Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Hi Flysocal & Rudy!

As to the truck, I can't really say I LIKE the looks of the coils on the valve covers, huge intake/plastic cover things. I've seen guys make them look better but I'm not sure "looks good" applies. Maybe I'm too old school, I like the look of a raw aluminum intake manifold, a finned set of valve covers, air cleaner and Chevy orange otherwise - yeah I know, you young guys are rolling your eyes, lol.

You can absolutely have that too, it just costs more!







http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=310

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Nut case!
You're right of course. Mom truly was the hub of the family, the center around which all our lives revolved. Thank you for the kind words.

I agree, my truck will be built to please me; hopefully long term.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I REALLY love the candy apple red of this truck. I like the cream interior and wheels too. The engine looks good but somehow just wouldn't be for me, at least not in that color but that's a minor point I suppose.

I know the point was to show me a more traditional appearing look for the LS engines. I guess if it were painted Chevy orange or gray and the intake manifold were blasted bare or painted aluminum color it WOULD look a bit more traditional. But all in all - strictly my opinion - the LS engines aren't inherently good looking. At least not like old SBC's to me. Nevertheless, they're the wave of the future, more powerful, more efficient and I suppose more reliable in some ways. I'll be happy with the features, just a little less pleased with the look of it.

[ptc]

This is as "Old School" as you are gonna get with an LS. Block and head and manifold colors are all just a personal preference and/or matching to the vehicle...

This looks really good for an LS! otherwise Im with you on all the plastic and just NON-engine looking parts of an LS in its stock form.

[joedoh]

that intake and vally cover and finned valve covers remind me of a buick motor.

[Dan in Pasadena]

The latest is that I will be renting a flat bed trailer with winch (hopefully) and I'll deliver my frame and core support to the fabricator, "Mike" later this week.

Then I'll head over to the body shop to pick up the cab & front fenders and also deliver those the shop to help Mike revise the front suspension centerline. He has located three 6.0 LS iron block engine & 4l80e transmission combo's. One set will be purchased for my truck. They will be entirely disassembled for inspection and the engine will get new rings, bearings & seals. The transmission gets rebuilt but I confess I don't know enough about transmission rebuilds to state what parts are changed. What I have been told is there are lists of upgrades that can be done to the 4l60e trannies to beef them up, but many fewer ones needed by the 4l80e.

At the same time, Mike will order the Flat Out Engineering ifs crossmember and they will also provide the C4 Vette parts as well. A newly rebuilt power rack will be included.

I'll post some pictures of the parts movement for my permanent record but the "new" parts won't be seen yet.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Drove my big ass dually into work today so that when I leave early I can go straight to the rental yard for the flat bed, and (single handedly!) load my bare frame onto the trailer along w/rear end, core support and driveshaft. That'll be a trick but my HF engine hoist and some furniture dollies will hopefully make it doable alone. I'll drop it off in the morning and two blocks away is the body shop where I'll get pretty much the entire truck body in pieces and take them to fabricator. Pic's upcoming (hopefully). Wish me luck. Hopefully I won't smash my foot or wreck my back!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Frame being dragged onto trailer. Helluva job to do alone but I got it done. I looked like a bucket of water had been poured over my head. NOT a job for an almost 62 year old, but what the hell?!

[oldman3]

Sometimes we surprize ourself, on what we can do by ourself...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha, yup!

Probably not a smart thing to do on an exceptionally hot day and no one to call 911 if I have a friggin stroke, but I kept drinking water and taking 5 minute breaks.

[ChuckDriver]

Good job Dan! Now take the weekend off!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'd LOVE to JJ, but I'm leaving on a vacation Sunday night so I've got to go back to work (at least for a LITTLE while, lol!) Friday.

I'll check in later with some photos of today's activities and if lucky I'll post on a '57 the guy has in his shop that's getting 1000hp! Yikes, that thing is ridiculous!

[Russell Ashley]

Nice work, Dan. I work alone too and sometimes it takes a little thought as to how to get the job done. I can only say thanks for engine hoists and rolling jacks, LOL.

[Dan in Pasadena]

September 1, 2016
I got the frame and & core support and later in the morning, the cab & front fenders to the fabricator's shop today:




My engine and tranny. It's an LQ4 and 4l85e out of a totaled 2006 Isuzu cargo van with 81,000 miles on it. It will be completely torn down, ball honed and new rings, bearings and seals installed. I'm told the 4l85e is a bit of an upgrade over the 4l80e in that being made for the van it will handle more torque. Notice the tail stock mounted parking brake? That'll be swapped out for a conventional tail stock housing.


I mentioned earlier the shop has a '57 in with an LQ4 twin turbo making 1000hp. That's just ridiculous power but I guess if you want bragging rights you'd have them!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Off topic for AD & TF trucks, the owner has a '64 C10 "patina" truck he's built to sell that is also running an LQ4. It's a single turbo and is more "conservative" in that it's making ONLY 620hp per a dyno test done yesterday but he said it ran out of fuel pump - meaning out of fuel delivery capacity. So he thinks when he fixes that it'll make a bit more.



My engine will be totally stock internally but I am considering having him use one of the Edelbrock medium rise intake manifolds like the C10 above just because they look better to me. That plus relocating the coil packs and running either Edelbrock finned covers or Delmo adapters/old style SBC script valve covers. It'll likely make 340-385hp and that's way more that I'd ever considered originally.

[Kim57]

Nice trucks.
The LS engines make a ton of HP without a lot of mods.
I think you'll be very happy.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice trucks.
The LS engines make a ton of HP without a lot of mods.
I think you'll be very happy.
Kim

Thanks Kim. How's the back?

I agree they make a lot of power even stock. I'd never really looked into LS engines. I just figured they were out of my league somehow. I'm impressed with the four bolt/canted main bolts, the deeply skirted blocks, etc. The more I look into them the more pleased I am with my choice. Definitely NOT "traditional" looking but I think I'll get all the reliability and power I need and still have decent mileage out of it.

I haven't been this truly excited about a vehicle in awhile!

Take care of that back, buddy! We want to see you at upcoming cruises and shows.

[ChuckDriver]

Looks like its all coming together Dan, can't wait for more updates!!

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks Kim. How's the back?

I agree they make a lot of power even stock. I'd never really looked into LS engines. I just figured they were out of my league somehow. I'm impressed with the four bolt/canted main bolts, the deeply skirted blocks, etc. The more I look into them the more pleased I am with my choice. Definitely NOT "traditional" looking but I think I'll get all the reliability and power I need and still have decent mileage out of it.

I haven't been this truly excited about a vehicle in awhile!

Take care of that back, buddy! We want to see you at upcoming cruises and shows.

Back is a little better every day. Doctor is holding off on PT right now because the incision site had a reaction to the glue they used to close it.
thanks for asking.

A lot of guys don't like the looks of the LS with the coil packs on the rocker covers but personally I think they look O.K. with a little paint work.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Back is a little better every day. Doctor is holding off on PT right now because the incision site had a reaction to the glue they used to close it.
thanks for asking.

3M Panel Adhesive, right?! Lol

Originally Posted by Kim57

A lot of guys don't like the looks of the LS with the coil packs on the rocker covers but personally I think they look O.K. with a little paint work.
Kim

Right now I'm leaning toward relocating the coil packs out of sight and using the Holley low rise or medium rise aluminum intake as its "cleaner."

[Dan in Pasadena]

September 3, 2016

An update for later:
Corvette rotors/calipers won't allow use of my 15" vintage Torq Thrust knockoffs. Too bad! I'm going to go up to 17". I don't like "forklift-low profile tires" but I think I can get 50 or even 55 series on 17" rims and I can live with that.

The Torq Thrust II rims all have the curved, shiny painted spokes I don't especially like. I'll continue to look for 17" TT's w/straight spokes, but I am considering others. My truck is no longer anything like the "shop truck" it once was. The whole look will be different. It won't have the handling but compared to the straight axle/leaf springs it'll FEEL like a Pro Touring to me!

I'm considering polished Salt Flat style rims and I also found a U.S. Mags rim called a Rambler. It looks like a high dollar one piece forged rim (to me) but it's fairly affordable for a set of 17x7's & 8's. Pic's posted below:

Polished Salt Flat style


U.S. Mag Ramblers w/ gray spokes


U.S. Mag Ramblers w/chrome finish

[Kim57]

Both those rims are very nice.
I like the salt flat style in a flat gray finish.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Rim choice is always the hardest! The gray Ramblers look nice!

[Nut Case]

Danny Boy

I try to use this rule of thumb from my wise father. "When you think of buying a truck think of how you plan on using this truck for 95% of the time you have it, then tailor the truck to work best in that light."

But then there are times you do as you darn well please.

My plan on my build (as soon as I can bring it back to life) is to go for handling and ride. I have a 02 Tundra for towing. So no towing for my build.

I plan on using 17" rims (not yet picked out) to fit the vette calipers, and try to find the highest ratio and the widest foot print possible.

Keep on keepin on

Nut Case

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Nutcase, PM sent.