ThePewterPalace Our Love Affair with Avions

New LP Cooktop Install including Install Tips!

A project we had hoped to complete this winter got moved up on the checklist! It’s all done!

We removed our original Magic Chef stove and replaced it with a high tech 3 burner cooktop.

SUBURBAN 21″ MODEL 3920A (see* below)

We especially like this model because of the hefty, flat real cast iron grill top. Some other models have more tubular or shiny powder coated grill which we think will not last as long and pans could slide more.

This allowed new storage space underneath to store our new big Airfryer (bakes too and has effectively replaced our toaster over/airfryer). Now we also had room to add a plastic tote that stores things like potatoes 🥔 🌰 and currently used 🍞

Note the small 4 screw black corner brackets used on both sides of front. This secures cooktop to cabinet front to prevent any sliding. These did NOT come with the cooktop. We had purchased these previously for our original stove and just reused them. Found at any decent hardware store.
Note aluminum L bracket piece Kevin installed under the cooktop to add more reinforcement to hold in place. Same thing on other side. This is screwed into the wooden cabinet framing.
Kevin also added the same aluminum L bracket strip to the back of the shelf to prevent any items on the shelf (airfryer, etc) from being able to move too far back and possibly bump against LP line, electric and plumbing lines. A good safety step!
Right side aluminum L strip mounted into cabinet base to support the new cooktop event further.
Note wooden “boxing in” of the utility lines; LP, electric,Plumbing for safety. This way nothing stored can inadvertently slide and bump or crush any lines.

Kevin even gave up his lower tool/junk cabinet so all our griddles and baking pans could be stowed there. I had saved photos of how other Avion owners had done it over the years.

I am still getting used to only having 3 burners (the most issue being breakfast time). The new cooktop has way more BTUs per burner and way more Hi to Low variant than our old stove so stuff heats much quicker and the “simmer” setting actually works great!

When at the Elkhart, IN Silver Avion Fellowship rally we did a trip up to Bontragers and got this very nice, new in the box Suuburban cooktop for $125. *Bontragers is well known for selling overstock or fazed out RV equipment, fixtures, etc. Because of this, the exact model we bought may not be available on retailers shelves so you may need to look for a similar newer #’d model. Bontragers had at least 5 more of these in original, unopened boxes. They do sell online and ship but costs could be prohibitive on this item. If close enough, drive to their store in White P, MI.

We thought it was a good deal and we had a few days in between the SAF rally and the Northern IN Vintage Rally to “get ‘er done!”

Check out the glowing knobs! Blue for a night light (if desired) and when you turn a knob to the “light” setting it glows red so you know gas is flowing. A nice safety feature too!

The red glow is automatic if knob is turned to “light” indicating LP is floeing- good safety feature! The BLUE glowing knobs is done by a manual on/off switch on right side of front. It really works more like a night light.

At this point I have just sewed a curtain to go in front ( tension rods on top and bottom- bottom one is loose enough to be lifted up easily to get to stuff and sits behind base cabinet edges)

At some point we would like to replace that with a cabinet door that would swing open towards the fridge. (If you have 2 upper kitchen cabinet doors in good shape let us know please!)

PS: on maiden voyage with this new set up we are happy to report everything inside the new storage opening traveled well on our 5 hr trip to Southern IN too!

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