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

OK that worked so I did 12 more

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

Next 5

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

last 2

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

Nice job flipping the pics...Jim

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

Very thoughtful and helpful of you, Glen. Thanks so much!

Is it just a matter of editing the photos to be square so the forum loads them the same way I see them?

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

No need to crop them just rotate them.

I cropped some of them to make the subject the main item instead of the the surroundings like the floor or sky or the background that contribute nothing to the subject.
This also makes the subject larger.

I just dragged you photos into iPhoto and worked them there and then dragged them to my desktop where I renamed them and then using this web site I retrieved them 5 at time and posted them.

Real simple and no 3rd party photo service to hold your photos for ransom like photo bucket.

Yes iPhoto is available for windows also.

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

Here I just rotated the original and cropped it and the 2nd is the rotated original

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

Looking Very nice!!

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

Thanks so much, Glen!

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

Your welcome Dan.

BTW where did you get the valve cover adapters.

The way you did your engine with the manifold and valve covers over the coil packs make the engine look larger then a small block but still like a small block.

One could say its a super rare 'mid block' if anyone asked :)

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

Ha! They're adapters made by Delmo. Here's the link:

https://www.delmospeed.com/product/valve-cover-adapter/

I just went back and he's added adapters for Ford Y blocks and Cadillac valve covers. The guy is pretty tuned into what LS engines are going to be swapped into. Nice.

At some point I may reconsider the Moon valve covers and go for the old fashioned Chevrolet covers paint my paint color with black or white letters. That's the fun of the hobby, once the truck is done we can noodle around with different looks.

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

WOW Dan that is nice!!...Great inspiration for me.

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

Dan, the beauty of your truck is only outdone by the beauty of your granddaughter, and your daughter.

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

VERY nice of you to say, Russ. Thank you so much.

My daughter Katie and her daughters Isla, and now Indigo (Indie) are the lights of my life along with my grand daughter by my step son, Charlotte. All such sweet little girls/babies. There's nothing like grandchildren, nothing at all.

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

So Dan where did you put the coil packs ? Pictures ?
Thanks.

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

They're down on the frame in front of the firewall. I need to wrap the exhaust pipe as the pipes go by the coils a few inches away. I doubt it'll be an issue because they will get lots of air flow. Let me see if I can find a shot.

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

Thanks for the update, I just might use it.

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

You're welcome.

I still plan to have the exhaust manifolds ceramic coated silver and then wrap the upper portion of the exhaust piping to protect the coils from some heat.

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

Or you could make a heat shield that slips under the coil packs and comes up in front of the coil packs . Basically a 90* piece of metal .

They say wrapping a coated header is not a good idea. Use one or the other.

Just a thought.

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

Yeah, that's an idea but I won't be wrapping the exhaust manifold just the exhaust pipe that connects to it. But I could certainly consider a heat shield along with the wrap on the pipe if I can figure out how to make one that looks decent or doesn't show much.

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

August 9, 2018

Just back from 2 weeks vacation. Progress was made but I’d call it minimal and I’m frustrated. I’ve noted before that Marcos runs a one man shop with his 17 year old son and does ordinary insurance collision work so stuff like my truck gets fit in between.

Anyway:
1. Rear fenders & side steps are on w/welt. Not sure how much I like the welt between the bottom of the fender and the step but I’ll decide on that later.

2. Fender support braces are in

3. Rear window is in but not the lock strip.

4. The windshield wiper bezels are on but one without the gasket - WTF?

4. He has painted the interior chipping I caused installing the side windows. He’s polishing out the clear coat on that now.

BEEFS:
1. The tailgate isn’t on - it’s such a small job. He has the new trunions and stainless chains for it too.

2. The windshield isn’t in though I left the glass and rubber.

3. There’s a small chip in the passenger side step that’s not been corrected. Why not do ALL the paint repairs at once?

I’m going to tell him to leave all that stuff for me. I risk chipping something then having to pay him to make repairs later but I want to drive my truck!

I’m beginning to worry about his manhours stacking up and frankly, it’s just taking too damn long. As it stands I’ll be lucky if I get to use it before Labor Day so the whole summer may be shot.

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

Dan, sorry to hear this, but it happens to often, hope you can get it back soon, and start driving...Jim

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

Nightmare, nothing worse than when you have an idea in your head of what should be done and you come back and it’s not even close. I had the same issue with the powder coaters when I got my sandrail frame done, went from “yeah pick it up after you get back from holiday” to excuse after excuse 12 weeks I was behind because of that so I feel your pain. Hopefully you get it back soon and don’t get reamed on the work already been done.

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

Thanks for commiserating, guys.

I’m gonna stop by Monday and tell him to stop working on the truck as long as the paint work is done. I’ll pick it up to finish myself as soon as possible.

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

gorgeous family ------gorgeous truck----- you deserve it sir

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

Oh, thank you very much. Very nice of you.

Just back from a vacation with two of our now-three little grand daughters. It’s a true blessing to be able to spend time with little ones. They’re as genuine and loving as can be.

The two older ones, Isla & Charlotte went with us and the 8 week old one is with my daughter, Katie - her mother and the mother of the blonde one, Isla.

Sorry for the pics. i just can’t get enough of the little varmits:lol:

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

...Now, back to our regularly scheduled program....

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

Now Dan , Dan, Dan ... Don't do anything rash .
These things take a long time, remember .
Delays happen , things don't always go as planed or hoped for.

Last year I pushed hard to get my Dart ready for Kool April Nights in Redding. Last thing it needed was alignment , I got it into the alignment shop on the day of the Cruise it got a sun bath all day then they rushed it at the end of the day and got it to me just in time for the cruise. Great ! I got to drive it a few miles.

After K.A.N. I took it to the body shop so we could schedule it in for some body work and paint. They said they would call when they had room for it and I should strip off the trim and bumpers in prep for them, so I did that day in April 2017 and then the wait began .... I kept checking with them every week or two . Then finally they were ready two months before 2018 K.A.N.

When I drove it over to the body shop I noticed the steering wheel was no longer centered .

Well the body shop finally got done with it and it looks great but they want it back so they can paint the underside of the hood. They said take it home so the paint can harden .
I drove it home and put on the lift in the garage without even taking pictures of it the day before we left for a month long trip up through Oregon and down the coast.

When it was on the lift I checked the upper control arm cam bolts. The alignment shop didn't tighten the upper control arm cam bolts the year before. Don't ya love it !

I still have to do the trim and make a run to Sacramento to pick up my bumpers at the chrome shop.

Get the hood to the body shop . Order a bunch of parts . Start on the interior redo . And maybe get to drive it before winter sets in.

Also the gas in the new tank is over a year old and has moisture in it. It just never ends ! But I'll get over it .

Cute kiddos G'Pa.

Ok now back to the regular program ....

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

Dan, beautiful pictures of the family. Your like most grandparents, proud of your grandbabies...Jim

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

Dan, you just have to be proud of those beautiful grand daughters, and that pic of your daughter with the new girl is over the top. That has to be a keeper. I'd have that one blown up and framed, although you probably have plenty of framed pics of the girls already, LOL. On a less important topic, I'm sorry that your truck build is dragging but it will get done, just don't let the delays take away from the excitement.

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

Dan

That picture of your posterity is stunning


Keep on keepin on

NC

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

I hear your pain the only 2 times I have ever dealt with a paint shop they screwed me over. I hope it all works out for you.

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

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Hmmm, thought I posted this earlier today but it got lost in the ether I guess

A little update for my own reference later:

I had to rip 1/4”+ off my outer-most bed boards so the new angles strips will lay down flat in the board grooves. It doesnt seem this should be necessary in mass produced wood from an aftermarket supplier, but so it goes.

The polished angle strips will be bolted through the bedsides parallel to the bed strip bolts. Nuts will not be visible except under the fenders.

Marcos pre-fitted the windshield and found a < 1/8” gap between layers of sheet metal at the driver’s upper corner that isn’t there on the passenger side. This possibly explains why the windshield rubber never laid flat up there. He’s going to clamp this shut and use a sealer in the rubber.

I dropped off the door handle actuators and handles too. Once the windshield is in, there will be no way to get in the truck since the back window is in and the side windows up.

All window area and passenger side paint damage is now completed.

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

Yea ! You're getting closer to driving it !

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

I wish.

There’s a street parade of older cars in my step son’s town of Atascadero - that’s in the Central Valley of California. I originally thought I’d have it in the 2017 parade! DOH!

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

You don’t want to compromise to meet some self-imposed deadline. Just keep moving forward and pretty soon it will be finished...

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

Well I thought my Dart would be ready for K.A.N. this year , NOT .

BTW Atascadero is on the "Central Coast". Fresno is in the "Central Valley".

And yet Central Valley was the name of our town before we took a vote and changed it to the City of Shasta Lake or as we call it Shasta Lake City or Shasta Lake for short.

That just adds to the confusion when people think its Shasta Lake but they are referring to Lake Shasta .

Then there is Shasta , Shasta County , mount Shasta the mountian and the City of Mount Shasta .

But I digress .

You'll get to drive your truck to next years events ... with any luck.

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

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Status update for my record:

The angle strips are in though the bolts are not yet tightened.

The tailgate is on.
- But Marcos would like to use the factory trunions instead of the aftermarket poly ones. He says the aftermarket ones aren't "lifting" the gate quite as high as the stock ones and are going to cause chips in the paint. I don't know, we'll see when er swap them out.

- I dropped off the kick & door panels, lower hinge covers, ash tray, & dash block-off plate to him for installation. Windshield is still not installed.

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

Wednesday, August 23, 2018

After saying I wouldn’t I got lazy (& cheap) and bought Soffseal windshield rubber from The Truck Shop. The windshield was installed today. Once the little area where two layers of sheet metal were slightly spread apart on the driver side top, it went in great - I’m a little surprised, BUT... now I have a question. This rubber has a groove or line in it like it’s supposed to have a lock strip, but it doesn’t. Is this typical? I decided I wouldn’t use the stainless trim. But if I were to change my mind later, does that fit with this rubber or does it require a different rubber made for that purpose?

Apologies for the bad picture. Windshield was very dirty and low
Light. Windshield wiper escutcheons have also been installed with new gaskets.

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

Coming along nicely! Windows can be a ***** to get installed so good job. Front glass has 2 rubber versions. One without trim slot and one with trim slot. The trim is installed in slot prior to installing on vehicle. Judging by the quality of your build you may want to get the correct rubber and redo. Or install trim but you will need to remove glass. I’m an expert because it took me 3 attempts to get my BBW installed!