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Nichzimmerma · 05-30-2014, 10:08 PM

Hello Airstreamers, my wife and I live in Ohio and just bought a 1976 Ambassador in need of restoration. Our plan is to restore it quickly and live in it full time with our two toddlers for a few seasons. I will use this thread as a means of documenting the restoration and asking lots of questions, as we are completely new to Airstreams and RVs in general. Unsolicited and solicited advice are both welcome and encouraged!

Our primary considerations are doing every job right, resale value, and speed in the restoration. I will do my best to research my questions before answering them, but our only internet connection is through a rebellious smart phone so if I'm repetitive please forgive. For starters:

1) is there a section of the website where I can sell/give away the old interior? We are only reusing the appliances and I hate to throw the rest away.
2) we will be replacing the walls and subfloor. Ive seen tidbits of info on the forum but is there a good article or thread that gives step by step instructions for these?
3) what are the limitations of a shell on restoration? Is it quicker and can it be as thorough as a shell off?
4) should I automatically replace wiring since I'm removing walls and insulation? Upgrade from 30A to 50A?
5) can you purchase replacement exterior skins for the lower skins below the floor level? The P.O. ran over something with my trailerand the right forward corner skin is torn badly.

I will post pics in exchange for answers =). Thanks!

Nic & Amber

RM66caravel · 05-31-2014, 03:19 AM

1st buy a lot of memory (thumb nails) and take pictures of everything wether or not you may think it important! 2nd DO NOT throw or give or sell anything until you are done! Not cheap to replace. 3rd set a plan like if the floor has a lot of rot or soft spots then inspect the frame to see just how far and what you will need to fix! The belly pan or bottom can and if damaged is replaced but as stated before nothing is cheap so remove with care! You will need a good supply of 1/8 and 3/16 drill bits a cordless and corded drill some safety glasses and most of all time! Do not rush and if the frame needs a lot of attention then shell off May be the only solution so next. you read the many threads of those before you! It will save you a lot of money and frustration! Welcome to the forums and please post some of those pictures! Throughout my project I have thrown nothing away nor have I scraped any of the unwanted old aluminum and will not until I have finished! My only regret is I did not take enough pictures and I failed to read about the effects of using thicker plywood on how she goes back together.
Thanks for reading! Good luck
Cliff

Nichzimmerma · 05-31-2014, 07:34 PM

Some pics are attached. It came with a nearly full interior but it all must go to make way for our plans. I wish I could keep it until we are done but we are actively moving out of our house and I dont think I can cram that much stuff into our storage unit =). I just posted the ad in the classified section.

Nichzimmerma · 06-04-2014, 06:26 PM

I hit my first snag. The pan holding the wastewater tanks is just stuck. I have removed all the bolts holding it on (that I can see) but around the rear frame member it just seems like its glued on. The hoses are disconnected too. What am I missing?

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Minno · 06-04-2014, 07:03 PM

We did a shell on. In retrospect, a shell off would allow you to more easily flip the frame over to inspect, repair, and repaint. It would be easier to replace the belly pan because you could flip it upside down to do it ( instead of lying on your back shooting rivets up into the pan - fun fun). You could drop your tanks in from the top before you put the new subfloor on. IF we were to do this again, we would do a shell off. It is doable though.
I agree on taking many pictures. Even though you may do a different layout, it does help to reference how something was originally.
That looks like the fresh water tank..... If it is, it has a plywood piece under it holding it up. You will have to slide that plywood piece out before you can get the tank out. Is your belly pan off already?

Kay

Minno · 06-04-2014, 07:12 PM

Chris says black and grey tanks there (oops, I missed the toilet flange). You'll have to drop them from the bottom by removing the belly pan. You can then see the brackets that hold the tanks in place and get them out to remove the tanks. Looks like there's framing that would be in your way to get the tanks out from the top.

Kay

Nichzimmerma · 06-05-2014, 04:49 AM

Thanks Kay. To remove the tanks I have to remove the belly pan below the tanks. . I took the bolts out all around and up the middle, but the thing wont budge. Is there a trick to getting it off? Thanks.

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Nichzimmerma · 06-08-2014, 09:16 AM

Hopefully these pictures tell the story of how we raised the shell. If I was planning on having the shell off for a long time and work on the frame myself, a pair of gantries would have been the way to go. As it is, I will be preparing the new subfloor while I hire out the frame work and I hope to drop the shell back on next week so i didnt want to spend the time and $ to build gantries. So....did I narrowly escape death doing it this way?

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