Work in Progress

Wiring, continued

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:54:02 -0700

We’re back to wiring, plumbing and working under the trailer. Somehow, this goes hand in hand, one is necessary to finish the other. To finish the belly enclosure, the water lines and wiring have to be ran, et.etc.
The battery compartment has room for 2 group 31 size batteries, the Xantrex converter/charger, the solar charge controller, a Battery disconnect relay, and large capacity fuses/circuit breakers. Electrical circuit protection is very important, especially with large amperage circuits such as these supply circuits. a small problem here can turn into a disaster in a heartbeat, so every supply run is fused right at the source.

The electrical supply system, with it’s wiring roughed in. The wiring will be routed and secured, once the 2 Odyssey #2150 batteries are in place. We temporarily used shop batteries to test the system and fabricate all the 4ga connection cables. But the terminals might be in a slightly different location on the Odysseys. Hence, it still looks like spaghetti.

The battery disconnect relay with the white plug in the front. The solar protection breaker has the yellow lever on it, and the gold colored fuse block is for the DC mains.

Isolated studs for heavy gauge wire connections.

The right side of the battery installation, with supply fuses for the tongue jack, breakaway switch, electric stabilizers, and for the Dexter EH hydraulic brake actuator

This side won’t be finished until the interior skin is in place, since some of it will be mounted to it.

Progress

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:29:50 -0700

Lots has happened since the last update. Slower than I wished, but nevertheless, things happened. The door was re-skinned on the inside, with a single piece of Alclad.

The protective film will have to stay for a while, to avoid scratches.
The door handle still needs to be fitted, and sealed.

New inner skin. While at it, the insulation was replaced also, and some loose angle inside the door was replaced and secured.

The emblems came back from the chrome shop. The mounting studs are now one size bigger, so the original emblem nuts no longer fit. A trip to several vintage car parts stores in town proved successful. Found the correct emblem nuts at a vintage Chevrolet parts dealer. 2 bucks.

A new ZipDee Patio awning.

A new gas regulator was adapted to fit onto the original bottle holder.

A/C is roughed in. It’s outside grille is being chromed. We fabricated a grille for it, since the one that came with the unit was unacceptable. It reminded me of a smaller version of a storm drain cover....only in colonial white.

Today’s Temps: upper 80’s with humidity
Today’s Tunes: a mix of Steely Dan and Donald Fagen.
The Nikon was in the cargo case on my motorcycle, btw. In case someone was wondering....

Where’s my Nikon?

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:36:36 -0700

So, I spent much of today installing a new awning on the Ambassador. It was necessary, at least in my mind, to reinforce the skin where the awning attaches. In that spirit, I thought I’d snap some pictures of the modification, but could not locate my camera. Not at Area 63, not at home, either. Dang. Where’s my Nikon?
There was no way to extent the awning inside of Area 63, so I worked out in the parking lot all day...can you say hot and muggy? The best part was rolling out the awning and taking a break with an ice cold bottle of water underneath the new found shade... Yay!
So, not to be a bad sport, I posted a previously taken picture of my favorite car in the whole wide world, my 1959 Mercedes.

No tunes today, other than some remotely audible KNX am news....
Temps? mid 80’s, but very moist.

Update

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:28:30 -0700

Today was spent with finishing and labeling the DC wiring for the main systems inside and under the trailer. We now have all the light and basic systems in place and organized. The next step is to run the control wires for holding tank sensors, thermostats, heat exchangers, and the audio/video/satellite system wiring. A/C wiring comes after that.
Sorry for the lack of pictures.
We had a visitor today. Ed flew in specially from Wyoming to learn about wiring a trailer first hand. We were excited to show him the basics of circuit design and application of 12V systems in a travel trailer. We hope that he takes with him new and good ideas to implement in his own restoration of a 1958 double door Airstream Overlander.

Temps inside shop: 87F with high humidity
Tunes: Dave Matthews band, and mixed offerings from my son’s ipod.

Flying Cloud

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:04:53 -0700

While we’re at it, let me introduce my 1958 Airstream Flying Cloud. It is a rear side bed floor plan. Someone lived in it until recently, while building their home in the Western Sierras.
It needs.....everything. I have planned to invisibly modernize this trailer, give it all modern conveniences, but keep it as original looking as humanly possible. The cabinetry and interior has been painted a subtle shade of ice blue/turquoise ( not that there’s anything wrong with that)....

....or is there?.....

Anyways, it is a great little trailer. I am excited at the prospect of tearing into it. I think I will keep the original layout for the most part, with only a few changes in dimension.

A very sleek and well proportioned shell.

Here she is, hooked up to my Suburban.

Farm Implement battery - hey now, who said it had to be gel$cells...oh, was that me?
Clever place to put it though. I just might keep this there for a small storage box.

’58 continuous drip rail. Might not be easy to locate as a replacement part.
I am open to all and any leads and suggestions.

Another 58 specialty is the recessed ceiling light assembly. This one we’ll keep, and restore it. Along with the matching wall sconces and reading lights.

It might be several months before this trailer sees Area 63 again, but do stay tuned, we’ll get to it sooner or later.