Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: SilverPompadour on 01/14/16 11:34am

Its difficult to take stills while doing alot of this stuff. This time lapse is only one portion of the 'Interior End Cap' process but it gives the general idea.
Avion C11 - End Caps
Ill try to make a more complete video eventually.

1968 Avion C-11
1993 Dodge D250 LE Cummins

Posted By: 69 Avion on 01/15/16 07:08am

Very nice work. Awesome job.

Ford F-350 4x4 Diesel
1988 Avion Triple Axle Trailer
1969 Avion C-11 Camper

Posted By: garryk6 on 01/15/16 12:34pm

SilverPompadour wrote:

What are the specific tools that you are using? Obviously drill, pop-rivet tool and some manner of tools for cutting and flange-ing. Are you using traditional pop-rivets? Or are you using the solid style Olympic rivets? Thanks again for the video, as it helps put a mental picture of the work necessary to do this.

Thanks!
Garry

Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper

Posted By: SilverPompadour on 01/16/16 12:20pm

This is the Klien Crimper from Home Depot. It will easily SHEAR .019" if over-crimped! Should do .032" no problem.
[image]

and the standard stuff
[image]

You certainly dont need a huge rivet tool like the one Im using. I destroyed all my smaller rivet tools trying to do stainless rivets on another project.
The compass/divider is just for marking the rivet spacing.
Not shown is the straight edge and utility knife I used to score the aluminum before I bend and snap it by hand. I found I could score and snap the curved side as well.
The rivets are cheap, white head, 500 in a box aluminium pop rivets from Amazon. 1/8" Tool Pro.

The original interior skin went back in like it never even left. Including the new end caps, my rivet tool has chugged over 1300 rivets in the last 7 days. Leaving the all the shims in was the right move, I couldn't be happier with the way everything lined up. Ill get some pics soon, trying to get the ceiling lights up...

Posted By: ticki2 on 01/16/16 01:43pm

Finally got to see your video , I only wish I could work that fast , LOL .
I didn't use a crimper , I think the thicker aluminum made the difference , the rivets didn't indent at all .
Not knowing where to start ,I followed the pattern on the exterior panels and curved both top and bottom . You mentioned leaving the bottom straight , from the looks of your install apparently it makes no difference .

'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed

Posted By: SilverPompadour on 01/17/16 06:14am

Yeah, my C11 came with a fast forward button, saves oodles of time!
In reality that corner took about an hour and a half. It was the 3rd so I had a bit of practice in. The time lapse is necessary cause my poor laptop would choke on that much HD video.
The .019" is delicate. The petals, once curved and installed are very solid and strong. The center trapezoidal shaped piece of the end cap is weak and easily damaged by creasing. I put a crease in the front one when installing it. Its staying like that for now.
It's becoming more truck camper than project...
[image]

Now I can see all my mistakes.
[image]

Posted By: ticki2 on 01/17/16 08:09am

SilverPompadour wrote:

Now I can see all my mistakes.

We have all experienced that , hindsight is always 20/20 . You are making great progress .

Posted By: 67avion on 01/17/16 04:59pm

Another star is born! Silver, you're in the running for the Muley Point Award For Excellence!

Posted By: D1trout on 01/17/16 05:03pm

And you're a shoe-in for the Full Speed Ahead prize for the fastest restoration! Wow!

Posted By: 67avion on 01/17/16 05:49pm

What's up with Florida? We've been camping at Desoto Park just south of St. Pete. We've had eager eyed young couples follow us to our site and admiring our Avion. We were at North Beach where very high winds attracted parasails and windsurfers. People came over and asked to photograph our camper. Jane wanted to do some beach combing so we pulled off near a bridge. So did several other folks who spent several hours going over our coach.

This is happening so much we almost went to hide.

Jane and I looked at each other and agreed that every stop is a press conference, to paraphrase Cajun.

It's really amazing at the reception down here. And the park is amazing as well. Perhaps we can stage Muley Point East at the landing site of the enigmatic Hernando Desoto, have a few press conferences and join a local brewpub crawl.

* This post was edited 01/18/16 05:00am by 67avion *

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