slammed 57

[joedoh]

agreed! the floating grille is a great look

[slammed57]

Originally Posted by slammed57

I’ll be working on the truck today and will take some pictures and post for you later this evening
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Here a pic of what I did , I cut some 90 degree angle stock and reinforced each with gussets to each mounting tab and welded it to the grill frame in all 4 corners that mount to radiator core support. I fabricated a complete radiator core support and used 10 gauge steel to fill in the radiator core frame just because I wanted smooth over the stock one( the stock radiator core support would probably be sufficient) I used strong magnets to hold the center grill in place while I centered it so I can get measurements to make the brackets. I also pushed the center grill flush with the outer grill frame ( the stock center piece protrudes outward about a inch or two
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by slammed57

.... I also pushed the center grill flush with the outer grill frame ....

To me, this is what sets yours apart from other attempts at floating centers I’ve seen. They looked good. Yours looks much better/more custom.

What if anything will be done on the center grille where the factory perimeter pieces used to mount? In the pictures it looks like the surface is raised in those spots to “locate” the factory pieces.

[slammed57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

To me, this is what sets yours apart from other attempts at floating centers I’ve seen. They looked good. Yours looks much better/more custom.

What if anything will be done on the center grille where the factory perimeter pieces used to mount? In the pictures it looks like the surface is raised in those spots to “locate” the factory pieces.

its really just paint with high build primer for who ever had it before and painted it, When i removed the small factory pieces you can see its just paint and primer build up.... when the factory pieces is removed its slightly depressed in those areas. When I spoke to the chrome shop , I asked if i should fill in those depressed areas and they said NO, they will fill in for me so it would come out perfect

[BIGglaSS]

Nice work!

[lower50's]

Sweet I bet you have a smile every time you drive it, and laugh like a little school girl every time you mash the gas.

[slammed57]

movin forward a bit

fabicated some bumper mounts, a little beefy but it wont be flexing


installed the steering colum. the hole just below the colum is where i first mounted it, didnt really csare for the fit so i moved it a little higher , so now I have another hole to fix



picked up some seats , had to raise and stretch to seat mounts to get them to work, I will be trimming the top of the seat to where it will be flush with the rear window

[slammed57]

I guess I did something wrong for the pictures were not showing, I believe you should see the pics now

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by slammed57

I guess I did something wrong for the pictures were not showing, I believe you should see the pics now

those seats look great Mike, how will they feel on your back if you chop off the tops?? You're getting closer my friend.

[slammed57]

Originally Posted by my56chevytruck

those seats look great Mike, how will they feel on your back if you chop off the tops?? You're getting closer my friend.

they should be ok morrie , we'll see, its all about looks not comfort with hot rods isn't it? lol

[slammed57]

Well I installed some soff seal door seals and it knock off all my door pannel alignment with the cab . They did settle in quite a bit, for they been on for about 3 weeks and I pushed the truck in and out out of the garage into the hot florida sun hoping it would form better which they did ,but still about a 1/4" off. so I decided to split the door sills and push them out where they need to be

I appolgize for the side ways photo, I forgot to turn my phone sideways to take a picture but here you can see about a 1/4” difference from the door and the cab



And now after spiiting the door jam and welding into place, back to where they should be. WHEWWW!


Got a few more goodies . this will keep me busy for the next 2 weeks. Iam welding in a smooth dash so I decided to pre install the a/c system for it would be easier to mock up before welding in the dash. If i didnt do it this way it would be a nightmare to put in

[slammed57]

graphed in the one piece dash yesterday



Also squeezed in the vintage air gen iv unit( its a big unit and tight fit due to the engine set back ,but its as snug as a glove).. after i cut out the original dash I mocked up the condenser, pre- ran all the lines, bulk head fittings made sure there was enough room for all the vent runs, and defroster vents, welded in threaded studs so the fire wall remains clean. If didnt do this when the dash was cut out and would have put the smooth dash in first, it would have been a nightmare to get it all put in.( Thanks rick mellon for that idea )



If you look way down there you can see how i ran the A/C lines and the heater lines just hidden under the A/C lines ( for a clean look with easy maintenance if need be,, the dryier is tucked up under the fender



Found some pre-molded heater lines so I can run them where It needed to be.



put in a more compact size hood latch and relocated

[RockinKees]

Very clean!!

[Scottish58chev]

Very nice

[slammed57]

working on a radiator cover to finish off the engine bay.. need to add some speed holes and mounting hardware. All I need is the brake master cylinder and booster to have it ALL completed....I think!

[joedoh]

gorgeous!

[Scottish58chev]

Nice work, some really nice custom touches. I'll be fitting the door seals soon for the every same reason.

[Kim57]

Very nice work.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Looking good!!

[hotrodelrod]

Nice work!

[slammed57]

relocated the air bag bracket hieght and pan hard bar for the correct ride height, still need to intall the shock mounts and rear sway bar....I would like to go over the rear end with the exhaust but Iam running out of real estate quickly here

[slammed57]

sorry for the re post here, but they way I use to post pictures , most people cpould not see them.......so here we go again, lets see if i figured it out... please let me know if you cant see these pics.. I would appreciate it

I graphed in a smooth dash and installed the vintage air geniv. its a pretty big unit but its in (thank god)

also in one pic you can see how i routed the ac lines as well as the heater lines for a clean look down under the inner fender well

I also found some pre molded heater lines so i can route them where i wanted them

[slammed57]

here you can see after i added the soffseal door seals it knock my door pannel alignment off . I pushed the truck in and out of the garage to sit out in the sun for the past few weeks to see if they would settle in which they did but still not where i wanted them to be.....soooooo more cutting and welding....I did get them back into alignment (WHEEEWWW) (sorry for the side ways pic.

[Krustyone]

Looking fantastic ! Nice job on everything.

[Black_Sheep]

I enjoy following your build. It seems like the Soff Seal seals were a lot better than the brand x stuff I tried first. It took some readjusting to get the doors to line up with adjacent panels. So far the rubber has not compressed, 4 months and counting. Nice tight seal though, no rattles or wind noise...