I'm starting this thread to showcase the work I'm undergoing on exterior refurbishment, but openly look for any advice people would like to contribute as my progress continues.
The next step in my classic Winnebago rebuild, will be dealing with dry rot in my forward nose. While removing the dashboard during my engine rebuild, I discovered that some of the paneling would require refurbishment before re-assembly could commence. It seems that the culprit was a combination of failed seals around the face molding, and pinhole deterioration in outer aluminum skin. To prevent any water damage from ruining my new work, I plan to fiber glass any paneling prior, and in bond with, the original aluminum skin.
Its a bit of a process to do all this, and thus far I have removed the face of the RV ( the easy part), separated the original aluminum facade from wood bonded paneling, templated all the pieces, and begun laminating replacement panels.
GOOD LORD now that's a project. I shall be following your progress with great interest. When I see things I might be abler to help with I'll send it along. Welcome aboard. D:oH!
Thank you, I'll try my best to keep the progress updated, but I generally just make strides on the weekend.
Thats not a nose job, thats a face lift.
Why should you be any different than the rest of us. One small project at a time and BINGO you'll be done before you know it. :)ThmbUp
You mean to tell me that these things are supposed to get FINISHED?! What am I doing wrong?
Someday Ill get this finished, someday..
but until then, I take it one step at a time.
This weekend I got all the panels laminated and trimmed 6 of the 8 pieces. Next week, Ill finish trimming the remaining panels, and fiberglass!
Looks like a humongous zig saw puzzle.
It's been my experience that it is usually the female unit that feels (for some unexplained reason) that it should get finished. Either that or they are happy you have an outside hobby and you are leaving them alone. :D
Nice work by the way. It's fortunate to have enough left to use as a template.
:)rotflmao CapnDirk's got that part right. Put sounds like you got it figured. Each day, weekend one LITTLE Project and before you know it you'll be done. The accolades you'll receive from the Hot Rod crowed will be amazing. Hang in there and let us know how your making out. LOOKING GOOD! :)ThmbUp
Laying out some of the pieces to check how the trim fits. Any spots that are tight, or don't seem right, will be much easier to fix before fiber glassing. Before bonding, I think I might do a mock assembly on the vehicle too, just to make sure all my ducks are in a row.
I'm also planning on replacing the aluminum skin, that backs the upper grill. I haven't decided if I'll paint it, anodize it, or just clear coat it. decisions, decisions...
WOW! that looks fantastic. How's polished Stainless Steel for a backing sound. That would be original. D:oH! Awh it's looking goood.
So, your bego is a Decepticon?
I happen to be partial to the geometry of decepticons' logo vs the autobots'. I have a few of those decals printed up, I slap them on machinery transformers at work, when no ones looking
Quote from: LJ-TJ on November 10, 2016, 10:26 AM
WOW! that looks fantastic. How's polished Stainless Steel for a backing sound. That would be original. D:oH! Awh it's looking goood.
Stainless isn't a bad thought, but I've already got my aluminum. Actually, the piece shown was scratched in shipping, so the vendor sent me another one. I was told I can keep the damaged item, so I'm thinking I'll use the scuffed piece to refresh the plastic headlight sheets.
Make a Decepticon grill!
That would be too cool.
maybe on my next Winnie ;)
Still waiting on some fiber glass materials Hm? .
So I did a little work on the interior wall. I anticipated leaving myself more wood on the inside of the frame, but an unanticipated stretch of base wood, raised up my offset and required me to do some adaptive trimming.
The next side will be better ;)
Holy Cow! Are you kidding me. WOW! Now I've seen everything. You've just proven than any of us if we wanted to put the effort into it can rebuild anything in these old girls. Well done mate. Well done. :)clap :)ThmbUp
Made a little head way with some lamination and bonding. I decided, that, bonding all the wood with fiberglass, was too ambitious. Instead I just laminated the aluminum face skins. With a good seal into the corrosion and pin holes of the panel, I'm fairly certain the underlying wood will be safe.
Getting a little creative with bonding, in the last picture
Great work :)ThmbUp Amazing :)
Thomas
Coming together, one piece at a time
You do nice work, and you're making impressive progress. On a recent trailer project, I coated all the marine plywood surfaces and edges with epoxy (no glass cloth) to waterproof them before assembly. Adds a little wieght, but makes the parts impervious to moisture. Learned this from a kayak I built 25 years ago that still takes me camping for a week each summer. Just sayin...
This was a case of really bad rot. I wish I could have just epoxy'd over the existing wood, but there wasn't any, only dry rot and silicone. I can see the epoxy working with just wood, but epoxy cured with a fiber substrate is far stronger and durable than a superficial resin coating.
I plan to make this my full time home, once its finished, so I'm trying to do things as well as I can.
I've got some work to do still, but man is it coming together nicely.
Wow.
WOW! You know one thing I've always wanted to do is have a billit grill made. Thought it would give one of these old girls some real class. Just never been able to find where these hot rod guys get them made up. Beautiful job mate. Looks fantastic. Worth all the effort your putting into her. Well done. :)ThmbUp
Holy Smokes!! Good job..... Please don't paint it purple when your done..... W%
I am impressed!
Thank you gentlemen.
I'll be sure to post some more pics, once I finish it up.
Weather took a turn here, I'm glad I got it as closed up when I did.
Got a little more progress done on the exterior. Painted and sealed it all in. I still need to take on the top though.
Started working on the dashboard too.
Completely amazed.
Very cool! I'm liking your work. Can't wait to see it completed.
When are you going to put the front end back under it?
I'm waiting to finish up the rear brakes, then I can bleed the whole system, with no brake drums to work around. I ran all new copper brake lines, new master cylinder and new hydrovacs. However the rear brake cylinders have been difficult to locate, I believe I found one source, but they ain't cheap.
In short, I've still got alot to buy before its rolling. But the progress continues.
Copper? Why not stainless or conventional tubing?
Copper lasts forever, and its super easy to install, and flare.
Sorry to dump on your parade N:( But Copper is not approved for hydraulic brake lines There is now available a product that is easy to bend and lasts forever and is just as easy to work with as copper, You can buy a whole roll and have some left over Copper replacement lines will not pass state inspection in Pennsylvania Copper does not have SAE approved burst strength for power asissted brake lines . :)ThmbUp Frank
Its an amalgamation of copper and nickel, perhaps that makes up for the tensile strength. It's advertised to be as strong as steel
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A1WBWR2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1/4" brake lines on that thing?! I had questioned the "copper" brake lines in the past but then found out that the people were not using plumbing copper. This is copper alloy brake line and it is approved as replacement line.
Classic: Is one of your windshields bad?
The reason I ask is that the glass shop can make one since it's flat. We used to do that when we had to replace a windshield on an old Freightliner. In other words, you would not need to find a Winnebago replacement.
Just an FYI
They're both fogged up, I was wondering about replacing them, but haven't gotten to that step quite yet.
Classic, the brake cylinders for a 1972 M375 are available on amazon for dirt cheap
Rear Horizonal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BFRQM8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1NNAK6V3DETLP&coliid=I28F2RQU58DBBZ
Rear Diagonal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BFRQJQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1NNAK6V3DETLP&coliid=I2911UNV7Z5S4X
Front Left: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018R61F2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1NNAK6V3DETLP&coliid=I2PNC8A5258OEB
Front Right: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018R61G6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1NNAK6V3DETLP&coliid=I2TZK4L9UCR5XI
I hope that helps
I appreciate the thought. Unfortunately these are not the droids, ergm I mean wheel cylinders, I'm looking for.
I could write a small novel about, how I believe these parts were once correct, but unfortunately they are no longer. the 134.62005 comes closest, with its diagonal hole pattern, however its made with a 1-3/4" bore, which is far too large to fit inside my brake assembly. My original wheel cylinders are 1-3/8" ( as shown in the picture ). By searching the original Wagner casting number, I was able to find
http://www.powerbrake-drivetrain.com/wagner-wheel-cylinder-fd9694-013/
but at over $100 a piece, and a grand total of 4 needed, I keep putting it off.
That's strange. Those are the part numbers I used when I redid mine; I got them from Dave's site. Perhaps I got lucky and got old ones or something?
Sorry it wasn't helpful to you.
Hi Classicrockfanatic,
Please check on the part numbers pictured. I believe I replaced the same parts on my M375. Two of them I bought from NAPA for $100 each, and the other two I bought on Amazon for around $30 each.
Hope this helps, Craig.
Thank you Craig :)ThmbUp Those look right, and I have not seen those part numbers yet. The prices have gone up a bit, but still lower than my original find. I'll order one and let you know!
Not a problem! I just hope it helps. I stumbled across the part numbers....I found that the Napa numbers were the same, they just dropped the "WC" from the front of the number. I know it's not like that with all there stuff.
Good luck - and I hope you don't need any luck!
Craig
GREAT PHOTOS
Can you get a rebuild kit and just rebuild them?
The topic and replies have been re-titled so as to expand the scope of the topic to include all projects the member wishes to include.
:) :)ThmbUp