Markeb01 Build Thread

[duallyjams]

15x6 front with a square lip beauty ring that matched the 15x8 on the rear

[Bomp]

This is what keeps me excited about working on these trucks.
All weather enjoyment. Not a garage queen.

Looks great Mark!

[likaroc13]

I agree that it looks great even with the "ugly" wheels.

[Grizz1963]

I guess that with these wheels you feel it detracts from the truck Mark, but to be honest, they look greatly functional and look the part completely.

I like the look of these anyway.

[rustbucket66]

Nothing wrong with rally wheels my friend, the nicest wheels that the general ever made.

[markeb01]

Thanks for the comments guys. I suppose I should clarify my comment about the “ugly” wheels. I’m referring to the comparison to the American TTO’s I run in the non-winter months. IMHO the American Torque Thrusts are the most beautiful wheels ever developed on the planet. Substituting anything less results in a disappointing/ugly presentation.

The downside of the 5 spokes being how they affected the steering on a 1954 Chevy passenger car with stock sector/shaft steering. The additional offset of the 5 spokes made the car very hard to steer compared to relatively flat original rims.

I also find the Corvette style rally wheels the best design GM ever offered. For years I searched for 15” versions in the wrecking yard for my 54 Chevy, but could never find any affordable examples. I ended up with junkyard off brand 5 spoke mags instead as they were commonly available in the $5 price range.

Here’s an example from years ago:



By the time my 67 Chevelle came along, many sizes of rally wheels became available in wrecking yards. This photo shows 14x6’s on the front and 15x7’s on the rear:



It can be noted the beauty rings don’t match. The fronts are rounded and the rears have sharp corners. Over time, an SS396 hood was added along with 15X7’s rally wheels on the front with a full set of matching trim rings. Here it is after being wrecked by a red-light-running drunk driver:



Since my winter tires are mounted on 15x6 front and 15x7 rear rally wheels, I can’t add matching beauty rings, and I don’t want to go through the process of searching through all the various trim rings trying to find some that match, and I don’t want to waste the money buying 15x7” rims for the front snow tires for purely cosmetic reasons.

So once again after spending too much time studying a subject requiring no attention, I’ve come up with another option for the rally wheels. Spun aluminum (MOON) racing discs were very popular back in the 50’s and remain popular in certain circles today.

So I put some on the 1/25th model of my own truck to get an idea of how they’d look:



They are just stuck on with double faced tape and are a bit crooked, but I think they look pretty cool. Since the truck runs the snow tires from November to April, I’d like to have an appearance that pleases me as much in the winter as the Americans do the rest of the year and I think this might do the trick.

Speedway offers some nice examples for under $20 each, which is the cheapest option I can find if I go this way. What do you think?

[Ta2Don]

Always love checking in on you and your ongoing truck saga...

That 54 is

[CRGRS 66]

X2 Always keenly interested in what you are up to Mark, love the discs on the model of your truck, I would think that they would be easy to keep clean through the winter months as well.

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

THIS....^^^^^

Has inspired me to go down to the garage today to tidy up a bit.

If you walked into my garage right now, I suspect you would be compelled to start clearing it up, or to turn and run.

I still find your thread takes me back into old posts and reports, inspiring and kicking my own butt.


Next Sunday Bob is coming over with his van to pull the crease in my door and to show me how, so place needs to be tidier.

Thanks Rian. Inspiration from other members is what keeps me hanging around here as well!

Originally Posted by duallyjams

15x6 front with a square lip beauty ring that matched the 15x8 on the rear
Attachment 1325268

Thanks Duallyjams. Your photo post forced me to go back through all the links I saved looking at beauty rings. I discovered in two of them information claiming the 15x2.5” trim rings for 15x7” rims also fit the 15x6” rims. I measured both my front and back wheels and the 15x6” fronts have 3” of clearance while the 15x7” rears have 3.5” of clearance. Of course I have no idea how the beauty rings are measured, but I’m convinced that they’ll fit - enough to have ordered a set from Speedway:



I guess we’ll find out on Thursday whether they do or not.

The real deal buster for the racing discs was the thought of installing and removing them. Both of my knees are shot and stooping, squatting or kneeling down is crippling. I gave away my 3 bar knock offs for the mags because I couldn’t handle the pain of installation or removal, so beauty rings which go on once and stay there sounded much more inviting. I also think they are going to look better. I think the rally wheels are as attractive as the 5 spokes when the trim rings are in place.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Always love checking in on you and your ongoing truck saga...

That 54 is

It was a fun car. I bought it from the original owner in dead stock condition. A 283 with the 30-30 cam, BW 4 speed and 57 rear end made it a blast to drive. Like my truck, I could never leave it alone. It changed back and forth from a hot rod with mags, to a stocker with skirts, little hubcaps and beauty rings. It was a real sleeper in that configuration.

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

X2 Always keenly interested in what you are up to Mark, love the discs on the model of your truck, I would think that they would be easy to keep clean through the winter months as well.

Thanks Craigrrr, I was thinking the same thing until the bad knees reminder popped up!

[markeb01]

In the never give up department, I still am toying with ideas for bumper mounting fog/driving light housings blended into the bumper (instead of plain bumper bullets). I had considered the 57 Chevy housings mentioned earlier, but more recently I started eyeballing the 56 Buick housings:



I like the eyebrow over the top front, and there would be plenty of room for mounting and adjusting the lamp. The housing appears to be one piece with the upper/outer grille bar, but I only need the forward 4” or so of the bullet/housing as it would taper from shallow at the bottom front to thick at the upper rear to match the bumper profile. The top of the housings would be mounted perhaps a bit lower than the height of my last bumper bullet attempt, and may or may not include the bottom of the original bumper guards:



Now the search begins for some affordable Buick housings, or until some other idea distracts my attention!

[clemdaddy]

that is just a flat-out cool truck.

[markeb01]

Well Christmas came early today. The rally wheel beauty rings from Speedway showed up and were soon installed with the help of my wife. As I read in another customer’s feedback, they are indeed difficult to install and are best done with two people and the wheels flat on the floor. I was thrilled to confirm the 15x2.5” rings work perfectly on both the 15x6” and 15x7” wheels. Here they are installed:









What a huge improvement they make in the cosmetics of the truck. Now I like it as much with the snow tires as the summer treads. Also note I reinstalled the 327 fender emblems a few days ago. I think they look even more at home now that the truck has Chevy rally wheels. Until I looked at the photos I didn't realize how bad the tires need some cleaning and dressing! Maybe tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

Yup. Rings work for me.

I had a 1982 Ford Cortina pickup as a student and had polished stainless trim rings on it. Got loads of compliments.

One of the nicest cars I had.

[pdxhall]

The Rallies look great on your truck, Mark.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Ok...
Here's my question. ..
Why on earth would anyone drive a vehicle as beautifully and meticulously restored as that in inclement weather?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Ok...
Here's my question. ..
Why on earth would anyone drive a vehicle as beautifully and meticulously restored as that in inclement weather?

Aaaahhhh Chris......

Your response has made me grin.

I hope to have a half decent truck once I have rebuilt it, but mine will always be a working truck.

I think Mark is probably just not too precious and protective about it as he enjoys using it more than he does parking it up.

I guess this will always be an ongoing debate around using restored trucks or showing them.

[piratexpress1369a]

mark have you ever tried the grape soda on a sponge for the tires ..i use to do that on my 2000 pete

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

that is just a flat-out cool truck.

Thanks Clem!

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Yup. Rings work for me.

I had a 1982 Ford Cortina pickup as a student and had polished stainless trim rings on it. Got loads of compliments.

One of the nicest cars I had.

Thanks Grizz, I’m of the same mindset. I’ve had a bunch of different rings on various cars going back to the early 70’s.

Originally Posted by pdxhall

The Rallies look great on your truck, Mark.

Thanks PDX. To me they now look like real Rally Wheels with the trim rings.

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Ok...
Here's my question. ..
Why on earth would anyone drive a vehicle as beautifully and meticulously restored as that in inclement weather?

I have a Honda CRV for our daily driver, but the truth is with my worn out spine the truck is far more comfortable for me. I avoid taking it out during severe snow when I can, but I just enjoy driving it too much to leave it in the garage all winter. It is also covered in cheap enamel paint so it can be repaired inexpensively.

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

mark have you ever tried the grape soda on a sponge for the tires ..i use to do that on my 2000 pete

I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard good things about it. I’ll have to give that a try when the supply of ArmorAll Extreme Tire Shine Gel I have runs out.

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Aaaahhhh Chris......

Your response has made me grin.

I hope to have a half decent truck once I have rebuilt it, but mine will always be a working truck.

I think Mark is probably just not too precious and protective about it as he enjoys using it more than he does parking it up.

I guess this will always be an ongoing debate around using restored trucks or showing them.

Your input Rian is right on the money about how I feel about my truck. Participating in car shows, my truck gets lost and ignored in a sea of paint jobs that cost more than my whole truck. But pulling up to an old gas pump in the middle of nowhere, it becomes a celebrity that is long remembered by the lonely guy working there that never gets to see a cool car. To me that’s really fulfilling. Same thing with the young kids that climb in and exclaim “wow, look at this – this truck goes 160 MPH” (because that is what the speedo says)! We get the same reaction when loading the bed with wood or equipment – “How can use a truck like this for hauling stuff? If I had a truck this nice I’d never take it out of the garage”!

I have too much fun driving it to want to be in anything else.

[duallyjams]

Well said, truck was built to enjoy it as you choose to.

[CRGRS 66]

Love it with the rallys Mark, and glad to see the 327 emblems back, looks great

[clemdaddy]

always been a rings and caps kinda guy, really like louvers and fins too, just, i don't really tell anyone, but thanks to you mark... i've added ports and bumper boobs to my list of favorite things...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

always been a rings and caps kinda guy, really like louvers and fins too, just, i don't really tell anyone, but thanks to you mark... i've added ports and bumper boobs to my list of favorite things...

I guess I am labouring a point here, but Dagmars and those ports are so traditional to the scene that those of us who like or get them will always vote for them.

The trim rings can so radically change the look.

I will have dig around in a bit, but there is a truck on here on steels with trim rings whose look I would trade right now for my chrome smoothies.

Craig's build here has me drooling and actually wanting a set of these wheels real badly.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=546694






Of course stance, tyre choice etc comes into play as well.

I need to find that other truck to illustrate my point.

Lastly, I think Marks truck through evolving has realized a lot of our own loves and likes for our own trucks.

[markeb01]

I thought it would be fun to see how much some of the accessories cost back in 1959 when my truck was brand new. Prices are from issue 150 of the J.C. Whitney catalog. Some similar items are now, or previously been on my truck, or are popular with collectors:

Illuminated compass: $6.95



4 way flasher: $4.35



Unity 12v spotlight: $19.95 – Wow these things were expensive!



Buick porthole lights: $ 8.95 – these were pretty costly as well.



Chrome ball knobs, either smooth or with 4 bumps: $0.35 each.





“Moon” pedal (probably Eelco, or Cal Custom):



Universal Buick style hood ornament: $2.95. (Mine may have cost $0.50 more as it was designed to bolt on top of a 46 Ford ornament)!

[duallyjams]

Wonder what they actually cost to produce.

[markeb01]

Must not have been very much considering the retail pricing!

Another nothing much of a project over the last few days. I’ve never been much of a fan of the color red, and I’ve been getting pretty sick of so much in the cab:



I realized not many of the red items matched in color. The first thing to go was the metalflake plastic toggle switch extension on the exhaust switch. It may be replaced with a chrome version.

I haven’t really liked the shift knob all that much either as the red is too dark minimizing the metalflake, and the flake in the red is gold, which I also don’t care for all that much. Studying the red versus blue knob (with silver glitter) I realized how much prettier the blue knob appears (to me at least). (Possible correction - according to my wife - who isn't color blind - she thinks the glitter in both knobs is silver, and the red color of the knob makes is appear gold).

So the blue 4 speed knob went back in. If I can find another way to display the shift pattern, I’ll go back to the original non marked blue metalflake shift ball as it is more attractive yet having a higher content of evenly embedded glitter.

Next up was the glovebox emblem. The red paint was applied by brush as the masking seemed just too much work at the time. It came out nice, but always looked like a fender emblem to me because of the color.

After several scrubbings with wax and grease remover, followed by more cleanings with alcohol, I spent nearly 3 hours masking it off for spray paint. I gave it a dusting coat of Rustoleum Gloss Black Enamel, followed by 3 more heavy flow coats. The part was leveled and left to cook under the heat lamps for a few hours.

After de-masking and tape goo cleanup, the part turned out perfectly. From dead on it almost appears like a laser cut piece instead of a fender emblem:



Here’s what has been accomplished so far:



I may replace the red steering wheel with a blue metalflake version, or go back to the black Mooneyes wheel I already have. The toggle switch safety covers may be swapped out for black or chrome items or I may just leave them red, being pretty much the standard color for safety covers. The last two pictures aren’t all that good, but it’s 15 degrees outside and 40 in the garage so I’m not all that enthusiastic about working harder on better shots at the moment!