1955 Flying Cloud "Whale Wagon" renovation

[WineStream]

So it begins. The serial number is 7837. This is my family's fifth Airstream and our third vintage. In the past, it's been my wife and I doing most of the work, but this one will be my son and me. He started in our first Airstream in diapers and now he's helping me bring this 55 FC back to life. Because it's a whale tail and he has a thing for sea creatures, the trailer is affectionately known as the "Whale Wagon".

I'll be using this thread to document our work and hope to get wisdom and feedback from everyone who has done something like this in the past. Although we've had vintage before and completed major work, we've never done a shell-off, new floor, frame work, etc. Not only that, but this one came without any of the interior so we'll have to make it all new, but we like it that way. Vintage outside, modern inside. On the bright side, it seems all of the interior skins are present and all of the Hehr vents still work (both ends on all three!)

[Someday'59]

Love it!

Can't wait to watch the progress!
Let the adventure begin!

[Disco Stu]

Nice! Best of luck with the build.

[rideair]

Really glad to see someone taking on a rehab of a vintage unit here on the forums. Joining 20+ years ago, there were threads after threads of folks rehabbing the old 50’s, 60’s trailers. Lots of great reading, and picture seeing, along with folks trying to figure out how to fix things that were long gone with getting parts, etc.. and how others had figured out what needed to be done. Now days on the forums, it’s my power awning doesn’t work and more problems with trailers built in the last ten years.

“PLEASE” use this to start a good rebuild, lots of pictures, etc..

Congrats on the new trailer, I have its little sister (1956 22’ Whaletail) up on the hill waiting for the same thing.

Enjoy,

[Streamracer]

Looks to be in great condition, what you have. Looks like a fun family project. Let the work and photos begin.

[Bubba L]

Here’s another option for Jr. (your son). We spent a couple of years renovating our 55 FC. On Airforums we had a ton of pictures and a lot of helpful recommendations from the members. Right before Xmas at the end of 2021 my wife had our Airforums thread made into an inch thick hardback book that encompassed 385 pages. All pictures are in color and all the feedback from members with dates are there. If Jr. documents all his work and takes pictures of his progress, that would be a good keepsake for his kids someday. Just a thought.

[Bubba L]

Also, it sure makes looking something up by paging through the book. The book is better than my memory.

[Mikebrady62]

Have fun with the renovations. Looks like a good shell to start with and lift off.

[BigAl]

Nice project Jason. I remember the days when you had to deal with diaper changes. I suspect the trailer will be more work but also more enjoyable.
A big hi to the whole family.

[JCWDCW]

Lots of work (and love of work) ahead. Waiting for your updates. Hope it all turns out prrfect!

[Lance M]

I'm happy to see a vintage thread!

Looking forward to the updates!


Thanks to my friend Frank for pointing me here

[Aerowood]

I can't wait to see your project.

[miss_marg]

You are traveling on a journey that few are brave enough to start much less finish. It's far beyond my current skills so I will be watching your progress.
Marg

[steinVT]

Looking forward to following along. These forums were an indispensable part of my builds. It’s a huge undertaking but also incredibly rewarding and as an end benefit you end up with a great trailer for camping. - Mark.

[WineStream]

Originally Posted by BigAl

Nice project Jason. I remember the days when you had to deal with diaper changes. I suspect the trailer will be more work but also more enjoyable.
A big hi to the whole family.

Glad to see you're still on here! We miss all of our Ohio and Pennwood friends. We stopped into Pennwood this past summer on a whirlwind trip. Looks the same, but not so many of the same people, except Ace. He's still the same!

[WineStream]

Originally Posted by Lance M

I'm happy to see a vintage thread!

Looking forward to the updates!


Thanks to my friend Frank for pointing me here

Is your friend Frank Yensan, by chance?

[WineStream]

So here's the first hurdle passed: getting the Whale Wagon registered and titled. At this point, I have a registration and license plate. A title is supposed to arrive in 6-8 weeks. I'm comfortable digging in and spending some real money and time on the Wagon, now.

I researched and discussed with people and got a few different impressions of how to get a title for a vehicle with a bill of sale and a "not complete" VIN. And in California :-)

The things I needed to take to the DMV:
1. bill of sale
2. form REG 31, VIN verification
3. form REG 343, application for title
4. form REG 5057, surety bond

Surprisingly, I had filled and taken with me form REG 227, application for duplicate or transfer of title, which includes a section about missing title. The clerk at the DMV said I didn't need that one.

More details on the above points are important to share:
2. This can be done at the DMV for a nominal fee if you take the trailer there. Although mine was roadworthy, I opted to pay a private, licensed inspector to come to the trailer at my house and verify the VIN. It was $170 (cash price) but took a whopping 5 minutes and I didn't need to hitch up, travel, return, park, etc, etc. so for me, that was worth it. Private inspectors can be found by a simple Google search.
4. I was under the impression that the $100 fee for this "bond" could be paid at the DMV. I was wrong. The clerk handed me back all of my paperwork and said to come back after I got the bond from one of many online sources. I did just that and in 3 days I had a FedEx'd, notarized document for $100 plus shipping cost. I returned to the DMV with that and they quickly issued me the plates and approved the title application.

[Bubba L]

Good to hear the title is now behind you. Now the fun begins. Getting into the renovation, don’t throw anything away. You may need it or replicate it for use. Good luck

[tallytwo1994]

Originally Posted by WineStream

So it begins. The serial number is 7837. This is my family's fifth Airstream and our third vintage. In the past, it's been my wife and I doing most of the work, but this one will be my son and me. He started in our first Airstream in diapers and now he's helping me bring this 55 FC back to life. Because it's a whale tail and he has a thing for sea creatures, the trailer is affectionately known as the "Whale Wagon".

I'll be using this thread to document our work and hope to get wisdom and feedback from everyone who has done something like this in the past. Although we've had vintage before and completed major work, we've never done a shell-off, new floor, frame work, etc. Not only that, but this one came without any of the interior so we'll have to make it all new, but we like it that way. Vintage outside, modern inside. On the bright side, it seems all of the interior skins are present and all of the Hehr vents still work (both ends on all three!)

Look forward to reading about your progress. A 55’ Whale Tail was my dream Airstream.

Carol

[WineStream]

We finally did some real work today, mostly removing the rusty screws that someone in the past had used for external repairs when they didn't know how to use Olympic rivets and a shaver...or to find stainless steel screws. Anyway...we will replace them with bucked rivets when we're done. I had hoped to buck things back on today, but daylight disappeared, so we stopped outdoor work.

Question for the experienced group here...what metal-forming tools do you have? I will need to re-shape several aluminum parts, mostly rain guards over windows and doors. I was using a bench vise to flatten some things, but I'm wondering what the right tools are. Seaming pliers (roofing trade), something else? And how do you get curved forms back on the things (like the rain lip in the attached pics)? Is there a basic set of forms that one can mount to a bench or in a vice and then hand-hammer the shape back in?