Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

I finally found out last night that the Vintage Air vents for our TF trucks are "only" $209 a pair instead of each. And they don't even come with the "eyeball" part, just the housing!! They also are described as polished but the two reviewers on Summit's site say they're satin, not polished.

I may have to end up buying them though because we've got to get the truck torn back down to the frame so the painter can finish his magic, get the frame blasted and powder coated. More on this after I go to the shop later today.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Mike is making a cover that will go over the top of the crossflow radiator and will meet the factory hood latch panel.

We only had a general conversation about it and he mentioned putting some holes in the top using dimple dies. This afternoon he sent me this teaser photo by text. I'll reserve an opinion until I see it in person. No idea how it will mount with the huge bushing looking things welded on the ends. Kinda odd, but we'll see.

PS: Not sure why my iPad rotated the photo 90* counter clockwise but it won't let me fix it, sorry!

[Kim57]

I think that's going to look pretty slick.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I think that's going to look pretty slick.
Kim

Eh..., I don't know. I'd have put twice as many holes OR used larger diameter holes but maybe it'll look differently to me tomorrow. Then I have to decide if it & the factory core support will be body color like the rest of the engine compartment or be chromed?

I admit I tend to be a chrome whore so I have to restrain myself!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Saturday, November 5, 2016

So it turns out the part I posted in #1527 above is NOT for the core support extension; my bad.

It's part of the rear frame reinforcement. He wasn't happy that the frame flexed too much so the first thing they did after adding depth to the section was put in triangular gusset plates behind the factory shock-mount cross member. Then; in addition to the stock rear cross member I moved to the back of the frame rails, he fabricated the part I posted last night & below to add rigidity right where the factory cross member used to be.

It will be bolted through both the upper and lower frame flanges with full length bushings. He was finalizing the welding but said even tacked up the rear of the frame didn't flex AT ALL. I forgot to mention he also tacked the factory rivets in numerous places. It's pretty rigid now.

[Dan in Pasadena]

The new reinforcing crossmember installed.


This essentially replaces the crossmember that was at the rear shackle mount and is now all the way at the back behind and protecting the new gas tank. Yeah, I know that rear cross member is in upside down. It's just mocked up to make sure everything fits.

[Advanced Design]

Ok, that makes sense now, providing frame support and rigidity above the rear leaf spring mount. Nice looking crossmember.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Doug.
Another identical crossmember across the bottom flanges of the frame remains an option if there's any concern as the truck goes together. It'll only take longer bolts.

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thursday, November 10, 2016

My Holley intake and throttle body showed up today at the shop.


Mike is fabricating a radiator cover which will have dimple died holes as shown below and an adjacent cover for the mechanical fan. One will be attached to the other but the attachment will not be visible.




The cross piece for the rear shocks had torn metal for some reason by a prior owner. Mike repaired it and while mounting rear shocks determined we will have to extend the stud mounts about an inch.

[Kim57]

Nice intake set up.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice intake set up.
Kim

Thanks! I like that it kinda/sorta will appear like a traditional small block.

I'm using a Spectre 5" tall red foam air cleaner with chrome trim and Delmo adapters to use finned, polished aluminum Mooneyes valve covers. The coil packs will be relocated mostly out of sight.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh, also Mike texted me to tell me he and Eddie - the guy that lately has been doing a lot of the work on my truck - spoke after I left the shop and decided they didn't like the idea of extending the shock stud either. They decided to modified the lower mount which will allow the top stud to remain as it is. See, everytime I find anything I'm not sure about or questioning I find Mike has already seen it and decided to address it. Pleased.

[ChuckDriver]

Something like this maybe?

[Advanced Design]

That is a very good look...!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Something like this maybe?

Yes and no.

Yes in that it will appear somewhat traditional but no in that the colors will be totally different.

I LOVE Chevy orange but since my truck will be a deep red including the engine compartment I decided against painting the engine orange. Block is black and aluminum LS heads have been left natural.

Same/similar exhaust manifolds as in your picture but I'm having mine Jet Hot coated silver. I'm told they will NOT turn color, we'll see. Finned valve covers but polished/no paint (as of now) and I'm using the factory truck serpentine system but polished with the recessed areas painted black - hopefully the overall look will pull together.

If it doesnt look right I'll need you guys to tell me, "Ugh....no. Something's not right, change this or that." It's easy to get too close and you can't see the forrest for the trees.

[Dan in Pasadena]

This shows the same intake manifold i'm using and of course stick SBC valve covers but mine will be like this:


With these breathers:


This air cleaner....but the more i look at it the less certain i am it is in keeping with the rest of the style.

[Kim57]

Going to look very nice when done.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Going to look very nice when done.
Kim

Thanks, I hope so.

The upper radiator hose will also be a polished aluminum tube with hose on each end. I may be going a bit overboard with polished stuff but I figure i can always back away from using it if it looks too over the top.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hmmm, not sure why a bunch of my photos disappeared.

I ditched the Chinesium finned aluminum valve covers and ordered from Mooneyes instead. They're much heavier, quality pieces:

[Kim57]

Those are real nice.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

November 23, 2016

I guess I can't just leave well enough alone. I found THIS on Craigslist the other night for a decent price:

I'm going to look at it this afternoon and if its not bent up or badly rusted I'm going to buy it. Then I'll take it to the shop and we'll see if it's going to be too costly to R&R my stock dash with it. Since we'd already finalized the steering column install and the AC unit is installed on studs welded to the passenger side of the firewall, they MAY be too big an impact to do this. In that case, i'll re-list it on Craigslist.

Barring that, I've always wanted a Belair dash in my truck. It's the one custom body modification I really want. I had let a previous dash get away but it's been gnawing at me that i have this one chance so...... time will tell!

[Kim57]

Hope it works out for you.
That is one mod I would redo my dash for.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim. The idea kept coming back to me and when I found this dash for sale relatively local to me I just had to call on it.

It's very straight. Whoever removed it didn't torque it out of shape so i was pleased about that. Now I have to decide if I want the original bow tie type trim or the polished aluminum style and whether to leave a radio or get the trim without radio holes?

[Advanced Design]

Good luck with the dash. And like you said you can resell it if it doesn't work out.