Thanks for the feedback. Your points are very taken and as a consequence, I have modified my plans to take the shell off the chassis at a friend's boatyard, drop out the chassis, disassemble it, and rebuild in aluminum. Then I'll reattach the shell. It would be ideal to take off the small curved panel that forms the bottom lower edge of the camper shell and re-secure the new chassis to the bottom U channel that forms the lower piece of the shell. Then resecure the bottom curved piece. That curved piece is buck riveted on. Any advice about dealing with buck rivets? I see I can buy the gun, bar, and rivets from Vintage.
Dick