Windows

My 1959 Airstream Ambassador has 10 windows installed.  They are Hehr Standard windows that are of simple design and have worked very well.  However, they are 56 years old and need some maintenance.  Restoration of these windows will require that they be removed from the trailer.  They will undergo a laborious process of removal, cleaning, glass replacement, and resealing.   

Clean design.

Front Living area (Street Side)

Each window on my Airstream has a drip rail attached over top of the window to direct water away. However, this is not true of every vintage Airstream.

Why the need for repairs?

This photo shows a window with weathered and shrinking outer glazing seals.

The inner seal holding the glass in the window frame has also let go in some places.

The only way to repair these leaky windows is to take them apart and install new seals and glass.

The laborious process begins...

Removing the drip rails.

The first step is to remove the drip rails to allow for the removal of the windows.

  

Rivets on the drip rail have to be drilled out.

More rivets!

Be careful to drill only the center of the rivet.

Here, all the rivets have been drilled out across of one drip rail.

Now remove the drip rail from the trailer being careful not to scratch the trailer panel surface.

Remainder of the rivet heads will fall off during this process.

Drip rail fully removed, and the 56 year old caulking still looks good.

Removing the windows.

The windows are easy to remove.  First, the operating mechanisms must be removed or disconnected from the sash. Next, the windows are opened fully by lifting the bottom up to their maximum travel.  

The window sashes can then be simply slid sideways out of the top channel hinges.

Opening mechanism installed inside trailer before removal.

Opening mechanism removed and ready for cleaning.

I found two of these mechanisms that need to be replaced due to stripped gears. They are still available from Vintage Trailer Supply.

Bottom locking mechanism installed inside trailer and needs to be removed, as well.

Window raised to maximum travel with operating mechanisms removed.



Sliding the window sideways and out of the top channel hinge.

Now repeat the process for all 10 windows. To keep everything organized, I used coffee cans and numbered them to collect the screws and hardware from each window.

Cleaning Up.

Each drip rail location and window opening needs to be cleaned up and shined.

Here the drip rail rivets are cleaned up and the remaining caulking is removed.

Everything needs to be clean before anything can be reinstalled.

A wire wheel brush seems to be the only expedient way to remove the dirt.

Be very careful not to scratch the aluminum above the rivet line!

A putty knife helps to remove excess caulking.

More Parts for Removal  

Each window jam has rubber seals that must also be removed.

New seals will be ordered from Vintage Trailer Supply.

Bottom and side seals are removed from window jam channel.

Side seal being removed.

The top seal is of a different shape.  It is no longer available, but Vintage Trailer Supply has an alternate seal available.

More Cleaning! 

This picture shows the window jam where the opener mechanism fits.

Brown color is grease.  

All must be cleaned and polished.  It takes a lot of time and effort.

The polish  is "Nuvite-NuShine II" from Vintage Trailer Supply.

A buffer wheel on my drill works well.

A sense of accomplishment takes over once the jams and surrounding areas are polished.

Cleaning the Window Sashes

The window sashes are going to take even more time and effort.

There are glazing seals that hold the glass onto the inside and outside of the frame.

Both need to be removed and the frame cleaned.

Glazing seal being peeled away from outside of frame.

The glass window is removed by breaking it out of the frame. 

The tar-based glazing seal is then peeled off the inside of window frame.

Removing and cleaning these 10 windows was a big job.

I used every tool available in my shop to scrape, clean, and shine these frames.

Once cleaned and shined they look pretty good.

Glass replacement

The process to remove, clean, and shine the window jams and sashes is complete.

I can now look forward to re-installing the windows.

The new window glass has been ordered.

Stay tuned for the installation process!

Wanted

"New Barber"

The wife says, 

"You can't go back there anymore!"

Why do I need a new barber?

I bought another trailer.

1962 Airstream Overlander  (26 feet) 

The Story.

At the barber shop, conversation often centered around
 "that old Airstream trailer just north of town."

For three years the trailer's owner and I frequented the same barber shop.

My barber was keenly aware of my interest in that trailer.

I said, "It is a Legacy Airstream trailer."
It was built during the era that "Wally Byam" controlled the company.
The trailer was just sitting outside neglected and forlorn.

Finally, the word was out that the trailer was for sale
Not long after that it followed me home. 

Perhaps another Blog?

Stay tuned...

The Barber Shop

  

A trip to the local barber shop can keep one looking sharp with a fresh cut and keep you current on gossip and local news.  Such was the case on my latest visit.  My barber knew that I was obsessed with older Airstream trailers.  As I was being quaffed, my barber told me about a garage sale down the road where a fellow was trying to sell an "old Airstream trailer."  

The barber explained that he had been there only yesterday and had actually seen the trailer.  
"Oh yes," he said. "It's an old one."

  My eyes widened as I learned the details.  I had a hard time sitting still as he trimmed and chattered.  

I knew exactly where the trailer was located.  I would drive there immediately.

This is what I saw from the road !

As I pulled into the driveway my heart skipped a few beats !

It was old alright. And it looked like it was in good shape.

There it was. It had bee sitting there for several years.  

I was shaking with anticipation !

 On closer inspection I found that it was all there !!!

It was being used as a storage shed.

I had to have her.

1952 Flying Cloud.

(21 feet-California built)

I summoned the owner and immediately made my "deal of a lifetime."

Now to get her home.  I had to cut some tree limbs and change a tire to get her out.

Once I got her out she was good to go !

Here she is all cleaned up.

Her name is "Siri," a 1952 Flying Cloud-21 feet with single axle.
My wife said, "This one is mine."

"Siri" joins the family with 

"See-More," a 1959 Ambassador-29 feet with double axle 

and

 "Stella," a 2000 Excella-34 feet with triple axles.

Stay tuned - "Siri" will have a blog of her own soon ...

P.S. - Oh, I had to get a job to support this (aluminum) habit.

Vent Stack

This vent stack is located on the roof of the trailer in the kitchen area.  It is used to vent the fumes from the furnace. Modern RV furnaces are vented through the sidewall of the trailer making this vent stack and interior vent piping obsolete.  We will remove the inside vent piping but keep the vent stack on top of the roof to maintain the "vintage look" on the outside of the trailer.

The vent pipe was routed up through the kitchen cabinets and then boxed in on top of the counter top. It continued up through the overhead cabinet and out the roof stack.
Making the vent inoperable and removal of the piping will provide additional space.

   

The roof hole for the vent will be closed off and sealed.

This picture shows the vent stack removed. The area was then cleaned and shinned.

To cover the area a patch was fashioned from the same type aluminum .

The patch was installed using pop rivets and sealed with caulking.

The patch was made smaller than the vent base cover for proper fit.
The vent stack will be polished before being re-installed permanently.

Time to Shine

Oh My !!!  It really does shine after a lot of hard work....

This "desire" to shine all the aluminum started very early in the process. My plan was to build and complete a functioning trailer. The final step would be to "shine" the trailer.

So, the "desire" began when I decided to shine some parts and pieces. Like the awning rail and the area of the body under the awning rail.  Then there was the area in front of the trailer
where the trim piece attaches near the bottom of the shell.

I reasoned, "Wouldn't the caulking adhere better if it were shined?"
After seeing the results, I just could not stop myself!

My grandson saw the opportunity to test the new shine.

  

Looked really good so far. Let's do more!

Polishing aluminum is addictive!

What a difference it makes!

My choice for polishing this alclad aluminum travel trailer is Nuvite's Nu Shine II.

It was purchased from  "Vintage Trailer Supply."

Grade F 9 (very course) was selected for the "first cut" due to the heavy oxidation and light corrosion.
The second pass polish will be done with a grade F 7 (less course).

To what degree and when to stop polishing is a personal decision.
My goal is to make it look "Stunning!"

The 100% wool polishing pads were also purchased from "Vintage Trailer Supply."

Polishing an Airstream trailer is hard work.
I followed the detailed polishing instructions in the publication listed
 on the "Vintage Trailer Supply's"web site.



The tail lights, marker lights and other items were removed to make the job easier.



I polished the entire top of the trailer by gaining access through the "open" hatches.



After a few days (and sore muscles) the "first cut" polish on the trailer was almost complete.

Seeing the results after polishing was fun but it did uncover some serious issues.

The battery box on the front of the trailer needed to be removed.

Considerable corrosion was found behind and below it and will require much attention.

During polishing the buffing wheel helped locate a few buck rivets that
were not installed correctly at the factory.
Several were removed and will be re-installed properly.

Inspection of those rivets from inside the shell showed evidence of corrosion and leaking.

Lots of work has been accomplished but there is much more to be done.

Stay tuned!

More Roof Work

One of the items needing attention is the "antiquated" refrigerator vent. 

It did not provide proper venting for the refrigerator. 

The vent is small and will be replaced with a more efficient style. The vent was poorly designed and caused some damage to the skin of the trailer.  

Excess heat and soot pooled in the area above the old refrigerator.  While inspecting this damage I poked my finger through the outside skin. 

 Vent path was not well defined. Heat and soot build up caused damage.

The new vent was located and installed above the future position of the refrigerator.

This is the new style vent and will look good on "SeeMore."

I measured and marked the shape to be cut out.

The base fit perfectly after it was trimmed for the ceiling rafter.

Nice dry-fit here.

Hood sitting over the vent looks good and will provide proper venting.

Screws will be used on both ends of the vent hood to attach it to the roof.