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lwebb · 02-07-2004, 12:14 PM

I think I have read every rivet post here at least twice but then again I'm likely to have missed some. So if there's one that covers this let me know.

I' m about to begin a total renovation of my old Holiday. a great many of the rivets are loose enough to wiggle to the point I can slide shirt cardboard under the head.

I will have the interior completely stripped so I don't think getting to the back side of the rivet will be a problem. Is there a way to tighten these effectively or should I remove them all and start anew
lanny

markdoane · 02-07-2004, 12:35 PM

Love the picture of your '53 Holiday. What type of rivets and what size?

I'm afraid if they are regular bucked rivets, the holes will be so oversized you will need to drill them out and use oversized rivets. With the age of your unit, I'm pretty sure you would want to do all of them at once so they look consistent and really pretty.

lwebb · 02-07-2004, 12:53 PM

Mark, They look to be the same size as what I've seen on most Airstreams. I'd guess since it was made in the Jackson Center Ohio Airstream pant, they would be the same?
Here is a pict of the ele inlet:
Lanny

lwebb · 02-07-2004, 12:57 PM

Sorry new to this. let's see if the picture comes through now?

markdoane · 02-07-2004, 01:16 PM

Yeah, those look like the standard rivets. Those are supposed to be 1/8". I found when I drilled out the rivets on my '59 that quite a few were oversized, even though they were all tight.
I think I am going to use 5/32" 'modified Brazier head" rivets when I put mine back together. They have a larger stem (5/32") but have the same head size as the original 1/8" rivets.
Be sure to use hardened rivets. You can order from Byler rivet company. Talk to Jimmy Johnson. They're $11/100, and you need a rivet set also ($16). Let me know if you are going this direction and we can order at the same time as they are not a stock item.

Or you could go with the Universal head rivets which I think is what most people use. Not much difference except the head is higher and dish shaped. Depends on how original you want to be.

Or you could use Olympics.

lwebb · 02-07-2004, 02:02 PM

Wow Mark, That's to many choices. After reading all the posts I thought the majority opinion was to use Olympics. I'll have to go back and do more homework. I had priced the 300 pack of Olympic Bulb-tite rivets from Airstream dreams. A $56 per 30 they are a good bit mr expensive than the modified Brazier head rivets you mentioned at $11 pr 100.I don't really remember if they offered different sizes. I think they are 5/32. OK what is a rivet set. I was going to bite the bullet and split the cost of a shaver tool with a friend. He has a 66 20' Avion he's redoing.
lanny

markdoane · 02-07-2004, 02:28 PM

Sorry, thot you were taking the interior panels off,which make regular bucked rivets a lot cheaper and easier.

However, you would need to buy a rivet gun, bucking tools, and rivet set (the nosepiece that goes into the rivet gun). Would be about $300 unless you buy from ebay. You also need a friend to work on the other side of the panel.

On the other hand, the olympic rivets take longer to put in, and you need the rivet shaver. And they cost more for each unit.

I guess it depends on how many you plan to do and what you want the final product to look like. I'm doing a frame off restoration so I have at least 500 rivets to put in.

lwebb · 02-07-2004, 02:59 PM

Yeah Mark, 99.9% of my restoration will be solo. I'm planing to do a frame of restoration n mine as well. It's only 16' long tongue to tail so it shouldn't be too bad. I did a 16' Casita from ground up replacing or refurbishing everything down to the bare fiberglas. It's what got me excited about the Holiday.
Lanny

InsideOut · 02-07-2004, 11:17 PM

I would LOVE to see pictures of your Holiday...both interior & exterior! Post some to your gallery when you get a chance...

Shari

lwebb · 02-08-2004, 06:40 PM

Shari, If I could figure out how to do that, I'd be happy to. I read "Attaching Photo Gallery Photos"... in 10 easy steps." but where it says "In the top right hand corner, click on "Upload Photos" I sure can't find the "Upload Photos" button.? Her are a couple of pictures.
lanny

lwebb · 02-08-2004, 06:42 PM

Inside front, Sorry really bad photo

lwebb · 02-08-2004, 06:42 PM

Inside Back

InsideOut · 02-09-2004, 10:26 AM

Very nice...I love it! Especially the "yellow dingle-balls", although they probably aren't original.

Quote:

I read "Attaching Photo Gallery Photos"... in 10 easy steps." but where it says "In the top right hand corner, click on "Upload Photos" I sure can't find the "Upload Photos" button.

Are you logged in? Sometimes I find I can view the photos but can't leave a ny comments or upload only to find I haven't actually logged in. Oppps! Double check & see if that could be your problem...if not, PM me & we'll see if we can figure it out.

markdoane · 02-09-2004, 11:05 AM

WOW! Lots of ground clearance. Did you replace the axle? Love the white walls.

Ken J · 02-09-2004, 11:13 AM

Wow, thats a great, very rare, trailer - good luck with the restoration and be sure to keep us posted with LOTS of pictures

Ken J.

lwebb · 02-09-2004, 01:28 PM

Hey thanks all, I can't tell you how excited I am to get the Holiday. What you see is exactly as I found it. It took almost two years to finalize the deal. I know I paid way too much but I couldn't be happier with the purchase now that I finally have it. What you can't see it that the floor under the bed is completely gone. I thought at first I could get him down but after trying I was afraid he wouldn't sell it at all.
Once I saw it three years ago in the back woods of FLA and then couldn't find ANYTHING out about it at all, I knew I had to get it and put it back in like new condition. I can't wait to get started.

Fred Coldwell, VAC Archive Historian, found a promo brochure directed at retailers. He was graciuos enough to send me a copy. Evidently the Holiday was only in production one year. This is a detail. It will give me a lot of good directions. It's how I knew the shelves over the back bed were originally a bunk bed. The copy says it will sleep 5 adults comfortably!

and yeah on the gallery, I'm sure I was logged in, I did it at least three times?

InsideOut · 02-09-2004, 02:25 PM

Cool Pix!

Quote:

and yeah on the gallery, I'm sure I was logged in, I did it at least three times?

Here's a snapshot of what it should look like on the top right hand portion of the photo page...

Shari

lwebb · 02-09-2004, 04:47 PM

I'm sorry I feel really dumb but:
I go to forums home page
I click on "members photos"
It takes me to
http://www.airstreamphotos.com/photo...at=500&thumb=1
I log on again just to make sure
It tells me I logged on successfully
I get this:

lwebb · 02-09-2004, 04:53 PM

OK
I go to forums home page
it says I'm logged on as lwebb
I click on "My Photo Album"
I get this:

InsideOut · 02-09-2004, 05:14 PM

Hmmm...strange.

Try this: Go to the "Forums" page: http://www.airforums.com/forums/index.php

Then click on the "Member's Photo Albums", the second from the top.

Then "Login" using the button on the top. You should get the following image...if not let me know. I'm thinking that you may not be able to get on through "My Photo Album" if you don't have any pictures posted.

Shari