Greetings CandiAnne!
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Originally Posted by CandiAnne
Hi! I brought my grandpa's airstream and ready to get going on restoration. I'm a complete novice on this and appreciate any help! I know it needs new sub floor & windows/ doors need new gaskets. Idk what else to check out as it's been sitting in his backyard for years!
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You will also want to be sure to check the condition of the frame if by sitting n the backyard, you mean that it was sitting over grass/dirt as this is one way that the frame can rust away if it is over a dirt surface where it can draw moisture. While you will find that it has a leaf sprung axle, you may want to upgrade to a modern axle whether a similar leaf spring axle or a torsion axle to get modern brakes and bearings that will be very much easier to find repair parts for when they are needed. You may also find that there is enough wear in the coupler that it will need to be replaced as well.
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Originally Posted by CandiAnne
Also looking for help to remake the front benches/bed bc he took them out and I never found the parts. Just the table top and cushions. The front cabinets the table attached to are partly gone as well. It needs a new fridge so need a replacement for that. Would like to make one of the 2 closets have a toilet & shower? Not sure if that possible. The front door hinge looks bad. Maybe clean it and seal it? The whole exterior needs cleaned and polished but what tools do I need?
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One thing that may help you in terms of working out a floor plan for your Flying Cloud is the original floor plan. You can see the original floor plan in the Brochure pdf found on the Airstream website:
1953 Airstream Full Line Brochure
Unlike more recent Airstreams, the brochure states that the Flying Cloud originally came equipped with a refrigerator that was combination Ice/Electric so you likely won't find the chimney/ventilation present for an absorption refrigerator so the simplest modern replacement refrigerator would likely be to go with a modern 12-Volt Compressor style refrigerator that will require less structural modification to the trailer.
According to the brochure, the Flying Cloud came with a web bath, shower and bath together in a closet just ahead of the rear bed on the street-side. The Flying Cloud may not have had a black water tank from the factory and most certainly wouldn't have had a gray water tank. Airstream didn't always equip their smaller travel trailers with black water tanks in the early
1950 as it was considered and acceptable practice to dig "gopher holes" for the disposal of waste. It is common to find both black and gray water tanks added by prior owners of these early Airstreams that may not have originally been equipped with black water tank.
My suggestion would be to do a Forums search for restoration threads on
1953 model trailers to get pointers on the gaskets needed as well as tools and methods to apply when resealing the windows, door, and access panels/hatches.
Polishing is typically the final step in the restoration process. It is one where you might want to do a Forums search as well for the most recent restoration threads discussing polishing tools, polishing products, and polishing techniques as they seem to change as to the tools and products that are preferred for this particular job. There are also some YouTube videos on the Polishing Process once you in mind the tools and products that you want to use.
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Originally Posted by CandiAnne
I do refurbish furniture so have a bit of knowledge on being able to make the parts that I'm missing but don't have any dimensions so go off of without guessing.
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I believe that you will find that your Flying Cloud had cabinetry/furniture was constructed of high quality veneer plywood as Airstream used this process through the 1960s. I know that paperwork came with my
1964 Overlander Land Yacht International suggesting that when touch-up was needed on its cabinets/furniture to use WATCO Danish Oil products.
Originally, your Flying Could would have had a pressurized fresh water system which means that you would typically find a large, cylindrical, galvanized tank mounted on top of the floor where the water would be stored under pressure -- on the fill device for the tank, you will find a Schroeder valve to add air pressure to maintain the air charge/water pressure as water is used. The downside to these pressure systems is that the galvanized tanks tend to develop pinholes on the bottom where water will leak onto the floor causing rot.
The water heater of this era was typically an upright cylindrical unit with LP Gas as its fuel. It was usually located in close proximity to the bathroom. The three sets of pipes are a give away to the water heater as you will see an LP Gas line, as well as both a hot and a cold water line.
Good luck with your Restoration project!!
Kevin
Best of luck with the restoration!
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