Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[bobinbc]

Dan just caught up on your build, love it!

Maybe those wheels are American rebel sprints, one of my fave's but don't think you'll like the price....

http://www.americanrebelmfg.com/sprint click on a wheel for price and specs

[bobinbc]

Or they could be these real rodder's wheels

Little pricier but they are available in 16" sizes ( no 17)

Made in USA and available here http://www.realrodderswheels.biz/ALUMINUM.htm

[Dan in Pasadena]

Whew, you guys are ALMOST as good at spending other people's money as I am! lol. But it'll be awhile still so I'm saving my pennies. But If I keep getting "wild hairs" - like the '55 car dash - the pennies get used up quickly.

Hope everyone had a merry and safe Christmas.

I live half a block from the Rose Parade route and it appears Pasadena Police are gearing up to counter possible terrorist strikes. It's traditional here for old cars and trucks to cruise Colorado Boulevard on New Year's Eve day. I wonder if blocking off nearly ALL the side streets with K rail will interfere with it ...or if it will even be allowed this year? If it happens I'll take some pictures and post a thread.

Best to everyone, Dan

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Well, I'll get flamed for this but my on-again off-again decision to install a '55 car dash in my truck is off again. Body man estimated $2500 and two weeks added to the schedule. The stainless trim and car guages, surrounds for both humps adds another $1200-1500.

I decided I just can't keep adding to the project since I've already added the entirely new LS drivetrain, limited slip rearend w/discs, shoulder belt mounts, and a LOT of other stuff. The "slippery slope" is indeed VERY slippery.

No real complaints though. The truck will be 300% better than I could have probably accomplished by myself. It'll look great to me and if I was going to spend extra it's better I spent it on the drivetrain and safety mods.

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Well, I'll get flamed for this but my on-again off-again decision to install a '55 car dash in my truck is off again. Body man estimated $2500 and two weeks added to the schedule. The stainless trim and car guages, surrounds for both humps adds another $1200-1500.

I decided I just can't keep adding to the project since I've already added the entirely new LS drivetrain, limited slip rearend w/discs, shoulder belt mounts, and a LOT of other stuff. The "slippery slope" is indeed VERY slippery.

No real complaints though. The truck will be 300% better than I could have probably accomplished by myself. It'll look great to me and if I was going to spend extra it's better I spent it on the drivetrain and safety mods.

Some times the best mod is no mod.
Your truck is going to be real sweet when done.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Some times the best mod is no mod.
Your truck is going to be real sweet when done.
Kim

Thanks for the kind words, Kim. I'm very sure I'll be happy with it and that's all that really matters.

I'd love having the car dash but I thought it over and don't want to regret the money I have into it. I know I won't regret not having the mod because I like the stock dash.

Crossing my fingers & toes that I'll show the truck to you when I see yours at the Brothers Show this summer!

[ChuckDriver]

Don't sweat it Dan, truck is going to be awesome either way!!

[nail pounder]

Your truck is looking sweet Dan. I guess you gotta draw the line somewhere financially, as long as your happy with it. I dig the real rodders wheels, I'm a fan of the old slotted, kidney beans. But I did like those torque thrusts you had, what happened to them?

[Nut Case]

Danny

Would part with dash? If so how many cold packs would it take?

Just let me know

NUT CASE

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

Danny

Would part with dash? If so how many cold packs would it take?

Just let me know

NUT CASE

PM sent.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, thanks JJ. I thought you'd be the guy to tell me I'll regret the decision because of the beautiful Impala dash you did and you seemed enthusiastic about the idea.

Thanks for the support. I suppose it's possible I could still do it in years to come if I feel regret. Not likely but who knows?! I'm going to wait on doing some of the polishing I'd intended til later too.

EVERYONE, watch out for drunk drivers out there this weekend and have a safe New Years holiday. I'm thankful for an awful lot of things and the older I get the more thankful I am. It's incredible to have the friendship of a lot of guys who I've never met. That alone ought to make us hopeful in general for times to come. Best, Dan

[ChuckDriver]

Dan, don't get me wrong I think the 55 dash would be a great mod, but ultimately its your call.

If you want me to push you in that direction I will, LOL!!

Happy New Year brother!!

[Flysocal]

I didn't want to be Debbie downer but I thought you were crazy to swap dashboards. The 55+ dashboards are nice just the way they are. It would have been a shame to cut it out. So much time and effort for so little return. But that's just my opinion.

[Dan in Pasadena]

You could have posted it when I wrote about doing it. I like hearing everyone's opinion.

[Russell Ashley]

Dan, I love a 55 dash in a TF, but the original dash looks beautiful too, so it's not a necessity to swap it. Also, considering what it would have cost I doubt that I would have done it if I were in your position. BTW, I am very familiar with that "slippery slope" that you mentioned, although after seeing what you are doing I doubt that I am as far down it as you are, LOL.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Dan, I love a 55 dash in a TF, but the original dash looks beautiful too, so it's not a necessity to swap it. Also, considering what it would have cost I doubt that I would have done it if I were in your position. BTW, I am very familiar with that "slippery slope" that you mentioned, although after seeing what you are doing I doubt that I am as far down it as you are, LOL.

Thanks for the support, Russ!

Yeah, at times the "slope" has felt like a cliff I fell off

At the beginning it was easy to say, "let's go with the 8.8 rearend" "Let's put in the shoulder belt mounts" I don't want the AC bolts or bulkhead fittings to show on the firewall" yada, yada, yada. But then the bills start adding up and you start thinking, "Hmmmm...."

I've still gotta get a new gauge cluster, rims & tires, upholstery. There's unfortunately plenty still to do and I'm in a hurry to get her done in time for summer.

[Dan in Pasadena]

January 23, 2017

Stopped by the shop to check on progress of work today. Backstory is the cab had been returned to the bodyshop awhile ago and was wrapped up pending Marcos being able to get back to it; then due to the recent heavy rains. It finally dried up/warmed up today. Marcos re-sprayed the cab interior, particularly the under dash where the AC mount studs had been welded, where the bulkhead holes had been drilled, and the floor due to wear & tear during the mechanical work at Mike's shop. He also re-sprayed the B pillars where the primer was removed during the fab of the shoulder belt mounts.

I'm pretty pleased that the belt mounts look like they've always been there from the facotry. EXACTLY like I wanted them to look.




The floor was just generally scuffed up and had some black transfer off the guy's work shoes.


I ordered the Holley HP Dominator (or some such name) engine management system that will also control the electronic transmission. Mike is getting me a great deal on it and the Holley serpentine bracket set. He is crediting me back for the factory engine management system that came with the LQ4 and 4l85e.

Marcos will be spraying two paint color samples for me next week. I wanted 2012 Honda San Marino red, but there was also a slightly lighter color the same year call Milano red. In fact, they're SO close in color I'm surprised Honda made them both! Pictures of the samples to come next week.

[oldman3]

Sounds great Dan, ready to see the RED...Jim

[ChuckDriver]

Can't wait to see it in color Dan!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Can't wait to see it in color Dan!!

Me too! But the difference between the two colors doesnt look very different on the tiny swatches in the painter's book. Hope i don't regret my choice.

[55 Chevy Dave]

What a great build you have going, Dan! I haven't reviewed your entire thread, but already found some ideas I may incorporate into my build. Thanks for posting! Good luck on the rest of your build. I'm looking forward to more posts!

[Kim57]

Looks real good.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks ptc. Nice poster too.

[58CameoAZ]

Hey Dan,
Your truck is looking Great Buddy, Really going to be nice,
Hey about your shoulder belt threaded mount, I was skimming back threw your build,
is it shown or outlined in your build somewhere on the mod they did,did i miss it somewhere, i want to put
the three point belts in my Big back window cabs just to have a Little bit safer feeling
and like how yours turned out!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 58CameoAZ

Hey Dan,
Your truck is looking Great Buddy, Really going to be nice,...

Thanks so much for the kind words I hope it comes out as the picture in my mind.

Originally Posted by 58CameoAZ

Hey about your shoulder belt threaded mount, I was skimming back threw your build, is it shown or outlined in your build somewhere on the mod they did, did i miss it somewhere, i want to put the three point belts in my Big back window cab just to have a Little bit safer feeling and like how yours turned out!

Yes, it's in here somewhere but there's really not a lot to show.

I suspected when we opened the B pillar there would likely be only folded sheet metal and I was right. There wasn't even enough room to slide a piece of bar stock in there. I'd have THOUGHT we could put a 3/4" piece of bar with a threaded hole in it and weld the sheet metal back on top - no such luck. If we'd cut enough metal out to allow a piece of bar stock it would only have weakened what is already not terribly stout.


In the end the best we could do was a piece of 1/8" flat stock behind the pilar sheet metal we'd cut to get access.


We used a lug nut because it has longer threads than a standard nut and it is heavy walled. Also, it corresponds to the Juliano's bolt size. This isn't hugely substantive but it WILL keep my face from meeting the steering wheel in a minor to moderate rear-ender - what's you're describing above.

A truly catastrophic accident isn't my concern because frankly, none of us will likely survive one of those in these 60 year old trucks. They were never capable of anything like a modern vehicle in terms of surviving an accident. So I'm hoping of course to never be in such a bad hit.