Hi Nick,
1 - I just went out to our '67 22' Safari and looked at what you described. If it was
me, I'd
intensify searching for the valve. In the meantime, I'd put that job on hold for
awhile.
2 - I know you want to attend one or two rallies before winter. If it was me, I'd go
to Wal-Marts
and buy one of their self-contained porta potties and use that until I figured this
out. What I
would not do is allow my desire to attend a rally force me into cutting the molded
plastic on both
sides of the hole just to have enough room for a new commode to fit. In my opinion, a
skirted
cushion over the Wal-Mart commode would make it appear to be just another piece of
furniture and
would not detract dramatically from your decor.
3 - Here's a long shot. I've never attempted to have a valve custom made, but that
would be a tack
I'd investigate thoroughly first before cutting the molded plastic. The option of an
approximation
of the valve is included here. It wouldn't be the first time a modified part saved the
day.
4 - It's very likely that Monogram Industries provided toilets to other manufacturers
during the
60s. Although I have never paid attention to 1960s SOBs in junk yards, I would if
faced with your
dilemma.
5 - While you are at it, ask Thetford and Sealand where to look for blueprints of
their 1960s
toilets. When on a quest like this, avoid asking questions that yield a "yes" or "no"
answer. You
don't want someone else's conclusions. You want hard, primary source data. When YOU
look at the
printed Thetford and Sealand dimensions, then YOU have sufficient basis for a
conclusion. Analytic
logic dictates that you don't form definitive conclusions on the basis of "It SEEMS
all the Sealand,
and Thetford models need a little more space."
6 - While driving around your state, check storage areas in every commercial
campground within a
given radius of your house. On one occasion, I scavengered parts from a campground
storage area when
the Campground Owner said, "Sure, take what you want. No one owns it and I'm going to
have that
piece of junk towed out of here anyway."
Nick, each of these six ideas are only leads. You may have already considered them.
Or, perhaps one
will prompt your creative juices to find another that eventually solves it.
Be a stickler for detail and don't let the tiniest scrap of data slip by. If it was
me, I'd want a
narrowly defined solution and would NOT be ready to accept anything less without a
struggle. The
thought of cutting into the molded plastic beside my toilet so that a larger size
commode would fit,
is totally repulsive to me (as I suspect it is to you, also).
Terry
==========================
>
>I'm must be boring many of you, but what I thought would be an easy task, is
>more complicated then I had thought. So, once again I turn to you all..or..all
>y'all. (that's plural)
>
>My '68 Safari deserves a new toilet. I have been looking dutifully. Tonight
>I went there and measured the area around the existing hole. I have only 9
>inch clearance to the rear of the hole, and 8 inches to either side. That,
>my friends, is quite small.
>
>The toilet I took out is a "Monogram Industries," I don't know the model. It
>is only 8 inches from the center to the outside. It fits, but the valve doesn't
>hold water, or gases!
>
>I never heard of Monogram, and could find nothing on the internet. It seems
>all the Sealand, and Thetford models need a little more space.
>
>The '68, and I'm guessing the '66, and '67's, have a recessed area behind the
>toilet that has a clearance of 13 inches, but that is after a 2 inch step at
>the bottom at 9 inches, and then at 18 inches high, it goes back to 9, maybe
>10 inch. Effectively keeping the toilet lid/seat from opening.
>
>What to do.
>
>Nick....
