1955 (2nd gen) first timer..

[BIGglaSS]

Well, I'm in the same boat now. Trying to figure out whether to tilt the rear end carrier or not. My engine ended up higher than the rear end. Your step notch is higher than mine. If I lower the engine more, the transmission pan will drag when aired out. If I raise the engine to be able to air it out, I will have to modify the floor pan, and tilt the rear end carrier even more to get the u-joints in spec. Keep us posted!

[ptc]

Watch this video... it explains everything you need to know about angle of the dangle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ-m9ov3wYM

Understand why 'angle is required'.... for the driveline u-joint cap needle bearings to operate properly they need only a minium of a 1* angle to keep them rotating. If there is no angle the needle bearings inside the caps do not turn and they will deform quicker.

When you lower vehicles there are many mods that have to take place to make everything work right as you are finding out.

[samples45]

Originally Posted by BIGglaSS

Well, I'm in the same boat now. Trying to figure out whether to tilt the rear end carrier or not. My engine ended up higher than the rear end. Your step notch is higher than mine. If I lower the engine more, the transmission pan will drag when aired out. If I raise the engine to be able to air it out, I will have to modify the floor pan, and tilt the rear end carrier even more to get the u-joints in spec. Keep us posted!

Hey buddy, i got my carb flange level so my trans is pointed down the 3 deg, since im using the corvette rear end i thought i might as well use the tourqe bar that comes with the vette and when its bolted to the rear and bolted to the brackets up front the rear end wont move up i guess like a normal rear would? so my drive line has a slight down hill slope towards the rear end.. i hope that will work because thats whats gonna have to happen! lol after i thought about it in the stock vette the tourqe bar bolts to the transmission and the rear end so the drive train didnt move in the vette and its not gonna move on the truck. hope it works

[BIGglaSS]

Originally Posted by samples45

Hey buddy, i got my carb flange level so my trans is pointed down the 3 deg, since im using the corvette rear end i thought i might as well use the tourqe bar that comes with the vette and when its bolted to the rear and bolted to the brackets up front the rear end wont move up i guess like a normal rear would? so my drive line has a slight down hill slope towards the rear end.. i hope that will work because thats whats gonna have to happen!

With rough measuring, it looks like my engine will be down 2 degrees. I will point the pinion up 2 degrees to match. The u-joint working angles should be within a half degree of each other for smooth operation. Is there enough flex in the batwing bushings if you raise the torque arm to change the pinion angle?

[samples45]

Originally Posted by BIGglaSS

With rough measuring, it looks like my engine will be down 2 degrees. I will point the pinion up 2 degrees to match. The u-joint working angles should be within a half degree of each other for smooth operation. Is there enough flex in the batwing bushings if you raise the torque arm to change the pinion angle?

Yeah there is..on the vette the torque arm is bolted to the trans and the rearend..I might need to do some reading and see what the angles and stuff are.. because if the torque arm was bolted to the tail shaft and the rearend i wonder how they offset them at all?

[_Ogre]

nice progress

did you start your build this year or just start posting pics?

[Kim57]

I saw your question in Ogres' thread and answered it there.
Here are some pics on how I did my cowl vent.
Kim

[samples45]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I saw your question in Ogres' thread and answered it there.
Here are some pics on how I did my cowl vent.
Kim

thanks kim. did you tack the bottom first and puch down the top to get the fourm of it? or did you do the top first?

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by samples45

thanks kim. did you tack the bottom first and puch down the top to get the fourm of it? or did you do the top first?

It fit pretty good from the very start. I tacked it in the middle top and bottom and worked my way out on each side taking my time so it wouldn't warp too much.
Kim

[samples45]

Originally Posted by Kim57

It fit pretty good from the very start. I tacked it in the middle top and bottom and worked my way out on each side taking my time so it wouldn't warp too much.
Kim

i dont have the original vent cover to start is my problem.. my friend had the two end pieces that have the cut outs for the wipers.. so pretty much all i have is the tow ends.. i gotta make everything else

[samples45]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

nice progress

did you start your build this year or just start posting pics?

I dont know why i just seen this lol but i just started it this year!

[ptc]

You gonna give us some pics of all your work lately????? we need some updates!

[samples45]

Originally Posted by ptc

You gonna give us some pics of all your work lately????? we need some updates!

Let me get some pictures taken and I'll get them up!

[samples45]

i feel like i have done alot to the truck but it dont show! ive been doin some metal work that no one will notice and still a lot more to go! I got a fuel tank that i hope works out! got some seats that will need to be redone. smoothed out the seam right above the drip rail on the firewall! Ive been buying lots of parts that i havent put on yet and i dont have pictures of! i will be getting alot more done in the next couple of weeks

[Kim57]

Nice looking young man.
Life always has a way of slowing some things down.
Just keep plugging away and you'll get there.
Kim

[ptc]

Sounds like some 'fair' excuses.... but yea get back to work!!!

[samples45]

The bottoms on my driver door were shot, other then the bottoms its a solid door.. so heres my first shot at it

[ATTACH]1477794[/ATTACH


still having trouble getting the doors to close flush with the cab.. im not worried about the gaps right now. my plan was to take care of that once i got the doors fitting even with the cab

[samples45]

The tops of the door are to far in and the bottom rear's are to far out. the driver side is better than the passenger side. i posted about the issue in the other thread because i thought more people would see it there. didnt really come up with a fixer for it just yet..

[samples45]

Originally Posted by ptc

Sounds like some 'fair' excuses.... but yea get back to work!!!

Im tying!! lol! these doors are testing my limits!

[bajabob]

Samples
In no way am I trying to tell you how to build your truck, but before you finish, do yourself a favor and look through Bam's build if you haven't already.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?t=440079/


You clearly have some awesome skills, like ol Bam does.... but look at some of the subtle things he did to the cab to clean it up. The square notch on the doors just below the windows, rounded, the rain cutters cleaned up... on and on and on.... you are headed in the right direction with the cowl vent and smoothing the dash (me likes a lot). If I had that kind of skill I would rip what ever I could from BAM's build.... he might even let you call it yours !!!!! lol !!!

Nice work.
ps
you make me feel bad for not getting more done on mine, no more excuses!!!

[samples45]

Originally Posted by bajabob

Samples
In no way am I trying to tell you how to build your truck, but before you finish, do yourself a favor and look through Bam's build if you haven't already.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?t=440079/


You clearly have some awesome skills, like ol Bam does.... but look at some of the subtle things he did to the cab to clean it up. The square notch on the doors just below the windows, rounded, the rain cutters cleaned up... on and on and on.... you are headed in the right direction with the cowl vent and smoothing the dash (me likes a lot). If I had that kind of skill I would rip what ever I could from BAM's build.... he might even let you call it yours !!!!! lol !!!

Nice work.
ps
you make me feel bad for not getting more done on mine, no more excuses!!!

First off i hope Bam doesnt find out you put me and him in the same skill boat!! lol I met bam back on another fourm, ive been following his stuff for awhile he does awesome work! And hey my truck is not in primer yet you dont know what im goin to do next! lol but really i like the rain gutters mine are not rusted so im thinking about keeping them. i also like the one on the firewall. ive thought about rounding the door corners and still might do it..the more i look at them the more i just like them the way they are.. ive still got a lot to do before i get the truck in primer so no telling what ill do lol

[samples45]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice looking young man.
Life always has a way of slowing some things down.
Just keep plugging away and you'll get there.
Kim

Thank you kim!!

[Nut Case]

Samples45. Just a good ole boy's approach to your issue. Imagine you are standing about 3 feet on the out side of the passengers door. The top left is in to far and the left bottom is to far out. If that is the issue it can be fixed. I watched a body man in the mid 60's, take a 2X4 placed it at 45 degrees across the upper left door, blocking the door from closing, it's bridged between the rain gutter across the top and the body approximately the same place as the gas filler is on the drivers side. With the block in place, you start pushing in on the bottom of the door. Torquing the door to better fit the cab. Keep pushing on the bottom, checking often, sneaking up on the final fit. Sounds nutty, I truly watched a body man, man handle the door in this manner to get the door to better fit the cab. It's not rocket surgery, but it works. I have no pride to bruise if you opt not to use this method or think I'm a "Nut Case" LOL Good luck.

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

Samples45. Just a good ole boy's approach to your issue. Imagine you are standing about 3 feet on the out side of the passengers door. The top left is in to far and the left bottom is to far out. If that is the issue it can be fixed. I watched a body man in the mid 60's, take a 2X4 placed it at 45 degrees across the upper left door, blocking the door from closing, it's bridged between the rain gutter across the top and the body approximately the same place as the gas filler is on the drivers side. With the block in place, you start pushing in on the bottom of the door. Torquing the door to better fit the cab. Keep pushing on the bottom, checking often, sneaking up on the final fit. Sounds nutty, I truly watched a body man, man handle the door in this manner to get the door to better fit the cab. It's not rocket surgery, but it works. I have no pride to bruise if you opt not to use this method or think I'm a "Nut Case" LOL Good luck.

This is similar to how I fixed the problems with my doors.
I just used a long 2x4 to bend the top out. An experienced body man told me to do it that way.
Kim

[ptc]

Before you get the 2x4 out just make sure that your hinges are set properly, and they are tight.... there is some room for adjustment there. Once all that adjustment is used up then go to the "bending/shaping" process to get it dialed in. also you should have your front fenders on also to check that gap and fit all at the same time.... its one long surface that needs to all fit together.

Good luck to ya! make a plan and work the plan....