Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Something like this maybe?

Yes and no.

Yes in that it will appear somewhat traditional but no in that the colors will be totally different.

I LOVE Chevy orange but since my truck will be a deep red including the engine compartment I decided against painting the engine orange. Block is black and aluminum LS heads have been left natural.

Same/similar exhaust manifolds as in your picture but I'm having mine Jet Hot coated silver. I'm told they will NOT turn color, we'll see. Finned valve covers but polished/no paint (as of now) and I'm using the factory truck serpentine system but polished with the recessed areas painted black - hopefully the overall look will pull together.

If it doesnt look right I'll need you guys to tell me, "Ugh....no. Something's not right, change this or that." It's easy to get too close and you can't see the forrest for the trees.

[Advanced Design]

That is a very good look...!

[Dan in Pasadena]

This shows the same intake manifold i'm using and of course stick SBC valve covers but mine will be like this:


With these breathers:


This air cleaner....but the more i look at it the less certain i am it is in keeping with the rest of the style.

[Kim57]

Going to look very nice when done.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Going to look very nice when done.
Kim

Thanks, I hope so.

The upper radiator hose will also be a polished aluminum tube with hose on each end. I may be going a bit overboard with polished stuff but I figure i can always back away from using it if it looks too over the top.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hmmm, not sure why a bunch of my photos disappeared.

I ditched the Chinesium finned aluminum valve covers and ordered from Mooneyes instead. They're much heavier, quality pieces:

[Kim57]

Those are real nice.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

November 23, 2016

I guess I can't just leave well enough alone. I found THIS on Craigslist the other night for a decent price:

I'm going to look at it this afternoon and if its not bent up or badly rusted I'm going to buy it. Then I'll take it to the shop and we'll see if it's going to be too costly to R&R my stock dash with it. Since we'd already finalized the steering column install and the AC unit is installed on studs welded to the passenger side of the firewall, they MAY be too big an impact to do this. In that case, i'll re-list it on Craigslist.

Barring that, I've always wanted a Belair dash in my truck. It's the one custom body modification I really want. I had let a previous dash get away but it's been gnawing at me that i have this one chance so...... time will tell!

[Kim57]

Hope it works out for you.
That is one mod I would redo my dash for.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim. The idea kept coming back to me and when I found this dash for sale relatively local to me I just had to call on it.

It's very straight. Whoever removed it didn't torque it out of shape so i was pleased about that. Now I have to decide if I want the original bow tie type trim or the polished aluminum style and whether to leave a radio or get the trim without radio holes?

[Advanced Design]

Good luck with the dash. And like you said you can resell it if it doesn't work out.

[ChuckDriver]

Do it!!!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, I'm about 99% certain i'm doing it.

Trying to decide whether I'll use the factory '55 stainless trim with the little bow ties (I loved that when I had my Dad's '55 as a stupid kid) or the modern sorta billet polished aluminum trim. I think it looks pretty cool.

Right now I'm thinking I'll go with one of the repop small diameter Belair steering wheels.

[ChuckDriver]

I think the factory trim looks the best! The billet stuff looks to much like an 80's street rod.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, you're probably right. But I was in my 30's in the '80's so I guess that's why I'm still attracted to it.

JJ, I've been meaning to call you. I will still but I'll leave you alone on Thanksgiving. Speaking of which, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my "friends-I-haven't-met-yet" here on the forum.

JJ, Man, you're killing it style wise with your truck's interior. Love all of it. Outstanding taste. Now that you've committed to a red interior, what colors are you thinking about the the body? Black? White & red for the Cameo look? Red? Enquiring minds (nosy people! Lol) want to know.

[ChuckDriver]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

JJ, Man, you're killing it style wise with your truck's interior. Love all of it. Outstanding taste. Now that you've committed to a red interior, what colors are you thinking about the the body? Black? White & red for the Cameo look? Red? Enquiring minds (nosy people! Lol) want to know.

I'm not completely sold on an exterior color yet, but I been leaning towards a deep blue metallic. I think it will work with the red, what do you think??

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

I'm not completely sold on an exterior color yet, but I been leaning towards a deep blue metallic. I think it will work with the red, what do you think??

I like the color combo. It looks great in these pix you posted but admit I've never seen it before. I really love the mid 60's GM color Marina Blue. I really considered it for my truck but it's not a deep blue at all, it's a mid tone blue.

I've seen red with black exterior and I love it though I wouldn't want to deal with black anymore. As I've mentioned before I really love your orange Rally wheels. What was the color idea at the time you did those? Were you thinking blue then or something else?

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

I think the factory trim looks the best! The billet stuff looks to much like an 80's street rod.

I totally agree.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I totally agree.

Yeah, I think you guys are right. If I get the stock trim i've got to fit a radio into the hole, or they sell the trim without a provison for a radio.

[Flysocal]

This is gonna be nice look forward to updates

[BIGglaSS]

Dan, did you guys figure out a solution for shoulder belts? Yesterday, I started brainstorming ideas. You're right, there is no way to get a nut plate up the B pillar. I think I have a solution, but it is going to involve slicing and welding.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi. Funny you ask because that's happening this week. I'm heading over the the shop today or tomorrow and we will discuss plans. So far the discussion has been using a die grinder to cut a slot maybe 1/2" to 3/4" wide and 4"-6" long for either a square tube with nut welded in or a piece of bar stock drilled and threaded. I'll take pictures when it happens if I can. The issue is there's not much beyond sheet metal to weld to. But as long as the shoulder belt keeps my face from hitting the steering wheel I'll have to count it as good.

[Kim57]

Why does the shoulder belt attachment point have to be so high?
If you look at an 85 El Camino set up the attachment is low and has a guide that is attached to the seat to keep it in place on the shoulder.
If it's attached lower the area has a bigger area that a thick plate can be put in for more strength. Seems the biggest problem would be the guide.
I plan on trying to do that way for the added security.

Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Kim,
Good point and we actually discussed something like this. Mike was recommending a bar mounted from one side of the cab to the other side behind the seat. My thought at the time (and his) was to put two shoulder belt mounts per passenger for four point racing style shoulder belts. Not what I wanted BUT we hadn't really thought of the approach you posted.
With your idea, i gues we wouldn't need the bar as long as the minut point on the seat was super strong.

My concern is if you're rear ended hard and your body weight is forced suddenly/hard against the belt the mount on the seat MUST hold. That El Camino mount looks plastic-y (it's probably better than it appears) or the belt could slide off the side of the seat and there would be no tension to hold you. Since I just stripped the seat frame I guess we could weld some kind of U bolt at the shoulder and find some kind of acceptable cover. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll discuss it with Mike again.

[Dan in Pasadena]

November 25, 2016

We mocked up the intake for appearance sake to see if I really like it....and I do.




Mike is suggesting I switch from the open foam style 14" diameter (I think) air filter I posted a picture of above to a dual snorkel style closed intake. I'm not so sure. The snorkel type would largely cover the intake manifold and then I'd not necessarily need to polish it. I could also paint it to match the body solar and have it pinstriped or whatever.

Opinions are solicited. I don't quite think the Cadillac(?) batwing style air cleaners are the right era for the truck. With this intake the "look" is more 60's except of course the fuel rails will be visible.