Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, they do look alike. But it doesn't have the deluxe cab trim yours did. The seat did look just like yours.

[Number 9]

Dan, what is your tire size and wheel width? Thanks,Art

[Dan in Pasadena]

235/75x15 Hankooks bought virtually new as takeoffs from an F150 for $60. STOLE the vintage 15x7 Torq Thrust knockoffs from Craigslist for only $150 including polished aluminum center caps.

I wanted 70 series or even 60 series but these were SO cheap I couldn't pass them up. And they kinda give the truck a cartoonish "Roger Rabbit" car look!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

235/75x15 Hankooks bought virtually new as takeoffs from an F150 for $60. STOLE the vintage 15x7 Torq Thrust knockoffs from Craigslist for only $150 including polished aluminum center caps.

I wanted 70 series or even 60 series but these were SO cheap I couldn't pass them up. And they kinda give the truck a cartoonish "Roger Rabbit" car look!
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks dan. That is the same size I just got and do not have my front end on. Was concerned they would be to to big but yours look fine. Mine are on 9" daisy's.
I have 255x70's on 9" rims on the back.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Wow, 9's fit in back w/o rubbing? Did you have to order special back spacing? Maybe I should ask what rearend you've got? Mines a 10 bolt but I don't know out of what.

A buddy of mine has offered me a set of 15x8 Rally's with rings & caps cheap. I want them but I'm afraid they'll be too big.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Wow, 9's fit in back w/o rubbing? Did you have to order special back spacing? Maybe I should ask what rearend you've got? Mines a 10 bolt but I don't know out of what.

A buddy of mine has offered me a set of 15x8 Rally's with rings & caps cheap. I want them but I'm afraid they'll be too big.
Posted via Mobile Device

They rub. I still haven't had the truck on the road. The last owner flattened the inside lip of the rear fenders so it didn't rub there but they did rub a bit on the bed side. It also has a dana 60 from a f--d with the 5 on 5 1/2 " lug pattern so the width is not the same. It is within a inch or less. They are old tires on the rear so I will go smaller by one size when I change them. I have two 5 1/2" lug pattern on back and 4 3/4" on front so I need two spares. I hope my fronts don't rub when fenders on. I like your old americans.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, so I visited The Truck Shop in Orange, CA today. Planned to buy the V8 fender emblems for my truck but they were outta stock - natch!

But being the chrome whore I am I couldn't go home without SOMETHING shiny, so I bought replacement chrome wiper bezels. Mine are totally cloudy and rust pecked. While I was there I went ahead and bought the rear big window rubber as mine is hard as a rock and cracked, chunks missing, etc. ALMOST bought the "chrome" lock strip for it, but I don't have the stainless trim on the windshield and I want the front & back to match. I keep thinking about whether I want the deluxe trim around the windows? Seems like even for me that trim AND the windshield/back window trim would be gaudy.

But I DID forget to buy the CHROME bench seat handle! lol

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks, but they're not really Americans. No idea WHAT they really are.

Any chance you'll swap rear ends to get matching lug pattern AND narrow up a bit?

Two spares? UGH! I'd carry a couple bottles of Fix-A-Flat! I'm carrying NO spare but I've got a AAA card!

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks, but they're not really Americans. No idea WHAT they really are.

Any chance you'll swap rear ends to get matching lug pattern AND narrow up a bit?

Two spares? UGH! I'd carry a couple bottles of Fix-A-Flat! I'm carrying NO spare but I've got a AAA card!

It is 3/4" narrower then the stock one so that is fine and also bullet proof. The wheels are all american s200's and look right.I may at some time re drill the axles to 4 3/4" as I have the extra wheels but not high on my list. I wont carry
a spare unless I go on a long drive.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, I guess I misunderstood and though the rearend was too wide. Sounds like your tires are the culprits. You think one size smaller will be enough for cornering with radials?

255's down to 245's is only going from 10.1" wide to 9.7". A little over 3/8". Won't the sidewalls on radials flex that much?

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ok, I guess I misunderstood and though the rearend was too wide. Sounds like your tires are the culprits. You think one size smaller will be enough for cornering with radials?

255's down to 245's is only going from 10.1" wide to 9.7". A little over 3/8". Won't the sidewalls on radials flex that much?

It should handle like a slot car. 78 camaro front frame clip with sway bar. I am going to run the 255's for a while to figure it out. They didn't rub in a straight line and I will do what I have to to make it work. Tub it a bit if needed. The outsides never hit. The flex is usually at the bottom.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Anyone have anything good/bad to say about THESE bending tools:

Amazon.com: Eastwood Brake Line Tubing Bender and...

...cause I JUST ordered them! Hope I won't regret the expense. There were cheaper ones, but...

[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Anyone have anything good/bad to say about THESE bending tools:

Amazon.com: Eastwood Brake Line Tubing Bender and Forming Pliers Kit: Automotive


...cause I JUST ordered them! Hope I won't regret the expense. There were cheaper ones, but...

I've got those too. They're the way to go.

Also nice Bling you scored.

[Denee007]

Hi Dan! Have you had a chance to use this Eastwood bending tool? I have mixed emotions on it. The most irritating part of this tubing bender (pliers type), the rubber handles slip and move. As for doing what they're designed for, tight turns, I give a mediocre score.

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Anyone have anything good/bad to say about THESE bending tools:

Amazon.com: Eastwood Brake Line Tubing Bender and Forming Pliers Kit: Automotive


...cause I JUST ordered them! Hope I won't regret the expense. There were cheaper ones, but...

Posted via Mobile Device

[Baldeagle SR]

I got to order 2 of those mirrors for mine. My pass door doesn't have the holes or the plate inside the door for the mirror. Who did you get your mirrors from? Thanks
Rich
my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576185

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Baldeagle SR

I got to order 2 of those mirrors for mine. My pass door doesn't have the holes or the plate inside the door for the mirror. Who did you get your mirrors from? Thanks
Rich
my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576185

Whoops, you must have posted as I was writing that last post. The mirrors came from The Truck Shop in Orange, CA. I guess I was lucky because my truck DID have the threaded plate inside it. I used tiny chrome carriage bolts from OSH because I didn't want a Phillips head showing.

[LDO]

Dan, where did you pick up the chrome letters for the tailgate? That looks sweet.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Same-same, The Truck Shop in Orange. I THINK it's actually called The Car and Truck Shop.

It's surprising how many people really like those. I went to buy white or off white but it turned out they don't carry off white and were out of stock on white. The had black and the chrome ones....so 'ya know!

Spent some time today TRYING to polish the lips on my old Torq-Thrust wannabe's. Only partly successful. The previous owner told me he coated them with something. They were/are uniformly dull. I don't mind on the spokes but the lip has always bothered me.

I did this by putting the truck on jack stands and running it in gear - yes, dangerous. Turned out there was a thick film of SOME thing on it. It was so thick I started out sanding with emery cloth but that wasn't getting it so I shut it off to find I'd exposed an edge of the film. I used a combo of a carpet knife and a box knife while running to sort of "cut" the film off. Some of it came off in 3/4" x 5" or 6" long strips!

Anyway, it's not (yet) to my satisfaction but I did polish this one up. I really only want a machine finish or a little shinier. It's almost there but not quite uniform enough yet.

BEFORE:


AFTER:

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Russ,

Nah, "piece of cake"....once I figured out how to do it, lol.

I have a 48" aluminum straight edge I held up to where I wanted the top of the letters.
I balanced one of those little bullet levels on it. Then I very lightly drew a sharp pencil line.

When I applied the letters I just eye-balled the side to side spaces, then I JUST covered the pencil line.

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Hi Russ,

Nah, "piece of cake"....once I figured out how to do it, lol.

I have a 48" aluminum straight edge I held up to where I wanted the top of the letters.
I balanced one of those little bullet levels on it. Then I very lightly drew a sharp pencil line.

When I applied the letters I just eye-balled the side to side spaces, then I JUST covered the pencil line.

Thanks Dan. I was wondering if you had drawn a reference line like that or if you had just centered the letters on the raised part of the tailgate. I like the pencil line idea.

The wheels look good.

[Kim57]

The rims are going to look nice when done.
Kim

[Daze57]

wheels look good !

[Baldeagle SR]

like the wheels , The old school look.
Rich

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks everyone.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dan in Pasadena]

Received these today in the mail:






Bought from a guy in Massachusetts for $100. They're aren't truly "perfect" - you can see the minor pitting in the background area but they are very, very nice for being 60 years old. They're SO good compared to mine that I'm not sure I'm going to paint the background white as it is supposed to be.

Opinions on leaving them all chrome? I'd hate to have to sand that area but if I did want to, how to paint it and have it not look amateur-ish?