My Build - 1955 2nd Series Short Bed Stepside

[Maximus]

I wired the sending unit wire to the fuel tank and installed the dash. After I wired everything up I was excited to see both the turn signal lights and fuel gauge work!!!
Sorry the pic is so light, the California sun is bright today...

[Kim57]

Very cool.
Kim

[Maximus]

Because I am obsessed that the dash wiring is all working as it should, here is a photo of the cluster with the backlights on.

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
Kim

[Roadkill58]

Nice!

[1959 Apache 3600]

Great job. Looks great.

[Maximus]

Hmm. I filled my gas tank up, and my gauge only went to half. I fail.

I think my sending unit may have gotten tweaked, but I will find out later.

Right now my front brakes are sticking and thats a bigger issue to me hah...

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Hmm. I filled my gas tank up, and my gauge only went to half. I fail.

I think my sending unit may have gotten tweaked, but I will find out later.

Right now my front brakes are sticking and thats a bigger issue to me hah...

Your doing it wrong.

[Maximus]

Okay, so my brake issue is at least known now, the push rod in the booster is too long and1/8" space between the MC and booster the brake pressure was all released. This weekend I am going to see what i need to do to shorten it.

I did however take advantage of the truck not having ceased brakes and drove the truck all over town. I probably put 15 miles of city driving, and the truck is running great. The only issues I had (2) were
1) my dash wasnt screwed down, and lost ground for a second, when it regrounded it blew the small dash backlights doh!! those things are almost $2 each!
and
2)the other issue I had was hard starting after warmed up, but I am almost certain its because of my electric fan. My electric fan is run through a relay and activated by a temp sensor on the engine. Its power source is keyswitched. I am pretty sure when the truck is warm, the fan runs as soon as the key is on and is robbing power from the ignition system during cranking. I will be probably installing a push button kill switch, not a toggle, that way the connection to the fan will only be disengaged when the button is being held down, so I will NOT be able to leave the fan off like an on/off switch would allow. This way I can push and hold the switch if the engine is warm to stop the fan for cranking...

The other issue I was having was ride height. I love how low the back is but the front looked high. It turns out that after the truck is on a level surface its really only maybe 1/2" high up front, so the 1-2" drop springs I am ordering will totally solve this issue. More of a visual than anything...

It was getting dark but I took a photo of the ride height. I think the gap on the front fender just makes it look alot higher than it is. I'm pretty sure the front end is really less than an inch higher than the rear. What do you guys think?


Regardless, it has a huge exhaust leak still but its been a BLAST being able to drive it. All the electrical is working fine, my carb is fantastic! I have always had issues with quadrajets but this rebuilt carb i bought on eBay just purrs at 500 rpm at idle and seems very smooth. I can't wait until i fix the exhaust to see how well the engine performs without a huge lean condition!

[Roadkill58]

Maximus,

Congrats on driving your truck!

I have a couple of the rims like the ones you have on your truck.

If you need them let me know.

[Kim57]

That's great you're able to drive it. The problems you listed should be easy fixes.
Kim

[Maximus]

So i've been dabbleing in the issue i have of warm starting problems, and ran into an issue. I thought the electric fan was on during starting, but its not. The nice people at EZ Wiring made sure that all power is cut off except to the starter during cranking, as it should be. So this left me with the question, why is it goofy to start. SLOW cranking, but it would eventually speed up and start. So...
I hooked an Ohm meter to the alternator and it was only pulling 10-15 amps and the battery was at a full charge, nowhere near maxing out the alternator, and my battery is a 2 month old 800CCA gold top Duralast, so that's not the issue... there is only one more piece, and that's the starter. I pulled it off and took it down to the local parts house to test it. it passed the test (under no load) but sounded like hell. Since it was at least 10 years old, and had an unknown amount of wear, I was quick to replace it. The truck started fine so far but time will tell, im thinking it was the starter...
Again, on the bright side, i drove the piss out of the truck. Heavy exhaust leak still present, putted around for a good half hour to give it a 'warm engine crank test' and so far all issues seem to be gone.

It was tricky because the old starter, if able to start the car within two cranks would work fine, but as soon as it was really stressed on 4 or 5 rotations (the engine doesn't want to fire as quick when warm) the starter slowed down to a crawl. The new starter cranked like a champ after the engine was warm and all is well for now...

I also ordered new bushings for the front trans-am sway bar and Hotchkis lowering springs for my Firebird/Camaro subframe, so I can get the ride height im looking for. Hopefully next weekend ill get the new springs on the truck

Oh yea, and I replaced the dash bulbs with #57's, the guy at the store sold me #55's the first time (tiny dash light part #) and I think the 57's are more durable, but all I know is they haven't blown out yet, so that issue may be resolved too heh.

Maybe this weekend I will get to the rubber around the doors... maybe...

its just so darn fun to drive I might put off the door rubber and just enjoy it for the weekend.

[Maximus]

Not a ton of work done today, early I tweaked my brake bracket a little, and thats really it. I decided that instead of work I would enjoy it. drove about 20 miles and loved every minute of it.
I hate to sound like a commercial, but I installed Sylvania Silverstar ultra headlights, the standard sealed beam bulbs, and love them!
I have the Silverstar bulbs in my BMW and Motorcycle, so when I saw the seal beams in silverstar brand I was quick to jump on them. They produce a very pure white light that allows me to see much more than the standard yellowey (its a new word...) light from cheaper headlights.

My only other issue is my dumb mistake from 6 years ago biting me in the butt. I installed the engine 6 years ago without touching the bottom end. Surprise, surprise... the rear main seal leaks... I'm gonna cross my fingers and throw some Lucas oil additive in tomorrow when I change the oil... darn.

anyways, here is a photo of the truck in the parking lot of a hardware store while i bought new bolts for my 1 1/4" sway bar.

P.S. Sorry Bam, but I LOVE the hump on these hoods!!! I just stared at the truck for a minute admiring the nice hump they come with haha

[Rods57]

I am jealous i wish I was out driving mine.

[waybad]

congrats! nothing like driving these trucks!!!!!!!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Rods57

I am jealous i wish I was out driving mine.

Originally Posted by waybad

congrats! nothing like driving these trucks!!!!!!!

Thanks guys! sorry Rods57, your trucks coming along great! keep moving and you will get there. I have a ton of work (body) to do to the truck but after staring at it for the better part of 10 years, I cant get over the fact that its drivable!! I need to put the bodywork on hold and enjoy what these projects are built for, windshield time!

[entourageguy]

This is coming along nicely. Great that you are able to run it and do some shake down runs. Watch when putting on the new rubbers on the doors. One way looks right but its usually the wrong way.

[drivea55]

Man that's great!

Drive the piss outta it! Work out all the micies...

Congrats.

How much lower do you think the front is going to drop btw?
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[Maximus]

Originally Posted by drivea55

Congrats.

How much lower do you think the front is going to drop btw?
Posted via Mobile Device

thanks!.
The Specs say 1-2" drop in the front depending on application
They are #600 springs rated for a big block I'm hoping it's not more than 2" so I won't have exhaust issues
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[drivea55]

Gotchya,

Was there a preference between springs or drop spindles? I ask because i debated and chose spindles instead thinking they mess with the alignment less.

Brian
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[Maximus]

Originally Posted by drivea55

Gotchya,

Was there a preference between springs or drop spindles? I ask because i debated and chose spindles instead thinking they mess with the alignment less.

Brian
Posted via Mobile Device

I chose springs because I have heard horror stories of drop-spindles interfering with the tie rods, and some cases where they have broke
All I know is a ton of people have commented on negatives of drop spindles. I just know its simpler for me to change the springs and keep the OEM spindles.

that and the spindles might cost more? Springs were under $200

[drivea55]

Great! Now my front end is going to fall apart... haa, i hope not.

Price wise i think the springs are cheaper, it does cut down on clearance. I will have ro look out for those issues.

Thanks
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[Maximus]

Originally Posted by drivea55

Great! Now my front end is going to fall apart... haa, i hope not.

Price wise i think the springs are cheaper, it does cut down on clearance. I will have ro look out for those issues.

Thanks
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Nah I'm sure your fine. the one drop spindle issue I saw was on a mustang, and it was probably a spindle from china. to be honest for some reason my mind never even considered drop spindles. I though "I need to lower my truck" so I went on Summit and found a drop spring for my subframe.

Are you still building on the Donor chassis?
that truck, the fabrication is truly fantastic! to use the whole firewall from the donor, that's a ton of work! Very unique build!
And although its my personal belief that a vehicle built after 1935 should not have a chopped top, you did a VERY nice job with yours!
Not my taste but I can differently appreciate your fab work! I am complaining about replacing my cab corner, and here you are ripping almost every sheet mental panel on the truck apart!! haha. Very cool build! How hard is it to have a custom windshield made for the chop?

[drivea55]

We are lucky enough to have a local company thaat specializes in custom glass work. If nor for that i would not have gone there. New glass come spring.
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[Maximus]

Very cool drivea55, can't wait to see the new glass go in!

I spent the last 24 hours spending money haha...
Bought new RetroSound Apache radio (backordered! ), headers, hood hinges, a used heater fan assembly for the deluxe heater and an old used deluxe control, and alot of misc. parts

Gearing up for a war against my truck! trying to buy everything i can think of so I can stop worrying about having enough extra $ for the project.

In case anyone cared, i took a photo of how well the light from the sylvania silverstar ultra bulbs look. its a bad photo from my iPhone but its all I had on me...