Slow floor replacement

[TexasAir67]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinium

I tell myself every time to do a shell off and I violate the promise every time. I assure you that replacing the floor and POR-15'ing the frame will be much less work, in total, with the shell off. Why I can't learn this lesson myself is a mystery.

You only need one helper to get the shell off (after you take everything out of the inside including the wheel wells--all the wiring except the brakes is in the shell). Drill out the rivets in the hold down plates in the front and back and disconnect the C channel. Takes time, but easy to do. Brace the shell at the mid-point and at the forward and rear ribs (so it retains its shape and you can get it back on). Lift one end and stick a long 2x4 under, do the same at the back. Then you can set the shell up on 4 saw horses and pull the wheels and fame out from underneath.

Piece of cake.

Note: the old advertising shows one guy holding up the shell, but it doesn't have windows in it. They are heavy.

Zep

Thanks a lot for the advise! I think I will attempt doing it this way, I am sure I can scrounge up a helper or two.

[packer fan]

I'm doing body off as well. Just elevating body as I go. Works for me and it keeps storage issue down. Also keeps the body and frame intact. Body off is always better on any restoration project . I'm a one man show out in the country and my girlfriend isn't into lifting body off with me so I'm stuck with a lil hoisting at a time.

[toastie]

After 7 years finally found the perfect outside plug in light.

toastie

[Aerowood]

Very nice, where'd you find it?

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Very nice, where'd you find it?

eBay, took 7 years, pricey, but worth it.

toastie

[albert]

Can anyone suggest the method for taking a floor out of my 57 over lander! It has those sunken bolts and isn't really rotted in any spots that I can find. Do I cut into the floor and start pulling it out? Is there a way to get those bolts out from the top side? Thanks for help.


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[MarkR]

Take a hole saw and cut a hole in a piece of scrap plywood. Place the Scrap Plywood over the Elevator Bolt w/the hole you just drilled centered over the bolt. Take the Drill bit out of the hole saw, stand on the scrap plywood w/ both feet and use it to guide the hole saw while cutting thru the trailer's plywood, repeat . . .

So the question is, if there isn't any rotted plywood subfloor, why would you need to remove the Elevator Bolts and Plywood? . . . I must be misunderstanding your post.

[albert]

Thanks for that great tip for the elevator bolts.

The reason for floor replacement is that it is a 1957, been through a lot it appears. There are holes cut everywhere and I'm not sure why. I want to look at the tanks and which ones I need or have. I don't want to remove the belly pan unless I have to.
Does that sound like a good reason to do the floor replacement to you?

[toastie]

Originally Posted by albert

Thanks for that great tip for the elevator bolts.

The reason for floor replacement is that it is a 1957, been through a lot it appears. There are holes cut everywhere and I'm not sure why. I want to look at the tanks and which ones I need or have. I don't want to remove the belly pan unless I have to.
Does that sound like a good reason to do the floor replacement to you?

Yes, time for a new floor, highly recommend dropping the belly pan and doing a shell off. Would also recommend new electrical system including a new 12v system, on my 1955 Safari they didn't use rubber grouments, had many cut wires.

toastie

[albert]

Yes, I was definitely planning all new plumbing and wiring, after taking off the inside skins.
I guess I'm just hesitant about she'll of, because it's just me and I have no clue how to make it happen. I know it's the right thing to do though. I will probably be keeping this trailer for myself, so I want everything done right.
I did replace partial floors on my ambassador, without she'll off,but it was just partial. Any advise or thread leads to help me out would be awesome. Thank you.

I plan to start a thread on the journey of this trailer as I will have a ton of questions to ask of all of you.

[Jim & Susan]

Albert,check out this link: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ons-35399.html

Jim

[toastie]

Originally Posted by albert

Yes, I was definitely planning all new plumbing and wiring, after taking off the inside skins.
I guess I'm just hesitant about she'll of, because it's just me and I have no clue how to make it happen. I know it's the right thing to do though. I will probably be keeping this trailer for myself, so I want everything done right.
I did replace partial floors on my ambassador, without she'll off,but it was just partial. Any advise or thread leads to help me out would be awesome. Thank you.

I plan to start a thread on the journey of this trailer as I will have a ton of questions to ask of all of you.

Starting your own thread will be a great start, when I started my thread I also had tons of questions. Learned a lot from Jim & Susan's thread.

toastie

[Sparky57]

I did a shell on restoration of my 57 Overlander. This is my thread, might be of use.
I didn't have space for a shell off restoration, but did a complete rebuild - frame to polishing and everything in between. Without the shell off, putting the floor back in is much harder, but possible.
The worst part of the job was the belly pan replacement- the compound corners in particular, so if you can leave what you have in place then that's what I'd advise. If you can't, then keep as much in tact as you can for a template.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ion-87899.html

[utee94]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Albert,check out this link: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ons-35399.html

Jim

Yup, great advice, lots of how-tos, and inspiration, in the Major Renovation threads.

[Greenfire]

Toastie thanks for documenting everything here, I just spent the last few hours reading this thread and it was worth every moment!

How comfortable are those mattresses now that you've had them a while?

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Greenfire

Toastie thanks for documenting everything here, I just spent the last few hours reading this thread and it was worth every moment!

How comfortable are those mattresses now that you've had them a while?

Green fire

Thanks very much, the foam is 5" with 2" memory foam for a total of 7" like it very much, however, wanted 6" foam with 3" memory for a total of 9" just couldn't make that work. The removable covers are great, perfect.

toastie

[albert]

Can I ask how you got the floor out while still having the shell attached?

Originally Posted by toastie

Notice how the u-channel was constructed on this 1955 Safari, electrical
will be upgraded...........

[toastie]

Originally Posted by albert

Can I ask how you got the floor out while still having the shell attached?

My restoration was a full shell off.....

toastie

[albert]

Yes, I saw that as I am still half way through your GREAT thread! But, I did notice that you had your floor removed while the shell was still on. This is where I am at right now with one of my trailers, and I am hoping to get the floor out while still having the shell attached. Possible? How?

[toastie]

Originally Posted by albert

Yes, I saw that as I am still half way through your GREAT thread! But, I did notice that you had your floor removed while the shell was still on. This is where I am at right now with one of my trailers, and I am hoping to get the floor out while still having the shell attached. Possible? How?

My restoration was a shell off (shell braced to control flexing) floor and belly pan removed, framed removed and repaired. What I did with the new floor and what you are seeing was just a test run, making sure fit and finish would work with plumbing, and that the shell would come down using gage pins to frame. There are 4 holes in frame that I used to align shell, floor. Left shell braced to help with alignment until floor was fasten to frame. Hope this make sense.

toastie