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[VACList] Restoring an Airstream is not possible
I have come to the conclusion that you cannot restore an Airstream.
On my '71 Safari, I have had to replace many things like the refigerator,
a/c, plumbing, and now the water heater.
The following is why I belive you cannot restore an Airstream.
1. I removed the original RM60 refigerator and replaced it with a current
Dometic model. The first trip out the new fridgerator handle spring popped
off and I had to repair it. The old 30+ year refer door was still fine the
day I took it out.
2. I had to remove the original a/c. It was held on with about 100 rivets
and had a built in metal drain pan. The new Dometic Penquin is held on with
3 bolts and uses a plastic drain pan.
3. I had to remove all the original copper supply lines and replace with
modern day plastic. When I did I lost the built in pressure regulator and
overpressure relief valve. Also, the new plastic valves to drain the lines
leak causing the water pump to cycle. I replaced them and they still leak.
So I had to add drain caps under the trailer.
4. I replaced (still working on it actually) the orginal bowen water
heater. When I removed the heater it was held on with about 10 screws per
side. The new one uses half that. Also the orginal bowen has a metal
enclousre holding fiberglass insulation around the tank. The new atwood
simply has styrofoam like packing material banded around the tank. When I
pushed it into the trailer a lot of the styrofoam ripped up and
disinagrated.
So, you see, you cannot REALLY restore an Airstream. Modern day components
are too cheap compared to the original.
I keep feeling I am removing the cool stuff that made the Airstream a high
end trailer and replacing it with modern day junk.
At least it still looks like an Airstream ;-(
-Tim