The Co-op: The insides come out…….

To make an omelet, you must crack a few eggs.  In this case we’re installing a new original style perforated vinyl headliner and upper sidewalls.  The guys are really Rockn on this project.  I tried to get out there for a few before pics…..the phone rang and BOOM the trash cans were fullthose original fiberboard panels are of no use….even as patterns.  Everything will be remade of 1/8″  cabinet grade plywood with bubble foil insulation to increase the R value of the walls and roof.This is the stack of pieces we will be refinishing or whatever to go back in.  The descent Palm Beach louvered cabinet doors……becoming fashionable again….overhead cabinets and trim.  We’ll need to do something about those cabinet end panels….bless their curled up edges……. and there is a bit of water damage on the overhead cabinets that will need to be addressedSo while some of the guys are busting butt on the interior there are exterior issues on the punch list you may be interested inThe issue is water leaks at the windshield.  You know the drip that goes right into the steering wheel horn button!  Remember the GMC body is made up of aluminum and plastic panels…..glued and seal all together,.

Here are a couple of those molds that made the plastic body parts…..here are 3 of the smallest molds of the fleet of molds that made your outer bodywe have been trying to figure out what to do with the 240,000 pounds of rusted molds we acquired.  I mean they really are a part of our history but other than paying money to allow them to grow more rust in storage……. Through the generous donations you guys have risen to help us with this….. we will be cleaning these Stone Hinge like steel doorstops of the Gods up one more time and have the monsters professionally scanned to preserve their essence.Hey guys, thank you for your continued support with these.  We had to do something with these irreplaceable parts of our history.   They will keep the dream alive through digital images!  Something else we’ve been working on hey and your continued support is needed.  Stay tuned as the project takes shape and I’ll show how you can help…….

Back to the windshield leak……those panels we talked about that make the body have seams like right at the corner of the windshieldWith the hoovered silicone that seemed to be a good idea….to someone in the past removed you can see the original openenings in the body that were supposed to be sealed up with butyl tape…….45 years ago!  And you wonder where all that water is getting in?  This is just 1 of them!  All that must be dug out and resealed with something better that nasty ole butyl tape!   You can also see we have pulled the lock bead of the windshield gasketthis gives us access to that pesky overlap seam under the gasket.  With the lock bead out, the gasket to body lip can have some sealant put in under the gasket to fill that leaker.  If an installer follows standard SOP, there will be no sealant put here…….guess what……put sealant there!  Maybe 45 years ago they figured that would be ok…….today I’d say not so much.   Check yours…….is there sealant under the gasket lip?  The sealant is added across the top and down the sides before a new lock bead will be installed.Of course the guys will have the rest of the windows renewed …..this coach is being outfitted to be shipped to Europe so one spec is to remove that original “roof shaker” AC unitand replace it with a new Maxvent.Yes, another first to be put up there with the double slide and the Duramax twins…..a coach leaving me with no roof AC units!  They’re saying where this coach is going AC units are not needed………too cold for me!  This Palm Beach is going to have an interesting next chapter of its life!So as you can see, there’s nobody with sweat balls hanging from their nose busting butt at the same time.  Stopped at 7pm yesterday running wiring for amber turn signals as required in EuropeYep, the guys put in their 4 days of 10 hours of madness without getting killed in the process so Friday is a time to lick those wounds.   I’m here of course, it’s kinda nice wandering through all the carnage with LIt’s too bad but I’m concerned for the heard of cats we have at the house if I were to take L home…………I gave her a walk once which really needed more logistical planning…..I mean a hunting, eating machine like that can’t just be taken anywhere!  She is a sweet dog and she hangs out making our day a little brighter……….Good Girl.

Enough, you’ve seen how the week was…..if you missed any of it go back and look.  Remember that if you come here a couple of days and don’t see anything on a project, don’t think there’s no progress.  I have to say that after 22 years of trying to build a business around some unique eccentricities we all seem to have with vintage RV’s, The Co-op is really doin it!  Yes it’s the experience but really it’s the team.  The guys really work hard and together.…its those guys that make us look good… ….and friends like Ruby hang out back …..see, its a great morning to me!“Do do do, lookin out my backdoor………..”..

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