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

Wow Leonard, That is SUPER helpful to me...and CHEAP too compared to...well...anything but especially compared to the $169 "kit" I was quoted by a supplier to my shop. Can't thank you enough.

I looked at the links and they look very good but they SEEM to say you must use parts G4049, G4050 & G4051 together. But you sent links to p/n G4015 - which is a much nicer looking bracket than the 4049. Are you sure those three p/n's you linked are the right combo? I'm definitely buying whichever combo is the right one. Again, thanks!:clap:

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

Ok, as promised here are some gratuitous pic's of recent (minor) work on my truck.

The shop put in a new voltage regulator

(If I'd known about 57 3100's Summit links I'd have an alternator instead-DOH!), which made the horn relay above it look even worse than it already did with crusty rust. I decided to remove it, wire wheel it and paint gloss black to sorta match the new regulator.

Then, with that removed I figured I should pull both off to paint the firewall behind...and of course that led to painting other areas:

Cleaned up the terminals on the ballast resistor too and painted that general corner of the engine compartment. Yes, gotta pull the hinge and clean/paint it too. Should I use the brite silver or black? More to come of course.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0567.jpg

Inner fender well sanded/painted Rustoleum Pro semi gloss black (Gotta do something about the exposed wiring):
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0545.jpg

What's this called? The sheet metal above the grill:
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0553.jpg

Which caused me to clean up the latch mechanism:
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0551.jpg
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0548.jpg

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

Dan
Is this the piece you mean?
Kim
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=URS5557
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/images/URS5557.JPG

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

Yup, that's it. Same as picture #3 above. I largely stripped mine using a wire wheel and a sander but not perfectly. Once I get my sandblaster working I'll go back and probably redo it. But it definitely looks a hella better than it did before.

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

hello dan..... im 99% sure the 4015 will work just as the 4049 bracket, i like it since it has two mounting points and is stronger. i SHOULD be digging into it this weekend, and if i do i will let you know. and yes, its a lot cheaper than those fancy billet bracket setup's,

leonard

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

Agreed and much better looking in my opinion. More "correct looking" for our trucks or at least the look I'm going for...and apparently you're going for.

If you can, post some pictures and let me know if its really a straight forward bolt in, or if mods are required to align the pulleys, etc. I'd hate to have to grind on the chrome.

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

Paint tha hinges to match tha hood latch

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

Under side of the hood will PROBABLY be semi gloss black like the inner fenders. If so, then yes I agree. If I end up painting it green primer like the outside of the body I think I'll still paint the hinges black. I'd thought of doing them in silver...but why bring attention to them? Afterall, its not liek I spent the money to have them chromed.

Thanks for the input. Others?

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

yep, i also like the factory style looking brackets on these old trucks too.
i dug into it today after work, and went farther than i thought i would. i think if you go with either bracket 4015 or 4049 you should be fine, but im running a long water pump and bracket number 4015 is needing modification. made a spacer for the top bolt and also had to open the holes up a bit. then, on the hedder mount brackets i will have to weld them together in some fashion since i need the alternator to mount more forward, again, because of my long water pump. i really feel you should have none of these problems because these brackets are made for drivers side alternator with short water pump, as you are running.
im a welder by trade and love fabbing stuff up like this, and it helps that i have a TIG welder here at the house.
but yes, when its done i will post pics for sure.
take care.

leonard

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

Leonard,
Thanks but I THINK I have a long water pump. Isn't the difference that the pump body sits away from the timing cover about 3/4" - 1"? Mine does. Why wouldn't you just switch out the pump to a short one? Or isn't it that easy?

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

oh, i thought you had a short pump...... you could swap out the pump for a short one, but then you would also have to swap out the pulleys on the water pump and crank. i have a newer pump and dont want to swap mine out, and dont want to hunt down some new pulleys.
so i will just modify the brackets i bought and make them work.... messed with it more today. chasing down the right length belts, and i HOPE to have it dont tomorrow. at least have it mounted and be able to fire the motor up and see if the belt stays on. its coming along, but liek they say, custom dont have instructions.
hope to post pics tomorrow.

leonard

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

the two pump setups take completely different bracket setups. The long pump setup is superior in every way except period correctness.

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

Maybe thats why whoever installed the 283 in my truck used the long pump?

I've got a STUPID problem. I took my engine compartment apart because I'm cleaning it up/painting and of course I marked wires so I wouldn't forget what goes where? Then I removed the coil to paint it and forgot to mark if the + or the - was to the right or left! Like I said, STUPID. Now I've gotta figure it out. I THINK its negative to the distributor, but I'm not certain. Anyone? Oh and I recently had a Pertronix system installed.

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

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

Thanks Leonard,

I went to the internet too and there's a lot of stuff about newer cars but a lot less about old style ones. I wonder what would happen if I happen to connect it wrong! EEK!

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

hey dan, i got my alternator swapped to the drivers side finished today....
it was a little bit of work, having to modify the bottom spacer because of my long water pump, but it all worked out.
you can check out pics here....

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...30#post4808230

take care.

leonard

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

Leonard,
I posted on that thread in response. Good job!

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

Ok, its confirmed that I'm an idiot. The confusion over the coil wires? Turned out I had 2 of 3 wires in the right place. But I stupidly had both the red AND the black Pertronix wires connected to the negative side of the coil. Took the shop 5 seconds to see it and change it and the truck started right up. At least I didn't fry the Pertronix gizmo!

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

yea dan, we all do stuff like that from time to time, you're not alone...
glad you got it figured out.

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

I have a question for your guys about door weatherstripping. In removing the last bits of rock hard weatehrstripping on my doors I notice whoever installed it used some kind of adhesive even though it had the anchors plastic anchors. Is that correct?

I thought the w/s hung on just by the plastic anchors and the metal strips along the bottom of the door?

As it is I will have to remove the door to get all the old adhesive off, prime, paint the door edges and THEN hang the new weather stripping. And "while I'm in there" I'll pull the door panels, install anti rattle strips and Peel 'n Seal inside the door, paint the window frames (or buy chrome if my OCD takes over), put in new vent glass & rubber, and paint the whole door. Man, one thing leads to another.....dozen!

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

some ppl use adhesive also on the doors to make sure the rubber stays on - if the li'l clips break off ( plastic) although i have seen a lot of doors sans adhesive - i guess it all depends on how the rubber is made and if it is a good quality and if the fit is good and solid . Some ppl use clear silicone as a glue -others use black or yellow 3m ''death'' adhesive - either way whatever you use dem fumes is lethal be careful.
also you may want to drill a 1/8 inch hole in the door hinge to cab as an aid for door realignment - puttin dem back on and gettin them right can be a pita - been der done dat also - good luck and truck is lookin real nice.
once the door is re-hung use the drill bit to realighn the holes and hopefully the door will be correct.

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

Yeah, looks like the remnants of the "yellow death":lol: on my doors. I'd never heard it called that before but it is appropriate. That crap is STRONG!


You smart guys really annoy me! Where's the fun in doing it the easy way without all the cussin' spittin' and hair tearin'? Kidding of course.

I'd actually read your advice somewhere in the murky past (old guy, memory is the 2nd thing to go!) and forgotten about it. I was thinking of scribing lines but your advice is a LOT better. I'm defintiely doing that. Thanks for reminding me how not to be a moron...again!

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

Yellow death? Out here we call it gorilla snot.

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

LOL. yea, we use to say something along that line...

Dan, i dont have nay experience with the weather stripping... good luck.

leonard

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

Abandoned in my time of need!:lol:

I'm going out of town for afew days so there won't be any new trucks news or photos for awhile. WIth Daze57's suggestion of drilling a holes thrugh the hinge to locate it when I replace the door...I'm thinking I should drill BOTH the top and bottom hinges when I do it. Sound right, or unnecessary? I'm planning on removing the two bolts that hold the hinges to the door frame and never unbolting the hinge from the door itself.

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

dan

using the drill bit is the way to go & your choice of doing top and bottom is great .

as far as bein' a smart guy? naaaaaaaa just tryin to help a fellow ol' truck lover get it on da road .
as far as being a moron? uhhhhhhhhhh no ! believe me i know a moron - i see him everyday when i get up and look in da mirror - LOL

REMEMBER FELLOW OL' TRUCKERS - outside of a book - a dog is mans best friend . Inside of a dog - it;s too dark to read !

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

Dan, you are going to find that there are three bolts in each hinge. You might consider removing the hinge bolts from inside the door instead of the ones in the door post. The door will slide off of the hinge and the hinge position on the door post isn't changed. I've never done it but you probably could use the drill trick on the inside part of the hinge also.
The first time I removed my door I had to remove the hinge from the post because the lower hinge was welded to the door.
The door are heavy if the glass is still in them. I used my engine hoist with a strap around the top of the door to remove mine.

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

Wow, thanks for the additonal advice Russ. I'll need to study on it a bit before deciding which approach I'll use. Whichever is less work I suppose.

I don't have an engine hoist so I guess its gonna be the sheer animalistic power of an old guy that get it back on! A wonder to behold with the red face, cursing and eye popping!:lol:

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

Dan
I used my floor jack to put mine on. You just have to balance the door on it. Made it a lot easier for me and I have a bum back.
Kim

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

floor jack works well - you can also ratchet it down for better stability

ya dont want that metal fallin on ya

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

Both good ideas. I'd thought to put a rope on the window frame and hoist it from one of the joists in my garage but the floor jack idea is better. I don't have to move stuff around to do that! I think I'm still going to scribe the edges of the hinge locations and I'll use the drill bit if I can too.

I'm nowhere near final painting this truck but I want an extra clean driver while I get it totally mechanically squared away, so I can't stand to install the w/s without sanding/priming/painting the door edges before I put it on. That'll end up making me do the same for the whole door and put some Peel 'n Seal inside and make each door as tight and rattle free as possible.

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

I'm kinda stoked. Drove my truck the other day and realized on the way home (after dark) I CAN'T be driving it as is with nothing but the headlights working. A friend referred me to a local auto electric guy he raved about to fix the tail/stop light issue so I dropped it off. He just called me and will fix EVERYTHING electrical for $225-250:

Tail/stop/signal lights w/a disconnect for when I remove my bed
New signal assy on column-gives me hazard lights
Front running/signal lights
Trailer connector on rear
Dome light
Dash lights
Glove box light
Install a cigarette lighter for phone charging
R&R any wiring with cracked/questionable insulation and grommet holes

This alone will enable me to drive the truck a lot more than I have up to now. Bit by bit guys!

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

wow dan, thats a great price for sure. and well worth it to not have to mess with the wiring yourself. i hate tracing down bad electrical issues.
good luck.

leonard

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

Hi Leonard, Yeah my point exactly. Replacing any "bad" wiring alone is worth it. The other stuff I coulda done but it'll be nice to have it all done at once.

What's new with your truck?

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

Dan,
Keep up the good job, it looks like you are having fun fixing this truck. Don't you sale this one.

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

got the alternator swapped over and drove it about 30 miles last weekend. got a slight belt squeal between the crank and water pump pulley when stabbing the throttle in park. creep up on the rpm's and no problems. only on sharp throttle snaps. might be looking for some factory pulleys soon if it dont go away.
got my rear roll pan in and will need to measure for cut outs, since i want to also retain my factory bumper.... then i need to get serious about ordering a radiator and a/c unit..

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

Nothing too special to anyone else but I'm REALLY pleased. ALL lights working, horn working from horn button, cell phone charging (yeah, heresy for an old vehicle:lol:). New dome light (still yellow though-I don't like that. New cigarette light knob made me take 000 steel wool to my rusty old ones, my dash cluster trim too. They came out better than I'd imagined so I installed the new rearview mirror I was saving, I moved on to my headlight trim rings, front bumper. Chrome is a bit "pecky" on this stuff but will do nicely for awhile for a driver til I go for final paint.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0572.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0573.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0576.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0578.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0577.jpg

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

Finally, a decent non-cell phone picture of my new rear bumper and taillights plus the overall truck as she sits tonight. More work coming this weekend.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0568.jpg
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0574.jpg

Oh and when he repaired the wiring I had him install trailer wiring for the future:
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0569.jpg

And a disconnect so I can remove my bed to work on the frame without cutting any new wiring. He also put all my wiring in loom (plastic, but what the heck!)
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/DSCN0571.jpg

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

very nice work - keep it goin -lookin great !

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

looking real good dan. its amazing he did all that wiring work for a few hundred dollars.
i love the wheels on your truck, and hope to one day get me a set. are yours american torque thrust D"s or torque thrust Originals ?

leonard