Re: 55 in NH build
 

finally got the pinion angle set and cross brackets install. I bought some thick walled pipe and tacked the spacers in place so they could go through powder coat as one unit. Just need to fab up some mock shocks to simulate ride height so I can position the top shock mounts. Should able to break it down and send everything to powder next week. while the brackets are getting done I'll sand and touch up the frame. Thinking of replacing the bushings on the rear and cleaning the diff while its out. Hope to order the front kit this week.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Finished the rear. Just gotta decide if I want the sway bar towards the cab or rear. Going to strip it all down and send the brackets to powder coat. While waiting for that I'll clean up the frame and paint it. I was able to take the dog bones off an hit them with a 6" soft brass wheel on my grinder. they cleaned up well in minutes. I'm thinking of ordering the flat out front kit this week. Progress!!!

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I was able to remove all the brackets and pull the rear end this morning. Dropped off the parts to the powder coater at noon and they were done by 3! Cleaned up the frame and got it painted. Ordered new bat wing bushings for the IRS. hope to get the aluminum cleaned up this week.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Been a busy week. I bought a $20 harbor freight sandblaster to clean up the rear end. Makes a mess but turned out pretty good. I decided to replace the batwing bushings on the IRS. man it was a pita. I had to drill out the rubber so I could punch out the center pin. once that was out I was able to punch out the rubber. I didn't realize there was an out casing so I used a triangle file to cut a slot and bend it in. installing the bushing wasn't gonna happen with C-clamps so I drilled a hole through an oil filter wrench and put some plate stock on the other side. the cup kept the bushing square as I tightened the bolt. rear end is installed!

Re: 55 in NH build
 

More Pics

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I got the ship notification from Flat-Out for the front kit! I think I found a good home for the lowered power I beam so he's gonna help me pull the engine and suspension in trade.

Ordered some speedway motor mounts. Purchased a 2 ton hoist and an engine stand. I had picket up a cheap HF flaring tool which was junk. tube kept pushing through so I bought a 3/16ths specific double flaring tool for $15. makes perfect flares every time.

Learned that my truck has a hydro boost under the cab so I've been reading up on that. Not a fan of the large/weird access panel that was cut into the floor to get to the master. it straddles over the seat mount. I think a remote fill cover would have been a better option as both seats would need to be removed to access it which will get worse as carpet is added. While I was under there I saw a few things I didn't like. the bread boxes were layered with a 1" lip but there wasn't any seam sealer or paint on the edge. thinking about using por15 putty and then painting it. Also the front corner under the cab has some rot. its just in front of the fender mount but not sure what it's supposed to look like or the they sell a replacement. its almost a mid layer feeding up to the cold air vent but I don't know what to call it.

The cab had been sandblasted and epoxy primed so at least I know what is what but the down side to everything being painted black is its hard to see or photograph

Re: 55 in NH build
 

The part you likely need is a door hinge pillar. There are a couple parts down there and they all seem to be sandwiched and spot welded. The front cab mount is also part of that.
Water builds inside the inner cowl and runs out on the cab for. The drain in the cowl bottom is small so it plugs easy. The water on the floor runs into the void in the hinge pillar and rots it all out. Then the front heavy cab sags down and usually makes the floor uneven and low under the front pedal area on both sides. The step and rear door pillar bottom are the next victims.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

So I know the passenger side had a lot of work done. new A piller and upper corner of the cab. Looks like the lower section is completely missing. the driver side it rotted pretty good. would this be the "Lower hinge pocket outter" ? they also list an inner but im having a hard time visualizing that piece. Not sure what part covers that flat horizontal piece at the bottom of the pocket. Hoping to pull the engine next week along with the front clip so now would be a good time to go after those pieces.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Pulled the front clip and engine today. everything was pretty straight forward but the engine has an oil leak from the timing cover that must of been leaking oil onto the belts and was spraying everywhere. every time I touched anything it was like I was coating myself with shoe polish. Should be able to pull the powered lowered I beam this week

Re: 55 in NH build
 

More progress, was able to pull the front suspension today. seeing that it was pretty new stuff with new hardware it came apart pretty easy. Looks like I have to remove some of the boxing plates that the PO installed for the Flat-out ones. I noticed the directions are a lot less detailed than the rear kit but it should make more sense once the rest of the brackets are removed. It says the front crossmember needs to be trimmed but doesn't say how much.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

just a quick note to say I have mounted my swaybar facing rearward in front of the rearend. The bushing housings for the bar looked like they wanted to have the front bolt in the frame hole where one of the bed cross braces mount. I had my local machine shop bens up a z bracket to replace that bed brace by over spanning the original bolt hole. I hope this helps.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

thanks JWhotrod. I'm going to circle back to the sway bar after I finish the front. Im running low on time with the weather so im scrambling.

I like to build old Honda's an just got back from the Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride in Ottawa. Great ride but now im back working on cutting out the PO partial boxing plates. he made some home made engine mounts that went through the boxing plate and was welded on the inside and the outside.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

got front cross member out and frame cleaned up. need to decide where and how to trim the lower frame rail. broke down the corvette front end today. I thought it would be a quick job... everything had an inch of oil/dirt on it. seeing im running a hydroboost im considering running the corvette power steering cooler as well.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I think you are doing the right thing. Ralph Seats that owns ECI brakes is a good friend of mine, he has helped me thru the years with brakes on my street rods. When I told him I was building this 55 with corvette brakes he said without hesitation, use a Hydroboost the "standard" corvette master cylinder/7"dble booster we generally use wont generate enough line pressure to be effective with the c4/c5 brakes we are using. Good luck.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

started cleaning up the front components.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I got the frame trimmed up, I decided to keep a bit of the lower frame flange. I figured it may help with mounting the power steering cooler. Welder is coming next week. I'm going to shift the boxing plates forward a bit so I'll have to trim them a little but so far its been pretty straight forward.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Welder was able to burn in everything today. He was able to knock out everything in 3 hours and only charged me $210. that plasma cutter made quick work out of the notches. I'll clean up the frame tomorrow. :four:

Re: 55 in NH build
 

looks good...Jim

Re: 55 in NH build
 

thanks Jim. So the previous owner cut the ugliest slot in the firewall for the magneto tach cable. It was an odd shape with many curves but turned out ok.

overall the firewall is in decent shape. I just need to figure out what holes I can close up. anyone know what the round and oval ones on the trans section are for?

Re: 55 in NH build
 

High quality work. Enjoying the build.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Kevin - looks good! What measurement did you end up with to the new crossmember? Did you mount a fender and center to wheel well? most end up moving it forward up to 3/4" from Dons instructions

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I actually went with the instructions. It mentions you can move it up to an inch forward but ultimately I think you need to just go with what looks best to you. I mocked up the fender and tossed on an 18" wheel and tire and it looked good to me there. unfortunately I didn't snap a picture. fingers crossed.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Scored a mint passenger door the other day for $175!!!! the streaks you see are not dents just my wiping all the dust off of it. got the front end sanded and primed today. ordered a new bellhousing for my Muncie 4 speed to replace my cracked an broken one. Hope to get the oil leaks on the engine sorted in the next couple weeks and get it mocked up to build the motor mounts.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

in my haste to install the passenger door I failed to clean out the threads and jammed up one of the bottom hinge bolts. when it didn't feel right I tried to back it out and the nut broke its welds inside the door. I was able to recover the nut and clean up the threads. I was trying to figure out how to weld it back in. Seems like most rivenut it but because this was the bottom hinge I was able to trace the perimeter of the nut and drill 4 holes on the corners. I was able to fish the nut through the door using a piece of wire through a bolt shaft that I tapered so I would slide a nut over the wire to hold it in place as I welded. I got lucky on this one.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

well I got the engine mocked up today. The PO had the engine sitting a lot lower than I was able to go with the flat-out crossmember. I used the Muncie to locate the engine. I had to jack the engine up to clear the power rack and will definitely need to rotate the fittings on the rack as they are almost touching the oil pan. currently the vette rear is at 3 degrees up and I have the engine mocked up at 4 degrees down. I have maybe a 1/4" around everything but I can see that the factory throttle arm comes in contact with the bellhousing when attempting WOT. That giant magneto doesn't help with how tall it is. I may consider mocking the radiator back up and see if I can move the engine forward a bit and shift the trans mount forward 1/2". Do most people switch over to a lokar setup and ditch the factory linkage or find a way to modify it? Let me know what you think.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Clever job rewelding that nut. Great solution.

Marc

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Thanks Marc. I got luck that it was the bottom pocket and not the top

Re: 55 in NH build
 

trying to get the motor mounts tacked in this week. the PO had the engine very low and set back. He also cut down the oil pan so he could set it lower. I had to raise up the engine a couple inches to clear the rack but it ends up putting the tall magneto against the firewall and leaves the valve covers about 1/4" from hitting. I currently have 2" between the engine and fan so I'm thinking of moving the engine and transmission forward 3/4-1"

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I have a question. That's the first radiator I've seen that appears to sit flush with the core support. What kind of radiator/shroud is that?

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I'm not sure on the radiator. The PO had installed it along with adding additional air holes in the front of the core support.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Finally got the engine mounts welded in and frame painted.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I figured now is the time to fill the firewall holes with the engine out. I picked up a $1.48 electrical box that had both size plugs that I needed.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Just got the two trans-tunnel holes to fill and some pin holes before I start prepping the firewall for paint. Overall im happy with how it came out.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Looking very nice. Very good work!

Re: 55 in NH build
 

good idea for hole plugs as long as you grind off the zinc plating first.
another idea thats inexpensive. buy the plugs larger than youi need. drill the hole to fit with a step drill so it is actually round, then weld the new plug in. no irregular shapes.

https://welderseries.com/Unholes-p50202282

Re: 55 in NH build
 

thanks Dsraven, it took no time to remove the zinc from all sides with my flap disc. the only challenging one was the one on the formed edge. I had to bend a Z on the plug to contour it to the body line. I received my Ididit column and Bergeson drop mount this week. Looks like my rack will be another couple weeks out.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Like my friend Slammed 57 said, all that work on the filling the firewall holes looks great.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Thanks Guys I'm hoping to finish the firewall this week and then start into the engine. I got most of the passenger side done. I'm going to move the section of wiring down into the recess behind the motor. On the drivers side I think I'm going to fill a couple more of the larger holes but I don't know where to run the 3 bundles on the far upper right. they are the headlight harness along with the highbeam/lowbeam switch.

For the people that have cleaned up your firewall where did you run the wires? The tough thing about looking at pictures of clean firewalls is that all the wiring is hidden LOL. I didn't know if people run them outside the wheel well or along the frame rail? Let me know

Re: 55 in NH build
 

Heres what i did, headlights, turn signals, electric fan stuff are all in 1 loom going through the core support so its all out of site after core support. Rear wireing all comes out below brake reservoir. All engine wireing comes out behind the head, splitting between alt and starter ign.

Re: 55 in NH build
 

I finally finished welding all the holes in the firewall. Tomorrow I should be able to prep it for primer and start smoothing. I think I'm going to finish it in a satin black for now. My flat-out steering rack has shipped so I should get it next week. Progress!