59 deVille

I'm currently rebuilding a 1957 Deville, so it's not much different.

Pull all the metal, remove the front, rear, and ceiling, replace the rotten wall and floor framing as necessary, then install new paneling on the walls. I like to refinish the new paneling "before the paneling goes up", but to each there own. Then new welting, new (already refinished) ceiling, insulation, vapor barrier, new or reused skins installed beginning with the wall skins.

The cabinets, closet, and front overhead cabinet need to be "securely installed" after the panels are replaced, as they are structural to the framing integrity. They are not just loose interior furniture.

All of this information is covered in much more depth in the history files on this site, and on the video's done by Mobiletech in detail.

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Sorry I didn't explain more about my project, I have it completely turn down. I'm working on the walls, and need measurements from the top where it curves to the bottom. I will try to add photos, I have photos bucket.

Ok, thank you.

Yep just follow the same curve you have going to the skirtboard. Looks like you have a perfect template with the upper picture. Just make it the same for both sides.

Here's a picture of one wall on the Cardinal:



Very similar build, it's a canned ham.

Here is the wall on the trailer:



And both walls:



Note how the curvy edges are attached and the straight bottom board front to rear. I hope the pictures help you with your build. John is right, good work on your part, keep it up!

On my Deville I used 3/4 inch plywood for the "curbing" and I kerfed it so it would bend easier. But since then I learned that using layers of 1/4 inch plywood works much better and no kerfing needed. Curbing is what goes on top of the paneling to build up the sides to the thickness of the framing. That's how it was done in the old days.

Now if the radius framing is made from layers of plywood instead of solid cut planks, you do that also with layers of 1/4 inch plywood laminated and glued and stapled. One layer at a time. Then laminate the next and the next. I just had to do that with the 54 Aljoa. I have some pics.