Project Tangelo

[BigMike]

Okay, I'm trying to find some mirrors for my truck. Don't really want to go with the sport mirrors but will if I can't find something I like. I found a pair that I like but have not seen them on anything yet to know what they'll look like mounted.

---EDIT--- all the images were basically red x's so I deleted the red x's ---

I want something different than stock or mainstream.

Thanks,

Mike

[VA72C10]

I've seen both of those on street rods at shows. Both look good. I like the first better. Not going to be very useful but will look cool
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[belowme51]

the first one is better! the peep mirrors look very rod style but the way they mount sucks becauase you are limited to space and they damage whatever you tighten them too and on your door pillar would be no fun being how much that paint cost..go with the sport mirrors keep something oem on there. they look cool in the picture but the sport mirrors are perfect for our trucks...polish them up roll em....my thoughts do what makes you happy, just my opinion...I put the sport mirrors on my anniversary restomod and at the end of looking at a million billet mirrors and options i kept going back to them they just look right at home, especially if you are keeping the wings, one piece windows than get creative because you then have a "custom door" and the little metal filler they give you is a perfect place for like a motorcycle mirror or something like that. make em match your wheel choice if you go that direction..sorry so long winded. i just spend hours on one part and weigh it out....usually have the wife give some insite too as she seems to be more artistic than me and has no emotion attached to the truck...either she likes it or not.

[BigMike]

I just might get the Sport Mirrors after all. The last thing I want to do is drill some holes in the doors and then decide I don't really like them.

Just for S&G's, can you guys post some mirrors that you're running?

Thanks,

Mike

[Tinkermc]

they look good but for practical use, almost as good a t--s on a bore hog, 4 show ok if you want to see that cop behing you good luck

[BigMike]

Wow, hard to believe it's been 3 years since I posted anything on my build thread. I have done a lot to the truck and nothing much at the same time. Here are a few of the small things I have done in the last 3 years:

- Dropped it another 1" all the way around.
- Took the motor & trans back out to fix some oil leaks & re-shot them Por-15 engine silver
- Added 4 note horns from a 70's Cadillac, WOW! Like a train horn.
- Sanded her down and shot her with a heavy coat of high build primer.
- Completely rebuilt the entire front end with all Moog parts.
- Added 15" Hot Rod style trim rings on the wheels. Plan on painting the rims Tangelo.
- Added door pins so I could have my dome light turn on when opening the door.
- Added 2 LED panels in the dome light and 2 LED courtesy lights, also added an LED panel for the glove box.
- Received my black & yellow legacy plate

And the biggest thing I've done is I ordered Pro2 Air Management Kit w/Porterbuilt brackets, AccuAir e-Level kit, F&R bag brackets and 4 Dominator 2600 bags from Travis @ Az Pro Performance. I ordered the AccuAir manifold with the NPT threaded ports instead of the push in so I can eventually run hard lines. Craziest thing is the money for the air ride system came entirely from selling several of my diecast trucks! Who'd a thunk?

Oh ya, I added stainless mirror heads and arms in the original look for my year truck.

So, here she is as she sits now.

[BigMike]

Got my Dakota Digital VHX Gauge from Travis @ Az Pro Performance. I'm probably going to start installing it within the next few days. Have to do it soon because it looks like my Accuair parts are coming soon as well.

I bought a new bezel and a woodgrain overlay. I am going to use the overlay as a template to make a sheet metal or aluminum overlay that I can then paint. I like my orange bezel but I don't like the roughness of it. So with a metal overlay I can have a smooth paintjob on the gauges. I know there are aluminum ones available but they all have some kind of milling decorations on them and I don't want that. Just clean and smooth. Hopefully it will work the way I have it pictured in my head...lol.

I will grind off the "lights" & "wipers" pads to make it all flush so the overlay fits better. The "lights" & "wipers" will be printed up with my Alps printer in either a metallic silver or silver foil for a chrome look. I will then put those decals where I want them on the base coat and then clear everything locking them into the paint. I'll make sure to post pictures when I do it.

[my67chevytruck]

Nice truck.

[BigMike]

Started installing the DD VHX gauges today. I got most of the wires hooked up just need to install the speedometer sender and water temp sender. Then I can start the configuring of everything. I didn't have any good places to mount the control box so I made a panel that sits behind the gauges and will make it easier to get it organized. I also have to mount my fan controller and alarm brain on it. I will take it out and paint it once i get everything the way I want it.

I figure I should hopefully have the gauges dialed in by the middle of the week or so. Once I'm done with the gauges I'll move on to my next big upgrade.....

[BigMike]

Well I finally got some things finished up with both the gauge cluster and the Accuair E-level system. I was able to track down an okay option for my gauge bezel instead of the rough finish that it was originally. Dakota Digital sells an aluminum cover that goes over the original bezel to give you some different options. I painted mine to match my interior and it turned out okay. I REALLY love the VHX setup Dakota Digital came out with.

[BigMike]

The Accuair install was a bit more interesting. Trying to find the perfect spot for the E-level sensors was FUN! I eventually drilled some holes in the upper spring pocket and tapped them for 10-24 bolts which turned out pretty well. I initially bought two 3 gallon tanks and Porterbuilt compressor brackets so I could mount the tank & compressors on either side of the frame behind the cab. Right now I have my battery located behind the passenger side cab but thought I could relocate it in order to use the PB brackets. Well, the only real option I could come up with was to put the battery back under the hood in the stock location, which I didn't want to do.

So after much thought and research I decided to go with one 5 gallon tank similar to MattsPSU Crocodile Rock build which was between the rear mounted gas tank & rear bumper. So I bought a new rear bumper just to make sure what I had in mind would work. I used 2" angle iron with 4" 1/8' flat bar. the tank sits down low and I was able to populate the angle iron with all of the electrical & Accuair VU4 & ECU.

Here are pics of the front sensors, hopefully this will help others trying to find the best spot. They will not interfere with any of the steering linkage.

[BigMike]

I removed the rear crossmember and put the Boyd's tank on the lower rail of the frame instead of mounting it from the bottom.



This was the rough draft of the rear bracket to make sure everything was going to fit okay.



Here is the almost final piece. I had to move the 2 relays on the far left and my fuse block on the far right to the top of the angle iron which you'll see in later pictures. It was too hard to wire it this way. Plus the fuse block I am using is waterproof and the cover has 4 small screws that I could not easily access in this setup.





Here is the final bracket with all the plumbing & wiring finished. The relays and fuse block on top of the angle iron.

[BigMike]

Here are some pictures showing the clearance around the tank. The air tank and the gas tank don't hang very low, once it's on the ground you won't be able to see either of them below the bumper.

The camera is almost on the ground in this shot



This is level with the bumper height, which will be way lower once it's on the ground



There is about 1" between the tank & the license plate housing on the bumper



Misc pics

[BigMike]

The reason some of the things are a little higher than the frame is that I'm raising the floor 2" as well. I did several measurements and I should be good. I am also going to make a door out of a piece of the steel floor that will give me access to the filler for the gas tank as well as access to the important electrical parts to the Accuair system including the ECU & VU4. I will attempt to use a piano hinge but we'll see when I get to that point.

I installed my CPP angled Trac Bar & trans crossmember already. I need to install the CPP trailing arm crossmember & then I'll be able to tuck my exhaust so I don't have to worry about that being the lowest point of my truck.

I am having hip replacement surgery next week so I'll update when I can.

BTW. My plate is a Black & Yellow CA Legacy plate, but when the flash hits it it looks like a blue & gold plate. I think I may have to accidentally repaint it to stop that crap!

[RRR18]

Nice progress. Excellent pics! I'm sure people will be able to use them for reference for years to come.
Good luck with surgery!

[BigMike]

Ryan, got my gauges from Travis @ Azproperformance.com. Give him a call & he'll get you a great deal on them. Part number for the gauges are VHX-67C-PA-S-W. Silver face, white lighting with analog clock

Originally Posted by RRR18

Nice progress. Excellent pics! I'm sure people will be able to use them for reference for years to come.
Good luck with surgery!

[BigMike]

When I was trying to find out the best place for the Dakota Digital buttons for programming I saw several options. I looked & looked but nothing really seemed to work for me. So I decided to put them into the lower column cover and they fit perfect. You don't notice them and can't really see them unless your looking for them.

[notsolo]

Way to go Mike! the gauges don't look like much out of the box, but the way you have them mounted really pops, Awesome work on all of this, Really clean....Carry on......Ed

[bigjason]

Install looks great. subscribed...

[BigMike]

Been driving the truck on a pretty regular basis & LOVE it! Man the Accuair system really makes it like it is an all new truck to me. The gauges, the Boyd's tank, hopefully soon to be delivered new interior from Tim (Truckseats) which is much different than what he's been doing. Pure heaven for me. Still have a few more things I need to wrap up with raising the bed floor 2", but nothing to hard. Need to finish the front bed panel and tidy up a few things. Need the $$$$ to go Porterbuilt...some day. It needs to go lower...lol

[RRR18]

Awesome

[Stickman]

Real nice

[MMcMasters]

Very nice!!