Abby gets some separation H

[DanielB]

Nice methodical job.

[Lance M]

The ribs are ready! Time to take a timeout and watch the Super Bowl.

[Lance M]

The past two days I've spent welding, grinding and wire brushing. It is laborious to say the least. I've cut patches, ground angle iron and welded for two days straight. For all you people out there that have a tore up, rusted, Swiss cheese frame, have a new one built! I know Dennis, I know. That wasn't ever my plan, so I'm cutting and patching. Here are a few pics of before and after of the worst area.

I grew up on a farm in Iowa, so welding things is nothing strange or foreign to me. I'm getting used to the little welder I bought. It works better in the wind using the flux core wire. The best looking welds I've laid were with solid wire on gas when there was no wind. Here's some of my better welds.
These two were with flux core wire.

This one was with solid wire and gas.

I should be done with the welding soon. I have four new outriggers and the aft crossmember to weld in. Those go quick and easy. My main man Andy from Heights Lumber and Supply called to let me know the Dow Tuff-R Polyiso insulation I ordered was in. The guys at Heights Lumber have been just awesome helping me source the things I need. I like to buy local from a small lumber yard because I like the hometown feel when I walk in and they say "Hi Lance. You finished with that Airstream yet?" I also will be using an insulation called Roxul for the curved portions of the interior walls. All flat sections will get Reflectix and the Tuff-R polyiso.
Making progress and it feels good. Even if I've spent most of the last month like this..

Prosit!

[soldiermedic]

Good work Top. Looks like you are moving along quite nicely. When's that resto shop going to be opening up?


Nice pants. I miss the glorious days of the BDUs as well and have all my sets starched and pressed in my closet. Of course this wasn't intentional, the ACUs came out and were mandated to wear after my BDUs were at the cleaners .

[Lance M]

Thanks. I actually had my first paying customer yesterday. Well, hasn't paid me yet, but a customer none the less.

I have always preferred the BDUs over ACUs. My favorite is the DCUs though.

[Lance M]

It was a beautiful day here in central Texas! 70 degrees and full sun! I got more welding done, but here are some pictures of my focus for today.

[soldiermedic]

Lance,

If you keep posting pictures of food, I am going to drive up to Harker when I'm there over spring break and not leave till you feed me...I tip well by the way

Steve

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Lance,

If you keep posting pictures of food, I am going to drive up to Harker when I'm there over spring break and not leave till you feed me...I tip well by the way

Steve

You are always welcome here. I love to cook for friends!

[soldiermedic]

We'll bring a side!

[Lance M]

When I started with the floor "treatment" I thought it would go quickly. I was so wrong. It takes a while to get three coats of West Epoxy sanding in between coats and three coats of Defthane laid down on the cut floor pieces. Throw in the cure time, distractions, and next thing you know it's three weeks later and I've only finished two of the three sheets of ply. I think they will be nice when they are all complete and installed. Here are some pics of the stuff I used

Here is what the ply looks like after three coats of epoxy and one coat of Defthane sanded.

And here is how it looks after the second coat of Defthane.

The tanks I ordered from Ronco arrived yesterday. I got three of their 17H 25 gallon tanks. They were $502 including shipping for all three. They did mess up one of the gray tank 1 1/2 inch inlet locations. It isn't going to be a factor. I can make it work.

They put the inlets exactly as I specified on the black tank. I test fit it up with the old floor board. Should work nicely.

Tanks for reading! Oh yeah, I changed my username. I'm not in hiding and I doubt anyone is looking for me. Just thought my username should be more personal. If you are wondering "Why Top?" it's the name most people call me in my line of work, so there you have it.
Prosit!

[soldiermedic]

That finish job looks really nice. any thoughts to how to hide the bolts at the cross members? I still think a decorative plug would be really cool, but I am sure you have something planned already.

Glad to see you back on mission. Hope the tank company didn't give you a bunch of crappy excuses about your tank issue.

Steve

[bwoodtx]

lookin good top!!! you gonna make it in time for canyon of the eagles?? i'm trying t6o get my 20 footer ready in time. it will be close.


drive on!! you'll make it

[Lance M]

Thanks Steve and Bruce. I think the plug idea is still an option. Not sure if I can pull it off though. I may just go with the countersunk screws covered with the epoxy. I do worry that they may flex and pop the coating off.
I think I can get sixteen work days in before the 11th. I'll make it to Canyon of the Eagles. My new axles are set to be built next Friday. I hope to have them by the 3rd of March. I doubt I'll have the belly pan all buttoned up, but It'll be close. I have all the parts I need on hand for the moment. Just need to get a crackin'!

[Lance M]

No work on Abby today. We went to my oldest son's first high school track meet. He ran the 3200m for the JV team. He ran it in 11:31. We then went to the state Capitol in Austin. Had a fun day with the family. Now it's time to have a beer!
Prosit!

[Trex]

Is that beer? Looks interesting.... Its always good to take a day off with the family.

[noreen&sal]

That beer looks good. But just getting over a bout of gout. So I guess Ill pass. Unless my wife goes shopping or something. Sal.

[Lance M]

Why yes, Rex. That is a fine Dunkel Weiss (dark wheat). It is in the German style by New Belgium Brewing, but not as good as a real German Paulaner DunkelWeiss. Hope your gout is better Sal.
We had a great day yesterday. Today I'm back at it. I cut the last floor piece. I fit it under the trailer to check that it would fit correctly. I did a little test fit with the new black tank and took measurements to make the hanger brackets for it. Yanked it back out, sanded it down and now I'm getting ready to apply the West epoxy.
Prosit!

[noreen&sal]

Its getting a lot better. Can get boots on. Almost time for a cold one. Sal.

[Breadbug]

Hey there Top. I have looked and looked at your holding tanks. For the life of me I can't figure out how you're gonna drain them. Are you going under the frame and exposed?

I've got a 75 TW as you've read. I want to increase my tanks too. I've come up with a preliminary floor plan and am trying to figure out how I will connect the tanks and drain them. I figure I can put 1 grey in the bay above one axle and a black behind that and another grey in the original rear most location. I'd like to get one of the greys to flush through the back or at least I will plum a fill spout for use as a flush.

I'll upload some pics to your stream of some sketches. Any help or advice you have would be awesome.

Ed/breadbug

[Lance M]

Today was the first day I've worked on Abby all week. It seems that the Army wanted to occupy my time the last few days. I got a few things accomplished today. Today was the "Build day for my new Axis axles from Colin Hyde Trailer Restorations. Hopefully they got built today and will be on a truck headed to Texas soon. I got the black tank hanger completed. It looks like it would be very simple to make one of these. This was my second try. The second one was much easier than the first.

I primed it and painted it with two coats of Eastwood Rust encapsulator. After it cures, I'll top coat it with Eastwood Extreme Chassis Black. One tank hanger down, two to go...
I also did a little work on my "International" emblems. I stripped them and they cleaned up pretty well so I decided not to have them re-plated. I took them to a chrome place in San Antonio and the guy there didn't think that they would look much better than they did already. He also said it would take two weeks to get them re done. Here they are with the white spayed on. I coated the chromed letter surfaces with petrolatum to keep the paint from sticking.

I had a discussion on another thread about what shocks are the "correct" ones to use on Airstreams. The shocks I took off Abby were the original shocks installed in 1972. Here is what they have stamped on them;
Pliacell 341-71 V BOTTOM V
4975425
Delco Products Dayton, Ohio USA

What is interesting to me is these shocks are supposed to be for horizontal applications. So riddle me this, Batman. Why would it be stamped with "BOTTOM" if it's for a "horizontal application"? Colin Hyde told me that he installs Monroe P/N 555003. The "Official" Airstream shock is around $29 from Out of Doors Mart. I think I'll install two of the Airstream shocks and two of the Monroe shocks and see which one starts leaking first.
I got the rearmost section of floor cut and coated on both sides with three coats of West System Epoxy. I have the first of three coats of Defthane on the underside of the last sheet. Two more coats on the underside and three coats on the top side to go.

I also was going to repair my wheel wells but decided to order new ones instead. The old ones had too many cuts and cracks. Track meets tomorrow. Hopefully the weather stays nice. It was about 65 degrees here today in central Texas.
Prosit!