Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: garryk6 on 05/20/11 06:01pm

No, not the shrunk side, I was wondering about the opposite side of the panel, that has the raise "bead".
THanks again!

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: 69cayo on 05/20/11 09:36pm

Gary, Theyr'e just a 180 deg. rolled bead on the one side.

Posted By: garryk6 on 05/24/11 11:43pm

67avion wrote:

We drilled out the old rivets with a special tool that kept the drill aligned with the rivets. Otherwise there is a chance that you'll slip off and go right through the skin:
[image]

After drilling out we removed the damaged aluminum panels:
[image]

Now we went back and re-riveted using a recommended sealant from Airstream (NOT SILICONE). We were very, very careful this time:

[image]

We were proud of the work. It was properly seated, the rivets filed down and sealed.

Viva Avion

Where did you get your rivets and riveting tool. I am going to need that to re-do the standard pop-rivets the PO used in his repairs....

* This post was edited 05/25/11 01:59pm by an administrator/moderator *

Posted By: JoeChiOhki on 05/25/11 03:58am

Personally, for riveting, especially alot of them, I'd get myself a nice pneumatic rivet gun, makes the job lots easier on the hands [emoticon]

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Posted By: ticki2 on 05/25/11 06:16am

67 Avion , nice job on the panels , good to know they are available . What was the sealant Airstream recommended? I assume those are olympic rivets . Is the inside plastic end panel made out of fiberglass or some other plastic?

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

Posted By: ticki2 on 05/25/11 06:44am

FYI , for doing panel replacement there is a product called cleco pins which are a temporary rivet for aligning holes and panels before riveting.

Posted By: 67avion on 05/25/11 09:07am

tiki2 wrote:

??FYI , for doing panel replacement there is a product called cleco pins which are a temporary rivet for aligning holes and panels before riveting.

I sure wish I had known about Cleco before we rolled into the project.

Its been over a year since we did that repair, so I'm working from memory. But, the caulk that we used on the rivets was Vulkem. That was discontinued this year, I understand, for a "better" product. But for around 40 years it was the material recommended by Airstream and Airstream restorers. And yes those are Olympic rivets fitted with optional neoprene washers. Since we had blundered in setting the first rivets, some of the rivet holes were slightly damaged. The washers should seal that damage.

garryk6, on the rivets and rivet tools, go to http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Olympic_Riveting_Kit_p/vts-791.htm
where they have a complete set up for smaller jobs. If its a big job, I'm afraid you may have to go to a pneumatic gun.

Posted By: garryk6 on 06/12/11 05:48pm

Hey all you Avion guys...
Anyone know anything about the Later Avions/Cayos having an extended overhead overhang? I ran across a few pics of a 1971 Avion that has the later design front corners under the cab-over, and the front appears to be longer by 12 to 18 inches? Any Ideas?
[image]

What has me thinking, and Dennis, maybe you can help out here... If I were to take off the front panels, add another bow/rib replace the floor for the cab-over with longer one, then add the full section of skin inside and outside if structurally it would work... It appears that it has been done. Even if I added some structural supports on the inside to re-enforce the cab-over so that we could go from a east/west to a North/South bed.

Always lots of ideas, and short on answers....
Garry in Alaska

Posted By: garryk6 on 07/06/11 01:53am

Hey Guys, Any new progress on the other Avion TC's out there? This weekend and tonight I got a few things done. Found out my wiring for the clearance lights are good, and I finished replacing half of the original clearance lights with similar sized LED clearance lights, Now I am awaiting the LED tail lights. Then I get the joy of chasing wires and doing continuity checks to try to sort out all the wires sticking everywhere. One of the few drawbacks to finishing someone elses started work, is not knowing what everything went to or did or if it is even 12V or 110AC...
Will try to take pics tomorrow and post the progress. The LED's look pretty cool, and should help with Energy conservation.

Hope to hear others ideas.

Garry in AK

Posted By: My Blue Heaven on 07/06/11 07:29pm

Gary, years ago I had that same idea for lengthening the front overhang, but the folks at Cayo talked me out of it.

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