Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[bowt1ed]

Dan, that's looks sweet! Won't be long before assembly begins!

Cheers, Jim

[Rods57]

Thats great, wont be long now.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys.

For some reason when the frame and misc components were sent for blasting/powdercoating the transmission crossmember was missed. It's being done now. When it comes back the drivetrain will be finalized, a driveshaft measured/ordered, the fuel lines reconnected and the brake lines bents and mounted along with master cylinder.

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks guys.

For some reason when the frame and misc components were sent for blasting/powdercoating the transmission crossmember was missed. It's being done now. When it comes back the drivetrain will be finalized, a driveshaft measured/ordered, the fuel lines reconnected and the brake lines bents and mounted along with master cylinder.

Dan,
That color is fantastic and never being sanded yet? Wow, it's beautiful.

[G&R's57GMC]

Dan That looks GREAT !!!

Assembly start by Thursday ? Friday ? Or next week ?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Dan That looks GREAT !!!

Assembly start by Thursday ? Friday ? Or next week ?

I wish!

The interior paint still gets 3 more clear coats after a "dwell" of about a week. Then that gets color sanded and polished.

Underside of hood, insides of bedsides, tailgate (and probably other stuff I have forgotten) all get painted/color sanded/polished - THEN the painting on the exterior starts. Ugh, it'll be awhile before assembly starts.

[ChuckDriver]

Dan, are you having any "bedliner" material sprayed on the backside of the fenders or floor bottom?

http://www.uschem.com/uploads/file/c...RO_Nov2011.pdf

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Dan, are you having any "bedliner" material sprayed on the backside of the fenders or floor bottom?

http://www.uschem.com/uploads/file/c...RO_Nov2011.pdf

Yup, absolutely! I don't want a stone to fly up and leave a reverse dent or a star crack on the paint in a fender. But we're spraying body color over the bedliner in the fenders so that's what is seen.

We're also going to spray the underside of the cab floor. Not spraying that red though. I'm UNDECIDED on whether I need this bedliner stuff on the cab floor, toeboard and back wall? Opinions solicited.

But I'm putting a Dynamat-like product in those areas so do I need both?

[ChuckDriver]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

We're also going to spray the underside of the cab floor. Not spraying that red though. I'm UNDECIDED on whether I need this bedliner stuff on the cab floor, toeboard and back wall? Opinions solicited.

But I'm putting a Dynamat-like product in those areas so do I need both?

Don't think you'll need to spray the inside of the cab if your plan on laying down a sound deadner.

[G&R's57GMC]

Ya these things take time, do you think it will be running by summer ?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Ya these things take time, do you think it will be running by summer ?

That's DEFINITELY the plan. I've asked Marcos, the painter if we can have the paint done by April 1st? (start of the baseball season) I am shooting for the truck fully assembled, wired and debugged by Memorial Day weekend. Precisely because I want it for the entire summer.

[MIKESAD50]

Looks very nice. Nice color choice.

[Flysocal]

Man this truck is going to be spectacular! Excellent choice of color. As far as bedliner, I'm spraying my fenders and underside of cab. dynomat in cab. BTW got my driveshaft installed today. From inland empire driveline. Perfect fit. 3" diameter up to 500 hp cost 425$

[Dan in Pasadena]

Good info on the driveshaft, thanks. I think Mike has someone he uses locally but I will definitely ask what price to expect and I'll go with saving some money.

Yours is Steel? Mine will be. I don't need aluminum.

[ptc]

Looking good Dan and coming together nicely! I think we are going to have quite a few trucks in the "Finished Class of 2017"

[Dan in Pasadena]

http://s832.photobucket.com/user/Dan...tml?sort=3&o=0

Sorry it's a link. Can anyone decode my VIN or post a simple to follow link?

[DaveNY]

I think its 2nd series, year 1955, made in Los Angeles, #19063 out of LA that year (20063-1000?)

http://53truck.ez15loan.com/howto/vin.htm

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by DaveNY

I think its 2nd series, year 1955, made in Los Angeles, #19063 out of LA that year (20063-1000?)

http://53truck.ez15loan.com/howto/vin.htm

Thanks Dave! I should know the answer but is there somewhere on the tags a code for its factory color? Or was this still too early for that?


PS: I went back and looked at the VIN and it looks like its the 20,063rd truck built. That's a LOT of damn trucks built. No wonder they are still all over the place. Also, I assume that's its number from the LA plant, right? They didn't keep running track of them coming out of each factory - no computers to tie the factories together in those days!

[DaveNY]

In the top of that link it says: "The second section, all numeric, is the plant production number, with the first truck built at a given plant receiving the number 001001."

So I assume it was #020063 minus 1000 to come out of LA that year.

Might be too early for paint, My '59 has a tag on the front driver pillar with a specific "Paint" line item, 704A is Sherwood Green.

I think the color you chose looks great! Truck is really coming together nicely!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks so much. I'm really happy with my choice so far.

I'll check in at both shops today or tomorrow. Nothing had been done on the chassis as of Tuesday. Hopefully some progress has been made by now.

In the body shop I expect the underhood and possibly the miscellaneous interior parts I dropped off the other day have been sprayed in color too.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thursday, March 9, 2017

No invoice this week (Good!) so no progress (Bad!) but the trans crossmember is finally back from powder coating today.

I thought you guys might like to see some of the other cars/trucks in the shop. Mike JUST got in this '58 short Fleetside. Apparently the owner has had bad luck with shops. It's been under construction over 5 years(!) and still isn't complete. Mike is to fully complete it so the owner can drive it home. Needs mostly interior reassembly and wiring, debugging. It's a conventional small block and four speed manual:


Mike liked the backpacking on the rims and wanted me to see them. 245/45x17 in front and 275/40x18 in the rear. Coddington Junkyard Dog rims, I think. Personally, I prefer the same diameter rim front & rear.

Originally, I wanted to use my 15" Torq Thrust wannabe's - they can't fit over the calipers.
16's do but there's no selection in 16's anymore.
So on to 17's, BUT the rims I want come in 7's & 8's only & low profile tires don't give enough height a decent RPM at 70 MPH. I want to be in the low 2000's at 70 with 3.73 ratio when I drive up to see my granddaughter (220 miles).

So I MAY have to consider 18's (ugh).
I can get rear rims in 9's & 10.5's making my tire height over 28".
I like more sidewall on older vehicles. I'd use 275 or 295/40's. I'd prefer 50's but only seem to come in winter tires or SUV/Crossover tires.

Anyway:

I think the lip on these is a bit too deep. Younger guys can't get a wide enough lip. Gotta know when to "lift the brush" - and I may well have (far?) exceeded that already! Ha ha

[Dan in Pasadena]

Other cars currently is the shop (this is NOT all of them). There's a Mucielago (sp?) in there too.

1966('67?) SS396 Chevelle. Probably a clone but I didn't ask and don't care. Still a great car:


A non-frame off rodstoration '61 or '62 bubbletop with an LS:




Same early Mustang fastback has been there awhile. I'm not a Ford guy and wouldn't choosethese rims for it, BUT admit I like early Mustangs. This one is immaculate up close:

[Dan in Pasadena]

A couple complimentary photos because i like them!

I think the olive interior with rich cream exterior is very attractive. I'd look for the Fleetside spear chrome for it too.


This chrome bead lock AND deluxe cab trim doesnt look as overdone as i tend to think it would. Maybe its because it jazzes up the white body, i don't know.

[Flysocal]

Speaking of lifting the brush, go with 18s! They are the sweet spot imo. I believe the wheels on the fleetside are Boyd coddington "smoothies". I would seriously consider hitting up Chris Coddington for a genuine set. Just down street...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

...I believe the wheels on the fleetside are Boyd Coddington "Smoothies"....

Here's the comparison. The Fleetside has the Junkyard Dogs....i like them. I think I like the Smoothies a bit better though.