Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Kim57]

When we had a car totaled in an accident (other persons fault so it was their insurance carrier) I didn't like what they offered so I found three cars like it on dealers lots and gave them those prices.
They averaged them and gave me that plus the sales tax added on top.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

When we had a car totaled in an accident (other persons fault so it was their insurance carrier) I didn't like what they offered so I found three cars like it on dealers lots and gave them those prices.
They averaged them and gave me that plus the sales tax added on top.
Kim

Excellent. Remember what insurance company? Mine is Mercury.

Problem for me is I don't think I CAN find three '08 crew dually LTZ's with under 50,000 miles. So then they start with their "formulas" and even though I don't want to be a cynic, that's where I suspect I may get screwed.

[Kim57]

Don't remember the guys company as it was a while ago.
I've had Mercury for years and found them pretty easy to deal with when needed.
But they are in it to make money so you need to fight for what ever you can get.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

September 22, 2016

Photos of driver side motor mount fabrication. Mike explained he had to intentionally dip low to clear the steering column shaft. The frame side will get welded on today and he'll also fab the passenger side. I like that he chose to use the flat biscuit type mount. I'm a little concerned the mount looks thin. But then maybe I'm just noticing that he made it look graceful with the sweeping curved gusset plates instead of "blocky" & clunky like I would have done it. I'm sure it's plenty strong for bearing the weight of the engine but how about resisting the rotational forces of torque - it's an entirely stock LQ4 so I'm probably just being a Nervous Nellie. Opinions?

[Kim57]

Looks real nice and plenty strong.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim! Yours is a valued opinion with all the nice work you put into your truck.

[Coupeguy2001]

I have a suggestion....
Why not dicker with the insurance company, get a check, and then use the money to finish the 55, and keep looking for a replacement truck. Buy a inexpensive daily driver till you find the right replacement truck, then sell the daily driver, and get a loan on the new truck?
That way, you will have the 55 paid for, and have the luxury of waiting for a really nice replacemnt.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Coupeguy, thanks for the suggestions. There'll be plenty of "dickering" - you can count on that! I'm very fortunate in that I have several options I am considering. Options I never had earlier in life and especially after I went through a divorce 16 years ago.

So far, I have paid for all work on the truck out-of-pocket. I don't "need" a daily drive for the time being as the agency I work for provides a Toyota for me, so that's nice. My insurance coverage provides a rental car for 30 days so I have a Ram 1500 crew cab I just got the other day. Building the '55 is in preparation for it to be my daily driver when I retire in 2017.

But I am going to need a tow vehicle for a mid size travel trailer in awhile. We are keeping our huge 5th wheel as a "granny flat" at my step son's north of us about 3 hours probably until our grand daughter is of school age (3 years). In the meantime we have nothing to camp with and we'd like to go back to that. My girlfriend has the hots about getting an Airstream($$!) so as of now she's going to pay for that - we'll see how that plays out!

I COULD use my '55 as a tow vehicle with the 6.0 but I don't think I want to. So everything is in flux for awhile.

[Dan in Pasadena]

September 23, 2016

Both engine mounts are now fully welded in and it turns out they're Ford flathead biscuit type. The rear end is also mocked up but I somehow forgot to give him the shackles so he can't finalize that yet. It looks as though there will be plenty of room to fit the radiator between the clutching mechanical fan and the core support.










He custom makes the cross flow radiators from a kit so the inlet/outlet will be perfectly placed. Someone asked me about pictures of the crossmember for the 4l85e so I took a couple but they're not very clear, sorry.

[ChuckDriver]

Looks good Dan!

Do you think the high hump trans tunnel will work with the bigger trans?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Looks good Dan!

Do you think the high hump trans tunnel will work with the bigger trans?

Yes, we've already decided that should work fine.

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[Rickysnickers]

Nice work. Is that a Fox body I spotted in the background?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Nice work. Is that a Fox body I spotted in the background?

Yes, it is but I didn't ask why it was there. He's got interesting projects in his shop all the time. If it's still there when I go in next I'll ask about it.

A friend of mine belongs to the Huntington Beach Car Club and they were showing their cars at the "Cruisin for a Cure" car show at the Orange County Fairgrounds today. Extremely impressive, they had 3500(!!) cars show up of every kind you can think.

I only took a few photos of things I was interested in for my truck: Colors, interior colors with red cars, etc. I thought you guys might like to see what I saw. I'll start off with something I doubt ANY of you have ever seen before because I know I'd never see it. A HUGE replica '59 VW completely accurately built 40% larger than stock and running Dodge Ram running gear.

[Dan in Pasadena]

This '38 Chevy coupe is almost certainly the color I will paint my truck. It's a 2012 Honda/Acura color called Murano Red. It doesn't photograph accurately, it's actually a darker red than this photo shows and it is perfect to me.


The back story on this car is interesting. The guy bought it when he was 15 in 1966 for $250. He built it the first time by 1979 and drove it all those years. He took it apart for the build it is now in 2012. It is flat gorgeous. Foose wheels, a bone color interior that's more attractive than the way it photographs.
[IMG]

[Dan in Pasadena]

I also caught a few picture of Task Force and other trucks. The TF's just to show you guys and the green Ford because I loved the color. It's lighter than my truck used to be but I ALMOST would consider painting mine like it except I love red.

[Dan in Pasadena]

A few more just for fun:

[Advanced Design]

Looks like some good progress with your truck Dan. And nice trucks from the show too. Appreciate the sharing.

[ChuckDriver]

Cool pic's Dan!

[Rude Dude]

Dan my brother was there with his 40 Chevy

[Russell Ashley]

Great pics of some very nice cars/trucks. That Volkswagen is crazy. The sign says they scanned a 59 VW and then re-created it 40% larger. I wonder what the process was to make the new components.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

Dan my brother was there with his 40 Chevy

His is a pretty car, Rudy. I wish I'd know, I'd have gone by and said hello.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Great pics of some very nice cars/trucks. That Volkswagen is crazy. The sign says they scanned a 59 VW and then re-created it 40% larger. I wonder what the process was to make the new components.

Hi Russ,
Yeah that VW came up on me from behind to park. I turnedaround and was flabbergasted when I saw it! You can bet it wasn't cheap to build that, whatever the process was.

[gotmotors]

That red looks really good Dan. You know it seems like all reds are hard to photograph. Your truck is coming along nicely, looking good.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by gotmotors

That red looks really good Dan. You know it seems like all reds are hard to photograph. Your truck is coming along nicely, looking good.

Thanks Jim. I wish the red would photograph accurately but it is beautiful.