Well, due to a lack of space and urge to level the playing field, the Flying Cloud has moved to the driveway, much to the consternation, I'm sure, of the neighbors. I've been polishing a bit here and there with the hopes they will see I'm not going to just leave it as a big junk pile.

We shall see if I'm invited to the annual Holiday soiree.

Many good things have happened as I've ripped this thing down to the bone. The two big dents basically popped out; the frame looks to only have surface rust with the exception of one outrigger under where the hot water heater used to be; The underbelly is completely gone; everything I've learned over On AS forums and at www.thevap.com seem to be working; so all in all for not knowing a thing about the Airstream a few months ago, I'm relatively pleased with the progress.

I had a little issue with the local bargain tire outlet. They sold me underrated tires when I bought a pair to use to bring it back from CA. I need four tires the same size, same lug pattern when I go pick up my Spartanette next weekend, but at 7800 lbs there is no way four of those puny tires would work.

I pointed out the error of their ways, and to their credit they gave me a full refund (of course I bought 4 10 ply BFG 16 inch tires and wheels). But it was nice to do business with them. I recommend the Discount Tire at Warner and McClintock in Tempe.

After next week I get one week vacation over Thanksgiving, and another two at Christmas, so I hope to have the floor in by then. One thing that gives me pause is the axle. It is not pointing down, but it is level. I'd like to replace it while the floor is out, but at $800, ouch. Yoiks and a tan tivy as my elderly mother would say.

Anyway, enjoy the pics. I'm enjoying the project. Have to get it ready for an End of Feb rally in Tucson. May just be an aluminum tent, but I'm going.

The Deconstruction of the FC

First let me apologize for no pics. I was so tired by the end of last weekend I couldn't even pick the camera up. I'll try and get some up next weekend.

Things are looking up for the might Cloud. Everything in the interior, with the exception of the floor and water heater has been removed, including the end caps and interior skin. I got into a wrestling match with a 12 foot piece of aluminum and the aluminum won, pulling some muscles in my side.

It was very painful for a couple of days, but is getting better now. I am not doing a restoration, but a refurbishment or modernization. I am planning on stealing David Winnick's (sp?) wonderful interior of the 75th anniversary Bambi. Maybe I shouldn't say that as I'm sure it won't come out that good. Let's just say that I'm using some of his philosophies in a loose, general type of way.

Bought a pressure washer at the Home Depot. Boy did that do a good job. The interior is clean, clean, clean.

It also did a good job on the parts of the exterior I tried it on. The stuff I'd been trying to polish off actually came off with a little pressure wash. That being said, I fear the back end is a little too pitted to come out perfect. It will be nice, but just not perfectly smooth, I fear.

The two big dents in the top at the rear popped right out after I got the interior panels off. I still need to massage them a little, but it's looking much better.

Next step is to take the floor out, POR-15 the frame and put the tanks in. I stepped through the floor last weekend, so I guess I should take that out, but will evaluate it as a whole. I may not need to replace the entire floor.

Anyhoo, it's going remarkably well for someone who has no idea what they are doing. The Airstream Forums are a MAJOR help, so big props to them. Pics to come.

The trip home

It was a dark and stormy night...

Actually it was a bright and sunny afternoon when I picked up the FC from it's body shop junkyard home in Paramount CA on Oct. 10. Had to change the tires and cut away some more of the belly pan that was dragging, which took a couple of hours, but all in all it was an uneventful pickup.

You haven't lived until you've pulled a trailer covered in crap down a busy street with the crap flying off it right and left. It was a couple of miles until a car wash that I had spotted earlier would provide safe haven where I could pressure wash most of the 20 years of accumulation of bird poo, leaves and whatever else falls from the heavens. Yuk.

Took it to an RV place that was going to fix up the brakes and pack the wheel bearings when we discovered it had hydraulic brakes, which they could do nothing about. Oh bother. So they put new bearings and seals and grease and $177 later (is that high or about right, guess it doesn't really matter because I had to have it done) and the next day I took it to it's temporary home in Redondo Beach preparing for the Friday excursion home.


See hydraulic pump at left, covered by logging chain












I admit it is not a pretty sight at the moment, and I got a few snickers from passersby and coworkers, but you wait, I said, just you wait, it's a classic.

"Lord, let me get this home safely and I'll never ask for anything else again" was the prayer as we pulled out of the parking lot and prepared to go from the 405 to the 105 to the 605 to the 10 for our trip to Phoenix at noon on Friday.

Remarkably, it went amazingly well. I sucked in my gut a few times as we passed between giant trucks that seemed to be hogging the lines, thinking that might help my trailer avoid being sidewiped, and I guess it did, as we got home in pretty much the same condition as when we started.

Oh, we did lose our temporary tag in a gully washer near Quartzite and somewhere along the line the left rear tail light came unglued and was just hanging by a wire, but all in all the trip went well. It took NINE HOURS, because I didn't drive more than 60 mph, but it went relatively well and I thank you Lord, in all sincerity, and hope you won't hold me to that never asking for anything else thingamabob.

Spent a few hours yesterday and today with the deconstruction. it will be a process that I hope goes half as well as others I've seen. Here's some more pics. Stay tuned for the adventure.

Finally made the leap

After thinking, wondering and looking for awhile, I was lucky enough to find a 1963 Airstream Flying Cloud in Paramount CA on September 25, 2006. It's 23 feet long, the skin is intact, and in need of ripe restoration. Pics to come, but right now I'm trying to decide on how to get it home to Phoenix.

I could buy some tires, get the wheel bearings packed and hope for the best, but am considering putting it on a trailer to keep the adventure to a minimum. More to come.