Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

November 1, 2016


The Vintage Air under dash unit is in. It's tight in there....basically about a 3/4" deep glove box now. Just big enough for, well.....gloves!



The driver side C notch went in today. The other was about to go in as I left. I've asked Mike about reinforcing the top flange of the frame. He already did that on the '57 frame - the twin turbo truck that has 1000 hp. But that truck has extensive other reinforcement and is fully boxed. My 6.0 is totally stock but I'd still feel better with reinforcement. Opinions? By the way, the internal boxing plate runs all the way back to the shock cross bar and forward about 6".

[Advanced Design]

Here is one interesting thread on C notch strength...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=457037

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks. I've read that post before. It's partially why I want more reinforcement. You CAN have too little, but you CAN'T have too much!

[Kim57]

Looking good.
That Vintage air unit sure is tight.
Hope i have enough room under my dash when I get to that point.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Dan, that is the same VA unit as mine.

More re-enforcement the better!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Dan, that is the same VA unit as mine.

More re-enforcement the better!!

Agreed. This is what he did without me knowing about it. When I texted him that I wanted him to add reinforcement, he already had - excellent. I continue to be happy with Mike's work.

It's not fully welded out here but you can see that he boxed the frame and added reinforcement above making a deeper section. He doesnt have the bed so he can't verify how much room he has to add material yet.

[MBrown]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Agreed. This is what he did without me knowing about it. When I texted him that I wanted him to add reinforcement, he already had - excellent. I continue to be happy with Mike's work.

It's not fully welded out here but you can see that he boxed the frame and added reinforcement above making a deeper section. He doesnt have the bed so he can't verify how much room he has to add material yet.

Anyone else have problems seeing some of these pics?

[MBrown]

Dan, its the ones that direct me to photobucket. all i can see is a kitten. cute but i would rather see your truck, haha

[Flysocal]

I don't think thats the smallest Vintage Air unit. I Called VA asking if they recommend the mini and they told me to go with the largest unit that will fit. I overruled them and went with the mini anyway. Just enough room for their glove box plus a stereo receiver. We shall see....

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

I don't think thats the smallest Vintage Air unit. I Called VA asking if they recommend the mini and they told me to go with the largest unit that will fit. I overruled them and went with the mini anyway. Just enough room for their glove box plus a stereo receiver. We shall see....

No, it's not the smallest. Those "mini" ones are as you said.

This is a Gen IV yakety-yak-whatever-name that's supposedly made for the '55-'59 Chevy trucks (don't have the receipt in front of me). But as JJ said above, it's the same as the one he was sold for his '57 with an Impala dash. I'm guessing they SAY it's specifically for this or that vehicle but really, theysize them to fit in a lot of vehicles with minor mods.

As long as it works reliably I'll be happy with it. What I'm NOT happy with is the dash vents they sell for our TF trucks. They want over $200 EACH(!!) for them. I didn't go for that. I'm already spending money like a drunk sailor on this truck - at least for my budget - so we're going to try to adapt the '55-'57 Chevy car vents to the contour of my dash.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

No, it's not the smallest. Those "mini" ones are as you said.

This is a Gen IV yakety-yak-whatever-name that's supposedly made for the '55-'59 Chevy trucks (don't have the receipt in front of me). But as JJ said above, it's the same as the one he was sold for his '57 with an Impala dash. I'm guessing they SAY it's specifically for this or that vehicle but really, theysize them to fit in a lot of vehicles with minor mods.

As long as it works reliably I'll be happy with it. What I'm NOT happy with is the dash vents they sell for our TF trucks. They want over $200 EACH(!!) for them. I didn't go for that. I'm already spending money like a drunk sailor on this truck - at least for my budget - so we're going to try to adapt the '55-'57 Chevy car vents to the contour of my dash.

Man I can relate Danny!!!! ---- for the vents you should do some research, there are so many aftermarket makers out there now its redic! --- or just go junk yarding and get some new car vents and make them work. Theres alot of 2014+, corvettes, camaros, malibus, trucks that people love to wreck! I got my seats out of a 2015 Camaro SS, perfect condition, electric, heat, air bags.... $350 for a pair!

[Dan in Pasadena]

I finally found out last night that the Vintage Air vents for our TF trucks are "only" $209 a pair instead of each. And they don't even come with the "eyeball" part, just the housing!! They also are described as polished but the two reviewers on Summit's site say they're satin, not polished.

I may have to end up buying them though because we've got to get the truck torn back down to the frame so the painter can finish his magic, get the frame blasted and powder coated. More on this after I go to the shop later today.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Mike is making a cover that will go over the top of the crossflow radiator and will meet the factory hood latch panel.

We only had a general conversation about it and he mentioned putting some holes in the top using dimple dies. This afternoon he sent me this teaser photo by text. I'll reserve an opinion until I see it in person. No idea how it will mount with the huge bushing looking things welded on the ends. Kinda odd, but we'll see.

PS: Not sure why my iPad rotated the photo 90* counter clockwise but it won't let me fix it, sorry!

[Kim57]

I think that's going to look pretty slick.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I think that's going to look pretty slick.
Kim

Eh..., I don't know. I'd have put twice as many holes OR used larger diameter holes but maybe it'll look differently to me tomorrow. Then I have to decide if it & the factory core support will be body color like the rest of the engine compartment or be chromed?

I admit I tend to be a chrome whore so I have to restrain myself!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Saturday, November 5, 2016

So it turns out the part I posted in #1527 above is NOT for the core support extension; my bad.

It's part of the rear frame reinforcement. He wasn't happy that the frame flexed too much so the first thing they did after adding depth to the section was put in triangular gusset plates behind the factory shock-mount cross member. Then; in addition to the stock rear cross member I moved to the back of the frame rails, he fabricated the part I posted last night & below to add rigidity right where the factory cross member used to be.

It will be bolted through both the upper and lower frame flanges with full length bushings. He was finalizing the welding but said even tacked up the rear of the frame didn't flex AT ALL. I forgot to mention he also tacked the factory rivets in numerous places. It's pretty rigid now.

[Dan in Pasadena]

The new reinforcing crossmember installed.


This essentially replaces the crossmember that was at the rear shackle mount and is now all the way at the back behind and protecting the new gas tank. Yeah, I know that rear cross member is in upside down. It's just mocked up to make sure everything fits.

[Advanced Design]

Ok, that makes sense now, providing frame support and rigidity above the rear leaf spring mount. Nice looking crossmember.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Doug.
Another identical crossmember across the bottom flanges of the frame remains an option if there's any concern as the truck goes together. It'll only take longer bolts.

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thursday, November 10, 2016

My Holley intake and throttle body showed up today at the shop.


Mike is fabricating a radiator cover which will have dimple died holes as shown below and an adjacent cover for the mechanical fan. One will be attached to the other but the attachment will not be visible.




The cross piece for the rear shocks had torn metal for some reason by a prior owner. Mike repaired it and while mounting rear shocks determined we will have to extend the stud mounts about an inch.

[Kim57]

Nice intake set up.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice intake set up.
Kim

Thanks! I like that it kinda/sorta will appear like a traditional small block.

I'm using a Spectre 5" tall red foam air cleaner with chrome trim and Delmo adapters to use finned, polished aluminum Mooneyes valve covers. The coil packs will be relocated mostly out of sight.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh, also Mike texted me to tell me he and Eddie - the guy that lately has been doing a lot of the work on my truck - spoke after I left the shop and decided they didn't like the idea of extending the shock stud either. They decided to modified the lower mount which will allow the top stud to remain as it is. See, everytime I find anything I'm not sure about or questioning I find Mike has already seen it and decided to address it. Pleased.

[ChuckDriver]

Something like this maybe?