Airstream Shortification!

[BlueJeep]

Can you post up what you're using for rivets and your procedure for installing them. I've never played with anything but pop rivets, but I want to someday....

[aerotruk63]

BlueJeep

I'm using solid rivets from
http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/..._p/vts-826.htm



Dad made a rivet buck, thats the long steel shaft with the black handle on it. You push lightly on this when bucking the rivet to mushroom the end. We found this design the easiest to work with. Very comfortable when doing overhead work.

Below that, the plier looking thing is a Cleaco tool and below it is a Cleaco. This is a temporary device to hold two or more pieces together before you start to rivet. Buddy who worked on aircraft lent me these.

Drill bit is a #20 drill bit. this co-ordinates with the rivets I`m using.

Two rivet sets. The shorter one I ordered with the rivets. It proved to be to short working around some of the windows and door, so Dad made a longer one. Both work well.

An old Snap-On air gun. The rivet sets go in the end and at low pressure hammers, transfered through the head of the rivet, allows the buck to mushroom the shank of the rivet. We found to pull on the trigger to hammer one shot that takes up all the slack, then a short burst to mushroom the shank. Were no proffesionals, this method works the best for us.

Rivet cutter is the tool with the red handles. Use this to shear the shank of the rivets to the length we need depending on how many layers were riveting together.

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Getting the rear door frame welded Friday, maybe on the weekend I`ll be able to video the process.

More windows...lol

Another oval on the lower section of the door and the panoramic sky view on the edge of the roof line.



Talked to a glass shop this morning, there going to shorten some other ovals I have to flank both sides of the large passenger side window.

[Devillusion]

Wow.........VERY impressive. Love it!

[gearys 5600]

Very cool..Nice work.

[aerotruk63]

Riveted the frame into place and then mocked up the door hinges using threaded rod and nuts.



An aluminum block will fill the void between the hinges and door frame.

[VH Coachworks]

I think you are doing a very nice job on your trailer. Just the idea of building a
small trailer from a large one is great!! Just putting all the rivets in and drilling the holes is a big job.
I remanufactured a 45 bus in the 90's and used over 8,000 rivets.

[aerotruk63]

Riveting is the easy part. Right now it's finding the time and of course finding someone who is willing to buck for ya. Had my 80 year old Dad again with me today. He wants to be doing something but tires quickly. He had a nice nap after lunch on the company sofa. All's well.

[aerotruk63]

Kinda looks like a coroners meat wagon for campers.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Yeah... but a really cool meat wagon

[Dalaigh]

Any updates on this neat little project?

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by dalaigh

any updates on this neat little project?

x2?

[watahyahknow]

nice build might have made it a little longer in the rear but still im impressed with how nice this thing goes back together

i realy like that caravanpuller using the winchmotor is a realy good idea as its cheap and has all the controlls and wiring allready on it
i have a pretty narrow storage meant for an european car i need to fit a full size pickup in and this looks like the solution if i make sunting like it but with a garagejack lift on top
i need to basicly lift the front wheels of the ground with the jack under the crossmember turning it intoo a fifth wheel trailer and push the whole truck intoo the storage without having to get intoo the cab or crawl out the rearwindow

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Wow, nice job! I read thru the whole thread and I'm very impressed. Nice workmanship... and your Dad seems like a very smart man. Are you using the trailer now?