Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

That would be me!:lol:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

So you're saying I'm not even good at being an A-Hole?

Damn dude, that's cold!:lol::lol:

June 30th means I'm NOT going to get much of anything more done on my truck. I've gottas go help someone move up in Central Cal the weekend before and I still have my camper to wash this weekend (it's like washing a friggin HOUSE!), cover, etc. I was kinda/sorta hoping to go to Pomona on Sunday too. I may have to skip that.

Oh well, I'm gonna put a sign on my truck that says, "YOU made me bring it!"

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Russell, mknittle - My problem EXACTLY. I have champagne taste and not even a beer budget! More like a Kool-Aid budget most of the time, ha ha.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Yeah just remember that you are not alone.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

If all us Kook Aid budget guys got together we could afford ONE kickass truck, ha ha.
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I will bring the water!!!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

It has been ONE month since I posted below.....

I think it is great that you get to drive your truck while working on it! I dont think Im ever gonna get the cab back on mine, with 3 young boys (4,6,8) it is nice having the "helpers", but then there is ball games, throwing the ball in the yard, helping them with whatever they think is cool at the time, and oh yeah did I mention I have a wife too!!

I THINK I am finally done with the frame/chasis. Time to drag it out in the driveway and clean up the shop, put the cab on and get to repairing the sheet metal!!

I need to quit lurking around on everyone elses build thread and start my own... or at least work on my truck!!!!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

[QUOTE=JR25;6100660]It has been ONE month since I posted below.....

I think it is great that you get to drive your truck while working on it! I dont think Im ever gonna get the cab back on mine, with 3 young boys (4,6,8) it is nice having the "helpers", but then there is ball games, throwing the ball in the yard, helping them with whatever they think is cool at the time, and oh yeah did I mention I have a wife too!!

I THINK I am finally done with the frame/chassis. QUOTE]

So let's SEE IT!!!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

lMAO its cool no worries, yup I will be there even if I bring my suburban ;)

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Oh great, ANOTHER completed, beautiful truck to compare my old Betsy against! Lol.
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

[quote=Dan in Pasadena;6100823]OK...... I still haven't got a pic to show up on my profile, but..... the start of my own thread!!!!!!
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...24#post6103824

got the pic to show!!!!!:metal:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

This is a "doop" of my post to Coach's '49 3600 thread:

I went to order my frame mount, manual disc/drum dual master cylinder last night and figured, "I may as well check all the sources ONE MORE TIME."

Bingo! A new-in-the-box CPP '55-'59 frame mount kit was listed for $175 obo locally on Craigslist. CPP is asking $219 - yahoo! POL is asking $175.99.

The seller agreed to $150 and I pick it up this afternoon! They're probably all the same kits but this saved me maybe up to $100.

Of course this now brings the need to:
Buy/bend new brake lines
Buy flaring and bending tools. (Recommendations?)

And of course no point installing the MC without having installing the disc brake kit (I already have) but since it mounts to the axle, time to talk to Sid about a 3" drop and modified drop link, steering arm, etc.

It'd PROBABLY be best to pull the dog house off for easy access to the front end and "while I'm in there" to wire wheel/paint the front portion of the frame. Engine clean up, yada, yada....it's a slippery slope!!!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I bought the pre-flared lines with fittings on them and used the cheapest generic hand bender there is. I borrowed a double flaring tool off a friend and we had all the lines bent and installed in less than 2 hours. It's a pretty simple job for any skill level of builder.

It is indeed a slippery slope bud. One little job leads to another and another and so on

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan, I got my flaring tool at NAPA for about $60. Get the pre-flared lines at NAPA that are a copper/steel and you can make most of the bends without a bending tool, although they also have basic bending tools that don't cost much.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks guys.

Ok, I picked up the kit at lunch. All new, looks good. I'm happy...so far.

I'd already planned to use those steel/copper lines and PROBABLY a bender I saw on Eastwoods that look kinda like pliers. IF i can get away using all pre-flared lines i certainly will. if not, I know to make templates.

I DONT know what clamps to buy to mount the lines on the frame. They don't have to be chrome plated, just neat & nice. BTW, why do some guys put those curly-ques at the MC?

To avoid some cost in the short term I'm considering installing the front disc kit w/o going to the expense of the dropped axle and SuperSliders right now. We'll see how it plays out.
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Nice score on the parts.
You should be able to find some rubber clamps that go all the way around your lines.

The 4th one down should work.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/cab...ecatalog/N-c2m

By curly "Qs" if your talking about the coils that look like the belong on a still it's for vibration dampening.
Kim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks for the link. I THINK I've seen those at Home Cheapo.

Yeah, coils....I couldn't think of the word when I typed that:lol:.

So some guys use those and some don't. Are they really necessary cause I don't know how I'd manage to make those without collapsing the line(?)

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

IMHO the coils are needed if you have the brake assembly mounted to the fire wall and then the lines go to the frame.There is always going to be some movement between the two and the coils will help keep the lines from cracking.
If the brake assembly and lines are both mounted to the frame then I don't think the coils are needed. I didn't put them in mine and don't have concern over it at all.
Kim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Here's what I'm tentatively planning to buy for tubing bending.

http://www.eastwood.com/review/produ...stomer-reviews

Gonna hold off on the flaring kit til I get under the truck and roughly measure what length lines I'll need, then head over to Pep Boys or NAPA to see what they have pre-made. I'm assuming 3/16" tubing for all the lines, is that correct? Any tips for a newbie on this?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Ok, good thinking Kim. This'll be under the frame.

I'm also wondering if I should spring for the remote reservoir conversion: cap, lines, plastic reservoir? I really think once I get the lines all bled, adding fluid should be easy enough with a squeeze bottle and a small mirror, OR I could drill another factory-sized hole and 2nd rubber plug.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Nice truck, I think the price is what people are paying these days. I paid $4k plus ( can't remember the change) for my big window 58 with original 283. I've done a lot of work to it and still not finished. I'm looking forward to taking that first drive when it's finished. I think whatever we pay for our trucks is worth it, if it makes us happy.
Enjoy your truck
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

That looks like a nice bender.
I used 3/16" on all my lines.
Kim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks Kim. I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on those tools.

Thanks Tx, you must have read through the thread from the beginning. There was some discussion early on of whether I paid too much for my truck. I didn't think so then and I REALLY don't think so now 1-1/2 years later. If anything, I got a deal. At least for Southern California. And I agree with you: If they make us happy and we can afford them, whatever we pay is fine.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

i used 3/16" on all my lines except the one that goes to the rear brakes, that was 1/4". The only reason for that is because of the fitting size coming out of the proportioning valve. Then I sized the line back down to 3/16 from each side of the axle

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I agree, There will only be a minor amount of twisting on the lines. If they are clamped snug {not too tight} the movement will be spread over a wider area.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I have one similar to the one on the right. It works good but is a bit clumsy:lol:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

It's clumsy?....or the operator? Lol.
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan, How are you coming along on patching the speaker holes? When I replaced the bottoms of my doors I didn't think I would be able to get them perfect so I masked off a section of the inside lower portion of my doors and sprayed them with paintable undercoating. I like the way it looks, and it will help hide some less-than-perfect body work. It might even give some noise reduction also. You don't notice it unless you are close.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Hey, that's a good idea! I'm reading your post on my iPhone and didn't notice the texture at all until I zoomed in.

My repair is stopped. Took a long weekend camping vacation, some prep & mechanical work before and cleanup/repair after. I MAY get back to it this weekend though. Thanks for thinking of me. I DO like the idea. What brand did you use? Just rattle can stuff?
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Now I like that idea. I have a few minor dings on the lower sections of my doors,wish I would have seen this sooner. It's great that we now have products and techniques that we didn't have back then. Nice truck
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Russ,
Did you put the material on the upper part of your armrest? I ask because I'd like to get some and they don't come in colors I want to use so I'm wondering if they un-screw and are easy to change? Oh, and is the top coat rattle can too, or real automotive paint?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

The arm rests don't exactly match my door but I didn't do anything to them. They are exactly like I received them from Bow Tie Bits. I'm pretty sure that you can remove the top but I didn't look too closely so don't know for sure. The undercoating that I used on my door came from O'Reilys. I don't remember the brand, just be sure it says Paintable on the can. I let it set up for a week before I painted it. I got the idea from thinking about my last truck which had carpet on the lower section of the door.

The top coat is "real" paint, urethane enamel, had it matched at the auto paint store to match the rest of my interior.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan I got mine at Classic Truck parts they come with a template for drilling into door panel the nuts are already in the door on both sides. I removed the door panel, cut the head off a screw that fits the bolt in door and grinded it to a point re-installed door panel tapped with a hammer to indent a mark than placed the template that came with the door pulls over the marks and drilled for screw attachment real easy.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Rudy,
There are no nuts on the backside of my door panels. Is that what you're saying here? Mine MAY have had them cut off. When I bought the truck the old owner had put some extra long plastic armests that had the door pull built into them. I tossed those first thing.

I figured I'd just place the armrests wherever they felt best. Next trip to the Truck Shop I'll see what colors they have and buy a pair.

EDIT: Re-read what you wrote: Maybe you meant the nuts are in the door, not the door panel? SOunds about right. Then the headless bolt/pointed screw makes perfect sense. I'll go give it a look tonight after work.

Windshield
Also, Fabguy was telling me there's a local shop that quoted him a new windshield INSTALLED for $180 total!! Strikes me as a helluva deal. I'm going to call them today, mine's sandblasted.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan
I snapped a quick pic where location is

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Ah...ya me conozco! lol.

Smart thinking to do the pointy screws - I'll be stealing that little bit of "engineering!"

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

When I said they didn't match my door I meant the color. It was the only blue they had. They came with a template but it was for a later model truck so I didn't use it. I just measured where the holes should be and drilled. They fit the factory mounting holes perfectly. The armrests are probably the same that most of the parts places sell, CounterParts if IRC. They come with the correct screws to mount them.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Almost everything I get from The Truck Shop says "Counterpart" on the packaging. So far, I've been happy with all those parts. But honestly? I'd better stop buying parts and start installing some of them!

I'm guessing since Rudy showed the factory nuts in the door that these trucks DID come with arm rests? I always thought they didn't because my Dad's '59 Fleetside never had any.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Yeah...... Get installing and taking some pictures! I always like to see the progress you are making, I really like what you have done to your truck!
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Ha ha, yeah you're right.

It's about a 50-50 possiblity I'll be out of town this weekend helping a relative move. IF that happens then next weekend is the Brother's Show so I'll be doing catch-up household chores next Saturday. If not I'll possibly get some time this weekend and I'll miss the Brothers Show to do this same move next weekend!

Not sure when I'll get back to the truck, but I will. And there WILL be photos posted then because....well, I like doing it and I need encouragement to keep moving.