RE: [VAL] RE: VAL Digest V2 #318

["Forrest McClure" <rollie51@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

John,

Just recently I installed a Penguin on my '66 Globe Trotter. If you
contact the Airstream factory, Oasis RV, or Inland RV and give them
the vehicle identification number they might be able to give you a
location to install the A/C measuring back from the first rib. The
first rib is where the front compound curved segments join with the
body, usually just forward of the door and window next to it. The
opening location should end up being very slightly forward of the
front axle. Looking up from the inside you will be able to judge the
exact location by studying the rivet lines. The opening will go
between those lines as the rivets connect the interior skin to
sections of "rib" or frame. There will be a reinforcing plate (just
another layer of Alclad Aluminum sheet) above the interior aluminum
sheathing. Drill or cut a small hole first to make sure the
reinforcing plate is there. If it is you are in the ball park, if not
you can hide the exploratory hole with a fire & smoke alarm or
something. But most likely you will be in the right spot, and then you
will measure out a 14" square opening and cut it starting from the
inside. Cut carefully as there will be electrical power lines in the
ceiling (so shut off all power to your rig and disconnect the house
battery). Once the interior aluminum sheeting and reinforcing plate
has an opening in it trim away the fiberglass insulation. You will
likely then see a large x drawn in red and the letters "A/C" written
there by the factory. There will be two lines coiled up to one side or
the other. One is a 12 volt line (two wires, positive and negative
only) that was installed to connect to a roof mounted evaporative
cooler or additional vent with a powered fan, the other will be a 120
volt line (3 wires - positive, negative, and ground)to connect to a
roof mounted A/C.

There will not be a drain line installed in the roof and wall as these
were not put in until the '70's. If you want to have a drain line you
will have to install it either by running it to a nearby cabinet then
down through the refrigerator scoop (flue) or if you want it to run in
the interior of the wall you will have to drill out rivets along one
edge of the interior aluminum sheeting and likely remove cabinets to
access a route. Most vintage units drain to the outside or run a drain
line to a nearby cabinet then down through the floor.

A drain line is good to have as you might guess from the other posts.
So you will need to obtain a drain pan as well.

Forrest