1956 Chevy Pro-Street Build

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

This is the latch I used, they can be found used on '85-'92 VW Jettas, Golfs and other models. It is set up for a cable release FWIW.

http://www.yogisinc.com/index.cfm/pa...d/prd13796.htm

Keep in mind that the filler between the radiator and the grille is different on a '56 and '58 so installing one might be a little different. I cut out the oval shape in the filler panel and welded in the lower latch from underneath. The upper latch was bolted to the existing under hood latch plate, only minor shimming and trimming was necessary.

Sorry no other pics and with the truck blown apart I cant go take one for you.

Too bad there are no more pic’s, I’d REALLY like to understand what you did better. But off hand (and not to hijack ptc’s thread - sorry!) is there any reason why this VW hood lower latch couldn’t just be mounted with small ss bolts to the stock ‘55-‘57 filler panel? Yeah, it wouldn’t look as cool as yours that is welded in but would it work? Since it comes cad plated it wouldn’t look too bad. I ask because my filler panell is already final painted.

Also for you, others and ptc (maybe) I once found someone who used ordinary metal desk type locks on the leading edge of his hood to provide a secondary lock/protection against the hood flying open at speed. Up until I saw yours, I was planning to do this too but only after all final adjustments to the hood fitment because there’s little room or error. No cable release, but I can live with that if I can be certain my hood is secure. I’ll see if I can find the old pic and will post it here.

[mud.man.rj]

I didn't realize 12lbs of boost would create so much pressure, now I understand why it's hard to keep a hose in place.
Mudman.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Too bad there are no more pic’s, I’d REALLY like to understand what you did better. But off hand (and not to hijack ptc’s thread - sorry!) is there any reason why this VW hood lower latch couldn’t just be mounted with small ss bolts to the stock ‘55-‘57 filler panel? Yeah, it wouldn’t look as cool as yours that is welded in but would it work? Since it comes cad plated it wouldn’t look too bad. I ask because my filler angel is already final painted.

No cable release, but I can live with that if I can be certain my hood is secure. I’ll see if I can find the old pic and will post it here.

Dan - It could be done easily you just have to mount the top part first, then put some paint on the tip of it to mark where it will land in your latch support and center the mounting base there with the 4 screws. It doesnt have to be aligned perfectly like our stock mounts.

[ptc]

Ok guys well here it is.... for now...

https://www.facebook.com/paul.christ...4885428631793/


Took the old man for a ride down to the gas station just to give him a little thrill!!!! --- Not that he hasnt had a few in his 94 years of life so far....

He was pretty happy with what the "kid" put together!

[Scottish58chev]

Looks and sounds great. Nice work

[oldman3]

Sweeeet...Jim

[Advanced Design]

You and your Dad's big grins are contagious! And the video sounded grin inducing too. Awesome!

[mud.man.rj]

Nice video, just a beauty. I like the "kid" part, always be the kid hey. Really nice to have your dad around still and take him out, pretty special.
Mudman.

[lower50's]

Get her tuned up and remember tires are cheap fun

[Nut Case]

ptc

great sound, but......oh yeah "needs more cow bell"




NC

[Kim57]

Very nice.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ptc

Dan - It could be done easily you just have to mount the top part first, then put some paint on the tip of it to mark where it will land in your latch support and center the mounting base there with the 4 screws. It doesnt have to be aligned perfectly like our stock mounts.

Good to know, thanks!

As long as someone on earth still thinks of you as a kid, you’re good to go!

[slammed57]

wow, what cam and what mufflers are you running. sounds REAL good

[ptc]

Thanks everybody appreciate the kind words - its still a little rough but its an old truck and thats it for now. The old man really had a good time, I had him out in the flat-bottom boat last year for new years, he is a sailboat guy so speedboating seems a little crazy to him. But he enjoyed it.

I try an answer some of your questions separately, but thanks ALL!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by slammed57

wow, what cam and what mufflers are you running. sounds REAL good

The cam and all the valve train design was done by Straub Engineering in TN, He spec'd out everything for the engine build top end. The cam is a custom cut hyd roller he makes for S/C engines.

Lift is .6885 INT and .6630 EXH - 1.7 ratio
Duration @.050" is 260 INT and 275 EXH
Separation is 112

Its a big lift cam!


Muffs are just some Dynojet bullet mufflers from Summit. I need to add more MUFF...

[slammed57]

Originally Posted by ptc

The cam and all the valve train design was done by Straub Engineering in TN, He spec'd out everything for the engine build top end. The cam is a custom cut hyd roller he makes for S/C engines.

Lift is .6885 INT and .6630 EXH - 1.7 ratio
Duration @.050" is 260 INT and 275 EXH
Separation is 112

Its a big lift cam!


Muffs are just some Dynojet bullet mufflers from Summit. I need to add more MUFF...

Yea that is a big lift c , the cam I have now is almost identical, I was thinking about goin to a crancam xr288hr which is just a tad bit more lift and lobe separation . But yours do sure sounds good
Posted via Mobile Device

[_Ogre]

saw your hood latch thread where you mentioned that you had put the 58-59 hood on the 57, very nice mod and done well

i could have used this back when i was a teenager and rolled my first 58
those front S-pillars fold like a bad poker hand when a tf truck goes on it's roof

[joedoh]

what a fortunate father and a thoughtful son! hope you guys have a wonderful holiday

[ptc]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

saw your hood latch thread where you mentioned that you had put the 58-59 hood on the 57, very nice mod and done well

i could have used this back when i was a teenager and rolled my first 58
those front S-pillars fold like a bad poker hand when a tf truck goes on it's roof

Yeah -you can see how the geometry of the roll bar forward bars are exactly opposite of what the GM engineers came up with for support!

Amazing what a difference a year or so can make in the look of an interior!!!!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by joedoh

what a fortunate father and a thoughtful son! hope you guys have a wonderful holiday

Thank you Joe! --- To you and yours also - Merry Christmas!

[ptc]

Ok so i finally got around to fixing my brake pedal design problem and redid the whole thing... somewhat. I left the hydroboost inplace and all that part, but just deleted the cab floor pedal design I had come up with. Originally I wanted the pedal to be part of the cab so that if it was separated the pedal assembly would go with the cab and not the chassis. That didn't work so well due to assembly "issues".

Heres all my parts I had to play with in getting this all together





So now I took a brake pedal arm that was on the bracket and I cut it up to fit the frame and chassis where I wanted it on the other side of the steering column where the clutch would be. The pedal side is welded onto the shaft end and can be totally removed with everything around it in-place.







Using the "clutch" assembly idea I drilled and put two flange bearings into the frame rail on either side and ran a 1/2" shaft thru it.






The other end I re-used the same billet alum lever I previously machined that is keyed onto the shaft end and just re-drilled a new hole in it. I made a new rod to connect to the hydro plunger. It has male and female rod ends to make adjust easy.



The pedal on the interior side of the cab was made of flat steel and rounded and then I welded a 5" long 1/2"-13 bolt to the back of it. It screws into the pedal arm on the other side of the firewall.

Then I found these billet pedal covers to put on both the pedals to make them match.



Yippe Kay YEA!!!

[Kim57]

Nice work.
Kim

[ptc]

Been a long week of holidays and truck de-bugging.... had a couple issues spring up after doing the brake pedal remake, brakes didnt work at all afterwards! - great remake right?

Well after chasing my tail with the hydroboost thinking it was all messed up I found a leaking residual valve, this brake line fitting was not tighting down enough to stop the leak so I just had to remove it.



Bleed out both front brakes for awhile to get it all working again and its all good. Had to lengthen the brake pedal rod into the cab as it was too short.



Then took it on a little shakedown cruise and just had a little fun with it. This truck is insane..... it has so much 'unnecessary power' (is there such a thing?) that it is just crazy trying to keep the power down on the asphalt and keep it going straight down the road. It is crazy torqey and just wants to run wild when you stab that throttle down and it gets going fast REAL quick... Boost is immediate! - you nail it and 10-15 lbs right now on the gauge!. Its reading direct at the hat. I cant wait to see what its pulling on the chassis dyno. Ive never had this much power before on the street.

My speedo aint exactly working right, its just doing a bouncing thing but it is counting off miles, So i dont know how fast Im going, but it cranks up before you know whats happening.

I need to go on a little longer cruise, stay off the pedal and get everything dialed in. The speedo is an elect-digital and I think it has to be programmed? Need to do that, not sure if the fuel gauge is working correctly either... maybe it just really goes down that fast!

Ive got a few little leaky places I need to get figured out too. Just annoying little things.

[Roadkill58]

Nice way to spend the new year!

Good to see you driving the truck. It looks good too.

I'm working at driving mine by spring.


.

[lower50's]

Your truck sounds like it would be so much fun!! Glad your enjoying it. When it brakes loose driving down the road is it easy to control?