Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

The new caps. Bling bling, lol

[lynx5653]

lookin good Dan

[oldman3]

Wheels and tires are going to make a big difference on your truck, look super...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

All four are 17x8's and I'd intended to use 10's if i could in back but they were just too good a deal to pass on. I'm hoping these don't look odd or too small in back. If they do my only option will be spacers or wider rims. I guess we'll see when the bed goes on - not for awhile.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Saturday, June 10, 2017

She's home for a couple weeks before going to be wired, started & tuned. While this is happening Marcos will final paint, cut & polish the bed sides, tailgate, & rear fenders. I wish there was some way to show how deep this red is. It just doesnt photograph accurately at all.




She's very low so I did a comparison of the current tire size and new tires. 235/75x15's versus 235/55x17's. Almost 1.75" lower, same width but sidewalls are more than 25% shorter. I may actually have trouble getting in and out of my driveway. But I'll deal with that by making wooden ramps if necessary (ugh).

[Kim57]

Truck looks great.
Kim

[MIKESAD50]

Looks great! You will just have to upgrade to air ride if driveway is a problem. When I saw the HDX last year at goodguys I told my girlfriend I might just have to get those. I hadn't even powered up my VHX yet. I still have the VHX and I like them but.....HDX are cool. Getting close.

[oldman3]

Dan, I'm sure you already now this, but that 1.7" will become only .85 when mounted on the spindle, half to the top and half to the bottom. Maybe it won't be to bad. Truck looks great...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Good point, Jim. I hadn't thought of it yet.

I kinda like how the old early TT's with their gray spokes look. Not the too tall sidewalls though. Of course I can't use them because the calipers don't fit with them on. I "posed" one of the new and took a shot from a distant to get an impression of how they'll look.

[oldman3]

That's going to look super...Jim

[Rude Dude]

Dan those Boyd wheels look great better than the American Racing plus we all know you like shinny stuff! Good job on the truck looking good

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Rudy! You know me - a bit of a chrome whore, ha ha.

The nice thing is that if I decide I want a different wheel I can sell these and break even; probably even make a few dollars.

[ChuckDriver]

The Boyd's will look great on it!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for the input JJ. You know I've loved everything you've done to your truck so your opinion means a lot.

I know the Boyd's will look good in general. I'm concerned they may make the whole truck look too "billet-y", a little too "garage queen-ish." Of course it's not like it has the shop truck look anymore but maybe it's that I want a little more street cred, I don't know.

[BIGglaSS]

Don't worry, it looks great!

[bowt1ed]

Hey Dan, about to pull the trigger on a DD HDX myself. Would be interested to hear whether it seems to be as nice as advertised. Also, did you get their chrome bezel? If so, what was the quality. Looks to be about the same price as the standard guys (LMC, etc.). Oh, and I assume you bought it from them directly (?).

Thanks, Jim

[BIGglaSS]

Originally Posted by bowt1ed

Hey Dan, about to pull the trigger on a DD HDX myself. Would be interested to hear whether it seems to be as nice as advertised. Also, did you get their chrome bezel? If so, what was the quality. Looks to be about the same price as the standard guys (LMC, etc.). Oh, and I assume you bought it from them directly (?).

Thanks, Jim

I bought the chrome bezel from Classic Industries during a 25 or 30% off coupon. http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...ts/cx1003.html. DD charges $100. It is decent quality. What you would expect from a typical reproduction part.

I bought my VHX kit from Matts Classic Bowties (a forum sponsor here), for less $ than anywhere else.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Jim & BiglaSS,

The HDX is supposed to arrive tomorrow, Saturday so I haven't seen the product yet. As soon as it arrives I'll check it out and of course post closeup pictures. For the price it better be tip top!

As for the chrome bezel I bought a new repop way back 4-5 years ago. The gauge cluster was one of the first things I restored back when I first got my truck. If you guys have read my early posts I did the interior panel Sage green!

[my56chevytruck]

Hey Dan, I haven't chimed into your posts for a while. just wanted to say, you're not going to like those new wheels. So, ship them out to me and I'll bear with them on your behalf!! that's what friends are for right?? lol
they look great and so does your truck.
Morrie

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, Hi Morrie. Thanks for chiming in.

I got off work early today and planned to try on the Boyd's to see how they'll look, take pictures from various angles. But I made myself do my weekend chores first (mow, wash cars, etc) but once I was done it was TOO DAMNED HOT (109*) so I didn't do it. I'll try again tomorrow.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Replacement photo for the one in post #2025 that was out of focus. Much clearer:

[my56chevytruck]

Well Dan, I guess you won't be sending me those nasty wheels so keep up the great work. 109 degrees huh? it's only 95 here, and that's TO DAMNED HOT!!!

p.s. those wheels are verrrrrrrry cool. I'm hoping for a new set of wheels in the near future.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Keep checking out Craigslist, etc. I lucked out big time finding all four of these for $300 - of course it cost me more than that having them repaired/polished but still way cheaper than new. I couldn't have bought them at all if i wanted new. They're out there. Just have to be patient....and a little lucky!

[Dan in Pasadena]

[U]Saturday, June 17, 2017/U]

The gauge cluster arrived today. Was in a box about 4x the size of the actual Dakota Digital HDX box inside with packing peanuts all around it. Seems to be all in one piece. I ordered one additional sensor; the one that provides the compass direction and ambient temperature info. This won't be installed for probably a month. Nothing much to see but a picture of a box, sorry.

[lower50's]

You are correct on how a relay works, they use less current to switch the load.
Yes use a relay for headlights, most switches are only rated for 10A and old headlight switches have less than good contacts.
There is nothing wrong with incandescent headlights, but they do use a lot of power.
The reason some people, myself included have switched to LED is, they give off a much brighter white light with a huge power reduction. Also last forever.
I used 13 relays in my truck. One reason is you can run smaller wires to the switches and mount the relays in convenient spots. IF a relay dies its a quick plug and play deal.
This is a Sylvania Silver Star Headlight vs LED. LED is on the right.
My panel I made in my passenger fire wall.
Hope this helps a bit. Great truck by the way!!!