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skyclad · 01-06-2016, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivetsforlife

Based on some of your photos, your 62 is identical to my 64. I have discovered that the floor tile adhesive is water based. A section of the old floor was left exposed to rain and the remains of the tiles just fell off. I am not doing a complete floor replacement, so I am going to try removing the rest with a spray bottle and putty knife.

interesting. thanks for the tip. please let me know how this goes.

skyclad · 01-20-2016, 03:15 PM

been a while but i'm making progress. i have everything out of the interior (appliances, window/skylight frames, antenna crank, etc.) so should be ready to start removing interior panels soon. question: do i need to remove the front and back above-window cabinets, or can i leave them attached to the end caps?

also drilled out all the belly pan buck rivets only to discover additional pop rivets and buck rivets hidden beneath the exterior skin. classic airstream gotcha! guess i'm not dropping the belly pan tonight.

pics and more updates soon...

skyclad · 01-26-2016, 10:19 AM

interior panels are starting to come down. got the frame supported with two jacks at the bumper to prevent sagging as the structure gets weakened by the lack of internal sheets. the ceiling panel is supported so it doesn't come down on top of us as we remove the rivets. and we're finding all sorts of nastiness behind the walls.... (yes that's a section of solid mouse poop under the panel)

btw, is there a trick to uploading pics in portrait format? mine always end up on their side once uploaded.

skyclad · 01-29-2016, 02:30 PM

got a lot done this week. all interior skin and insulation is out!

the plan is to go for shell off. any suggestions regarding bracing design?

also, around the ceiling curve there seem to be several ribs running fore-aft that are not riveted to the exterior skin (see last pic). does anyone know what those are for? seems like the interior skin makes them redundant. can they be removed and discarded?

looking ahead, has anyone figured out a sound way to re-engineer the floor/frame/skin connection? in the future, i'd like to have a way to replace the floor without messing with that connection, so i'd rather avoid having the floor run all the way btwn the floor c-channel and the frame. additionally, it would be great to make that connection such that the belly pan could be replaced (in case of dents, etc.) without removing the interior skins, etc. has anyone seen a thread with the solution to all this?

thanks and more soon....

rugjenkins · 01-29-2016, 05:23 PM

I re-engineered mine for that very same reason. Check out "argosy redo". If u have more questions on what I did I can post more pics to help.

rugjenkins · 01-29-2016, 05:26 PM

Unless you someone helping or done the work it's labor intense. Not sure you'll be able to meet your timeline. But it can be done

skyclad · 01-30-2016, 10:08 AM

Thanks rugjenkins! I'll definitely look at yr thread as well as darkspeed's. Which darkspeed thread should I be looking at for this floor connection?

rugjenkins · 01-30-2016, 09:19 PM

Headroom epiphany for darkspeeds thread

skyclad · 01-31-2016, 12:47 PM

Ok thanks. Btw I started a thread about re-engineering the floor connection here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146231

skyclad · 02-02-2016, 08:36 AM

both end caps out, wires pulled, and bracing going in. hope to lift the shell today!

DavidsonOverlander · 02-02-2016, 12:00 PM

Looking good! You might want to remove the window cranks so you don't risk hitting one when installing the bracing and breaking it off.

skyclad · 02-03-2016, 05:06 PM

It's now officially a frame off renovation!

skyclad · 02-05-2016, 08:15 AM

Approaching max de-con!

skyclad · 02-05-2016, 06:17 PM

Max de-con?

rugjenkins · 02-06-2016, 05:27 PM

Keep it up. Looking good. Having a building to work in makes a difference. I lose my mojo after it gets dark. At this pace you might make it in 4 months 😀

skyclad · 02-08-2016, 01:44 PM

the wheel wells are off and now i think i've really reached the point of maximum deconstruction. feels good! and daunting!

a few questions for y'all....

any recommendations for spec'ing/sourcing shocks and axils?

is there any reason to replace the tire rims? (see pic below)

also what's the best replacement for the water inlet? the fiberglass is all rotted out on mine (see pics). is there an off the shelf replacement part?

also, looking ahead, what are the hardest parts to source (trim, lights, lenses, skylight, etc.)? can i get all this new, or should i start hunting for vintage parts?

MarkR · 02-08-2016, 05:08 PM

I used Colin Hyde Trailer Restorations for my new Axle - it went "swimmingly" (and he's in N.Y.)

skyclad · 02-08-2016, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the tip! Did they order you a Dexter axil?

MarkR · 02-08-2016, 09:05 PM

I believe it's an "Axis" axle . . . which is a torsion axle like dexter

skyclad · 02-10-2016, 06:29 PM

Looking ahead... Is there any reason airstream didn't run the wiring below the floor and then up through the walls? Seems like that might make it easier to run new lines as needed.

Also does anyone have experience putting flexible plastic conduit in the walls to make future wiring upgrades/alterations easier?