1974 Ambassador - Full Restoration

[Aopsahl7]

Busy few weeks. Here is what I got done. Followed by a roll out pic to take down the gantries.

- Windows all restored and tinted with ceramic 35% LTV. This was a hell of a process but we’ll worth it.

- Cut in and installed 2 additional windows in the back quarters. Since I am going to do a twin rear bed setup it made sense to have more light. This was easy once all the lines were drawn to get it right.

- Subfloor is fully secured to the frame with new 316 stainless bolts and lock tite.

- Fridge vent removed and patched.

- Battery box removed and patched.

- Side radio antenna removed and pateched.

- Old AC removed. New Dometic Brisk 2 Ontop.

- Replaced all market lights with LED

- Installed perimeter lighting.

- Removed plumbing vents and patched.

- installed wheel wells. Need a few patched for cracks. Will figure that out shortly.

- Installed custom Cell Booster antenna array made up of Shakespeare Marine mast and supports.

- Installed 400W of solar.

- Installed fantastic fans

- Installed MaxxAir Fan over future shower.

- Foam sealed all gaps around wheel wells

[Aopsahl7]

[kidjedi]

Looking good!

By the way, if the original AC was an Armstrong, there are lots of people who will want the old one (pretty much in any condition).

edit: To clarify... by "lots" I mean there are people. [blush]

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

Looking good!

By the way, if the original AC was an Armstrong, there are lots of people who will want the old one (pretty much in any condition).

edit: To clarify... by "lots" I mean there are people. [blush]

Let me see who makes it. I am accumulating a fair amount of random original parts like roof plumbing vents, AC unit, water fill etc.

Anyone have extra window lifter arms?

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

GRanch take a look at Vintage Trailer Gaskets. He has quite a few different styles and lots of images and instructions.

What he said.

[kidjedi]

Originally Posted by Aopsahl7

Let me see who makes it. I am accumulating a fair amount of random original parts like roof plumbing vents, AC unit, water fill etc.

Anyone have extra window lifter arms?

I really am going to get down there, hopefully soon. Which kind of window lifters are you looking for (flat blade or cylinder type?).

[dbj216]

Hi: Man you did get a lot done. The windows look great, and even the new ones you installed. Were they new or used windows?

How will you vent the drain plumbing without roof vents. Maybe you know of a "vacuum breaker" or "air emitter" that performs the same function as an open vent.

David

[Ctmchristo]

Wow nice work!

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

I really am going to get down there, hopefully soon. Which kind of window lifters are you looking for (flat blade or cylinder type?).

Need the rod ones with male threads at a 90 degree angle at the top to bolt onto the back window frame.

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Hi: Man you did get a lot done. The windows look great, and even the new ones you installed. Were they new or used windows?



How will you vent the drain plumbing without roof vents. Maybe you know of a "vacuum breaker" or "air emitter" that performs the same function as an open vent.



David

All the windows except for the back two were original. The back two were original but not from my trailer. I bought them with frames intact so I could add them to the trailer.

I am going with Studor vents. Since I will not have any black tank (going with composting toilet) it should work. Fingers crossed!!!!

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by Ctmchristo

Wow nice work!

It’s fun!

[kidjedi]

Originally Posted by Aopsahl7

Need the rod ones with male threads at a 90 degree angle at the top to bolt onto the back window frame.

I probably have some, but the way things are going, I probably couldn't get them to you for a long, long time. I do probably have some though.

Regarding the Studor vents... even though you won't have a black tank (I don't either), your gray tank will smell bad, and that can cause issues with those "in wall" vents. I am the voice of experience.

[air_boy]

Originally Posted by Aopsahl7

I am going with Studor vents. Since I will not have any black tank (going with composting toilet) it should work. Fingers crossed!!!!

You doing Gray tanks? You may have already thought of it, but you need to vent the top of the tank so it doesn't get air locked. Studors only work under vacuum so they aren't going to help release pressure from the tank. Just don't want you to find that out after you button it up more.

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by air_boy

You doing Gray tanks? You may have already thought of it, but you need to vent the top of the tank so it doesn't get air locked. Studors only work under vacuum so they aren't going to help release pressure from the tank. Just don't want you to find that out after you button it up more.

Well you got me!

I am actually in debate over this (hence why I am holding onto my roof vents). I am doing a composting toilet so no black tank. For the gray tank I go back and forth. From a simplicity component as well as having one less thing to do the idea of not having a gray tank is attractive. When boonedocking (I know it is against the rules) I dont see any issue draining into a hose and giving a tree some well needed water. When at camp grounds or national parks I would either need hookups or a blue tote/bucket etc. Not convenient, but I dont plan on spending much time at designated parks. With all of that said, it seems like a miss to not put a gray tank in while I am doing all of this work anyways. Haven't finalized the decision yet and I guess I will need to make up my mind before I start plumbing and closing up the belly pan.

I am open to thoughts!

[Aopsahl7]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

I probably have some, but the way things are going, I probably couldn't get them to you for a long, long time. I do probably have some though.

Regarding the Studor vents... even though you won't have a black tank (I don't either), your gray tank will smell bad, and that can cause issues with those "in wall" vents. I am the voice of experience.

Sounds like I need to put a hole back in the roof ha ha. See my comments below on my gray tank debate.

[Hittenstiehl]

If you are there, putting a gray tanks in seems reasonable even if you don't use it to start. You never know when your usage type may change. That will also make you self contained. You'd hate to ruin a camping trip by surreptitiously draining into a tree and a host asks you to leave. People are always watching both out of curiosity, nosiness and boredom.

[kidjedi]

You definitely want a gray tank.

If you're at all on the fence, I highly recommend just doing it now while you have access.

Here's the thing though... I even more HIGHLY recommend plumbing your urine diverter to a gray tank. As you know, the composting toilets separate number one and number two. Emptying the "pee bucket" by hand is gross and inconvenient. Plumb the urine side to a gray tank, it gets mixed with water (diluted), and you don't have to dump a gallon jug of pee every day.

I actually custom built my current composting toilet, and I've got the plumbing routed so that when you wash your hands after, the water rinses the pipe where the urine runs.

Also, you may not need to cut a hole in your roof. The gray tank just needs "pressure relief" so you can route that exhaust pipe just about anywhere. With a black tank, odor is a major concern. With "just" a gray tank, it's still a concern, but not as bad, so you can just be judicious with the outlet location. You will need to be sure that most of the "exhaust pipe" is well above the level of the top of the tank though.

[Aopsahl7]

That is enough evidence for me. Grey tank here we come.

Who makes the best one? I don’t care if it is original. Just the best one that will fit in our frame rail gaps.

[dbj216]

I think you are wise to add a grey tank, as well as plumb urine to it also. Grey tank is mostly "wash water" and has enough soap in it that bacteria tends not to get as bad as in the black tank. Our country homes for years have had "septic tanks" that do all the waste water from the house. We are cautioned not to add bleach to the washing machine as it kills the bacterial action in the tank.

You can install a grey tank system that will hold a lot of water if you like. Taking a shower or doing dishes uses a lot of water typically. The fresh water tank in your trailer may have been in the 45 gallon range. I don't know for sure. Here is a photo of the fresh water tank out of the 76 Sovereign we worked on.

Filling a couple of frame bays up with grey water storage maybe just behind the axles is wise. You can use two tanks and plumb the drains into a common manifold. I actually think it would add resale value to your trailer. No black tank may detract from resale value in my opinion.

Inca Plastics in California makes a lot of RV tanks. What I do is study their on line catalogue until I find a tank of the right size and shape to suit my needs.
I have bought 7 tanks from them over the years and they all worked. Customer service isn't their strength, but I find email to the sales dept describing the tank(s) I want to order works.

David

[zephyr9900]

That is a missing access door. I have a 72 Overlander and both doors went missing on my drive home after I bought it. I covered them with acrylic panels as a temporary measure. To latch them I was able to purchase the correct Chicago Lock from Inland RV but now I see that they are no longer in stock. Now I am in the process if polishing the trailer and I wand to make the access doors look like the originals. To do this you need the locks, a window hinge extrusion to fit in the tack above the door, and some kind of extrusion for the perimeter of the door. The window hinge extrusion seem to be no longer available so I was able to make some by machining some aluminum bar stock. Now I am going to fabricate an "extrusion" for the perimeter. Since I no longer have a sample of what it looks like I can only come up with what I think the extrusion profile should look like. The main issue is that I don't have the right kind of Al bar that will allow the extrusion to be formed for the corners. So instead I am planning on making it in sections and then welding them together.
Attached is the window hinge extrusion.