, is this another of the unique features of the first year models?
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Old 12-31-2017, 10:42 AM   #1148
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Martin, I've not seen any other Argosy with these storage compartments. I'm fairly certain they were added by the factory based on how some of the fasteners were installed, the fact that the rear skin from the shell wraps done underneath and the fact they had the same undercoating on the bottoms as the rest of the chassis. They just have the look and feel of something the factory would have done.

The passenger side has one compartment which is what I'm working on right now.
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The drivers side has two compartments. The top one I'm eliminating because of the changes I'm making on the inside.
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The two lower compartments should work real well for carrying cords, hoses and similar items. It's going to be interesting to see if I will be able to make them water tight

Another difference between your's and mine is the reflector pods on the rear banana wraps. I don't believe Bella has them. I will be replacing the reflectors with LED lights that will function as marker/turn signal lights.

Brad
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Old 12-31-2017, 12:31 PM   #1149
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I understand now Brad.

So the upper compartment is actually above floor (like found on some modern trailers) but the lower ones sit under the frame and above some sort of belly pan?

Bella doesn't have a belly pan closing out the the area under the floor/between the banana wraps, just an open area exposed to the road.
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Old 01-01-2018, 05:36 AM   #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
I understand now Brad.

So the upper compartment is actually above floor (like found on some modern trailers) but the lower ones sit under the frame and above some sort of belly pan?
Correct.

Quote:
Bella doesn't have a belly pan closing out the the area under the floor/between the banana wraps, just an open area exposed to the road.
Based on my Argosy vin number I believe mine was one of the first few off the assembly line. My guess is Airstream was trying various ways to add storage space to a small chassis camper. The original floor plan on my (& Bella's) floor plan had virtually no storage space. There was one floor to ceiling closet about 12" wide, 3 drawers and some storage under the counter tops cabinets. Also there were two small overhead storage areas.

Externally there was almost no place to store hoses and power cords. The only external storage that I know of was the opening between the rear bumper and the shell which is where the power cord was stored. The compartment was not very large.

It would be interesting to find out why they didn't include the two rear lower storage compartments on the 75 model year.

I'll get some better pictures of what it looks like in the next day or so.
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Old 01-01-2018, 02:01 PM   #1151
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Behind the rear wheels there is a sheet metal support that holds the mud flap and also provides support for the curved aluminum panels located below the lower belt line. On the passenger side they were ok but on the drivers side they were in pretty sad shape and were fastened to some more or less rusted and nonexistent floor tubing. All of the floor tubing has been replaced but the sheet metal panels. I now have the panels ready to install after a little fabrication work.

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Here's a few more pictures of the rear storage compartment I'm working on.

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Old 01-07-2018, 07:37 AM   #1152
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It's been too d@mn cold the past three or so weeks to really get much of anything done

It has pretty much been sub freezing temperatures the whole time. I can turn the heater on in the shop and it takes half the day to get it up to a reasonable working temp. With that being said I did manage to get a little more work done on the floor repairs. I managed to get the mud flap supports installed on the drivers side. Later today after the shop warms up some I'm hoping to do a little bit on the drivers side rear storage compartment. That's the plan anyway!

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Temperatures are finally supposed to get into the 40s and 50s later this week so maybe there's hope for next weekend

Brad
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Old 01-10-2018, 06:36 PM   #1153
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Nice work Brad. It absolutely amazing how involved these projects can get. One step forward, three steps back. You will be ready for the Coosa before you know it.
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Old 01-11-2018, 05:15 AM   #1154
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Nice work Brad. It absolutely amazing how involved these projects can get. One step forward, three steps back. You will be ready for the Coosa before you know it.
If I had known I'd have to go to this level of repair work on the Argosy I probably never would have taken on the task. It's been somewhat like peeling an onion. Each layer reveals something new and exciting that I get to deal with
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Old 01-15-2018, 03:25 PM   #1155
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If I had known I'd have to go to this level of repair work on the Argosy I probably never would have taken on the task. It's been somewhat like peeling an onion. Each layer reveals something new and exciting that I get to deal with
We all hear you loud and clear Brad.😖

I knew I couldn't get into what you're into.
Yes, I lost a season and a half of camping doing what I did to my interior, BUT thank God I made sure her bones were good or I'd have committed Hari-Kari by now; (well at least that's the story my wife would tell the authorities).

Be calm; carry on
Cheers
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Old 01-16-2018, 08:43 AM   #1156
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We all hear you loud and clear Brad.😖

I knew I couldn't get into what you're into.
Yes, I lost a season and a half of camping doing what I did to my interior, BUT thank God I made sure her bones were good or I'd have committed Hari-Kari by now; (well at least that's the story my wife would tell the authorities).

Be calm; carry on
Cheers
Sidekick Tony
Calm, you expect me to be calm?


Workin on it
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Old 01-23-2018, 04:23 PM   #1157
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Sometimes it's the small things that matter.....

From this:
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To this:
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Old 01-23-2018, 05:42 PM   #1158
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Sometimes it's the small things that matter.....

From this:
Attachment 302879

To this:
Attachment 302880

how do you find something like that? It looks like you only replaced the label?
So D, in your case means up to 4th gear, right?
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Old 01-23-2018, 06:06 PM   #1159
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how do you find something like that? It looks like you only replaced the label?
So D, in your case means up to 4th gear, right?
After months of off and on searching I finally found a place that sells replacements for the 70s/80s trucks.

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Old 01-24-2018, 02:00 AM   #1160
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Sweet
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