Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Russ, Did you read the post (can't remember whose?) that said his didn't hold tight to the cab sheet metal with the clips provided? He ended up buying a different set of clips. Sorry I can't remember any specifics but I know someone posted about it in the last few weeks.

Yes, I DO plan to get the stainless tail lights!
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Dan, yea I read that post. It interested me because of the fact that I do have that chrome and it does look like it will be a PITA to install, so I was curious to see how his came out. Learning from others is one of the benefits of this forum. The clips I have look like they will hold it tight and might be the same ones he bought. I don't like the fact that there will be holes in the cab with apparently no sealer used when the factory did it so I'm going to see if I can get some silicone in the hole to seal it.

BTW, I already do have the stainless tail lights. Even if you don't want the shine, stainless is the way to go IMO. Now I want a new hood ornament after seeing the pics in this thread. It never ends.

[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by dubie

Does anyone have install instructions for the spot lights? I got a genuine 50's spot light that works from a buddy of mine and think it would make a cool addition to my truck. I just want to make sure I drill the hole in the right spot

The ones pictured are dummy spot lights, so no big holes through the body.

You might check you county maintenance garage and ask who installs their lights.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

... so I'm going to see if I can get some silicone in the hole to seal it.

Yes, that has occurred to me too. It SEEMS like it would be a good idea, but I'm still not sure if I will even put the trim on at all. I need to see more truck in person at shows to decide.

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

... BTW, I already do have the stainless tail lights. Even if you don't want the shine, stainless is the way to go IMO. Now I want a new hood ornament after seeing the pics in this thread. It never ends.

I put new black tail lights on right after I got my truck. I bought the chrome mounting brackets but not the stainless housings - I don't know why. I'll probably get the stainless ones on my next trip to The Truck Shop. But I'm also thinking of going with the LED upgrade because I'm going to put my headlights on relays - which should brighten them up. I'm considering H4's too. Do you know if these lights just connect right up or do you have to install resistors, etc. to lower the voltage?

As for the hood ornament and the side badges? I'd love to have them but they're SO expensive I can't justify it right now. I'm also curious what having mine re-chromed would cost?

[G&R's57GMC]

Oh Daaannn, Shop around for those tail lights.
I found them at http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1955-5...bly,25193.html
No Tax, Lower price and I got mine from them.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Good catch. I just checked the Truck Shop and at $32 I thought they were cheaper than Speedway....BUT....Speedway's price includes the LED's for $35. Truck Shop gets another $27 on top of $35 for a ridiculous $62 PER tail light! Yeow!

Thanks very much for cluing me in. I know lots of guys complain about the TS's customer service. I go there because I'm near it every other week when I go to visit my mother so no shipping and I can see the parts before I buy.

[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

But I'm also thinking of going with the LED upgrade because I'm going to put my headlights on relays - which should brighten them up. I'm considering H4's too. Do you know if these lights just connect right up or do you have to install resistors, etc. to lower the voltage?

If you mean the LED lights needing anything added to the circuit, The answer is no just hook them up.

That said, if you replace the front bulbs with LED lights along with the rear LED's you will then need to add an electronic turn signal flasher.

If you just add the rear LED's and keep bulbs in the front all you need is a #552 regular flasher to make the signals flash at the stock rate.

Have fun, and don't forget Doc Evil say's you need more BLING

[Dan in Pasadena]

Does someone even make LED's to fit into our stock front signals? I had no plan to do that but since you mention it I guess I should go do a search of the usual sources!

What I really need is info on improving our headlights. I have a relay kit that
I bought for the 911 I restored and sold before I installed it. That alone I THINK will cause my stock lights to be better, But I'd like to brighten them by using a brighter bulb. NOT the blue looking lights. Just not the dim yellow looking lights it currently has.

Anyone know how to do this?

[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Does someone even make LED's to fit into our stock front signals? I had no plan to do that but since you mention it I guess I should go do a search of the usual sources!


What I really need is info on improving our headlights. I have a relay kit that
I bought for the 911 I restored and sold before I installed it. That alone I THINK will cause my stock lights to be better, But I'd like to brighten them by using a brighter bulb. NOT the blue looking lights. Just not the dim yellow looking lights it currently has.

Anyone know how to do this?

Check out the first LED
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/t...r,1157,21,195:

And http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=43 for the headlights

[Dan in Pasadena]

VERY interesting! Thanks for taking the time to post those links.

Have YOU done this upgrade?

I notice there are quite a few LED bulbs that have 1157 bases (I assume that's what we have?) I suppose I'd have to carefully measure what size would fit inside our signal lenses.

As for the headlights. I'd like a light that looks more "ordinary" than that photo on the LMC site does. I'm only thinking of something like a brighter, higher performance sealed beam. I have a relay kit already that I am hoping can be adapted to my truck. I think it can be.

[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....