Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[MIKESAD50]

Frame looks great. I was glad I went with Satin.

[Advanced Design]

Congratulations Dan! A clean shiny chassis going together always gets my heart rate up a bit. Looks good!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Congratulations Dan! A clean shiny chassis going together always gets my heart rate up a bit. Looks good!

Thanks, I've never had a "clean shiny chassis" before. I plan to stop by every day I can to see the progress and take pictures as it goes together.

For you guys that have put together frame-up projects before, what did you used for bolts? Yeah, I could use some of the 60 year old bolts that didn't break but nah...

This is a "small potatoes" issue but I don't want them to rust . Zinc plated bolts are yellowish according to my Google search. But i always thought the yellowish ones were cad plated. Yellow is fine but what are the shiny silver ones? Galvanize electroplated? No, I don't mean stainless. I know they're pricey and tend to gall if you don't install them with anti-seize.

I do plan to use button head polished stainless under the hood for inner-to-outer fender bolts but not much else.
Advice appreciated.

[ChuckDriver]

Frame looks awesome Dan!

I think the yellow cad plated ones are Grade 8, silver ones are usually Grade 5 or less.

[Flysocal]

Frame looks fantastic! Mine is at powder coat and I chose glossy black we shall see. As for bolts I would just go with grade 8. They are pricey but hold up very well. Whats the plan for paint?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

Whats the plan for paint?

This:


Excuse the F*rd and the wheels but a very deep red like this. A true blood red, not fire engine red. I have to use at least 17" wheels to clear the calipers but I don't want really low profile tires so I'll try for 45 series but would prefer 50's. We'll see.

[G&R's57GMC]

Frame is looking great !

I like that shade of red .

Did you look at my post above about seam sealing ?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yes thanks Glen! I'll see the painter monday and tell him i want that seam sealed.

[bowt1ed]

Looks sweet Dan!

[Flysocal]

That paint color is spectacular. Can't wait to see this build come together. Def go with Dakota digital gauges they are nice and actually reasonably priced considering quality and all that comes in the kit.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

That paint color is spectacular. Can't wait to see this build come together. Def go with Dakota digital gauges they are nice and actually reasonably priced considering quality and all that comes in the kit.

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement, you guys.

Flysocal, Yeah I've always loved bright colors like Corvette red & yellow, Hugger orange. They're stereotypical for hotrods but I think I MIGHT get tired of the truck being super bright.
My intent is to keep it permanently so i want to get it right - but lots of guys say that until someone comes along offering big money - we'll see.

The deep dark red, but not burgundy is my idea for not have it scream at me. I don't know if that F100 picture was taken in low light or whatever, but it's EXACTLY what I want.

Calling a couple wheel guys today to price (OUCH!!!!!) commonly used fitment combinations for '55-'59 Chevy trucks.

Dakota - I really like them. Not sure I like one over the other $500 more though, lol. If money gets tight I may go with a cheap panel and buy the good stuff later. All comments/opinions appreciated - even if you think I'm nuts....cause I am!

[ptc]

Nice! ---- now comes the fun part! -- FINAL ASSEMBLY

opinions:
Stainless on everything thta is non structural - I used them all for my boat hardware and they have been great. So I used them all on the truck too, flat washers, lockl washers, nylocks, nuts and bolts.

Gauges - if you price out single gauges from good people like SW, Autometer, etc. youll find that for the typical gauges needed, you'll be spending $500 easy - The DD ways is really an easy way to go.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Even at $500, individual gauges are about a third the price of the high-end Dakota Digital gauges with tax. But I get what you're saying.

I work in the heavy civil construction industry as the Sr. Design & Construction Quality Assurance Manager for Metro in Los Angeles on one of our major light rail projects so I know stainless fasteners have a lot of strength in tension but they don't have that much strength in shear. That's why am only using stainless under the hood for appearance sake and not planning to use them anywhere else. Maybe some in the cab for looks as well.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Calling a couple wheel guys today to price (OUCH!!!!!) commonly used fitment combinations for '55-'59 Chevy trucks.

Dan, I'm like you and don't like the small side walls on some trucks. I'm running 235/55/17 on the rear of my AD. They are 27.2" tall 9.6" section width, and the side wall is 4". Here's a couple pics showing how they look. Don't know if you will run same size all around, or little's up front and larger in the rear. Hope this helps...Jim

[G&R's57GMC]

Dan take a look at wheel vintiques .

[MIKESAD50]

I've used mostly grade 8 from Fastenal. I'm also using stainless for most body bolts also mainly from fastenal, but I'm finding in my area Orchard supply Hardware has good selection and seem to be quality, plus they are open 7 days a week unlike Fatenal.

I have to say that Fat fender Ford is very nice, I'm a big fan of them also.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Dan, I'm like you and don't like the small side walls on some trucks. I'm running 235/55/17 on the rear of my AD. They are 27.2" tall 9.6" section width, and the side wall is 4". Here's a couple pics showing how they look. Don't know if you will run same size all around, or little's up front and larger in the rear. Hope this helps...Jim

Oldman3 - I will run the same diameter front and rear, but a wider rim in back. Are your fronts 17's too? What is your rim width in back?

Your wheels are Torq Thrust II's? One of the two shops I was going to call (work got in the way) sells them in chrome, polished and gray spokes. I'd planned on using gray BUT as the F100 above shows, I think chrome looks great against the dark red. On the site the polished look a touch yellow but the chrome looks gaudy. YOUR wheels look great and you have a dark color so I'm encouraged.

Have you had ANY issue with chrome peeling?
How long have you had your wheels?
I'd prefer waxing clean new chrome rather than regular hand re-polishing.
Last, what offset/backspace do you have?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thursday, February 16, 2016

Today's reassembly progress:









The leaf springs were taken apart, cleaned and sprayed black. No sandblasting/powdercoating.

We're waiting for factory style screw-in shackle pins rather than the newer press in type. The old ones look fine, BUT I don't want to take a chance they're worn in some not obvious way so its cheap insurance (I think!) to replace them.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Oldman3 - I will run the same diameter front and rear, but a wider rim in back. Are your fronts 17's too? What is your rim width in back?

Your wheels are Torq Thrust II's? One of the two shops I was going to call (work got in the way) sells them in chrome, polished and gray spokes. I'd planned on using gray BUT as the F100 above shows, I think chrome looks great against the dark red. On the site the polished look a touch yellow but the chrome looks gaudy. YOUR wheels look great and you have a dark color so I'm encouraged.

Have you had ANY issue with chrome peeling?
How long have you had your wheels?
I'd prefer waxing clean new chrome rather than regular hand re-polishing.
Last, what offset/backspace do you have?

Dan, will answer all your question. My front rims are only 16", rear rims are 8" wide.

My wheels are polished and I've re-polished them twice, due for another now.
I use my drill and Mother's foam cone and polish. They clean up very well and last a long time. I use Windex foam glass cleaner to keep them clean.

Not chrome, so no peeling.

Bought my wheels and tires in May 2008,couple more months they will be 9 yrs old.

Fronts are 16X7 with 4" B/S and rears are 17X8 with 3-1/2" B/S, I wanted the deep look on the rear.

The above pics were when I first bought them.

These pics are of the front wheel in October 2016 when I hit the deer, but you can see how good they look, and it's been 3 yrs since I last re-polished...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Dan, will answer all your question. My front rims are only 16", rear rims are 8" wide.

My wheels are polished and I've re-polished them twice, due for another now.
I use my drill and Mother's foam cone and polish. They clean up very well and last a long time. I use Windex foam glass cleaner to keep them clean.

Not chrome, so no peeling.

Bought my wheels and tires in May 2008,couple more months they will be 9 yrs old.

Fronts are 16X7 with 4" B/S and rears are 17X8 with 3-1/2" B/S, I wanted the deep look on the rear.

The above pics were when I first bought them.

These pics are of the front wheel in October 2016 when I hit the deer, but you can see how good they look, and it's been 3 yrs since I last re-polished...Jim

Ok, now you've REALLY got my attention. If they hold a polish that long where you live they ought to hold it here in the super mild SoCal weather as long or longer. I worry chrome will peel regardless of what they tell you or warrranty - even though I'm anal about things like this.

I plan to use the same diameter front and rear and I also want a deep look in back. Glad to see yours look as they do in 8's so I don't have to go to 9-1/2's or 10's. Thanks so much for the info Jim. Oh and PS: they're American Racing TTII's, right?

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks so much for the info Jim. Oh and PS: they're American Racing TTII's, right?

Dan, your welcome on the info. Yes they are TTII's. Forgot to mention on the post, your frame looks great, looking forward to more updates...Jim

[58CameoAZ]

Wow Dan, The frame looks really Nice!!!
turning out Great, Fun to see another Flat Out IFS build.

Looking Good!


Allen

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for the compliments you guys.

I'm at 62-year-old man (How the hell did THAT happen? I'm about 35 in my head!!��) and I'm giddy like a schoolgirl about my truck.

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks for the compliments you guys.

I'm at 62-year-old man (How the hell did THAT happen? I'm about 35 in my head!!��) and I'm giddy like a schoolgirl about my truck.

Your 40, with 22 Years experience!

[Nut Case]

Dan

This great to watch, the darker red is fandamtastic.

Please take a pic of the shock mount to the bottom mount on the LCA with your next batch.

Thanks in advance.

Keep on keepin on.

NC