Our first hired help arrives to weld new roof supports, but it was more than that — It was our welder’s positivity, his lack of hesitation when he saw our motorhome, and his desire to help one possibly ridiculous couple weld their dreams together.
Tag: Antique RV Restoration
Our classic motorhome needs a full restoration so we talk all about mechanical, electrical jobs as well as bodywork on our RV. Here’s the full details, including a list of parts and how-to DIY guides!
Big news in our antique RV restoration: This is the first time Andy and I reach out for professional help as our Clark Cortez motorhome falls under the scrutiny of a welder.
Our latest RV work: Stripping the roof of our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome after finding severe rust on our antique. Here’s more on our RV bodywork renovation!
In the on-going saga of getting our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome to run reliably, we remove a questionable electric fuel pump and replace our mechanical one.
A Clark Cortez motorhome’s Achilles heel is its transmission, which means L and I try to make sure it is in as good of a condition as possible. Find out why the transmission is so fragile here …
L and I have been working on eliminating — or at least reducing — the many squeaks, bumps, rattles, and creaks from our Clark Cortez motorhome. Here, we replace our anti-roll bar (or sway bar) bushings.
Did you know vehicles have nipples? This is what I learned as Andy and I work to restore the mechanics of our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome. Here, we use our Cortez’s grease nipples to lubricate the suspension bearings and bushings in an effort to reduce its many squeaks and squeals.
“Mine has room for whip-lash!” Andy tells me as he fastens his seatbelt before we take our very first test drive in our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome! This is the moment we have been anxiously awaiting but — as always — there are some bump in the road…
With RV life coming, we purchased a 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome. Our RV’s renovation story was published in a magazine and I’ve been hired to work there!
Our Cortez’s air intake system was composted of a dilapidated hose, crumbling paper-style air filter, and no heat shield, which meant it was time for fabricating a serious upgrade!
After the price of a starter motor and alternator were deducted from our checking account, we found ourselves forced to buy a new battery. This made me begin to realize the expectations of a vintage RV are that, well, there are no expectations with a vintage RV.
Our Clark Cortez motorhome’s story has had different starts: In 1965 in the frigid state of Michigan, it came off the production line before moving to the sunny state of California. However, our story with this RV begins in 2019 in the all-seasons state of Virginia.
Should we upgrade to discs and calipers — or should we stick to the original drums and restore them? This is the question L and I proposed to each other prior to getting our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome’s braking system operational. Here’s what you need to know if you are considering the conversion.
With nearly every exterior light not working, we soon found the culprits: Wires were scattered with butt and screw-on connectors while other wires were cut without protection on the ends and therefore frayed ends splayed. Still more wires were leading to, well, unused wires. And all of this was apparently our Cortez’s norm.
Once more our Cortez refuses to fire up, leaving us on the hunt for a matching alternator, only to learn it would be our first Cortez part that did not have an exact match.