Boy Oh Boy! my new '56 Flying Cloud!

[NorCal Bambi]

urbanfood, Have you had a chance to work on the FC lately. I haven't touched mine. However hope to get some work done this summer. It's amazing how the critters take over after years and years of the trailer just sitting.
Don

[safari57]

Yep, I've also been wondering how you are doing with your project. An update, if it's not imposing, would be great. And thanks for raising it Don.

Barry

[urbanfood]

hi don, barry, et all,

i wish i had an update for you but i don't. i haven't done much to it since february. now i'm in the process of killing the grass where my FC sits.

my time has been occupied between my business, my house under construction, and my 8 1/2 month old, oh and my wife. i'm gonna start working on the FC soon.

thanks for your continued interest

[safari57]

Hey David

Life happens. You have the trailer and that's the biggest thing. As long as you don't lose interest or that it becomes more of a burden/work project than a fun thing to do you are okay. It's when we set deadlines that suddenly loom and we feel obligated to meet that projects get sold off unfinished, or if they become more work or expensive than was originally budgeted.

Take your time, have fun doing it, grass grows back as my lawn mower can attest too, and in the end you'll be happy with your FC.

If you need pictures or a sanity check don't hesitate to ask. We've all enjoy watching the projects progress and get worried when one seems to going silent.

Barry

[urbanfood]

here's my thought about tank locations.

i have a question about the waste lines running under the frame. the main members are 4" deep. i figure i have to run the 3" waste lines underneath giving me 7" down from the top of the frame. it seems like that would be getting close to the ground. i purposely kept the tanks at 5"& 6" deep to minimize things hanging below the 4" main frame, but maybe i don't have to since the waste lines need to run under the main frame.

if i remember right, my belly pan was attached to the underside of the 4" frame. so because i'm adding the tanks, does that mean my bellypan will drop 3 or 4 inches? i feel like i'm getting low. how do the new airstreams accomplish this? and how do the old ones that have been retrofitted with tanks do this?

[urbanfood]

i've decided to bite the bullet and call in some help to get this thing moving along. with my busy schedule my dream of being able to do all this axle stuff myself has fallen by the wayside. i've had the shell off since february and not much has happened since.

i went out to inland rv yesterday and met with greg. i'm going to tow the frame out there and have him put on a henschen axle, fix the A coupler on the front of the trailer and the really exciting thing; i'm going to have him put on the kodiak disc brake system. this whole thing will be pricey but in the long run will be worth it.

i've also ordered the marathon goodyear tires (yes i've read all the threads but i still decided to go with them) Compare Tire Search Results

and ordered steel rims and baby moon hubcaps Steel Trailer Wheels .

this is going to be a big step for me and a big hurdle. i'm breaking thru the analysis paralysis thing.

[urbanfood]

also, here's some before and after pics of my house that's been my biggest excuse for not working on the airstream

before after
before after
master living room

[Jim & Susan]

Hey, the house looks great! If the Airstream come out that nice, you'll be in great shape.

Jim

[krikles]

Looks like a page out of DWELL mag - super cool! Love the new horizontal fencing...

[3Ms75Argosy]

Great job! I love the clean modern look inside - awesome job!
Marc

[Alumatube]

Wow -- your house is beautiful! NICE work!

Please be sure to get some pictures of your frame hooked up to tow! That will be funny to see.

Thanks!
Susan

[Safari-Rick]

WOW! is all I can say for a man who can truly "multi-task".

R
Safari-Rick

[sequoiacoast]

Well, that IS a good excuse! Your house is unbelievable, I can't wait to see your Airstream!

[A-Merry-Can]

It might be easier at this point to put wheels on the house.... based on the comments so far!

;-)

jp

[urbanfood]

thanks for the kudos all! i wasn't fishing but heck i'll take it

so i went down to southwest coaches today in irvine to check out the airstreams. it was very cool.it's this huge rv lot that is kind of like a campground loop. they have several rv dealers in the loop and all kinds of SOB, toy haulers, etc.

we checked out the basecamp which was really cool. we probably spent a couple of hours going in and out of the different models. one of the salesman there, dave was very helpful. i told him straight up that i'm restoring a 56 flying cloud and was here to get ideas. he was very nice to my wife and child and still gave us the tour. very friendly place.

the rear entry safaris were pretty cool. our favorites were the international CCDs with the aluminum interior. that's what i've been wanting to do in my FC all along but this is the first time i've seen it in person and it was really cool. i really liked a bambi i saw there that had darker wood/aluminum interior and it looked really rich/cool/modern. i would think the dark colors would make it feel smaller inside but it really didn't. that's the way i'm going to go with the FC.

i'm sure i'll be making some more trips down there as this process moves along.

[safari57]

Originally Posted by urbanfood

thanks for the kudos all! i wasn't fishing but heck I'll take it

so i went down to southwest coaches today in irvine to check out the airstreams. it was very cool.it's this huge rv lot that is kind of like a campground loop. they have several rv dealers in the loop and all kinds of SOB, toy haulers, etc.

we checked out the basecamp which was really cool. we probably spent a couple of hours going in and out of the different models. one of the salesman there, dave was very helpful. i told him straight up that i'm restoring a 56 flying cloud and was here to get ideas. he was very nice to my wife and child and still gave us the tour. very friendly place.

the rear entry safaris were pretty cool. our favorites were the international CCDs with the aluminum interior. that's what i've been wanting to do in my FC all along but this is the first time i've seen it in person and it was really cool. i really liked a bambi i saw there that had darker wood/aluminum interior and it looked really rich/cool/modern. i would think the dark colors would make it feel smaller inside but it really didn't. that's the way i'm going to go with the FC.

i'm sure i'll be making some more trips down there as this process moves along.

David

It can be extremely dangerous going to look at new and newer Airstreams while part way through a total vintage restoration. One can easily see a new(er) one finding it's way home and the restoration becoming a longer term project. NOT that there is anything wrong with that if it makes sense for your family to get out and camping now versus later - but it is a situation virtually every Airstream salesperson is aware of - you are already convinced that Airstream is the marque of choice, and having 2 or more is quite common.

I also prefer the darker colors. It brings back memories of staying in very old log cabins at Moraine Lake with my uncle as a kid. When I think of being outdoors that's what immediately comes to my mind.

The house is outstanding. I'm sure the neighbors are amazed at how you have transformed it, and it has clearly added value to the whole street.

Barry

[urbanfood]

alrighty, making progress.

i'm taking my frame out to inland rv tomorrow to drop it off. they're going to put a 4000# axle, kodiak disc brake system, new tongue and manual tongue jack, and the airstream bal jacks (stabilizer).

i received and had mounted my marathon goodyear tires. the baby moons look very cute, can't wait to put them on.

i've also ordered several things today;

1. stainless steel 30 amp power inlet
https://www.jamestowndistributors.co...el+Power+Inlet

2. stainless steel water fill
https://www.jamestowndistributors.co...Water%2C+Waste

3. city water inlet
Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

4. shurflo smart sensor 4.0
Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

5. shurflo strainer
Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

6. fresh water tank vent (thanks safari tim for the link!)
eBay Motors: Stainless Steel Marine Fuel Tank Vent w/ Splash Guard (item 120109763014 end time Sep-13-07 10:43:57 PDT)

thanks to everyone for help and opinions in helping me select the above items. i'm still trying to figure out a good sewer cleaning solution. the post i made about using the sewer solution and quickie flush didn't seem to garner much positive response, so i'm rethinking that.

[safari57]

It's Christmas in August David. Outstanding. You are going to have one sweet Cloud by the time you are done.

Look forward to pictures with those B'moons on the trailer.

Barry

[urbanfood]

barry, you didn't know that????

in the States, we celebrate christmas twice a year!

[safari57]

Originally Posted by urbanfood

barry, you didn't know that????

in the States, we celebrate Christmas twice a year!

Okay, that's it, I'm moving South!!!

No wonder Moderator Mel can have two, count 'em, two Airstreams at Deming at the same time two years in a row.

Christmas twice a year - my favorite holiday. And one of them we won't be fending off huge rain either.

Thanks for the tip, David.

Barry