Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

Pulled the front bumper, grill and latch panel off again (DOH!) - but for a good reason.

One of you FINE GENTLEMEN (I'll let him identify himself, if he wants to) PM'd me with a very generous offer for a new, largely unused repop chrome grill. Since I've revealed myself as a bit of a chrome whore (kinda like a crack whore but apprently MORE addictive!) I am going for it.

Little Devil on my shoulder: (dan.....you NEED a new chrome hood badge.....)

Pic's on the weekend!

[Number 9]

Life is good.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, you're absolutely right!

I'm healthy and have (a few) dollars to spend in my personal toy.

Life IS good
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[Number 9]

You could use a double throw self centering switch in the bottom lip of the dash for passenger window.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Number 9

You could use a double throw self centering switch in the bottom lip of the dash for passenger window.

See Russ! There's ALWAYS someone here smarter than us.....well, at least ME!

[Number 9]

Not me.

[ChevroletWT]

Just finished reading through this whole thread.

Dan you are doing an incredible job tidyin' this ole gal up. And I can tell you are having a ball, too! Looking forward to continued updates!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChevroletWT

Just finished reading through this whole thread.

Dan you are doing an incredible job tidyin' this ole gal up. And I can tell you are having a ball, too! Looking forward to continued updates!!

1st: Thanks for reading through all my blabbing! She WAS pretty fugly when I started, huh? lol

2nd: Thanks for the kind words. You've nailed it - it's not a build, its simply "tidying" her up as best I can until she undergoes a full "face lift" after I retire; about 5-6 years. But I'm gonna drive her every dry weekend until then and she's gotta look good (to me) til then!!

Thanks again!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Nothing too exciting today. I'm trying to get to the point I can install the door weather stripping I already have.

Here's what was in my door bottoms! (Streamlight flashlight just for scale)


No wonder there is some rust through, though surprisingly very little. I've got a spot approximately 3/4" x 3/4" on the driver's door lower front "skin"

On the bottom of the door there are two spots about 1/8" and 1/4" each. Here's a (crappy) photo of the door interior:


Okay, so WHAT'S my plan:

1. Treat interior door bottoms with Ospho: I tore garage towels into 6" strips, soaked w/ Ospho & laid in door bottoms. Let it soak overnight.

2. Drill four small holes in corners of rust-through and cut out rusted metal in prep for welded patches. (I'm a terrible welder but no one will ever see these patches so it's a good place to practice!)

3. Paint door bottom interiors w/ KBS Rust Bullet (sitting on a shelf a year. Hope it's still good!)

4. Paint exterior w/ KBS too. Finish coat, allow to cure and install new weatherstrip

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Number 9

Not me.

iF I were smart my truck could be driving down the road rather then in the late stages of going back together, and not being healthy enough to finish it.

[dubie]

i've been away for a few days. I vote for the scratch guards bud!!! They really add some class to the handles, and the seem to suit your truck. I like your blingy Chevrolet lettering on the tailgate too, never seen that done before.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Here's another shot of the door interior AFTER 24 hrs soaked in Ospho.


As you can see, the rags I used didn't press down into the cracks well (shoulda thought of that) so some rust is left. I put some in a spray bottle and re-applied.

The crust-iness is where the metal was damaged by the rust but is now neutralized. Believe it or not its very solid, not near holed-through at all. But for whatever reason (where the trash accumulated?) there ARE a couple holed-through spots but they are very small and totally solid around the holes. I will attempt to weld them up using my Hobart Handler 140 with .030" fluxcore - just cause I already have it. If it blows through or is a problem I'll bite the bullet and go buy an ArCo2 bottle from Airgas and of course some .023" solid wire. I'll use a copper backer bar of course.

The whole thing will look a lot better once its in gloss black KBS. I'll post a photo of course. I only plan to paint up the first 4"-5". All comments/suggestions appreciated.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Nothing got done today on the doors because I got THIS chrome grill from a member here who shall remain nameless. I had errands to run this morning but did manage to get this and the front panels & bumper back on.



I'm re- IN LOVE! ha ha. I can't help myself, I like chrome.

I suppose it's not THAT noticeable to anyone else but it pleases me. My buddy says putting this much chrome on a rattle canned truck is like dressing up a wrinkled old whore with red lipstick and lots of jewelry! He made me laugh, but I don't care.

It's a Chinese repop grill and doesn't truly fit for **** - but I don't care. No one but people like us would ever know. Love is blind you know! ha ha.

[Clarance J]

Sure looks good from here. I just wish I had that much chrome on my truck. I know someday I'll get my nice shiney parts for Clarance J. For now he's gotta be satisfied with just paint. I noticed the holes in the hood for the badge. What are your plans for that? I took mine off years ago and filled them, but now I'd like to replace it. Your truck is looking great. It would mean more chrome on the front.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Clarance J

....I noticed the holes in the hood for the badge. What are your plans for that? I took mine off years ago and filled them, but now I'd like to replace it. Your truck is looking great. It would mean more chrome on the front.

Thanks!

I've always intended to install the hood ornament. I even have one but the chrome is very dead. I'm kinda liking the way it looks without one though. Opinions please!

Since a repop hood ornament is $200, I'll be waiting (yes, I KNOW I didn't intend to buy the mirror arms, the door handles, the grill OR the bumper, ha ha)

Can anyone answer these questions?:
I read somewhere that the '55.2 side emblems have a white painted background and the '56's have black painted backgrounds. Is that correct?
I'd also like to put the "V8" emblems on. I'm not certain if they came on the '55.2's? And I don't know exactly WHERE they go?

[Number 9]

It looks great.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks #9!

It's a "360 miler" now, ha ha!

(I had to look up Boulder Creek. Looks like a GREAT small town, really a beautiful area an a lot nicer than anywhere own here)

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks #9!

It's a "360 miler" now, ha ha!

(I had to look up Boulder Creek. Looks like a GREAT small town, really a beautiful area an a lot nicer than anywhere own here)

It's nice. It is right in redwoods.I live 5 miles from town on a hill in the redwoods. 42 years and still love it.

Miller time sounds right to me. Good tools do good work.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Sounds fantastic!

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
Kim

[Rude Dude]

Dan the grille looks good on the truck, nice doing business with ya buddy!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Rudy. As you said, it doesn't fit great but I'm totally happy with it. Thank you again for thinking of me.

Lemme ask a question cause you said you have a bunch of parts:

Are the pegs on '55 vs '56 side emblems SLIGHTLY differently spaced?
I know '55 badges are 1 piece & '56's are 2 piece (I wonder why?).
When I had those badges I traded you I fitted to my truck and they were "off". Wondering if that's "correct" or a bad Chinese repop part problem?
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[Rude Dude]

1955 and 1956 are different thats why the holes didn't line up.

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks Rudy. As you said, it doesn't fit great but I'm totally happy with it. Thank you again for thinking of me.

Lemme ask a question cause you said you have a bunch of parts:

Are the pegs on '55 vs '56 side emblems SLIGHTLY differently spaced?
I know '55 badges are 1 piece & '56's are 2 piece (I wonder why?).
When I had those badges I traded you I fitted to my truck and they were "off". Wondering if that's "correct" or a bad Chinese repop part problem?
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[G&R's57GMC]

Dan , the v8 emblems are the same for 55 & 56.

The 55 fender emblems are painted white and the 56 are black.

Someone wondered why the 56 was 2 piece, its so they didn't have to make whole new 'Chevrolet' part for each model number. I.E. 3100 3124 3200 3600.


Looking good so far.

About the handle type PW switch you can add a micro switch to the circuit to allow the drivers switch to operate the passenger window. Of course for this to work you would need to have relays in the circuit (recommended for extended switch life).

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok thanks. Gonna go dig mine out and assess how bad they are? (I'm pretty sure the chrome paint would look like azz) which of course will have me counting my pennies!
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