Fastfreddys 454ss

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by fredscarryall

The bed is already on. I took a couple pics of the upper bags mounts before I put the bed on,but I can’t find them. The air bag mounts are built into the upper bar.I will take a couple shots from underneath with a tape measure and let you know tonight

I was wanting pics of the upper bar front mounts, possible measurement on the difference between the center line of the upper vs lower front rod end bolt, & length of the upper bar as installed on your truck.

The install instructions have a starting dimension for the upper bars. I was curious how close your set-up came to those dimension as I will be building my own upper bar front mounts (I'll be using better rod ends on the front of all 4 bars on my set-up) & the info requested will help dictate how things fall into place (your info will be used just as reference compared to my observations/mock-up).

[fredscarryall]

Finished the coolride today. Didn’t change the look. Right now I can’t lower the truck anymore without the fender sitting on the tire because of the front wheel spacers. As soon as I put in the front pro proformance front disc conversion which will bring the wheels in about 7/8 (because I had the front hub converted to 5 on 4 1/2 to get rid of the conversion wheel spacer)and roll the front fenders a little more. I will be able to lower it another 3 or 4 inches. I also need to adjust the pitman arm in the rear to center the axle and roll the fenders a little more with a baseball bat.

[fredscarryall]

Look what showed up today. I can’t beleive the size difference in the rotors. These are based off of the c5 corvette

[fredscarryall]

Ordering caliper covers from mgp

[fredscarryall]

Going to order a 10 pt roll cage from s&w. I going to get the wrap around dash style. I think it looks a lot better. The only bars I won’t put in are the ones that go thru the Back window to the bed and the door side bars.

[fredscarryall]

Don’t like the velour seats and door panels. Since I already have my factory seats in storage. I going to remove the original door panels and store them also. I saw a picture of manual door panels a while ago and bought a set off ebay.

[fredscarryall]

I got board and did a renduring of what I going to do. Drawings kinda suck, but you get what I’m going. My uphostery shop is out about a month. So they will be done in a while. Going to wrap both in red vinyl with exposed stitch and maroon inserts

[fredscarryall]

Cool item I came across. Dash insert sticker kits by RVINYL. They come in about 20 different colors. Cost $49.95. Make sure you wipes down contact areas with alcohol before applying and they will stick really good.Says will only fit 92-94. But will fit 1988 to 1994. Just won’t be able to use a couple pieces depending on year. Also available for suburban,Yukon and tahoes

[arrg]

Originally Posted by fredscarryall

Look what showed up today. I can’t beleive the size difference in the rotors. These are based off of the c5 corvette

Did you have them do something custom for you in the c5 corvette size, or are they still the 14" kit?

[fredscarryall]

The 14” kit uses c5 corvette parts.I believe they used both the c5 caliper and disc(Makes it easy to go to the parts store and get Pads)With a Baer design mounting brackets and hubs.The only change I made was to convert the hub from 5 on 5 to 5 on 4 1/2 because of rim choices for an extra $200.

[nuke1]

Love the truck!!!

[diveplane]

Originally Posted by fredscarryall

I worked at as a detailed for the body shop at a Chevy dealership in 1990 and drove a few 454 ss trucks. I always said to myself one day I will own one. In July 2016 I finally bought on. It is a two owner with 60,000 original mile. Don’t worry for you purists out there, every mod I have done I have kept every part. So if I ever go back to factory i can.

sweet ride.

congrats

[fredscarryall]

May go with this design for the seats and door panels

[fredscarryall]

Started on the az performance revelator disc conversion today. Didn’t like the cast grey on the caliper. So I sprayed them red, until my caliper covers get here. Not everyone needs a step by step, but it’s nice to use as a reference.

[fredscarryall]

The kit shows to remove the spindle, but I can do it without removing it. Drilled out two of the brake shield holes for the caliper bracket with a 3/8s bit.

[fredscarryall]

Tapped both holes with a 7/16-14 tap

[fredscarryall]

Put the hub on to see if everthing fit. I had to use the spindle nut off the belltech spindle. The one the came with the kit had the wrong thread

[fredscarryall]

Next, I had to trace the caliper mounting bracket with it bolted on to get ready to cut the ears off the spindle. More to come

[fredscarryall]

Ran into my first hang up. The Wheel hub bore is about 1/16 smaller then the hub. So I going to try one of three tools to bore the rim hub out. Or I may take the hub to a machine shop to get it turned down a 1/16.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by fredscarryall

Going to order a 10 pt roll cage from s&w. I going to get the wrap around dash style. I think it looks a lot better. The only bars I won’t put in are the ones that go thru the Back window to the bed and the door side bars.

What are the benefits here? Why is this necessary especially after removing 4 of the bars that maintain the integrity of the set-up?

Rear bars (to the rear portion of the frame) help the structure. Door side bars? Same thing. Any bars in the vicinity of your noggin w/o a helmet? Not a good idea. I've seen roll bars form fitted to the interior sheet metal (as in nearly touching the bare steel on early trucks) that might work but a cage like that in a street vehicle w/full interior doesn't seem worthy especially because you don't have protection for your head.

[fredscarryall]

I thought out some of your points. I think I am going to take the back slider window out and put it in storage. Then replace it with a solid tinted Lexan and cut two holes for the bars that go in the bed. With a nice rubber gasket around the window and bars the go to the bed.Then I will do swing out side bars. I know they are not as strong as solid welded.but since I’m in a wheelchair I have to be able to transfer in. You have to admit though 4 attachment points will make the integrity of the truck stronger then stock.As far as my head bouncing around and hitting my head on a bar. I will be wearing a seat belt and my bars will be thick padded. Thousands of people have a full interior with a cage. May be a little less room, but if done right there is enough room. It’s not going to be a full on drag race or road corse truck

[fredscarryall]

Cut the tabs off my spindle. If you aren’t using a band saw. Make sure you use a 6” cut off wheel on your hand grinder. 4 1/2 disc is too small.

[fredscarryall]

Mock up

[fredscarryall]

Before and after. Turns out, all I had to do to my wheel hub bore to fit was sand off the powder coat with a drum sander. took about 5 minutes. So far 3 hours into one side. The other side should only take 2 because I know exactly where to cut. Had to order 14x 1.5 lug nuts. Won’t be here till Friday night. So looks like I won’t be able to see how low it goes and how it stops and rides till next week. I finally found end caps for my lug nuts

[fredscarryall]

For some reason when Baer brakes redrilled my hubs to 5 on 4.5. They uses the oddest size, a 14x2.0 metric stud. They sure make it tuff using that size. It really limits you options. Unfortunately because the lug nut holes in the rim are small, they don’t make a lug nut to fit. Looks like I’m going to drill out my 12mm lug nuts and retap them to 14x2.0. Only have to do 10. Should take a couple hours. Not so bad if that’s the worst thing to happen with a front brake conversion