I've been lurking and gathering info for far too long now. I guess it's time for me to get my thread started so I can be held accountable for my progress (or lack thereof).
My wife and I bought a '54 Flying Cloud back in October of 2005 (It's S/N 7692) with hopes of quickly getting it usable and on the road... well you know how that goes. Looks good. Get it home. Check it out. Why is the floor pieced together like that? Let's see. Oh. It's pieced together because someone did surgery to the floor to remove the rotted parts. And look! They put 2X4's in place of the crossmembers that were rusted away. Reality sets in. Contemplate dumping trailer. Can't. Already in love with it. Get out tools. Get out checkbook. Get to work.
So far here is what I've done: (I'll expand on each if anyone's interested)
1. Removed entire interior
2. Removed floor
3. Removed shell
4. Frame repaired (all new crossmembers and out riggers as well as a new coupler)
5. Removed axle
I've been lurking and gathering info for far too long now. I guess it's time for me to get my thread started so I can be held accountable for my progress (or lack thereof).
My wife and I bought a '54 Flying Cloud back in October of 2005 (It's S/N 7692) with hopes of quickly getting it usable and on the road... well you know how that goes. Looks good. Get it home. Check it out. Why is the floor pieced together like that? Let's see. Oh. It's pieced together because someone did surgery to the floor to remove the rotted parts. And look! They put 2X4's in place of the crossmembers that were rusted away. Reality sets in. Contemplate dumping trailer. Can't. Already in love with it. Get out tools. Get out checkbook. Get to work.
So far here is what I've done: (I'll expand on each if anyone's interested)
1. Removed entire interior
2. Removed floor
3. Removed shell
4. Frame repaired (all new crossmembers and out riggers as well as a new coupler)
5. Removed axle
I've got one that I absolutely love!!! Its my favorite Airstream from my collection- and I think one of the best models to have, great size, incredible layout, just right in SO many ways.
Yours looks newer than mine in that year, but I guess that I have some differences maybe from ordering or supply- like the side marker lights- you have the beehives, mine are wedge shape- I like yours better, maybe I'll change.
You also have the whaletail- I also like that better, (am I sounding jealous?) and thats why I think mine is older- I had a 53 before and this is more like it, but has the angle and is 22' and not 21'...
Mine has also, a very original interior-
Lets see some project pix! Mine is getting very light improvements! I got lucky- had only some minor body mount bolts to replace, and its for camping, not beauty contests in my case, so no frame off for me- thank God! Again, welcome!
Steve - it looks like you got an excellent "core" to start from and there's a huge satisfaction level when you are done, knowing that it is now what it is because of your own efforts. I was fortunate that parts of mine were done when I got it but I also spent almost 5 months of nights and weekends as well as a 10 day stint over the Christmas holidays thrashing to get ours to where we were okay with it. In the end we are extremely happy and the trailer is tailored to our specific needs. We'll be watching for updates.
Barry
We just recently bought a 55 FC. I'm just at the gather information stage. I'll be very interested in you project. I hope you keep your thread supplies with lots of pictures as you work. My first question and would like to have from you is, Do you have a floor plan of your trailer. Do you have any original literature.
Thanks Don
I am always amazed at how different FC's can look even when they are the same year! I do NOT have the whale tail so I believe mine is really a 53 leftover. My wet bath is a different layout too. I will never admit to how much money I've spent on Pearl but she's been worth every penny!!!!
I've tried to attach some photo's but they are too large. (got to figure out how to make them manageable for this forum)
I am always amazed at how different FC's can look even when they are the same year! I do NOT have the whale tail so I believe mine is really a 53 leftover. My wet bath is a different layout too. I will never admit to how much money I've spent on Pearl but she's been worth every penny!!!!
I've tried to attach some photo's but they are too large. (got to figure out how to make them manageable for this forum)
Patti
I think if it doesn't have the whale tale then it's only 21' . . . or maybe ohio made them 22' long without the tale. What's the serial number? I, and I'm sure a bunch of others, would like to see the pictures - you should be able to reduce the picture size in what ever program you use to view them . . . need to know what program you're using . . .
I found the back-up to my dead hard drive (can't stress enough to back-up, you never know when the electronic gremlins will strike!). The first one is the Cloud's homecoming. Next is a shot of the interior with parts of the floor removed to see what we were dealing with (this is where the shock, denial, anger, and acceptance occurred). Views of the rear and front (respectively) with the floor removed. A shot of the rusted crossmembers and the 2X4's fitted in place to hide the damage. And finally a close up shot of how rusted some of the crossmembers really were.
I found the back-up to my dead hard drive (can't stress enough to back-up, you never know when the electronic gremlins will strike!). The first one is the Cloud's homecoming. Next is a shot of the interior with parts of the floor removed to see what we were dealing with (this is where the shock, denial, anger, and acceptance occurred). Views of the rear and front (respectively) with the floor removed. A shot of the rusted crossmembers and the 2X4's fitted in place to hide the damage. And finally a close up shot of how rusted some of the crossmembers really were.
I've got one that I absolutely love!!! Its my favorite Airstream from my collection- and I think one of the best models to have, great size, incredible layout, just right in SO many ways.
Yours looks newer than mine in that year, but I guess that I have some differences maybe from ordering or supply- like the side marker lights- you have the beehives, mine are wedge shape- I like yours better, maybe I'll change.
You also have the whaletail- I also like that better, (am I sounding jealous?) and thats why I think mine is older- I had a 53 before and this is more like it, but has the angle and is 22' and not 21'...
Lets see some project pix! Mine is getting very light improvements! I got lucky- had only some minor body mount bolts to replace, and its for camping, not beauty contests in my case, so no frame off for me- thank God! Again, welcome!
Millionairstream,
As far as the year is concerned I'm just going on what I was told when I bought it and what I found already posted on the archives page. I wouldn't doubt it if it's newer. I'm still confused as to what the original layout was. I haven't been able to find anything showing the exact layout that was in it when we got it. That's O.K. because I plan on making changes to make it more user friendly. I'm going to try and keep as much of the original style and feel as possible, but I'm not going to hesitate to make changes that I feel will improve the usability, or functionality of the trailer (insert gasps from purists here). I'll post more pics of the progress I've made later.
Steve - it looks like you got an excellent "core" to start from and there's a huge satisfaction level when you are done, knowing that it is now what it is because of your own efforts. I was fortunate that parts of mine were done when I got it but I also spent almost 5 months of nights and weekends as well as a 10 day stint over the Christmas holidays thrashing to get ours to where we were okay with it. In the end we are extremely happy and the trailer is tailored to our specific needs. We'll be watching for updates.
Barry
Barry,
I don't know about have an 'excellent "core" ' to start with, but I have a good shell to work with . If it weren't for the condition of the shell and the prodding of my wife "Oh, it's sooo cute. I know you can make it work." I would have seriously considered just flipping it when we got it home. I know in the long run it will be something to be proud of and something I can pass on down to my kids. That is assuming I get it reassembled by then.
We just recently bought a 55 FC. I'm just at the gather information stage. I'll be very interested in you project. I hope you keep your thread supplies with lots of pictures as you work. My first question and would like to have from you is, Do you have a floor plan of your trailer. Do you have any original literature.
Thanks Don
Don,
I don't have any literature with my specific floor plan on it, but I do have some material that I will email you. And let me just say that I've been following your Bambi thread and really like the work you've put into it! My hat's off to you and others (Uwe, Carlos, and Jim in particular) who've inspired me the keep the work going.
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