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Old 09-22-2006, 01:40 AM   #1
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Redoing a 31' Sovereign

It’s not as bad as it looks; the shell & frame are great condition it is just the one corner, about 30" W X 48L

After following this forum for a few weeks and now doing this retrofit I believe the route of the water damage on all these AS’s is the 2” fiberglass insulation not drying out and rotting the steel when it has a leak.

I’m removing all of the insulation under the floor and any where else I find it, replacing it with the foil bubble R-14 material.

I was looking at the banana skins there in good shape except there is slight perforation at each outrigger frame at the sharpest turn.

I’m not replacing those skins or I’ll never be ready for Thanksgiving.
What I plan on doing is removing the rivets at the bottom edge of the banana skin where it meets the belly pan thereby not disturbing the trim molding and insert etc.
Take out all insulation do the por etc.
I’ll cut 4” x 6” patches and insert them inside the banana skin where the perforations are with some sealer and a few rivets.

There will be no insulation under the floor; I will seal the wood with fiberglass resin.
Inside the whole floor will get fiber glassed.
The whole floor inside will get the foil r-14 under the Pergo.

I’m never doing this job again, this should last forever.

Plenty of rot/rust right there, but when I look a little further the paint on the frame is shiny black. I’ll weld in some 1/8” steel to beef it up do the por 15 thing.
Put new belly skin in rear, about 60x60 area.

I think I can reuse the belly skin in the front.

When I bought this there were no rear beds, so I'm building a short queen cross ways with access from outside thru a luggage door.
I’m saving one of the overhead cabinets for bedding etc.

Bath will stay except new toilet shower head & controls.

All new pex plumbing, removed steel duct work replacing that with 4" flex insulated cost $11.

Besides weight savings it will allow more space under the kitchen & toilet sinks.
The kitchen will be rebuilt as it was same fronts all the tambor is good. A new stove top will replace the original, new Formica top.

The wardrobe doors and frame were removed the upper cabinets will stay; bunk beds will go in that space. I’m trying to to work a design where the upper becomes a seat back when not in use as a bed. Not sure it will layout, but will try a few idea’s

Fridge New and pantry are staying the credenza in front of the fridge will go.
As well as the table and Gaucho thinking about doing a wrap around dinette, or L shape arrangement???

The Univolt works but will go, a new 55amp power center is planned removing the original breaker box.
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Old 09-22-2006, 01:48 AM   #2
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All blocked up ready to get dirty

The damage
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Old 09-22-2006, 01:54 AM   #3
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The pan had perforations in it, the stabilizer mounting plate is paper thin and the frame needs a bit of reinforcement

All this because of a leak in the tail lite that was fixed with silicone by PO
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Old 09-22-2006, 02:00 AM   #4
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The galley is out, all the steel ducts are gone. After this was taken all the copper was also cut out waiting for PEX.
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Old 09-30-2006, 09:10 AM   #5
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The fiber gear on top that raises the tv antenna has teeth broken off of my '70 31" Sovereign. Any clue where to get a new part or assemblyu?
Thanks
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Old 11-29-2006, 07:17 AM   #6
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Have you made any progress on the bunks? Any pics?
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Old 11-29-2006, 07:23 AM   #7
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Here's a thread on the rear queen bed frame.

the bunk beds are going to be later, after the sofa.
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Old 12-27-2006, 07:39 AM   #8
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New Galley Photos

IT IS FINISHED!!!

Okay, not to hijack here but I FINALLY installed my galley after over a year of it sitting in the LR. I installed a new countertop, Suburban NT-30, a new water pump, all new water lines to freshwater tank, Intellipower converter, new PF faucet, and a new Suburban oven/stovetop.

Kneal, I will commence bunk building this week. (I have already drawn up design and will hopefully start cutting wood tonight.) My emphasis is strength with as little weight as possible.

I'll post pics as they occur.

Oh yeah, the subject in the photos is a '72 Sovereign CB.
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Old 12-27-2006, 07:44 AM   #9
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yeah! Looking great... I really like the ocuntertop and new stove. My old harvest gold one is in very good shape, so I am procrastinating replacing it, but a modern look does help. Did you laminate the top yourself or buy it and do the cuts? Around here it seems hard to find the laminate not already glued.
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Old 12-27-2006, 10:35 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Summers
The fiber gear on top that raises the tv antenna has teeth broken off of my '70 31" Sovereign. Any clue where to get a new part or assemblyu?
Thanks
Gary
maybe the one on this Amabassador will turn out to be OK
http://www.airforums.com/forum...ght=dead+baker

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Old 12-27-2006, 11:00 AM   #11
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Nice job Ron,

The kitchen counter looks great.

Is the backsplash glued on?

Keep us posted on the bunks. I'm leaning that way as well....
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Old 12-27-2006, 02:57 PM   #12
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Looks great, Nice job!
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Old 12-27-2006, 07:53 PM   #13
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Tim,

I had this countertop laminated professionally. (I cut out the plywood and took it to them. They achieved the rounded backsplash that I never could.)

I did the one in my Overlander myself (every step) and it turned out pretty good but the rounded backsplash is primo.

Alan, it's not that difficult but it does take time. There's a lot of removal (oven, sink, trim, etc.) involved though. (That's why it's great to start with a junker...makes it so much easier to tear it apart to get what you want! )
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Old 12-28-2006, 08:43 AM   #14
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I hear ya on that. I ordered my kitchen countertops from Home Depot, I measured the old ones, drew it out, they made em, and I installed. Cost a lot less than I expected, and I got the sim granite look ready to go. Cutting out the sink hole was the only tricky part. I could do the same with the trailer, but that is a little ways down on the project list...
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