Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

The brake lines are nearly all bent and mounted. I'm very pleased with how clean Mike works. Here's the master cylinder lines in:


These little stand offs will be TIG'd and minor touch up done:

[oldman3]

Dan, love the color, line work is outstanding...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Jim. I know nothing about bending brake lines but I know neat and a "thought-out" appearance. These pass my uneducated eye test.

I noticed one line appears to touch the rearend vent but the stand off isn't welded yet so I assume it'll be moved over a bit.

[Kim57]

Beautiful color.
Kim

[MBrown]

Looking really nice!! Can i ask a question? Did your builder "clock" the rack and pinion so the fittings point forward or is that a different rack than you started with?

Thanks,
Mark

[Dan in Pasadena]

Mark,
I'm not sure what your, "is that a different rack than what you started with" question means?

The rack was purchased from Flat Out Engineering along with their crossmember. Mike buys rebuilt racks from them because theirs have been reliable and are priced competitively. As for the clocking of the rack, I assume it's clocked the way it is on a C4 Corvette, but I don't know Vettes so I'll ask and get back to you. Sorry I couldn't tell you more right away. -Dan

EDIT: I just texted Mike and he says the rack is modified by Flat Out.

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by MBrown

Looking really nice!! Can i ask a question? Did your builder "clock" the rack and pinion so the fittings point forward or is that a different rack than you started with?

Thanks,
Mark

Hey Mark, I believe Flat Out's Rack&Pinion have been re-clocked
I have their Front kit on my 58 with the Stock Rack from the 85 vette
and i had to re-clock mine.
Pretty easy, pulled the two pins in the center and was able to move the outer casing putting
the line's from their Vertical position to Horizontal position, Now i just need to address the need for new lines.
Allen

[MBrown]

Thanks guys, mine fits the way it is, but i wondered if i should re-clock? Do HAVE to change the lines or can you reconfigure the stock ones?

Mark

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by MBrown

Thanks guys, mine fits the way it is, but i wondered if i should re-clock? Do HAVE to change the lines or can you reconfigure the stock ones?

Mark

You can re-clock the stock Corvette Rack, Yes,
You will probably need to make new lines to fit, i am finding their is no way to re-use Or Bend mine to the shape in were they need to go.
The lines on mine wont fit to were they need to go and i am afraid if i bent them they are going to leak, so with that i am in search of making a new set that will fit.

Allen

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 58CameoAZ

You can re-clock the stock Corvette Rack, Yes,
You will probably need to make new lines to fit, i am finding their is no way to re-use Or Bend mine to the shape in were they need to go.
The lines on mine wont fit to were they need to go and i am afraid if i bent them they are going to leak, so with that i am in search of making a new set that will fit.

Allen

^^interesting^^

Just as an aside I will mention that one of a couple things that held up all my plumbing getting completed last week was Mike needs to order some metric O rings for the lines. In hindsight I can't recall for certain but I THINK it was for the lines exiting the rack.

[bowt1ed]

Hey Dan, couldn't remember if you were running rear discs also - but if so, why run your lines on the rear end in lieu of up and out of the way on the frame crossmember? I know drums are, due to hard lines running all the way to wheel, where discs allow the flex line at the wheel. Running mine soon and thinking of the layout a bit.

Cheers, Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hmmm, I don't know the answer. Preference I suppose.

Obviously, you have to have flexible lines to deal with the motion of the suspension and that will happen whether the hardliners are mounted on the rear end or on the cross member as long the flex lines connect the parts that move with the parts that don't!

MAYBE it's that Mike is more used to plumbing a chassis with rear drums than discs - I don't know. I'll see him later this week and can ask him if you'd like.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Exterior color.....FINALLY! This has 3x base coats and 3x clear coats. Was sprayed Saturday and has been drying since. Will be sanded and 3x additional clear coats sprayed, then final cut and polish.


The cab is dusty as hell but I wiped off the corner where the gas filler used to be. Remember this has NOT been cut/polished yet. It's right out of the gun. I'm really really happy with it.


Mike and Marcos will coordinate to return the chassis to the paint shop for the cab to be remounted. If it won't be ready right away, I'll pick up the chassis to get it out of Mike's way. He has his own '58 Corvette to work on and customer's cars.

After the cab, doors, front fenders and hood are remounted and gapped it can go back to Mike's for wiring and to get the engine running/tuned/debugged. Then once the bed is done it'll be mounted and the exhaust finished all the way to the rear bumper.

Stopped by Mike's shop and the final hydroboost plumbing was being done. Here are some progress pictures. The driveshaft has been ordered. The exhaust manifolds still need some minor tig welding before sending for coating. That's it for the chassis.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by bowt1ed

Hey Dan, couldn't remember if you were running rear discs also - but if so, why run your lines on the rear end in lieu of up and out of the way on the frame crossmember? I know drums are, due to hard lines running all the way to wheel, where discs allow the flex line at the wheel. Running mine soon and thinking of the layout a bit.

Cheers, Jim

Jim,
Mike said every car with live rear axle he's ever done has had the hardline mounted to the rearend housing. The flex lines from rear axle housing to calipers is jut for ease of servicing later.

[Advanced Design]

Wow, that paint is nice! You gotta be pretty pumped. Looking like you might be driving it this year?

[oldman3]

Beautiful color, I know your ready for more now...Jim

[Kim57]

Looks great.
Kim

[G&R's57GMC]

Getting closer !
Looking great !
Yea ! Whoopie ! Hooray ! tra la la whoop de yea !
And the band plays on along with the parade marching down the street .....
Opps to soon , save the last part for the finish

[Dan in Pasadena]

Just got a text from Mike last night that Marcos won't be ready for the chassis for 2 weeks (that makes me think it'll slip to 3weeks).

So I'll bring the chassis home for those weeks to make room in Mike's shop for other work - which is mostly ok. I'll be able to clean it up, stare at it, make vroom, vroom noises!

[ChuckDriver]

Looks great Dan!

[Flysocal]

The paint is looking awesome.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I'll be able to clean it up, stare at it, make vroom, vroom noises!

If there's no video, it didn't happen ...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Friday, March 24, 2017

A few miscellaneous shots. The doors were inside and even though I used a flash they still look burgundy and they're really not. But I think the truck WILL look burgundy after dark and maybe on cloudy days too.

[mongocanfly]

That color looks great...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Mongo!
It really DOESN'T look like burgundy in person but on photos it does. So much so that I'm searching Google Images and Pinterest for burgundy cars to see the wheels that will look best on it.

All opinions appreciated.