[VACList] Restoring an Airstream is not possible

["Tim Shephard" <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have come to the conclusion that you cannot restore an Airstream.

On my '71 Safari, I have had to replace many things like the refigerator,
a/c, plumbing, and now the water heater.

The following is why I belive you cannot restore an Airstream.

1.  I removed the original RM60 refigerator and replaced it with a current
Dometic model.  The first trip out the new fridgerator handle spring popped
off and I had to repair it.  The old 30+ year refer door was still fine the
day I took it out.

2.  I had to remove the original a/c.  It was held on with about 100 rivets
and had a built in metal drain pan.  The new Dometic Penquin is held on with
3 bolts and uses a plastic drain pan.

3.  I had to remove all the original copper supply lines and replace with
modern day plastic.  When I did I lost the built in pressure regulator and
overpressure relief valve.  Also, the new plastic valves to drain the lines
leak causing the water pump to cycle.  I replaced them and they still leak.
So I had to add drain caps under the trailer.

4.  I replaced (still working on it actually) the orginal bowen water
heater.  When I removed the heater it was held on with about 10 screws per
side.  The new one uses half that.  Also the orginal bowen has a metal
enclousre holding fiberglass insulation around the tank.  The new atwood
simply has styrofoam like packing material banded around the tank.  When I
pushed it into the trailer a lot of the styrofoam ripped up and
disinagrated.

So, you see, you cannot REALLY restore an Airstream.  Modern day components
are too cheap compared to the original.

I keep feeling I am removing the cool stuff that made the Airstream a high
end trailer and replacing it with modern day junk.

At least it still looks like an Airstream ;-(

-Tim