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

This:
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps4xokz6cb.jpg

Excuse the F*rd and the wheels but a very deep red like this. A true blood red, not fire engine red. I have to use at least 17" wheels to clear the calipers but I don't want really low profile tires so I'll try for 45 series but would prefer 50's. We'll see.

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

Frame is looking great !

I like that shade of red .

Did you look at my post above about seam sealing ?

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

Yes thanks Glen! I'll see the painter monday and tell him i want that seam sealed.

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

Looks sweet Dan!

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

That paint color is spectacular. Can't wait to see this build come together. Def go with Dakota digital gauges they are nice and actually reasonably priced considering quality and all that comes in the kit.

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

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement, you guys.

Flysocal, Yeah I've always loved bright colors like Corvette red & yellow, Hugger orange. They're stereotypical for hotrods but I think I MIGHT get tired of the truck being super bright.
My intent is to keep it permanently so i want to get it right - but lots of guys say that until someone comes along offering big money - we'll see.

The deep dark red, but not burgundy is my idea for not have it scream at me. I don't know if that F100 picture was taken in low light or whatever, but it's EXACTLY what I want.

Calling a couple wheel guys today to price (OUCH!!!!!:o) commonly used fitment combinations for '55-'59 Chevy trucks.

Dakota - I really like them. Not sure I like one over the other $500 more though, lol. If money gets tight I may go with a cheap panel and buy the good stuff later. All comments/opinions appreciated - even if you think I'm nuts....cause I am!

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

Nice! ---- now comes the fun part! -- FINAL ASSEMBLY ;)

opinions:
Stainless on everything thta is non structural - I used them all for my boat hardware and they have been great. So I used them all on the truck too, flat washers, lockl washers, nylocks, nuts and bolts.

Gauges - if you price out single gauges from good people like SW, Autometer, etc. youll find that for the typical gauges needed, you'll be spending $500 easy - The DD ways is really an easy way to go.

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

Even at $500, individual gauges are about a third the price of the high-end Dakota Digital gauges with tax. But I get what you're saying.

I work in the heavy civil construction industry as the Sr. Design & Construction Quality Assurance Manager for Metro in Los Angeles on one of our major light rail projects so I know stainless fasteners have a lot of strength in tension but they don't have that much strength in shear. That's why am only using stainless under the hood for appearance sake and not planning to use them anywhere else. Maybe some in the cab for looks as well.

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

Dan, I'm like you and don't like the small side walls on some trucks. I'm running 235/55/17 on the rear of my AD. They are 27.2" tall 9.6" section width, and the side wall is 4". Here's a couple pics showing how they look. Don't know if you will run same size all around, or little's up front and larger in the rear. Hope this helps...Jim

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

Dan take a look at wheel vintiques .

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

I've used mostly grade 8 from Fastenal. I'm also using stainless for most body bolts also mainly from fastenal, but I'm finding in my area Orchard supply Hardware has good selection and seem to be quality, plus they are open 7 days a week unlike Fatenal.

I have to say that Fat fender Ford is very nice, I'm a big fan of them also.

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

Oldman3 - I will run the same diameter front and rear, but a wider rim in back. Are your fronts 17's too? What is your rim width in back?

Your wheels are Torq Thrust II's? One of the two shops I was going to call (work got in the way) sells them in chrome, polished and gray spokes. I'd planned on using gray BUT as the F100 above shows, I think chrome looks great against the dark red. On the site the polished look a touch yellow but the chrome looks gaudy. YOUR wheels look great and you have a dark color so I'm encouraged.

Have you had ANY issue with chrome peeling?
How long have you had your wheels?
I'd prefer waxing clean new chrome rather than regular hand re-polishing.
Last, what offset/backspace do you have?

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

Thursday, February 16, 2016

Today's reassembly progress:
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...pspd5rqjch.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...psjtnraq8v.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...psccfgdhcz.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps3nyejpmk.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...psjtnfr0hi.jpg
The leaf springs were taken apart, cleaned and sprayed black. No sandblasting/powdercoating.

We're waiting for factory style screw-in shackle pins rather than the newer press in type. The old ones look fine, BUT I don't want to take a chance they're worn in some not obvious way so its cheap insurance (I think!) to replace them.

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

Dan, will answer all your question. My front rims are only 16", rear rims are 8" wide.

My wheels are polished and I've re-polished them twice, due for another now.
I use my drill and Mother's foam cone and polish. They clean up very well and last a long time. I use Windex foam glass cleaner to keep them clean.

Not chrome, so no peeling.

Bought my wheels and tires in May 2008,couple more months they will be 9 yrs old.

Fronts are 16X7 with 4" B/S and rears are 17X8 with 3-1/2" B/S, I wanted the deep look on the rear.

The above pics were when I first bought them.

These pics are of the front wheel in October 2016 when I hit the deer, but you can see how good they look, and it's been 3 yrs since I last re-polished...Jim

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

Ok, now you've REALLY got my attention. If they hold a polish that long where you live they ought to hold it here in the super mild SoCal weather as long or longer. I worry chrome will peel regardless of what they tell you or warrranty - even though I'm anal about things like this.

I plan to use the same diameter front and rear and I also want a deep look in back. Glad to see yours look as they do in 8's so I don't have to go to 9-1/2's or 10's. Thanks so much for the info Jim. Oh and PS: they're American Racing TTII's, right?

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

Dan, your welcome on the info. Yes they are TTII's. Forgot to mention on the post, your frame looks great, looking forward to more updates...Jim

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

Wow Dan, The frame looks really Nice!!!
turning out Great, Fun to see another Flat Out IFS build.

Looking Good!


Allen

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

Thanks for the compliments you guys.

I'm at 62-year-old man (How the hell did THAT happen? I'm about 35 in my head!!��) and I'm giddy like a schoolgirl about my truck.

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

Your 40, with 22 Years experience!

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

Dan

This great to watch, the darker red is fandamtastic.

Please take a pic of the shock mount to the bottom mount on the LCA with your next batch.

Thanks in advance.

Keep on keepin on.

NC

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

Will do Nut Case. I'm heading over to the shop sometime today to see i they're working.

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

Dan, are you using the coilovers from Flat-out? I read in one article about there being a clearance issue with the spring and frame? Has your builder tried those yet? Post up if he has with the answer fo how they fit, please. I have my crossmember in and and the rack but no further.

Thanks,
Mark

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

I have the Alden Eagle coil overs on my truck and they do hit the frame and what I did was grind out the top edge of the frame and weld the opening shut, their is a guy on the net who explains this and it is what I did with mine.grinding it out puts a slight scoop in the frameand gives the coil a relief to move.

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

Yes, I'm using the coil overs provided by Flat Out. I think they're even shown in one of my photos above but I havent seen them installed. In fact I don't think they have been even on a trial basis during the initial fabrication so if there is a conflict with the frame rail we don't know about it.

Not sure I really like the idea of another notch in the frame, but if its a big expense to go to a different coilover (if there IS one that doesnt conflict) then it may be worth it but with the frame freshly powder coated I'm REALLY not going to want start cutting on it.

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

Any chance you have a link?

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

Here is the link I saw while researching my build: http://www.classicperform.com/tech_a..._Article_1.pdf

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

Thanks for the link. Looks like a very old article though.

I HOPE that Flat Out has long since fixed the issue (so I don't have to!) but we'll check into it. Thanks again. I will post about it one way or the other.

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

I can verify that the Alden Eagle coil overs do indeed hit the frame with the Flat Out kit as I just got done installing that setup in my 57. I did the notch in the frame just like the article shows.

Don

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

Mine hit too but i did not put that big of a relief in the Frame, I just ground the edge of the frame were the coil touched and welded the split in the frame back up.
I got this tip from Jim (Gotmotors) as he did the same to his frame.

Allen

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

Well this news sucks because obviously we thought all the fab work was done. Otherwise we wouldn't have sent the frame for sandblasting and powdercoating. I'm checking on progress later today so I'll discuss with Mike and see if he was aware and took steps to eliminate this in some way.

There is another TF truck in the shop (the twin turbo 1000 hp one I posted about before) that is ahead of mine and also has the Flat Out cross member. I don't recall seeing this notch on it and it was fully assembled and sitting on four wheels.

I'll let you guys know what I find out later.

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

I'm sure the smaller relief like Allen and Jim did would work fine, I just figured for piece of mind I did the bigger relief (have about 1" clearance all around the spring)
It's possible your builder moved the upper shock mount out farther, but then it gets awful close to the upper A arms.

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

Hey Dan, I know you just powder coated your frame,and this probably does not put you at
ease, but i would think your guy could grind the edge of the frame and Tig weld the corner just enough for the relief, Paint it Black to match and you probably would never know it was done as it is behind the coil and you probably would never see it, Just saying here,
and hope your guy has you already covered!
Bottom line is, you are going to have a GREAT Looking Truck regardless of the situation!!!
Allen

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

Looking back through your thread I see the upper shock mount is out a bit farther than mine, so I would say that your builder has taken the size of the spring into account and positioned the upper mount for proper clearance.

I think you have no worries here, but never hurts to ask............

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

Hi Allen,
Yeah I'm sure it will be fixable and not noticeable if this is necessary to do to my frame buti'll admit it kinda pisses me off. I won't let Mike know I'm unhappy about it because he has been so good doing all the things I asked including a couple times when I made last minute changes and not charging me extra hours for it.

It seems unlike him to miss something like this - so I'm hoping he didn't in some way - but a thought occurred to me. Pardon my ignorance here but would it work to simple install the coilovers upside down? I assume it wouldn't work right, not to mention it would look like whoever did it was clueless, but I have to ask.

EDIT:
Slyfry, I must have been typing while you posted. Hopefully you're right!

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

Monday, February 20, 2017

The engine and transmission are back in, tightened down with castellated nuts that are cotter keyed. I guess that means it's STAYING in now! The trans crossmember wasn't bolted in yet, but probably was after I left.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...pslsiemasp.jpg

I checked the clearance on the Aldan coilovers and there is plenty of clearence - 1/4 to 3/8" and this is at full sag. It won't hit, WHEW! I took a photo holding the phone in one hand and the shock with the other, so kinda a bad photo.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...pskfxhw8ol.jpg

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

I forgot to mention that the rearend happened to have the cover off when I got to the shop. They were about to bolt down the Moser aluminum cover I got for it when I asked about the final drive ratio. It was 2.73 - no bueno.

I don't intend to be a stoplight-to-stoplight drag racer, but I also don't want the truck to be a slug off the line either. With about 330hp and 350 ft/lbs of torque I want to have it available to me!

Mike wasn't in but I discussed ratios with two of his guys and I could go with 3.55's or 3.73's. The consensus (from their experience, not mine) is that since my engine is naturally aspirated, has an overdriven 4th gear, and I will be going with 17" rims I could like go with these much lower gears and still turn only 2000 rpm or maybe a bit less at 80 mph. I don't intend to drive this truck on long highway trips more than once or twice a year when I go north to visit my granddaughter 220 miles away. Opinions appreciated.

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

I've got 3.73 gears with 30" tires on my Tahoe and it turns just under 2000 rpm at 65 mph in o.d.

On my Caprice I had 2.45 gears with 26.5 " tires and I couldn't use over drive below 70 mph , then it would turn 1500 rpm at 70.

3.73 would be my choice .

On my project I've got 4.10 gears with 28" tires . I may go with 29" rear tires or install my Gear Vendors behind the 4L60E. I was planning to tow with it but plans changed after I chose the 4.10 gears.

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

Dan

If you need to touch up the powder coating there is a paint that is referred to as "implement paint" you reduce it with naphtha. I have used this for years on the trailers that I have built, it's like iron once cured. It has remained a semi-gloss black on a little single axle trailer that I built over 20 years ago, this trailer has spent all it's time outside. It's what farmers have used for a long time on there field equipment.

Hope this helps. When you get a chance please photo the bracket on the LCA that is between the LCA and the shock.

I sure Mike is trying to do his best, he probably has not done very many C-4 IFS.

Dude it's coming together, looking good.

Keep on keepin on

NUT CASE

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

Nut Case,
Thanks for the advice. There are few to no "implements" in Southern California because there are no farms! For the longest time I'd read guys online talking about Tractor Supply stores but thought there weren't any of them here. Turns out there's one 125 miles away near Santa Barbara. Not sure if there's any "implement" paint available here but I'll keep your tip in mind, thanks again.

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

Glen,
From a chart I found online I think my tire height will be in the 25-26 inch range, possibly 26.25."
I have to go with 17" rims to clear my calipers (VERY few rim & tire options available in 16's anymore) and it looks like there is even greater tire selection in 18's than 17's. I don't like the "fork lift tire" look - the very low profile sidewall the larger diameters tend to come in. I also want a fairly wide wheel/tire in the back, perhaps 275 to 295. There are some 275/40's that are made by BFG, Continental & Nitto. I have no experience with Nitto but I'll read reviews before I pull the trigger ordering them.