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Aerowood · 03-31-2009, 04:48 PM

I'm looking forward to meeting you.

vinstream · 03-31-2009, 05:42 PM

Kip, What are the dates?

Vin..

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 05:55 AM

Started the tearout yesterday afternoon. Got about three hours in and got the stove out some of the cabinets and working my way back. None of the long screws holding the frames in will budge. Havent had much luck drilling either, wood so soft, bit drifts away from screw. Will try a larger bit today. Most of my cabinets are going to have to be rebuilt anyway. I see they really allow for the flexing of the shell in their securing the frames. Very good design. The joinery is not great but by present day standards beats anything being built today. Got some pics, and any advice on getting these frame securing screws out would be appreciated. Also have a pic of a mystery trailer. can anyone tell me the year and length? It is called a 27 but looks a bit longer. I am so glad I have my wife for without her I would have three airstreams to work on now.

Your thoughts on the model and year airstream in the last two pics would be appreciated.

utee94 · 04-04-2009, 08:06 AM

I wish I had some better news for you, but those screws that hold the frames into the floor are just a real bear to get out. Mine were all flat-head (slotted) screws, and after 45 years of flexing and torquing, they were so firmly embedded that I just couldn't get enough leverage on most of them to get them out. I knew I'd be replacing the floor, so ultimately, I just used a big pry-bar and lifted the frames to rip the screws out of the floor. This damaged the veneer on some of the cabinetry, but I had planned to redo that anyway. I can tell you that I will not be using a single slotted screw when I reinstall the cabinetry!

Patience is the key.

Along with a big crowbar.

-Marcus

Ken J · 04-04-2009, 08:07 AM

David -

Boy does that look familier - sounds like its sawsall samari time - are you planning to redo the entire floor? The screws you are referring to are the one's holding the floor? You remove the bad floor, then you either use a grinder or sawsall to remove.

That second trailer with a blue strip looks like an early 80's vintage or a 70's where someone made it look like an 80's - my guess is mid 70's.

And WOW talk about bad axles! Those have got to be some of the worst I've seen -

Ken J.

Ken J · 04-04-2009, 08:29 AM

Oh - those screws - yeah some you will just have to rip out. Sometimes pounding on them will help...

**azflycaster** · 04-04-2009, 08:33 AM

The trailer in the second picture is early 70's or maybe a 69. The single hinge door was last seen in 1972.

flyfshr · 04-04-2009, 08:57 AM

Just found this thread. Where have I been? What an amazing recovery and am so glad you are going for the full-monty. You'll have tons of advise and encouragement here and all that's asked for in return is for you to continue posting your progress. I want to re-iterate two things: 1) take three times as many pictures as you think you'll ever need or want and 2) keep everything/don't throw anything away until you have put it back together and find out you aren't going to need it or use it. Besides, someone else may need that part anyway. Share the Airstream spirit. Glad you're following through and yup, you're inflicted.

Maybe we'll see you in Albu.

Brad
FF

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 09:51 AM

Let me tell all you fellows that are in your 40's, do it now, it ain"t as easy when your 63 ;^). Hope this will be my last restoration, but daggum I thought I would have grown out of this by now. Here is my progress at 10am this morning. I have got my arrangements made to be in Albuquerque at the end of this month. That restoration rally is a gift from heaven to me. Could not come at a better time. I really wanted to get this thing stripped before I came so If i ran into problems I could get some help out there. So far its going pretty good. It is going to rain here tomorrow so i need to finish and get all this stuff stored in my basement by dark tonight. I would love to get a look at my frame today. I cant wait to meet all you guys in person.

Ken J · 04-04-2009, 10:36 AM

I don't know - at 63 looks to me like you are kicking butt...! Looking at these pictures, it looks like you have a trailer that is in really great condition - the frame will have some challanges by the looks of the rear bumper, but that's a real easy fix compared to dented up aluminum.

You are rocking and rolling!!!

Ken J.

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 10:42 AM

Down to the tub. Everything else is out. Pics to follow.

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 11:32 AM

Okay tub was a problem. Thank God for that rotted floor, was able to get underneath and detach enough of the drain plumbing to get it out from the inside. Carried the tub out and looked at my watch it was high noon. For all those who see this thread and are trying to figure out an estimated time to strip one of these, this one took me 8 hours working alone and with a few breaks to post and One Coke. (things go better with coke). I will take some pics of the tools I used for anyone else who wants to contemplate this insanity. Only those who do this can know the pleasure of getting just one screw to come loose.

utee94 · 04-04-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by navyeod

Only those who do this can know the pleasure of getting just one screw to come loose.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I now hate flat-head screws with the white-hot intensity of 1,000 flaming Suns.

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 02:10 PM

Plugging away at getting all this stuff stored. quite a trip around my house to the basement to store all this stuff. Would be so nice If i could drive to my shop but it is about a 40 yard trip down a hill and back up.

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 02:15 PM

Promised my wife if I brought this trailer home I would not leave the driveway a mess. Its 3pm now. Seeing the bottom.

DEITZ645 · 04-04-2009, 02:56 PM

Navyeod,
Man you don't mess around do you? It's amazing how straight the body looks after sitting for so long. Hopefully the frame will be as straight once you get to it. You will have a very nice trailer once you are finished with this diamond in the rough.

Aerowood · 04-04-2009, 05:34 PM

Someone else here posted a way to get around the floor to frame bolts that I thought was quite novel. Use a hole saw to just cut around the bolts and take them out later. They must have shortened up the pilot drill quite abit in order not to hit the frame, or used none all all.

Kip

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 06:11 PM

Finished around 530 after a haul to the dump. Tons of rat feces and acorns, and asbestos, maybe a good idea to wait till your 60's to do this so the toxin exposure doesn't have time to kill you. Daggum I am tired. Got some pics to show what you will look like iat 63 f you don't get a grip in your life and stop all this restoration stuff. Also a pic of what tools you need.

navyeod · 04-04-2009, 06:23 PM

If I had only know when i was in my 20's

aircooled4 · 04-04-2009, 08:13 PM

I definitely admire your ambition... and what an awesome trailer to show for it!! We have a long way to go with our 22', Vivian, but know it will all be worth it in the end. Looks like this was your answer to prayer, and He definitely had His hand in it all along the way!

We can't wait to watch your progress with Eugene!!

Jay & Sheri