roamerr
NC
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Joined: 10/29/2008
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Today was the firts time I saw this thread and all I can saw is "WOW". You definitely have skills!
This is really interesting considering that last weekend I was at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach and was surrounded by Airstreams. It was a group of 25 from an Airstream Club and they were traveling from Delaware. I'm a little slow -- it took me 2 days to realize they were an Airstream Club.
2009 Cherokee Wolfpack DFWP27 Toyhauler
2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi Quad Cab w/3.92
Can-Am Outlander 800 XT
Yamaha Rhino 660
Honda Recon
Honda XR200R
2 dogs - Basset Hound and German Beagle (mutt)
Great Family Fun!!
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David_NC
Southeastern NC
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Joined: 03/06/2008
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I'm amazed at how quickly you're progressing! I'm in the process of converting an ex-Trailways bus to an RV, so I'm familiar with some of the issues you're dealing with. One suggestion I'd make to anybody working with rivets on something like an Airstream is to use shaved head rivets. They are installed by one person... preferably with a pneumatic riveter. The tell-tale sign that it's a pop rivet is cut down by a special rivet cutter in a drill. The result is a rivet that looks like a buck rivet, is very easy to install with only one person, is used with a pneumatic rivet gun, and is waterproof (when the gasketed type are used). If you don't already have an air conditioner for it, I'd suggest a heat pump. When it's above about 38° out, a Carrier 15,000 BTU easily heats my 40' bus and doesn't cost much more than a regular A/C. At any rate, your Airstream looks great! I can't wait to see it when it's finished.
* This post was
edited 11/09/09 07:53am by David_NC *
1978 MCI MC-8 ...Conversion in progress
1989 Holiday Rambler Imperial 29
1998 Chevy Express 3500 Conversion Van
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Sherush
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 11/04/2009
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Wow I am amazed by your handy work.... I enjoyed reading this thread and seeing the photos and progress. Two thumbs up, I thought I had a handy hubby but you certainly take the prize
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maddog80
Rocky Mountains
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Joined: 04/19/2004
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David_NC,
Thanks for the tip on shaved head rivets.
I was reluctant to marry again just so I could work on an Airstream!
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dieseleagle
Cape Coral, Florida
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Joined: 04/26/2008
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We're not installing solar. If we boondocked a lot we would, but frankly, we'd probably use our TC for than kind of camping anyway.
LOL. Some men stay married for love, some to avoid alimoney. First time I've reflected on the necessity for the sake of having a rivet bucking partner.
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Terri travel
North Mississippi
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Joined: 05/09/2007
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dieseleagle wrote:We're not installing solar. If we boondocked a lot we would, but frankly, we'd probably use our TC for than kind of camping anyway.
LOL. Some men stay married for love, some to avoid alimoney. First time I've reflected on the necessity for the sake of having a rivet bucking partner.
HeHeHe
2006 Jayco Jayfeather 29BHS
Mike & Terri (working hard to play)
Melissa & Ty (23yr old daughter,13yr old son) Just along for the ride
Cujo & Sophie  {1 bad Chihuahua & Diva French Bulldog}
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dieseleagle
Cape Coral, Florida
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Last week I said that woodwork would command attention. I did get a little done, but the primary project involved setting the AC unit. I've been thinking about the best way to accomplish this for weeks and putting it off week after week. If you walk on the roof care has to be taken to stay on a primary rib. Its a long awkward reach from the side of the trailer to the flat part of the roof. I considered scaffolding with walk planks, and various ladder permutations. In the end, I opted to keep it simple.
I pulled the trailer out of the shop and hung a chain hoist from the attic. I lifted the AC unit and then backed the trailer in to center the opening under the unit.
While DW lowered the unit I guided it to land on the drip pan.
The drip pan is a little unique to Airstreams and is intended to keep the condensate water from staining the aluminum. There is a 1/2" ID tube that is connected to the pan and which runs inside the wall to exit next the wheelwell. Its really flimsey plastic so care had to be take to position it just right and not crush some portion of it.
With the unit in the right place I shimmed it up a lttle from underneath to squirt in a generous bead of polyurethane caulk. Then the inner trim ring was bolted to the unit and the whole thing tightened down.
After that it was just a matter of fastening the shroud, making the connections and mounting the inner air distribution assembly.
The plan is to do curved corners on the bed to make it easier to get by. I'm starting with the bed base since it will accomodate the electrical distribution panel. I constructed a set of forms and then kerfed two sheets of 3/8" plywood about every 1/4" inch. I wetted that down and then screwed it down over the forms. It didn't work. Plan B was to use 4 pieces of 1/8" "bendy" plywood, spread glue on both surfaces of each piece and then screw them down to my forms. They needed to set over night so I won't know for sure until tonight, but I'm confident that they will work great. Maple veneer will go over this substrate.
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KnLMurakami
Acton, CA
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WOW, it is really taking shape now. That's a cool idea for the bed too. I do so enjoy your posts! Keep them coming! Awesome job!
2008 Jayco JayFlight G2 23FB
1996 Ford F350 Crew Cab 4WD 7.3 IC
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David_NC
Southeastern NC
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maddog80 wrote:David_NC,
Thanks for the tip on shaved head rivets.
I was reluctant to marry again just so I could work on an Airstream!
Your welcome. No need for a spouse just to restore an Airstream!
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John H
Kansas City Mo.
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Joined: 04/11/2002
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Geeeesss I sure do like these re-building projects. Since I can not be there (DARN, I could help !!!), all the more pictures makes a small substitute. My background was in construction, and now I am a woodworker/furniture builder/tinker/honey doer/electrician/on & on. My mind it seems comes up with all kinds of hands on thing to accomplish. In my life it seems, I really like saying, "I did that". Like the way you set up your shop. As I stated to another, keep your mind ahead of your hands, and be careful. John
Oh yes, from the color of the paint on your T. saw it is a Delta ???? Douables as a router bench. Anti vib belt on saw. Grizzley band saw. Sears B. drill. A man can not have to many clamps. One more thing, with that High celing on the outer part. In the winter here, It is a good thing that you live in Florida.
John H
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