Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[G&R's57GMC]

Ordinary look, Thats EASY, just head down to your local Auto parts store and pick up a pair of Halogen sealed beam headlights and use the relay system you have.

NAPA has a H6024BL (Bright Light) that is brighter then the H6024. These are Wagner Halogen 7" headlamps.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thats exactly what I plan to do.

Have you done the LEDturn signal?
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[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Have you done the LED turn signal?
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I wasn't planning on it.

However Someone posted something about a LED that acted as a white Daytime Running Light and an amber parking light.

But I don't remember what forum I saw it on, could be on any of the 6 forums I frequent or some that I look at once in a while. Dang brain farts

BTW Don't forget to get some

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

...Someone posted...about a LED that acted as a white Daytime Running Light and an amber parking light.

But I don't remember what forum I saw it on...

Ooh...now THAT would be cool!

Can't remember, huh? Well the only thing worse than getting older is the alternative.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Hadn't physically done anything on my truck in a couple days so I did this quick upgrade:



I bought this overflow tank from eBay a year ago. I still have to find a short length of some small diameter; maybe 1/4" plastic tubing.

[Dan in Pasadena]

4-13-13 UPDATE:
I picked her up from the tiny auto electric place I told you guys about. Henry (the owner) surprised me by putting in a CHROME alternator and adjustment bracket. Needless to say I am very happy, cause 'ya can't have too much chrome! lol



When I dropped her off there was a nice, original paint '56 small window short bed in his lot that he had just finished installing an alternator in! It had deluxe trim, a straight six and an uncut dash. Of course I was checking it out and Henry told me when the owner picked it up he was checking out my truck as much! Sorry, I forgot to take a photo - damn. I wondered if it was someone here?

Another chrome shot; just because:

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim. Your build jut blows me away. My truck doesn't even belong on the same website as yours - but I'm proud to be!

Have you decided what you will use to raise/lower your bed? I've not read EVERY entry onto your thread, so I apologize but o you have a final color selected yet? Are you telling?

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks Kim. Your build jut blows me away. My truck doesn't even belong on the same website as yours - but I'm proud to be!

Have you decided what you will use to raise/lower your bed? I've not read EVERY entry onto your thread, so I apologize but o you have a final color selected yet? Are you telling?

Thanks for the compliments. I honestly don't think my ruck is any better than any other truck on the board. I get a lot of inspiration from other builds as well as yours.
As far as color I'm leaning toward a light metallic blue similar to what Chevy had on there cars in the mid sixties. It should come real close to what I used on my intake and rocker covers.
I'm using a hydraulic pump and a couple of rams to lift the bed.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Well, I still think your truck and the guys that do the advanced engineering and fabrication like you do are astonishing.

Me and the color blue are kinda funny. I generally don't like blue on cars, but the blues I do like, I LOVE. I really like the blue you're speaking of. It's a comforting, era-correct color without being boring. I don't usually care for the newer electric blue types of colors.

[Dan in Pasadena]

4-16-13 UPATE:

R&R'd the tail lights, painted housings, polished lenses, and sanded/painted the area around them that I half-assed when I rattle canned my truck a few weeks ago - which of course is half-assed in & of itself


BEFORE:


AFTER:


Still need to attach a 1/4" hose from the radiator to the overflow tank. Any reason I can't just attach it at the end of the existing stock copper overflow line? Do I need to shorten it for any reason....maybe to get the coolant to be properly sucked back into the radiator?

[Kim57]

Your stuff looks real nice.
The over flow should work just fine without shortening the copper line. The vacuum created when the engine cools should draw the coolant back into the radiator.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim. I was hoping I'd not have to shorten it cause I'd have to pull the fan shroud to get at it cleanly.

[Dan in Pasadena]

4-19-13 UPDATE:

I wasted a bunch of time today I suppose.

My accelerator has not been fully returning to idle. I have no pedal, just the arm hanging down - been procrastinating but in this case it's a good thing cause I can hook it w/ my shoe to return to idle(!)

Took the assembly off thinking, "I'll just refurb it and it'll be good as new" NOT! I removed it - broke old bolts in doing so, wire wheeled it, lubed, painted, reinstalled.


In Process Photo (Sorry its a bit out of focus)

All for naught! No improvement. Yup the return spring is quite strong.

I'm thinking the whole assembly is worn and a little "cocked" in it's operation. Now to replace with stock or look for a Lokar?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Today I also put the 3rd & 4th(!!) coats of chrome paint on the hood ornament.
Repops cost like $250+ and I just can't justify that right now. I'm just hoping it doesn't look TOO bad against the chrome grill & bumper.
As you can see, the chrome was waay dead. Yes, I tried polishing it.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Yeah, the flash didn't go off or something so it's dark. What looks like a run on the right is actually a reflection of that line on the trash can lid! It's that smooth.
The first time, I red Scotch-Brite'd & sprayed - it fish-eyed like crazy - DOH!
After it dried I wiped the whole thing off with acetone. I primed the next time with gray primer, allowed it to cure overnight, wet sanded it and re-sprayed very carefully. Very, very close to perfect....for rattle can paint. After a few days (IF I'm patient) I'll detail it with black and red in/around the bowtie like original

[Russell Ashley]

"Repops cost like $250+"

$209 at Bowtie Bits. After seeing the pics of new ones in this thread I just couldn't resist.

MY name is Russell Ashley and I'm a chrom-aholic....

[Kim57]

I get with the cost of new stuff.
I think the hood ornament looks fine.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah and that's probably what's wrong with it! It's "fine". Like asking your wife, "...are you ok?" And she responds, "Im fine" Which of course means she isn't. Lol

If I can manage to paint the red & black without ruining the "chrome" finish with the tape I'll install it and live with it a few days. If I don't like it, in the drawer it goes.
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[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Yeah and that's probably what's wrong with it! It's "fine". Like asking your wife, "...are you ok?" And she responds, "Im fine" Which of course means she isn't. Lol

If I can manage to paint the red & black without ruining the "chrome" finish with the tape I'll install it and live with it a few days. If I don't like it, in the drawer it goes.
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I actually do think it looks fine. Chrome is nice but I also like the subdued look your truck has going on with the flat paint. I know you'll be changing that in the future but I think it's great you're able to drive and enjoy it now.
That's my goal this year on mine, get it on the road even if it's not totally where I want it to be.
I will have very little chrome on mine if any at all.
Kim

[Russell Ashley]

Dan, I wasn't dissing your chrome paint job, it actually looks pretty good. The problem I see is that once it's installed and the hood closed it will be too close to your new chrome grill. You'll notice the difference even if the rest of us don't, LOL.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh I know you weren't. No issue Russ and I totally agree. It's the contrast between new and old (well, actually cheapo paint lol) that will make it look bad. If it weren't for the chrome on the truck the paint would kinda/sorta look like old chrome that's lost it's pizazz. Well from 20 ft. it might.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Your truck is gonna be extra special to me Kim cause I MIGHT actually get to see it at done point. I can't wait.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Man, these vendors must read these forums or something.

Bowtie Bits has the hood ornament for $195! Dipping below the $200 line has me "jones-ing" for one and counting my pennies. Of course that will only make me want the side emblems all the more...and those are $270 a set.

If I go the $195 and someone suddenly has the sides for $195 I'm gonna think they're gunning for me!

I do NOT "need" this stuff. I am just being dumb even looking at this stuff.

[JR25]

Dan,
WOW!!! You are inspiring! I have read thru your ENTIRE thread over the last two days when I have down time (military exercise). I bought an "ole fix-er-uper" a little while back for me and my sons to work on. I promised the wife that it would not take every spare minute ans penny that I have.......but I was wrong!

I blew mine apart when I couldnt get the 235 inline 6 to start, so frame up resto it is! This will be my first auto rebuild of any kind, but I have tools and equipment and an attitude that "nothing can be that hard"! I am in the process of rebuilding the engine now, looking for a T5 tranny, and getting brakes, suspension, gas tank, etc like new again.

Sorry, I started rambeling about my truck!
I LOVE the colors on yours, and if you repaint yours, I might steal your current color theme! with all that said, after I stripped my frame and coated it in POR15 semi gloss, I recoated it in, wait for it............ Rustoleum semi flat!!! It hides some of the minor flaws, and has a more even look! Below is a pic of how it turned out! I might start a build thread some day! Keep rattelin n sprayin, and chrome is more addictive than crack........ Ask a Harley rider as well!

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[Dan in Pasadena]

JR,
Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to read through TWENTY pages. I didn't realize I had blabbed THAT much! Ha Ha.

Inspiring? Nah, you guys that are doing full frame off jobs are the inspiring ones to me. I just know I'd likely crap out if I took mine all the way down to nothing. Plus I don't have the space for it anyway. But I DO plan to eventually blow it all apart for final real paint. And yeah, the color is beginning to grow on me even though it started off as an almost accident.

I really want to get to my frame like you but I'm forcing myself to weld repair the very minor rust holes in the bottoms of my doors, then I plan to paint the door bottoms in & out with KBS, and then....! I FINALLY get to put the weather stripping on and eliminate the door rattles.

But soon, I'll pull the bed off and go at the rear of the frame with scrapers, wire wheels and Ospho to totally eliminate the rust. Then I'm planning to roll on (yes, I said roll) Rustoleum Hammered paint even though I do have a compressor an spray gun. I've had extremely good luck with that paint, plus rolling it will allow me to easily touch it up if needed later.

JR, Please post a thread. I' love to see your progress!