Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Black_Sheep]

Looking really good Dan!

[Advanced Design]

Yes, truck looks great! Probably nice to have it in your own garage too.

[Kim57]

Looks great.
Love the seat. Must be for beach cruising.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys.

Yup, several people have commented on the folding aluminum chair. All I can tell you is I used the same chair in my ‘46 when I was looking for a narrow bench seat for it (3rd row bench from a 12 passenger Dodge Ram van worked great!).

It’ll do again for awhile until my stock bench is redone later this month. I can’t wait to see it.

Has anyone checking in on this thread installed their own side windows?
I’ve watched the YouTube videos a couple times and it doesnt seem that hard, am I being naive? I know to place multiple layers of masking tape on the new paint so I don’t scratch it. I know it’s a bit of a juggling act holding the new guides semi-in-place while holding the side glass and THEN fitting the wind wing assemblies in at the same time. Where are the most difficult points.

[lower50's]

Looks good in the garage!! Looking forward to the bench seat reveal.

[G&R's57GMC]

Thanks Dan .

Garage looks good, truck looks even better in it

I've got one of those folding aluminum chairs also. Had it since the sixties LOL

Don't feel so bad about how long your truck is taking.

It's like lightening compared to my project . Started in November 2010 with the chassis , air suspension, Currie 9", fuel tank, wheels and tires . That is all that is done by December 2010 at this point . Dang the tires are going to age out with less then 100 feet on them.
Poor thing just sits in the corner waiting for other projects to get done. Dang it, why do other projects keep bumping this one to the curb ? It's not for the lack of parts .

[Dan in Pasadena]

Well it certainly looks good so far. Keep plugging away!

[dsraven]

thats a nice looking truck Dan. the paint looks like you dipped the truck in a can of plastic. great job, smooooth

[dsraven]

G&R,
Don't feel bad, you're still ahead of me. mine's been on the back burner so long the build has changed directions so many times I lost count.
gotta build a rad support tomorrow. may be tight cuase I need to move the rad and condensor ahead as much as possible, but,being a 57 gmc, the grille is gonna need rework due to the rearward slant and the hood latch may need rethinkingbecause of the crossbar it sits on being in the way. I was gonna change that latch anyway but...... maybe a forward tilting hood instead?

another direction....rabbit trails everywhere

[G&R's57GMC]

dsraven,

Use a Chevy rad support , make mounts on the chassis for it. You will need to use a Chevy hood or the hood mounted structure for the ketch mounted to a GMC hood. Then fab a mount for the Chevy hood latch. You'll also have to fab a mount for the grill mustache.

Now back to Dan's build .....

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ordering retractable shoulder belts from Juliano’s soon. What do you guys think of these two colors? Sorry, didn’t wipe the dust off fender before taking the pic.

Upholstery color is called “Chamois”. I’m choosing to use paint matching because it’s darker and will show dirt much less over time. I THINK the Red Wine color is a better match than the Berry. Opinions appreciated.

Did a minor thing today: “Sanded” & painted new repro stock arm rests body color (Honda Milano Red). Usd Scotch Brite red pads and Duplicolor rattle can - painter probably would have wanted $100 ($200?). Tops will be the chamois color. “After” picture tomorrow....they’re drying overnight.

[Black_Sheep]

I agree, the wine color looks better

[G&R's57GMC]

I'll drink to that (hic) ... more wine pleash (hic)

[ChuckDriver]

I vote wine too!

[Black_Sheep]

Are you doing lap belts or shoulder belts too?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

Are you doing lap belts or shoulder belts too?

Both. I know PhotoSuckIt took all my photos away. I need to go back through the thread and reload as many photos as I can. But there were pics of installing some 1/8” strap about 3-4” long in them with big ass lug nuts welded on in the B pillars.

There’s not much solid in the pillars on a big window truck but folded sheet metal. If the belt keeps my face from bouncing off the wheel in a moderate accident it’s all I can expect. 60+ year old vehicles are just not anywhere near as crash worthy as modern cars.

I hope this reload helps someone.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Both. I know PhotoSuckIt took all my photos away. I need to go back through the thread and reload as many photos as I can. But there were pics of installing some 1/8” strap about 3-4” long in them with big ass lug nuts welded on in the B pillars.

There’s not much solid in the pillars on a big window truck but folded sheet metal. If the belt keeps my face from bouncing off the wheel in a moderate accident it’s all I can expect. 60+ year old vehicles are just not anywhere near as crash worthy as modern cars.

I hope this reload helps someone.

That's why I asked. I was worried about a reliable upper anchor point, if it fails in a crash you got nothing. I'm using Juliano's lap belts with aircraft type buckles. The floor anchors are reinforced with the oversized plates that Juliano's offers.

[Dan in Pasadena]

The way I feel about it is that if you’re in anything more than a moderate crash in these trucks you’re going to get hurt and probably badly hurt. Even in a moderate crash with your full body weight going against the shoulder belt you’re probably going to deform the B pillar. But that’s still better than your chest or your face meeting the steering wheel, windshield or metal dash. And I wouldn’t feel comfortable nowadays without a shoulder belt anyway.

[Dan in Pasadena]

FYI: re Retractable Shoulder Belts

Juliano’s belts are about $145 per side.
WescoPerfomance.com & SeatBeltsPlus.com have the IDENTICAL belts about $75 per side including the optional buckle type I want - chrome lift buckle.

They all appear to be identical belts because the color options are the same, safety standards they meet are the same. Both claim they sell American Made belts & parts. Still shopping around but right now it’s looking like there are just-as-good, lower-cost options.

[slammed57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Both. I know PhotoSuckIt took all my photos away. I need to go back through the thread and reload as many photos as I can. But there were pics of installing some 1/8” strap about 3-4” long in them with big ass lug nuts welded on in the B pillars.

There’s not much solid in the pillars on a big window truck but folded sheet metal. If the belt keeps my face from bouncing off the wheel in a moderate accident it’s all I can expect. 60+ year old vehicles are just not anywhere near as crash worthy as modern cars.

I hope this reload helps someone.

Dang, I was just thinkin how I was goin to add 3 point seat belts in my big window, Great Idea, Iam goin to borrow this idea if you dont mind, great work eveything else you been doin!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, pulled the trigger on the SeatBeltsPlis ones in Wine. They’re a special order color so not returnable. Hope I made the right choice.

[G&R's57GMC]

'Ata boy Danny ya can't go wrong with Merlot ... but Port drinkers have their crust

BTW now that you pulled the trigger there will be no whining about it

[Dan in Pasadena]

But the whining is the fun part! Lol

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

FYI: re Retractable Shoulder Belts

Juliano’s belts are about $145 per side.
WescoPerfomance.com & SeatBeltsPlus.com have the IDENTICAL belts about $75 per side including the optional buckle type I want - chrome lift buckle.

They all appear to be identical belts because the color options are the same, safety standards they meet are the same. Both claim they sell American Made belts & parts. Still shopping around but right now it’s looking like there are just-as-good, lower-cost options.

I'm sure Juliano's does not produce the belts themselves so it makes sense that another vendor could be offering the same exact thing.

I'll have to check out seatbeltsplus.com, the set in my truck WERE white, not so much anymore...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

....the set in my truck WERE white, not so much anymore...

EXACTLY the reason I chose to go with the red instead of a light tan like my upholstery will be. My hands will transfer dirt over time and they’ll look bad. Not sure it’s a good idea to wash them, well at least not regularly.