56 Sierra MAKEOVER IS ON!

[greg755]

To see new photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos

DAY SEVEN

They finished running the rest of the studs/framing, lots of screwing and gluing.

They started to put in the insulation.

They started on the wiring.

They spent time making patterns and cutting wood for the interior.

Will update you with more tomorrow.

Lator Gators

[greg755]

WOW
A lot of excitement today

Day EIGHT

They found the G & S Cabinet Works serial number, and they found the name and serial number of the company who supplied the trailer to G & S.

They cleaned up the wheels and primed.

They cleaned up the frame and tongue jack and primed.

They finished the insulation.

They got a lot of the new Birch Paneling installed.

They ran more 12 volt wiring.

Just when I thought they would get behind, they turn up the juice...

I think I should call up Tye Pennington, and see if he wants to do an "Extreme Makeover Trailer Edition"


They added a worker I don't know her name yet but according to annonomise sources in high level positions, they tell me she is a paint and stain Goddess.

For pictures go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos

I'm just about ready to move in....

Insulation is done!




New Birch Paneling Going In!!!



I cant wait until the wife tells me to "go sleep on the couch"

[KDOG]

Nice camper! And I really like the sig! So true, unfortunately!

[greg755]

Meet Nancy: Not only is she working hard but she is guarding the cooler and the stove behind her.



DAY NINE

They finished painting the wheels.

Finished painting the tongue.

Finished painting the frame.

Stained a ton of paneling.

Is that a galley shelf I see in one of the pictures?



Installed the galley wall.

Got a bunch of new parts in.

Working on the slide for the stove.

For photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos


See you all tomorrow.
Greg

[Miriam C.]

Lookin Good! Now you can take a nap in it. Just to try it out of course.

[greg755]

Aunti M,

I am an 11 drive from the TD so I cant take a nap... But I do have the queen size mattress here, so I can snooze on it until I put it in the 56...

They are on track and on time. Dan at Vintage Campers.com has done a great job communicating to me every day about all aspects of this makeover, whenever he has a problem, idea, design change etc he is on the phone to me.

He also takes a boat load of pictures, which not only makes me happy but eliminates any confusion.

Even though we are keeping the design fairly simple, I am glad that I decided not to tackle this on my own.

If this were a new project and everything was square, and I was building from a good set of plans, I might have been able to do it, but with all the hidden surprises and complications that come along with a 54 year old trailer it is good to have these guys on my side.

A wood worker I am not. Rough work - no brain-er. Finish work - no patience and no clue.

For example, in the picture I thought I saw a start to some shelves for the galley, Wrong, It is actually a set of Birch cabinets from a 50's trailer in his inventory that are going to be restored/refinished to be installed above the bed on the forward bulkhead. Hey what do I know?

I don't know how many people are following this thread, but I hope they are enjoying the pictures, and even though I don't put a lot of explanations in my post, there is a lot of tips/tricks to learn from the pictures.

Will update more tonight.

[greg755]

DAY TEN

Dan called me today. Said he has been scrounging around for a Vintage porch light from the 50's and finally found one. He is more excited about it than I was. It has an amber lens, and a clear glass lens. The amber is on for now, but if I ever put an out side room/tent on I can switch it out to clear.

It is a good choice as I want to keep the out side looking as original as I can

Here it is:



He also is having a small problem with the stove, because of the tight space limitations, we are trying to figure out how to reconfigure the gas regulator it came with so we save the 3 - 4 inches of side space. If he thinks this was fun, I can't wait to see what he has to say when it comes time to install the Behemoth cooler.

But he did figure out the position of the stove and the slider arrangement.

Installed the new handle on the tongue jack.

Installed the new holder for the lp gas tanks, yes a little over kill, but now I have gas out the wazoo.

Installed the 7 round plug harness

Installed the Gas line and regulator back to the galley.

Still cutting, sanding, and staining, sealing wood.

He is also going to install some latches in the back hatch (in addition to the lock handle I have now) which will pull the galley hatch more evenly and firmer to the new seal.

We decided to go with 5 lights on the inside, 3 adjustable (reading like on an airplane) for the bed and bunk, 1 main light for the whole cabin, and 1 under the bed (large storage compartment) so you can see in there.

For photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos


See you all Monday.
Greg

[greg755]

DAY ELEVEN

They started to install the finished paneling.

More Wiring.

Installed latches for Galley and checked the new seal.

Installed the rest of the sub flooring for under the bed.

Installed the new trim on the galley hatch.

Installed the outside shore power connection.

Installed the Cable/TV wire and jack.

Installed the paneling for the Galley.

O yea its getting there....

For photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos


Okay here is a sneak peek...

[greg755]

For photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos


DAY TWELVE

Installed front Cabinets

Installed Main Cabin Light, Porch light switch.

Installed Cable TV Line.

Installed 110 breaker box

Installed 12 volt fuse box.

Installed out side shore power and TV receptacles.

Installed most of the wood trim.

Started on the bed frame.


Tomorrow I will leave here at 7am (while they work on DAY THIRTEEN) and should be up there by 6 pm.

I will spend Thursday and Friday with them helping out putting on the final (is it ever final?) touches.

Will try to send pictures, If not I will up load the final pictures some time on Sunday.....

Until then...

Shore Power!



110 and 12 volt power!



Front Cabinets...

[greg755]

DAY Thirteen.

Well I got here at the motel around 6:30
Will be going over to vintage campers in the morning to start work.

In the meantime they sent me an update of today's progress but I am having a problem with my email and can't download the photos.

Today the Finished all the elc.

Installed the 2 batteries.

Finished putting together the components for the galley.

Finished the frame work for the bed/storage.

Installed the nice lights under the front cabinet.

I will post pictures after we get done with tomorrows projects.

Here are some 110, 12 volt and TV receptacles:



Here is the Batteries:



Here are the lights under the front cabinet:



For photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos

[greg755]

DAY FOURTEEN

Man I be tired...

Got about 80% of the galley installed.

Did some more trim work.

The 12 volt cooler is in!!!!!

Sorry but I cant put any photos in this thread. I forgot to set the camera to the smaller setting so the files are to large.

We should be done tomorrow, wanted to have it done in two weeks but it looks like we we need just one more day.

But over all it has been a great job and has/will come in on budget!


For photos go here:

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos

Tomorrow when it is done I will take a boat load of pictures of the finished trailer. I will not be able to post them until Saturday night or Sunday morning, because I have that 11 hour grueling drive to bring her home.

[Rick Sheerin]

Lookin' good Greg! Can't wait to see it at Delta Lake!

[greg755]

DAY FOURTEEN AND ONE HALF

The P.U.D. ( "Perfect Ugly Duckling" or "Personal Underground Dwelling")is Done..

Well I still have to put in the mattress for our bed and the foam for Val's bunk when I get home. But she is done, well except for the 1/2 million other ideas I have come up with while driving.

Left around 12:30 today, finally pulled into a the hotel (half way home) around 6:30, to tired to make it all the way home.

What you ask? Why don't I sleep in her tonight? Pay attention there is no mattress -

There are a few photos in the link below for you to look at, I lowered the camera to the lowest setting and I still cant upload the photos to my album, ARG.

The photos really don't do it justice, It looks much better in person, but at least you will get the idea. It still looks like a 56 on the outside, newer on the inside, and the galley ties the two together so I got the look I was going for.

For photos of new look go here.

http://cid-a9bececc9e81c06a.skydrive.li ... &ct=photos

PS I put the vinyl graphics on it ( the one on back) as a joke for the wife, but after seeing the reaction of people who have read it, I might just leave it on. (but in a smaller more graphic/logo version)

Hey if we are real lucky maybe Auntie M., Steve, MadJack or one of the other Computer Gods might past the photo's in here for us??????

[Mark McD]

I'd personally like to see the interior shots.
Gotta love the graphics...

[greg755]

Hey Mark,
I'm in Sandusky OH tonight, to bad the roller coasters are shut down for the season, headed toward NY in the morning.

Are you anywhere near Cleveland, gotta go down HWY 90 to get home.
Maybe I could meet you for early lunch some where and you can get the first look... If interested PM me your phone number and I'll call you when I get close.

Inside shots are tough for me to get, maybe I should get a panoramic lens for the camera. If you go to the last two links that I posted you will see a lot but its just not as good as being there.