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

Good advice, thanks.

Since I'm switching to this to prevent water, leaves ,etc from entering should I use some kind of gasket? The factory onenever had a gasket. Maybe a bead of silicone-allowed-to-dry first as a gasket?

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

The edges on the side are just rolled over sheet metal so there isn't really a good surface to seal to. If you are dead set on sealing it, instead of silicone I would use strip caulk because it will remain pliable.

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

I did a bad job of describing what I'm thinking.

1st: I don't think I'll ever turn a hose on the truck or intentionally drive it in serious rain (it' SOCal, "serious rain"? C'mon! lol) So I don't think it will ever see very much water to keep out.

2nd: Like I did on my transmission cover I'd run a heavy bead of silicone on the mating surface and allow it to thoroughly cure. THEN I'd bolt the vent cover down so the silicone acts as a flexible seal or gasket.

Totally agree on "remaining pliable" Using the silicone as a permanent seal would bea cheesy bad idea.

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

Well that sucks! But a Christmas present isn't all bad.

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

Driveshaft is installed. Rear lowering blocks removed - seemed like even with the bed off the rear would be too high.

Cowl vent delete panel arrived today. Looks like a nice piece but I haven't test fit it yet. I'll drop it off with the painter tomorrow. I'd prefer still having the stock vents but w/6-1/2"speakers in the kick panels along with tweeters and possibly AC vents there it would be way too cluttered with the vents on there. Oh well.

PS: Annoying as hell that the pictures rotate. Anyone now a fix?

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

Nice looking panel.
Kim

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

Dan, same one I got from Dynacorn. Fits pretty well, but you may have to massage the mounting holes just a bit to get it to center just right. I tried to find a pic of mine. Good piece.

Cheers, Jim

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

Thanks Jim,
I'll drop the panel off with the painter today and get the latest (as if it'll change!) on when the bed side panel painting will be complete, plus the front panel and tail gate.

Mike texted last night that we'll take a short test drive around the block today. I'm waiting to hear from him, head over to the shop so I can video it. Then I'll flat bed tow it home (9 mi, no glass, no brake lights or door handles, etc) when I'd prefer to drive it on the back roads - then adult thought kicked in and I decided I'd better not - DAMN!

THEN, I'll take the bench seat back to upholsterer and W...A...I...T...!...!

EDIT:
Test drove her down the street 2 blocks. No, forum STILL won't let me load the video!
Runs great. Has a nice low stance but will be adjusted when bed is on. It's quieter (but not quiet) than I thought it would be. Tiny coolant leak to be fixed. Buttonhead Allen screw on Borgeson joint rubs exhaust tubing. Need a 1/8" - 1/4" dimple in exhaust to clear. Brake pedal arm rubs hole in floor, needs adjustment. To be continued...

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

There will always be things to sort out on a fresh build, thankfully it all sounds like minor stuff.

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

The first drive is always fun, congrats!!

:uhmk:

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

Dan, congrats on driving your truck...Jim

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

woooooooot way to go idaho

for the video, its probably too large. the forum software was probably written when camera phones were 0.3MP but now you can shoot 1080p. there was a free program that came with windows called windows movie maker, it doesnt come with it any more BUT you can find it on the web for free. import the video, then save it, then export it as a 480p. it should be small enough to upload. on a mac, photos lets you do this.

either way, you can upload it to youtube and post it, I can help you if thats what you wanna do, just shoot me a pm.

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

Good looking build.

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

Thanks Joedoh. I posted the video on Facebook but that's no help for this. I'll keep trying. I'll figure it out eventually. I suffer from "Lame Old Dude-itis" when it comes to technological stuff, lol

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

I could not find it on you tube Dan, can you post the username or a link?

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

It's not on YouTube.

PM sent.

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

Sounds like you're having almost as much fun as I am posting pictures. Happy to see things moving along with your build. Its gonna be nice, can't wait to see it in person.

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

Thanks! It won't be nearly as much a kick ass hotrod as yours but I'm happy as hell with it so far.

Ha ha, auto spell corrected hotrod into "horror". That would have sounded REAL complimentary. Lol

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

Links to Dan's videos...

https://www.facebook.com/dan.estrada...3135699136118/

https://www.facebook.com/dan.estrada...3770739072614/

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

Very, VERY cool of you to help me with this. Thanks so much! - Best, Dan

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

Dan, video's were great, truck looks good and sounds great. Ready for more...Jim

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

Thanks Jim. She sounds a little more quiet than I thought she would. But I'm ok with that.

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

No problem Dan

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

Sounds and looks great.
Kim

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

Great videos Dan, truck looks great too!

:uhmk:

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

Thanks guys. All the known gremlins WERE fixed until I found one more: Drove it around the block to painter's this morning to check fit of vent delete panel. Steering effort is too high. I even have the stock 18" wheel on it right now. Mike says he will "burp" the PS system again to see if there's more air in it. Would that cause high effort to turn? I thought it'd be ridiculously easy to turn with PS AND the 18" wheel. Also read plenty about MII systems having too much pressure to the rack w/ Chevy pump. But this is a C4 rack. Anyone have an idea?

Truck comes home Monday. I'll be waiting to pick up bed parts while I work on wood. Mike had a heart-to-heart with me and even though he's best friends with the glass guy he suggested I find another person or do it myself. Says the glass guy is a great friend but he doesn't pay attention to small details and he knows I probably won't be happy with the work. So I'm thinking I may just take a shot at install the glass myself while I wait for the bed.

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

Yaaa ! It runs !

Dan if you get a chance take a test drive in a C4 Vette . It should give you a baseline for the steering feel. Then you could figure out a course of action to lighten it.

My 2004 SSR has heavy steering, Chevy lightened it for 2005.

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

Not a bad idea Glen - IF I knew someone who had a C4, lol.

I wonder if all the hoses, fittings, etc Mike used are the same as stock? The ONE thing I know we did differently is not use the factory fluid reservoir - it conflicted with the serpentine belt. We used a different one in a different location. So now I'm thinking about the orifice sizes in it and the hoses to/from it?

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

I have a 53 3100 ls c4 with stock s10 steering wheel. Steers very easy, a lot easier than my c5.

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

Dan I was thinking a used car for the test drive

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

Did some searching "power steering high effort" online last night. I wasn't able to find the specific pressure the system should produce but it looks like in the 1000-1500psi range. My LQ4 came out of an Isuzu N series truck and of course my rack is from a Corvette. So I'm wondering if there simply a mismatch of pressure requirements? Also, I read some where there are shins within the pump that lower the pressure. So obviously if that's true we could remove some to gain pressure. But without knowing what pressure it's producing now and why it SHOULD be for the Vette rack, we'd be working blind and potentially over pressurizing the hoses.

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

there are shims in the back of the high pressure hose and if I remember correctly luckily to get more pressure you remove shims, so if there are more than one in there take one out and see what happens.



yeah hit up craigslist, find a corvette, and ask to come drive it.

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

My stock GM PS pump apparently produces too much pressure for my Ford thunderbird rack. If I remember correctly the GM pump puts out 1400psi and the ford rack likes 800psi. I'm sure I'm off on the numbers but you get the idea.

Borgeson sells a reducer kit that is just washers. I think it had 4 washers and I installed 3 of them. If you have washers just remove one like joedoh suggested.

I remember my Dads 80s Bronco and how sensitive the steering was. It sucked! I prefer something that requires more driver input and hoping for the best on my build.

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

Truck is looking and sounding great.

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

Thanks guys for the kind remarks.

We'll get the PS figured out. It has hydroboost connected to the pump and the brakes work perfectly. So I discussed with Mike and we'll check off items one by one: No obstructions in any of the hoses, the rack, the pump output pressure. I'm not driving it anyway - there's no seat because I dropped the bench off for upholstery and that will be another wait (of course) because he's doing a bunch of rush stuff for the SEMA show.

Here she is in my backyard today

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

You are on the right track Dan. Hydraulic systems need to supply adequate flow and pressure tailored to the specific requirements of whatever it's driving. If you know what year the donor car was you should be able to find pressure specs in the appropriate Corvette service manual. If the pressure is within spec then you need to look at flow. If the pump displacement is undersized or pump rpms are too slow, the system performance will suffer. I'm only asking because you are mixing and matching parts so please don't be offended, are you sure the pump is turning in the right direction? How are the pressure and return lines plumbed? Line size is commonly -6 to and from the rack, the line from the remote reservoir should be the same size or even slightly larger.

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

^^^ No offense taken^^^

This is ALL stuff that has to be checked and addressed if it's not right. I'm confident it'll be an easy fix....once we figure out what's the problem.

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

Truck is looking killer!! Sound great. I love the reupholstered seat in the last pic, I will be cool on a hot day for sure. ;)

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

Dan, The Truck is looking Awesome!

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

Thanks Mike!

Exhaust Wrap
I'm gonna do this myself because frankly, I'm just tired of spending so much on labor! AND because I feel "left out" not having done much of the work other than full tear down on this iteration of the truck.

Who's done it? I am wrapping my exhaust AFTER the exhaust manifolds - they will be Jet HOT coated - because the first foot of tubing is directly over my frame-mounted coils. I watched a few videos on it last night and it seems straight forward. Many of the videos suggested wrapping it wet. Apparently makes the wrap tighter(?)

I know to:
- Double the ends over to avoid raveling of the cloth.
- Secure the wrap with tape til done in case you want to redo it.
- Finalize it with stainless metal straps (or pipe clamps).
- Run the engine (if wet) to dry it
- Overlap 1/4 (some suggested 1/2) to maximize heat protection

Any other suggestions? Tricks?