BAC Forum
General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Mike Merchant on May 02, 2013, 04:43:09 AM
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Just got around to giving the Beav a bath after we got back from the desert and found a 6 inch crack in the "skin" extending from the rear (bedroom) lower front road side slide corner downward and forward toward the duals but not to the beltline. Appears to be full thickness of the skin ( aluminum or fiberglass).
Recently had a bent drive axle housing staightened which required removal of the axle and the subframe by jacking up the rear end for access. Wouldn't think this would be related since the "house"is built on the frame itself.
I seem to remember this topic was discussed in the past on the forum. Obviously a concern and will be calling Ken at BCS but will appreciate any input from any and all.
Mike
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Mike,
The exterior skin on your coach is fiberglass. I have never been involved in a coach as young as yours with a crack like you described. However, I was involved with several fiberglass skin cars (Corvette) that had cracking problems as they aged, and we just considered it the nature of the beast.
Gerald
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Mike,
Some stress is being relieved it would seem. I do not see a clear link to the axle work but it is hard to know for sure and impossible to prove even if it was.
I would drill a small hole at the end of the crack so that it does not travel any futher. You can put a little of the sealer that is used to bed crank up vents and the like. It comes in a flat roll with paper between the layers and is redily available at any RV supply store. It acts a lot like clay and can be easily removed when the repair is being done,
Later Ed
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We had the same issue with a 5th wheel that we had and the manufacturer told us that they had others with the same problem and it was due to too much frame flexing. They fixed it by putting in a spacer to allow it to flex. If you didn't have the flexing before I would look at a frame issue
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Mike,
I have exactly the same split or stress crack under the forward lower edge of the bedroom slide pocket. I bought my coach in 2010 with this split. It is about 5 inches long and has not elongated in 3 years driving some pretty rough Baja roads. I am told a good body shop can easily fix it by laminating new fibreglass over the ground out area and refinishing it.
Hope this helps.
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On our boat we fixed stress cracks by epoxying a piece of hose on the back side of the fiberglass which was underneath the deck and grinding out the crack about 1 inch on each side and laying fiberglass tape and epoxy. The hose on the backside absorbs the stress. If you just grind it out and place tape on the front side it will re crack. Been there done that
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I should mention the piece of hose was cut in half with the cut side on the fiberglass
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All three of the beavers I have had have had either one or two cracks in this exact same area, on my 03 marquis, someone made two 4" x 4" aluminum plates and glued them over this area, they colour matched the paint scheme and they actually look pretty good. On my 2000 marquis I tried to fix the one crack that it had , did a proper fibreglass repair, because I was reprinting that area anyway, turned out great until it cracked again about 3 weeks later.
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I cannot see a way to get behind the stress crack/split.
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Thanks for the info/suggestions everybody, helps the piece of mind.
Would be nice to get to the backside as you suggest Jeremy, since I suspect that is where the problem lies, that being no glassed in double layer at the corners. Corners are notorious for cracks, I think that's why airplanes don't have cornered windows. I'll make a corner template and have the local metal shop cut a 1/8th inch aluminum plate to glue over and paint. Would it be best to sand the paint down to clean fiberglass for best adhesion with epoxy?
Mike
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Gerald,
We had a 64 split window coupe followed by a 65 coupe, then kids started to come along and it was on to a Ford station wagon. Wouldn't want to give the kids back but sure would like to have either one of the Corvettes back.
Mike
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Mike, you must have had the only 64 split window coupe ever made, just kidding I am sure you meant 63. i know how you feel I had a 72 LT-1 that I had to sell to start my business, and most recently a 66 original 450 horse 427 roadster that went when I bought my house on the lake.
Sorry for getting off topic here, but can't resist talking about corvettes
Dave
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Dave - You're right, the old brain is getting foggy. The 63 was lite blue with the 327ci 300HP as I remember. Managed to convince my bride that since we were moving to Texas we really needed AC and more power so got the 64 with AC and the 350HP as I remember, not the solid lifter 365. Lots of stuff cramed under that hood so she always ran a little warm in Texas. Mike
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Now you guys are making me nostalgic. 1965 ..327/365 HP... loved the top down and roar of the sidepipes with Hedman headers.
Lets get some photos out here.
Later Ed
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Found a couple of more shots including my 68 with side pipes and a black laquer paint job we worked half a summer evenings getting done. Those were some good days.....wish I had them now. Might as well throw in a photo of the old 73 GMC "Darth Vader Mobile" as my kids used to call it. That old GMC really did ride well with the torsion bar front end and air suspension in the rear. Lots of GM in our family...
Later Ed
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Ed, is that an Eleganza? I love those things, beaver coach is doing one up right now with a 60" flat screen built into the side , they were such cool looking units, worth big bucks these days when they are restored. Thanks for the corvette pix.
Dave
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It was a Canyon Land....very ugly at first. We modified and restored it redoing it inside and out. We then did a trip around the country when our kids were 8 and 11. We built in a set of seats for the kids between the driver and passenger front seat that could hinge out of the way for front access and also added some seat belts. I added a sun roof overhead and with the big GMC windshields and the 4 of us all in the front it was a great ride. It was a crazy big project, took a full year, but the road memories have stayed with all of us...money well spent. The company I worked for was not really happy with me using my vacation plus a 4 week leave of absence but they got over it.....not sure you could pull that one off today. 8 weeks on the road summer of 88, it was very hard to pull in the driveway and go back to reality.
Apologize for hijacking this thread...nostagia set in and I could not help myself.
Later Ed
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Here is a picture of one of the patches on my Marquis
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This was my 66 Vette
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This was my 72 LT-1 ,
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OK, we aren't exactly sticking like glue to the thread's fiberglass cracking theme, but I can't resist putting forth my experience with fiberglass (afterall, there are some Ford men among us):
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Mike,
definitley sand the fibreglass clean of paint.Sand the aluminum plates (bevel the edges as well ) and clean both with acetone before glueing with epoxy. Use a few self tapping screws to secure the plate. Use stainless steel screws.Do not overtighten or you will force the epoxy out and loose the bond. After the epoxy has cured you can remove the screws to avoid an electolytic reaction. Fill the holes,fair and paint.
Hope this helps.
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Dave and Joel,
Really nice cars and a nice Sea Ray. BTW my corvette had a crack from the corner of the hood opening in the front...notorious for that. My old Sea Ray that we had for over 20 years...it was a great old boat, very well built.
Later Ed
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'Magine that... Chevy guys and Sea Rays. Oh, I forgot my 350 Chev Merc! ;) ;D ;D
Joel
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Nice boats guys, never got into the ocean boats myself, but being a Chevy guy I would have to buy a SeaRay, and what else goes with Chevys and SeaRays, Harley Davidsons of course, come on Ed you must of had at least one, I have had four over the years. Decided to quit before I killed myself.
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Dave,
Never had a Harley, thought about it in later years but never acted on that impulse. Had some Yamahas, and Hondas in early and later life. Also a Triumph Bonneville in my college years. That was probably my favorite motorcycle except for a Honda Super Magna that I had in my late forties that I wish I had never parted with. Honda made that bike for two years. Water cooled 4 cylinder, 4 carbs, 4 pipes, six speed, shaft drive, and 80HP in a low slung muscle bike...it was a good feat of engineering and style. I gave up motorcycles in my early 50s and was getting the itch again in my 60s but common sense had me opt for a Mini Cooper convertible instead. With texting, cell phones, and my not as crisp a skill set as I once had, I thought a sports car was better. My lack of helmet was not a wise move but I was 20 and helmet laws were yet to come....
I have enjoyed memory lane but probably not everyone has so I will end it here...email if you like ednjillb@hotmail.com... Apologize for not sticking to task here....
Later Ed
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Dave; great pic, that is exactly what I had in mind. Found a scrap of thin Al sheet in my shop yesterday and made a template. Will have to be about 2 inches longer but should blend in very well. The Beav may have to travel to Iowa this summer with a silver patch since I doubt I'll get it painted in time.
Jeremy - was thinking of drawing the patch down with screws but was concerned about counter-sinking the heads to keep them flush. Simply removing them after they have done their job is the obvious answer.
The thread has unwound a bit, which is not a bad thing. Since I am IT impaired I can't put up pics, but we all probably have similar ones. Something about the difference between boys and men and the price of their toys, as witness what we're all driving now. The '64 Coupe was sold in 66 due to a 12 month sojourn to RVN but while there I ordered a 67 Austin-Healey 3000 out of the PX catalog. Picked it up in Nov 67 in NYC, probably one of the last ones imported. Like a fool, sold it in Tacoma in 72 for a SWB Toyota Landcruiser, would love to any of the four back.
Mike
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Joel - Are you sure that is you in those pictures with the Shelby and boat? Those are handsome YOUNG men in the pictures. lol
I, too, have enjoyed a wonderful life full of fun and toys. I am licensed to drive, to fly, and to dive... and have owned a motorcycle, and an LT1, and a PA-22. I'll wait to see who knows what a PA-22 is. lol I have been to Europe with a URail Pass for 3 months in 71, to Hawaii many times, and to Australia twice. Ain't life a blast?
Tonight is our 5th and last night at the Lewis & Clark RV and Golf Park in Astoria. Over the weekend there was not a cloud in the sky, a weak East breeze, and it was almost 85 F both days. We are leaving in the morning... supposed to rain tomorrow. I don't want to melt... or rust.
Go Beavs... Class of 71... Math... worked in the OSU Computer Center for several years... first as a student, then later on the staff. Joel, we have probably met... if you had any problems with your programming classes. lol
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I know what a PA-22 is. It was my first airplane, a 1953 Piper Tri-Pacer with 135hp. Now I am 46 years older and on my 11th airplane, but only my 2nd motorhome. I love them both.
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I came across this YouTube video and thought you Chevy Corvette guys would be interested. Enjoy!
Stan
http://www.youtube.com/embed/IL6AiMdX36I?feature=player_embedded
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David-
Most of my collegiate life was at PSU, class of '71, but spent a year at OSU trying to get into Vet School (class of '73, Microbiology). They had computers at OSU then? LOL. Guess which of the two alma maters was my favorite. By then I even parked the Shelby near the baseball field, while at Hawley and then Snell Halls. Go Beavs!
Joel
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OK , that guy is just plain greedy, all I need is one little 67 435 horse roadster to make me happy, the only trouble is they are worth about the same as my Marquis, and I can't have both (yet ) thanks for that video Stan, I had never seen it before.
Dave
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You can do the Exotic Driving Experience and drive some super cars for reasonable money. Just did a Lambo 570 with a 0 to 60 of 3.4 and 0 to 100 of 6.8 on a closed track where the "coach" said floor it. Passed another Lambo and a Ferreri..
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My first and second years out of high school ('64 and '65), had a summer job at a youth camp. One of the counselors, who was a college senior, had a '63 split window Sting Ray. Of course we didn't know the significance at the time. He let me drive it a couple of times. First time ever going over 100 mph, and when we slowed to 70 (the speed limit on the brand new I-55) it felt like 30. What a ride!
Stan
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LOL! I can't find any photos to share, as that was long before digital. 65 GTO Convertible, 389 4 speed, no power sucking options so it all went to the back wheels. Those cars were great while they lasted.
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Keith,
I was a 20 yr old kid with a '66 GTO. 389, 4 spd, tri-power, and the 4.11 rear end. I could beat most Vettes off the line, but they got me top end.
It pretty much looked like this one, without the Earnhardt front plate of course.
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Stan
Thanks for the pix. 65,66,67, All great years for the Goat. I wore mine out. Had it from early 69 (25k on the clock) till late 72 (well over 100k). It was the wedding car, towed the speedboat on our honeymoon, drove us from Vancouver to the maritimes, back through NY city, Yellowstone. Worst trade-in decision was getting rid of it when a trip to the gas station required "check the gas and fill the oil, please".
With the beefier frame for the convertible mine would never have been competitive, but it sure was fun.
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Stan,
Thanks for that Corvette link, I sent it on to a Corvette buddy in VT. Interesting that many of us that have ended up in Beavers had similar toys along the way. I guess the kid in us lives on, we just cannot bend over and pick up a wrench in the same speedy fashion as we used to...
Later Ed
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Could'nt resist it !! here is a 'real' boat !! My 1981 Corbin 39 Two Pelicans.