[VAC] 'gutting' '49 Clipper

["Robert C Townsend" <rctowns@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've spent some hours the past two days doing exploratory surgery on this
'49 Clipper... got the front belly pan section off, still working on the
rear belly pan section. While tearing into the cabinets, i discovered what
appears to be a later addition, a Sears "HomeArt Glass-lined" tank - about a
30 gallon job. Has a gauge near a valve. Hot water heater? Won't be able to
tell much until i clear away some of the cabinetry around it.

The Marvel fridge appears to be 110V only, and in serviceable condition. It
weighs a TON.

The mechanisms for the two 14"x14" vents work on one side only, the sides
with the knurled, removable knob. The other crank mechanisms are frozen
solid, i've been dousing them with Liquid Wrench. Whatever kind of cranks
went into them are missing, and the holes which received them are pretty
chewed up. I'd like to get them working again - even if i replace one or
both with the FanTastic vents - does anyone have a bmp or jpg you can send
me, of what this vent mechanism is supposed to look like?

my email is: rctowns@attglobal.net

I still haven't found where the center pipe of the frame has fractured, but
it's at least seven feet back from the hitch ball. The one cross-member i
can see is an aluminum I-beam looking thing, about 4 feet back from the
front of the body... and the center pipe goes through a hole in the center
of it... forward of this, the floor of the trailer simply 'rests' on the
center pipe, with no other support. pretty goofy design, i'd say. The
forward end of the shell, at floor level, has a two-part steel plate which
accommodated a U-bolt around the center pipe... this is how the forward part
of the body of the trailer was secured to the frame, absent cross-members.

The axle, with trailer brakes, appears to be only a couple of years old. If
the cracked pipeframe is repairable, i may just lift the shell a few inches
and replace the floor, rather than do the whole 'new frame' thing. i'll keep
you guys posted.

oh, and the inside width, at the door, is 80"...

Tuna
'49 Clipper
wbcci #8862