My 55 Chevy 4X4

[marc55]

Spinning my wheels this week. Ordered a universal flat power window kit last week. After staring at it for a couple hours trying to think what the instructions would say if I had some I determined It would not fit. The door brace between the inner and outer shell is right in the way of the motor so I can not center the track with the window. I think this kit is if you are using 1 piece windows but I want to keep the vent windows. I am looking at a power windows kit that is basically the stock regulator with a motor, they bolt in but going from $150 to $450 for power windows is a big jump. I am also on the fence about the driver door. It's a real friendly door because when you look at it it waves back at you. Besides the the dents it does not close right like it is bent and I am out of adjustment on my hinges not sure if it is worth the time or if I have the skill to bring it back from the dead but a $500 door is a hit to the budget. This is not a show car but I want to do it right I am at the point where I need to commit to some real money. The body is hung the fit is solid and the bumpers look good I am happy with everything so far. I think it is time to switch gears and get an engine and transmission. Next month I will get a 4l60E and start looking for an LS engine. In the mean time I put the seat and column in to get a feel for the little drop console I made which is perfect. I also have a great place to drink beer in my garage.

[rgunlock]

That's too bad about the power window kit. I'll be interested in whatever you find that works because I also plan to keep my vent windows. You've done enough sheet metal welding on this truck - have you considered just re-skinning the door?

[twinsemi]

Great work on the truck and an awesome thread. I ran into it today looking for ideas on sway bar mounting. So I have only read it from your rear bar mounting concepts up to now. I still need to look at your front bar postings, because my rear bar is done. I will probably steal your bed and storage box ideas. So this post should qualify as full disclosure. I wanted to do something like your console, but my ECU is mounted on the firewall hump and it hinges back from there. My gauges wanted to go there for a while. Also, my Vintage Air center outlet is going in there too. It is a popular place. I really want to see how your windows turn out. I have some replacement trim for mine, but the vent window question has me on the fence. When they stopped making them in the 60's I was bummed. But thieves like them too. Good luck.

[marc55]

Thanks, As for the door The only skin I could find was from the bottom up about 10 inches. The inner brace is bent and when I replaced the skin it still took on the shape of the upper part of the door. I need to do some serous tweeking on the inner brace to pop it out. When I put the seat in the other day my console was perfect easy to reach the radio and I really want a little pocket for my phone and wallet you dont realize how usefull they are untill they are missing. The good part is the console bolts on so I can alwys remove it. I will probabally put some ac vent in the dash where the radio is supose to go if not I will just smooth it out. One piece windows look good but the vent window is the front track for the window and I have read they get floppy and don't roll up and down good. I am going to try to talk to people at car shows that have the one piece see how they like them but I still think I like the look of the wing window.

[marc55]

Finished my outer bumper mounts and did some body work.

I would like to say I planned it this way but I got lucky. A little tweak in the press
and a spacer on the core support and the bracket fit perfect.

[marc55]

Nice to see they did some things right 60 years ago. The bumper is cleaning up nice. I would take an old one any day over a new Chinese one any day.

[marc55]

Just working on odds and ends until I start on my fuel system and front steering. I ordered all the felt and rubber for my door windows. I did not have a good before pic of the driver fender but it was pretty bad by the wheel well and rocker. I was able to straighten it out. I have read about shrink disks and it worked great to take all the little high and lows out from the hammer and doll work. I also got the hood to sit better with some big hammer love and moving the front hood brace.

[marc55]

Big change this week. I was going to start on my fuel system. I have been putting off looking at the diffs but I finally pulled the covers and found my gear ratio was 3.07. I got on CL and found a 14bolt rear and 8 lug front with 3.73 for less than it would cost me to just re-gear the rear end.


Cleaned up the rear. Inside looked good. Replacing the wheel bearings and adding disk brakes.

Being a pack rat paid off. I bought these brake lines 20 years ago during my jeep days and never installed them. Looks like the will work.

Now the domino affect starts. I now need 8 lug rims. My tires are new but 15" and the selection is limited. So now I need to decide to just change the rims or jump up to 17-18 inch package.

[6BT 56]

Looking good . What's your plan for e brake with the disk rear? I have been wanting to do mine for some time but haven't found a affordable e brake solution . Too bad abt needing new rims . I think those gm factory truck rallys just look like they belong on these trucks.

Keep up the great work .

[marc55]

I was looking into late 70s Eldorado rear calipers but I read they don't work that good and it would cost close to $300 for complete calipers with the actuators. Then I would need to buy a e-brake cable. So I bought some front refurbished calipers for $20. Still not cheap but for around $300 I can do a drive line e brake. The install would be easier and look better in my opinion. I know a drive line failure would prevent the e brake from working but I am mainly looking for it to be a parking brake. I doubt I would remember to pull the brake if my truck was coming apart on the freeway.
The one plus for bigger rims is I think 17s would clear my idler arm and I could bring the rim in about an 1 1/2" so the tires don't stick out so much.

[6BT 56]

I had actually considered putting 2 callipers on each wheel. Your rite there dirt cheap . Then just run another set of brake lines parallel to the primary ones and just use a old single line or maybe a boat trailer master cylinder with some sort of mechanical arm to engage. It would make people ask dumb questions abt why you have 4 callipers on the rear but it would be cheap, dam strong and in a emergency it should actually have stopping power .

[marc55]

Not much this week. Auto zone has free shipping on parts orders and they did not have everything in stock for my rear end so I decided to try shipping to my house. I did not know I would be getting 6 separate orders delivered over the next week. Still waiting for my seals. So I painted my calipers. I also need to start measuring for new rims to see what I can fit. I really want to pull the front tire in about a 1 1/2". Going on vacation with the kids this week. Have a safe good 4th.

[marc55]

Vacation really slowed me down. I did get the rear in and the last body parts to the sandblaster. The front is not bad I don't think I am going to do anything to it all it needs is a new rotor.

[marc55]

I was able to sell the old diffs last weekend. So I cleaned up the front and installed it. Took the rest of the stuff to the sand blaster and hopefully I will have all that in primer next week. Also started looking for new wheels.

[marc55]

More slow going. I did clean and paint my transfer case. The sand blaster is dragging his feet.

[marc55]

Real progress this week. Got the rest of the body parts in primer.



I know the front tires stick out on these conversions. I took some measurements and and went with a wheel that had the biggest positive offset to suck it in a little bit. Got a wheel from the tire store to check the fit. Still going to stick out about 1 1/2 inches with the tire. Going to go with fuel crank d517 in 18" and 35 12.50s

[6BT 56]

Originally Posted by marc55

More slow going. I did clean and paint my transfer case. The sand blaster is dragging his feet.
Attachment 1431814

It's looking good. In this pic you can see the two bolts in the side of the transfercase that hold the support bar that goes up past the trans to one of the bell housing bolts . Any chance you could see for me what size and thread the bolts for that brace are on the t,c end ? I need two for my new heap cuz there missing . This could save me a bunch of time

[rgunlock]

Very nice! I know it felt like a big step for me to have everything the same color. Congrats!

[marc55]

The bolt is 9/16 x 1 3/8 long 13 threads per inch with a 15/16 bolt head.

[6BT 56]

Originally Posted by marc55

The bolt is 9/16 x 1 3/8 long 13 threads per inch with a 15/16 bolt head.

Thank you for checking that out for me. Off to. Brafasco at lunch !

Thanks again

[marc55]

After a month of doing nothing I got the ball rolling this week. I ordered a filler neck for the bed, new drivers door, Altman latch kit, wheels and tires, and picked up a rebuilt transmission. Now I need to start tracking down a engine. Not sure if I should get a pull out from a junk yard and hunt down everything else I need, or go with some one like BD engines that sell complete modified pull outs. After this week I am back in the poor house

[marc55]

I decided to change the gas tank mount. I built some straps. I made it adjustable and angled the tank to the back. I also received my fuel pump,sending unit and filler neck that I started to mount.

[marc55]

I have wheels! The offsets are good got that front tire sucked in pretty good. It feels like Christmas around here. Also picked up a door and I am going to upgrade the door latches. I am getting married this month so progress is going to be slow but at least I have parts.

[rgunlock]

Those wheels look really nice, and I like that the tires barely come out of the wheel wells. Congrats on the upcoming wedding!

[marc55]

Thanks, I really like the look of the deep lip rims but did not want them sticking out, so I had to go with a high offset wheel. I am real happy with the results. None of this would be happening if it was not for my girlfriend. Besides liking cars herself she was the one that talked me into building cars again.