'74 Argosy 20' Motorhome restoration/rebuild

[Keyair]

Tail Mounted MG barrels?
Exhausts for the afterburners?


Seriously tho, I doubt those original style reversing lights are worth a lick at night unless you do a serious LED upgrade.
As I am doing a reversing light delete on my tail lamps, I think im going with some slim LED units mounted under the rear bumper.


What about backup sensors for those holes?

[rmkrum]

Browning 30 caliber MG not big enough in California traffic. Needs to be at least a 20mm electrically powered cannon with a big belt-fed magazine and a flex mount remote controller in the tow vehicle on the passenger side, of course. I’m thinking M61 MK 1 gun pod guts at minimum. Lose the nitrogen bottle and go all electric.

Managing recoil and spent brass could get interesting given the light structure of the Airstream. Water leaks around the mount might be a secondary issue.

That would keep the tailgating to a minimum, I bet.

(Dreaming impossible dreams again, I guess)

[Smartstream]

Forget spewing lead, hard to see unless you are using tracer rounds. Just makes a lot of noise. A matching pair of flame throwers will provide the visual effect you need.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by chevy2man

Hey Brad, I’m assuming it’s too difficult to find good Argosy tail light trim pieces? The plastic piece that runs across the back of mine is cracked pretty good. I guess going with some old airstream trailer light fixtures is the way to go?
Thanks,
Matt

Matt,

From what I've seen in pictures and in person just about every Argosy ABS plastic rear tail light housing is or has been cracked. Some worse than others. Worse for me, the 74 Argosy motorhome used different tail lights so the housing was even more unique. I was originally going to use an Argosy tail light housing I got from John Warden but then I decided to use the tail lights from an 86 345 because I had a pair but they are plastic as well. I then found that the trailers of the same era used cast aluminum housings and decided to see if I could find some. In this case it was ebay to the rescue where I bought a pair from a 73 trailer and haven't looked back!

Personally I think the cast aluminum housings look so much nicer that those big plastic housings.

Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Tail Mounted MG barrels?
Exhausts for the afterburners?

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Browning 30 caliber MG not big enough in California traffic. Needs to be at least a 20mm electrically powered cannon with a big belt-fed magazine and a flex mount remote controller in the tow vehicle on the passenger side, of course. I’m thinking M61 MK 1 gun pod guts at minimum. Lose the nitrogen bottle and go all electric.

Managing recoil and spent brass could get interesting given the light structure of the Airstream. Water leaks around the mount might be a secondary issue.

That would keep the tailgating to a minimum, I bet.

(Dreaming impossible dreams again, I guess)

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Forget spewing lead, hard to see unless you are using tracer rounds. Just makes a lot of noise. A matching pair of flame throwers will provide the visual effect you need.

Wow! I never realized this was such a tough (and elderly!) crowd!

Certainly makes me think twice about tailgating any Airstream motorhome I run across

Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Seriously tho, I doubt those original style reversing lights are worth a lick at night unless you do a serious LED upgrade.
As I am doing a reversing light delete on my tail lamps, I think im going with some slim LED units mounted under the rear bumper.

What about backup sensors for those holes?

I will be substituting the 1156 bulb with an LED light assembly that replaces the bulb and the lens. They should be bright enough for reversing purposes.

Backup sensors, hadn't thought about that before but not a bad idea. Guess it's time to do some research on back up sensors

Thanks!

Brad

[chevy2man]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Matt,



From what I've seen in pictures and in person just about every Argosy ABS plastic rear tail light housing is or has been cracked. Some worse than others. Worse for me, the 74 Argosy motorhome used different tail lights so the housing was even more unique. I was originally going to use an Argosy tail light housing I got from John Warden but then I decided to use the tail lights from an 86 345 because I had a pair but they are plastic as well. I then found that the trailers of the same era used cast aluminum housings and decided to see if I could find some. In this case it was ebay to the rescue where I bought a pair from a 73 trailer and haven't looked back!



Personally I think the cast aluminum housings look so much nicer that those big plastic housings.



Brad

Brad,
Sounds like I’ll probably do the same. They look good on there.
Matt

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Wow! I never realized this was such a tough (and elderly!) crowd!

Certainly makes me think twice about tailgating any Airstream motorhome I run across

Brad

Lets show some respect when you drop that "elderly" my young friend. I may be old and grumpy but never elderly.

[Keyair]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Wow! I never realized this was such a tough (and elderly!) crowd!


Brad

Hey!
I resemble that remark!

[rmkrum]

Just keep in mind that old age and treachery will beat youth and enthusiasm every time!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Lets show some respect when you drop that "elderly" my young friend. I may be old and grumpy but never elderly.

I originally typed "old" but figured it sounded too crude so I changed it to elderly

I guess when you're "old and grumpy" it doesn't matter what someone writes, your're going to complain anyway

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Just keep in mind that old age and treachery will beat youth and enthusiasm every time!

At 62 I'm not exactly youthful and I'll guarantee you I no longer have much enthusiasm

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Hey!
I resemble that remark!

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by bkahler

At 62 I'm not exactly youthful and I'll guarantee you I no longer have much enthusiasm

Bkahler, I’ve got 10 years of extra grumpy time and therefore much less enthusiasm...

[Isuzusweet]

The USAF is retiring the A10 Warthog; how about a GAU-30mm gatling gun. That would clear traffic jams.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

The USAF is retiring the A10 Warthog; how about a GAU-30mm gatling gun. That would clear traffic jams.

They've been talking about retiring the Warthog for years and years. I'll believe it when I see it

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Personally I think the cast aluminum housings look so much nicer that those big plastic housings.



Brad

Great idea Brad! Shiny and all!!
Been working on Glindas (70 trotter) all weekend !

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by jamimes

Great idea Brad! Shiny and all!!
Been working on Glindas (70 trotter) all weekend !Attachment 337438

You must have way to much time on your hands

[jamimes]

Originally Posted by bkahler

You must have way to much time on your hands

If I did I'd be posting about her build...

[bkahler]

Well a mini disaster struck today

I was installing new window Schlegel on the passenger side cockpit window in the hopes of getting the cockpit windows installed so I could park the Argosy outside when needed. I finished cleaning the windows prior to installation and was in the process of attaching the push/pull handle to the window pane. On the early Argosy the handles are originally riveted in place with nice stainless large head rivets. My rivets and handles were long gone so I fabricated a set of handles and was planning on using a stainless screw with nut to hold the handle in place.

I was tightening the nut when the glass shattered into a million pieces






I don't believe I had applied to much clamping pressure so I'm at a loss to explain why it shattered. I'm sure I did something wrong but at the moment I don't have a clue what. I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of other early Argosies that used bolts instead of rivets to hold the handle in place.

Another thing I don't understand is how could a rivet ever be set without shattering the window? I would think the peening action when installing the rivet would cause the same disaster.

Now I'm worried about trying to install the handle on the drivers side.....

Brad