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

Epoxy is the best thing for bare metal to prevent future rust. Think of it as the glue for something else to stick to.

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

Already done, but thanks for the advice.

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

I'm sitting poolside on the last day of my vacation for the year and with the clarity I only seem to get when I DON'T have the office and others distractions to think about I was thinking about the sequence of rebuilding my truck.

I've been thinking right along I need to get on the frame and start installing the IFS, C notch the rear, etc. But on reconsideration I realize the bodyshop will shortly be done to the primer level on my cab, so he'll be asking for either my doors or my bed. I need to strip the windows and mechanisms from the doors and also finish patching the speaker holes I started literally years ago and never finished! Otherwise he'll have to do it and that'll cost $$$.

Then the bed. I plan to pull the fenders off but I'm questioning if I should totally disassemble the bed? If I don't and have it blasted the edges where sides and front/rear panels come together never get cleaned - BAD.
If I leave it assembled I won't have to worry about reassembly scratches and out-of-square conditions either - GOOD, but I also want polished stainless fasteners holding it together, not painted bolts/nuts. So I guess that all adds up to blowing it apart and "while I'm at it" welding shut the holes the original owner put in to bolt on a shell and repairing one rust-through spot in the front panel bed roll. I still haven't decided whether I'm welding shut the side panel bed rolls. It seems like a "standard" thing for most of you but eh...I don't know. Opinions welcomed.

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

I vote for disassembly of the bed and being thorough enough with repairs so that you will always be happy with it. And problems are less likely to crop up later after paint. Just a few more hours invested for many years of being happy with the results is a good return.

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

i agree ^ You will be much happier in the long run if you tear it apart and get it done .

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

I second that!

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

I agree and have decided I will complete the total tear down. How can I not with all the other work being done?

Saturday, August 29, 2015 Update

I'm VERY happy with the progress on my cab so far. It's happening fast and more importantly he's doing it right, at least to my inexperienced eye.

It's mega hot in L.A. This weekend but he was still working. Cab body work is nearly done and he's asking me to have the doors blasted and to drop them off so he can fit them and address door gaps. I didn't even bring the gaps up, he did. I feel this is a good omen.

There was a torn hole THROUGH the rear wall of the cab over one of the interior reinforcements. It was pulled, welded shut, ground and filler applied.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps38nedwmh.jpg

The firewall is done and it is extremely smooth to the touch. He brought up a small wave in the center; frankly below where it will be visible with the engine installed and told me he hadn't noticed it before he primed but would pick it up when he primed the rest - excellent.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...psvdwkuuq6.jpg

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

Thanks again to whoever it was that sent me the dash replacement metal like 3-4 years ago. It has finally been welded in and finishing is taking place now. The original owner had drill two additional holes inside the factory holes
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps9jzfqtop.jpg

I also like very much the kick panel repair patches he made by hand that match exactly and his welds looks very neat and good to me. Apologies for the poor photo. He had the lights off in the shop to keep the heat down. I took the photo with my iPad so no flash.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...psxazknjyb.jpg

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

Cab corners are in. He said the fit wasn't all that but he made them work. Passenger side interior corner was well rotted so that came out. Driver's side wasn't as bad, a small patch on the interior that I could not see.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...pscyn20cck.jpg

When I got there the cab was totally covered in lactic and a ginormous rubber band was holding it down from picking up overspray off the other cars in the shop.

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

Dan my man, those pieces came from me!!

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

Ah, JJ I should have remembered. THANK YOU AGAIN!

How goes your frame build? Did I misunderstand or are you selling your entire rolling frame? Engine & trans too or frame & suspension only? If selling your power train what are your plans?

Man, I wish you were closer I'd SERIOUSLY consider buying your stuff!

Thanks again! - Dan

PS: I will be honored that tiny pieces of the original "Chuck Truck" will be part of mine! Lol

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

Dan your cab is looking really good. Coming along fast!

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

Thanks! Compared to the painter that did my OT Porsche 911 restore a few years ago this guy is moving FAAST.

He had a near new 370Z in his shop in Nissan's deep blood red. It was parked right next to my truck so I could imagine my truck in that color and was really liking it.

IF I go that way the question is whether I'll paint the lower dash and door panels (if I leave them exposed) in a rich cream or light tan, or keep it all one color? Really thinking hard on that option.

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

Dan, Looking good, also happy about you finding a good body and paint guy...Jim

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

Looking real nice.
Kim

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

Thank you guys.

Here's kinda/sorta the color combo I'm thinking about right now. There's something not quite right about it, it's an older Impala and I haven't figured out what's not right about it for me, maybe it's too brown and I want more of a heavy cream:

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

There's also this look. I think the white is too white for me, ha ha. Never satisfied I guess.

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

Another:

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

Those are all nice color combos.
Kim

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

You're welcome Dan, glad you were able to use them finally!

No work on the frame yet, still getting settled in the new garage.

Not sure if I'm going to part it out or sell the old frame, would like to put another body on it and sell it as a driver.

If you were closer I'd over turning wrenches with you for sure!

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

That's a nice sentiment JJ, thank you.

I consider some of the guys (and Denee) on this site, "friends I haven't met yet" thinking if we lived down the block from one another I think we'd drop in and get to know one another. It's a pleasant fiction. We have similar interests and help each other out here.

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

Dan, Here's the info on the column you requested, it's a cut down one from a mid 70's van. It was the perfect length with the original truck dash, but it's a little close to the Impala dash. I have another that I plan to shorten someday!

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

Thanks for this post, JJ.

Wow, it's only 27" total length to the wheel mounting flange and you think it was about perfect with the stock dash?
I hope you're like 6'-7" or something, ha ha. The ididit column I bought is either 30" or 32". Maybe 30" will be useable as I'm only 5'-10" and '55's have the flat early steering wheels where yours had the later dished wheel. I suppose I could let more of the column extend past the firewall to reduce the in-cab length a bit but even so, it sounds like my column may be too long! Drat!

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

Question for the "Illuminated"

As I posted in the, "What Did You Do Today" thread, I'm dropping off my doors, door panels & hinges at the sandblaster's tomorrow and I'm wondering if there's any reason I SHOULDNT have them blast my window winding mechanisms too?

Someone (Roger?) posted a source for replacement plastic rollers above (thanks! Mine are shot) but other than that is there any other reason not to blast them? I'll probably just rattle can them with anti rust primer and a dull aluminum color. I may be installing power windows later but if not, my stockers will be good as new. Opinions appreciated.

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

Ok, well no one responded and I dropped them off too this morning.

Hopefully, there are no regrets. Worst that could happen is it forces me to buy power windows before I reassemble! Not a hardship (I hope!):lol:

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

I don't think it will be a problem Dan.

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

September 21, 2015 Update

No pictures today, sorry.
Picked up my doors, door panels, hinges, upper door trim, window cranks, etc from the sandblaster and dropped them off at the bodyshop.

Painter asked me to take the hinges and a few other things I'd previously dropped off with him - emergency brake handle, glove box door, ashtray & heat control as well as the hinges - BACK to the sandblaster and have them powder coated in a color as close as possible to the final paint color.

Why? He uses the powder as a primer coat and then sands and final coats with my color. Kinda makes sense. He says otherwise they're a lot more susceptible to chipping.

Took the parts in questions all back and picked a dark red, plus had the emergency brake handle done in semi gloss black. I'm not positive I'm reinstalling the stock handle but if I do I don't want to call attention to it by having it red.

We also decided to get repop door bottoms. I've got a series of pinholes all along the door bottoms as well as the passenger side being damaged a bit. So I'll be visiting The Car and Truck Shop soon - which is local (+/-) to me.

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

Bought replacement door bottoms and dropped them off at the shop today. Body man thinks he can get by without having to replace the outer skin but the passenger door is a questions mark as there's about a 4" square area that has holed-through. I'll check in next week and get photos of (hopefully) progress.

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

Dan,
My column is 30 inches long, and it sticks out into the engine bay 3 1/2 inches. I used the factory wheel over again. I have been gripping that wheel for over 40 years.
Why would I let it be replaced?
It adds a little nostalgia to the truck with the actual paint worn to the plastic. It looks cool. I have had several people tell me it's what they expect to see when they look in my truck.
If you look in the cab, it all looks original. Mine is a daily driver. It has dust in it.
Likewise, I used the beat-up faded red on the hood emblem, and had the bow tie powdercoated at a specialty shop near here.
It's like yea, I'm an old dog, but I bite.
LoL
That's why everyone's truck is different.

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

October 1, 2015

Stopped by bodyshop to check progress. Both door bottoms have been repaired/partially replaced. Passenger side is fully done and primered. Below is a picture of the driver's door partially completed. Not fully welded out and ground flush but in process. The exterior only required partial replacing on the passenger side.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...soof6plua.jpeg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...sr6obaoya.jpeg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...sn5objtlk.jpeg

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

Looks like they're making good progress.
Kim

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

Yup, I'm very pleased that he keeps moving along and I'm only checking in every couple of weeks. I don't have to press him and I don't have to be critical of his work because m fairly well pleased by it.

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

hey dan
truck is turnin out v nice !
do you plan on replacing the door hinge pins? i mean if the doors are gonna be reset ya might as well do the pins with new ..........just sayin is all
lookin good !

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

Hi Daze. I had assumed I'd need to but I've checked the "play" in the hinges and there doesn't seem to be any! I think someone must have already done it, though they looks entirely original. The original owner owned it from 1955 til 2010 but it sat, not registered and not running from 1992 til 2010 so maybe it just doesn't have that much wear? I don't know.

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

Do we know what engine is going back in this thing?
I have a rebuilt 4 bolt 350 with Iron TPI fuel Inj. heads on it I need to get rid of.
has 1935 miles on it.
hillenger512@cox.net

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

Right along I've been planning on putting the existing 283 it had right back in it - with a cosmetic improvement. It runs good though I know it has a weak cylinder that will eventually have to be addressed. In my dreams I put a 5.3 LS engine in it someday.

But I'll drop you a line to inquire if you have documentation on this rebuild and of course a price discussion after understand what all would be included, how it would get from Phoenix to LA, etc. Thanks for thinking of me! - Dan

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

Just an update to record when I did certain things.

The cab has been fully repaired and doors are now fitted with good, though not perfect gaps. This looks good, maybe excellent (to me at least) The body lines match up fine. The gap is pretty consistent. I'm pleased.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...spcptfjso.jpeg

Here the gap is wider at the bottom of the "J" than further up. I could have him make it perfect...but perfect costs and this isn't a show truck. Just a (hopefully) very nice driver. I can live with this...but I hope I don't regret it. Opinions welcome.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...sf7ajglzm.jpeg

I stopped by the body shop today to let them know I'd dropped off the front outer fenders to be blasted. It was a total BIYATCH getting the front clip all apart single handed. I broke a few bolts but the total P.I.T.A. bolts were the ones that held the body piece that goes across the top of the grill - whatever it's called. The passenger side had a welded on nut. The driver's side had broken off at some point and someone put an inch too long bolt in there and of course it was rusted solid to the nut. I tried getting it off a long time with the clip fuLly assembled then realized I had to break the whole thing down. All in all a total pain in the nuts!:lol:

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

Rear gap looks real good.
Only way to fix the "J" gap is to weld and grind.
Kim

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

Dan your gaps look good. Mine were really bad too. Rich


My build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576185

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

Yeah, I know. Weld a piece of weld rod or similar on the edge and grind contour to be consistent, right? Man, I hope it doesn't bug me if I don't have it done.

Yes, I like the rear gap too. I'm hoping my eye tracks that more than jumping immediately to the J after its painted and done.

PS: Thanks Baldeagle!