My 1955 Chevy 3100 build

[Kim57]

That's real nice.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

I have no doubt you will do a spectacular job. Nice looking parts. Is a kit or did you piece it out?

[ptc]

Dave the truck is really looking great and coming along quickly! Good Job!

[55 Chevy Dave]

Thanks for all the compliments! You have no idea how much information I haven't gotten from the members on this forum. I might actually be able to get this truck done someday!

Onto the exhaust. I mocked up the exhaust system on the ground under the truck. I carefully trimmed down the header reducers and the pipes behind the cross-pipe as well as a straight section of the 90-degree bend pipes. I then added a section of pipe from the cut scraps to the pipes in front of the cross-pipe so that the forward pipes would meet up with the reducers already bolted to the headers.

After adding the extensions, I found that I still needed to remove about 1-1/2" of pipe from each side to keep the exhaust tips under the rear fender steps, so I decided to trim the inlet and outlet pipes of each of the mufflers.

By the way, I know the hose clamps don't belong there, they are just temporary! I couldn't fit another band clamp in that position because the other band clamp was in the way.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Everything seemed to fit nicely. I still need to add an extension just before each of the exhaust tips, but I didn't have any more butt joint band clamps. I haven't decided if I want the tips to exit out of rectangular cuts in the steps of the fender or if I just want to leave them hang just underneath. Any thoughts?

I still haven't decided how I am going to hang everything. Once I get that figured out, I will take everything to get welded. I haven't invested in a TIG welder yet (although I have been told multiple times I should). I played with the MIG welder and some stainless wire, but it didn't come out right and these parts are too expensive to experiment on.

Again, any thoughts on the hangers would be much appreciated!

[55 Chevy Dave]

I was also able to get the shifter hole relocated from the stock location to the new location.

[BIGglaSS]

Originally Posted by 55 Chevy Dave

Again, any thoughts on the hangers would be much appreciated!

I don't think the bungee cords will last too long....

I'm not too far behind you. Hopefully someone else will have some suggestions. I was thinking of making some custom hangars with these
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/stw-exgro/overview/

[55 Chevy Dave]

Originally Posted by Valarius_Starchaser

Nice work Dave I love that smooth look wish I had the patience and time to do that!

Thank you for all the good pictures of your firewall/wheelbarrow mod it helped me a ton when installing my own on my truck

Val,
Thank you for the compliment. I got the idea from another member on the forum. After checking out your thread, it looks like yours came out great!

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

I have no doubt you will do a spectacular job. Nice looking parts. Is a kit or did you piece it out?

Doug,
Thank you for the compliment as well. Unfortunately, I could not find a kit for my application, so I ordered the parts to make my own. Aside from ordering the wrong SS flexible pipe couplings and not ordering a pair of butt-joint band clamps, everything went together nicely.

[Kim57]

Looks real good.
Nice job on the exhaust.
Kim

[ptc]

Dave, I would (and am) go this route for a nice finished look rather than the "plumbers tape" style adjustable hangers. These are welded at points long the way on your frame and tubes (you need to figure out) and then the whole system easily attaches up under the vehicle with either poly or rubber hangers of your choosing. Should be avail at any muff shop nowadays.

[ptc]

Dave also check Stepside Jims build page I think he did what you want



starts on page 2 of his build thread

[55 Chevy Dave]

Thanks for the information, ptc. I definitely do not spend enough time doing research on this forum. Lots of information to be had if you are willing to spend the time. Unfortunately, most of the time, I would prefer to be out in the garage making progress on my project.

Thanks again.

[Advanced Design]

Dave, another option for hangers are these I used. Rather than weld them to the pipe, they are welded to a piece of angle iron. The angle then supports the muffler with an exhaust clamp bolted to it.

Not as nice looking as I initially planned though this will look OK with stainless clamp and the hanger painted black.

[oldman3]

Doing some great work, looks sweet...Jim

[Kim57]

Looking real good.
radiator core support came out real nice.
Kim

[ptc]

Dave the build is coming right along.... looking real nice.

[II_Slow]

Nice detail work. That little stuff makes a big difference.

[Advanced Design]

Really nice work Dave! Good ideas and execution.

[55 Chevy Dave]

It has been quite a while since my last post. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much done on the truck as work and other summer activities seem to have taken over my free time.

I did manage to get the pedals figured out. I determined that the firewall penetration for my steering column was too low and decided to cut that area out and fill it in with a patch panel.

After struggling with exactly where the brake and clutch pedals should come through the floor, I finally made a decision and cut the holes.

I then had to attach the pedals at the floor to the assembly already mounted to the frame.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I couldn't find a clutch master cylinder for that would fit my pedal assembly, so I finally bought a Wilwood unit and proceeded to modify the assembly so that the unit would fit.

The mounting holes were in a different location so I welded up the original mounting holes and added some metal for 2 new mounting holes that would work with the unit I purchased.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Here's the new Wilwood clutch master cylinder mounted to the assembly.

The pushrod is sitting right next to the pedal. I ordered a Dorman adjustable pushrod that will hopefully have the parts I need to connect the clutch pedal to the pushrod.

[55 Chevy Dave]

The Lokar shifter I ordered did not feel quite long enough, so I added an extension. This will all be hidden by the console I plan to build between the seats extending up to the firewall.

[Kim57]

Lots of good progress.
Nice to re-purpose things you don't need.
Kim

[oldman3]

Moving right along, like the exhaust hangers...Jim

[bajabob]

Holy moly sir, your fabrication skills are out of sight!!! I had to keep reading your entire thread so I could see what cool new part you made or what mod you did to this project!!! Very nice work.

I wondered about, how or where are you going to run the brake lines with the frame enclosed ???

bb