78 Sovereign frame off

[wcronin4]

I recently start the stripping down process on my 78 Sovereign. So far going smoothly except for rivet removal.

I’m using an 1/8” bit to drill out 1/8th rivets. While it takes the cap off, it is not drilling the rivet out. Is this the right drill bit size to use?

Bill

[Shermy1987]

Yes. Get the flared pieces out after what ever it is you're taking off is off. You can carefully drill them, use a small punch and hammer or grab the back with some pliers.

If you drill with just the right force, you will also have success at getting many of them all in one go.

[wcronin4]

Sherry
Thanks for your reply. I’ve removed everything from the inside except for bath. Working on that now. It looks as though the Fiberglas pieces that make up the bath can be taken apart without difficulty. The bath ceiling piece is one I have a question about. Can it be removed before the inner skin forward of the bath is removed? Also, that ceiling piece appears to be very large and heavy. I’d like to reuse and don’t want to damage it taking it out. Any suggestions?

[jgrubb88]

Starting our 77 Sovereign when the weather warms up a bit in the spring. Are you posting a blog of this process anywhere?

[Minno]

Not sure how your trailer inner skins are: on ours, the rear bath ceiling upper wall piece came out after the other inner skins. They overlapped it. It is a bulky piece, and difficult to handle for one person due to floppiness. It's not particularly heavy. They are no longer available for '70's era trailers, so unless you're replacing it with something else, handle carefully. I know some have gotten them out the door of the trailer. We left ours inside and worked around it. But we did shell-on floor replacement. Good luck!

Kay

[Iansk]

The bath interior end cap will fit out the door in one piece. I did it on my ‘77 Sovereign. It is heavier than it seems it should be and very floppy.

Ian

[dbj216]

Hello from Colorado: I have a new vintage Airstream friend with a 76 Sovereign. It needs work like many of these vintage trailers do. I'm trying to learn more about them so I can help him out some. I hope I can follow along with you on your project.

I have a 75 Overlander 27' that I am renovating this winter. It is constructed similar to yours, although there were some significant changes. My project thread in the Airstream Knowledgebase, Overlander, is linked below if you care to take a look.

I hope you "blog" your Sovereign project right here on AirForums. Just a lot of us do. There are many Airstream experts here that can be very helpful with answering questions. Posting pictures is always very helpful. I like to see if the rear end floor rot in your trailer is less than it was in my trailer.

The Airstream Knowledgebase toward the bottom of the Forums page is a great place to do your "blog". Find Trailers, then Sovereign, and then your year range. This location is used by people with specific model interests. You can post all about removing the interior, taking down the end cap plastics, fixing your frame and subfloor, and then all the activities in your rebuild. Minno's project thread is most excellent, and their Sovereign is an award winner.

Here is a photo of my Overlander the day I brought it home. I've got maybe 1000 hours in the thing so far. Keeps me busy.

David

[57Vintage]

I took some scrap wood and made a brace to help with removing the end cap.

The horizontal top piece is curved on the ends to distribute the load.



The horizontal top piece on the back brace has a U shaped channel for the bottom edge to rest in.



I would suggest you brace them with some 1X3s when in storage to maintain shape. One brace across from bottom corner to bottom corned. From the middle of that brace do a vertical one to the middle of the top edge. Then a horizonal from the same mid point to the back edge.

I didn't brace mine (hadn't planned on reusing) and they got distorted and cracked in a few places. Couldn't pass them on to someone else.

[dbj216]

Hi 57vintage: Maybe the rear end cap in your old Overlander is fiberglass. It was in my 66 Trade Wind. I suspect it is a heavy piece. The end cap in my 75 Overlander is something like thermo-formed plastic. It is quite thin and I suspect not as heavy.

Years ago I looked at a "59 Overlander" with a single axle. I didn't buy the trailer. But thinking back, I wonder if it was in fact a 58 or even 57. I've never seen a 59 with a single axle. Just curious, you might know the year, see photo.

David

[wcronin4]

Thanks for all your replies. At David’s suggestion I have begun a blog in the knowledge base for 78 Sovereigns. The thread is listed as 1978 Frame Off.

Hope this is the proper place to begin the conversation. Hope you will follow me there and continue to provide help, something I will need in abundance.

[wcronin4]

Thanks for this. I had considered a brace. Your pic confirms the need.

Bill

[wcronin4]

Thanks for this David. I followed your advice and began my blog in knowledge base for Sovereigns of that vintage. If you care to follow along it is listed as 1978 Sovereign Frame Off.

Thanks for your help!

[57Vintage]

dbj216 I believe your photo is a Trade Wind, not an Overlander. The relationship of the outside storage door, side window and wheel opening suggests a shorter shell than the Overlander. I'm just comparing component layout so who knows. It could have been a special order with a single axle.

According to the sales brochures in the doc archive, 1957 was the last year for the single axle Overlander, with dual axles as an option. My 1958 (titled) was sold in Sept 1957, so it was probably built mid 1957, hence the single axle.

The photo archives list my serial number within the 1957 range, but I suspect that range is by date of production, not be model year production. According to the airstream historian model years changed mid-year, but were not consistent year to year in the 50's.

[dbj216]

You are probably right. I don't have any information to the contrary. It was an old Airstream in reasonable original condition that I thought would make a good project. I didn't like the single axle. I ended up with a 66 Trade Wind 24' instead with dual axles.

Here is a photo of the galley cabinet in that old trailer. My 66 Trade Wind didn't have drawers in the galley.

I'm going to follow wcornin4 take the body off that 78 Sovereign in his Knowledgebase thread. A big job on a big trailer.

David