Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Dan in Pasadena]

FYI Update: I was just unsatisfied with the way the 5th coat of satin looked. It didn’t look bad, just “meh.”

I took one of the boards to my painter and he suggested block sanding with 800 grit and giving it a couple more coats with semi gloss this time. I did the 6th coat today. I’ll give it a 7th and that’s it. Enough already! I want to get the truck finished and be driving it for the Spring and Summer.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

SO DAMN PISSED OFF.

See the “RANT” post I put on the main board. It tells the story.

[G&R's57GMC]

Man, That sucks rotten egg shells !

I feel for you Buddy .

[Dan in Pasadena]

Duplicate posting of what I put in the separate thread. Just filling in here to show the outcome.

Well gentlemen, the windows are in. It took all day and I’m not all that happy with the outcome. Took longer than a pro & I had to uninstall/reinstall each because the roller that goes into the channel welded into the door came out - frustrating - but I got it done.

These repops mostly fit - but not exactly. Only 2 of 4 tabs on the outside of the wind wing matched the holes in the door. I didn’t drill for additional screws YET but I suspect I’ll have to.

A pro experienced with these trucks could maybe avoid the paint scratches but I don't see how they could make reproductions fit better.

The fuzzy C channel wrinkles at the upper rear corner depite clamping the heck out of them. Nothing a pro would do could change that. MAYBE cut “V’s” to make them conform to the curve of the door but I noticed that wasn’t done by the guys on YouTube that installed their own. Anyway, here are pic’s of the install. Anti-rattle strips or “whiskers” are not yet installed and it’s obvious they require extensive trimming to fit close-to-correctly. I was annoyed so I quit for the day.

On to the next thing!

[dsraven]

nice to see you have it figured out. after being disappointed/ticked off with the first outcome you always tend to be critical of the second time around. it looks good in the pics though. some paint touch ups next?

[Dan in Pasadena]

I’ll start assembling the bed by the end of next week, then it goes back to the painter’s to have the rear fenders and hood installed. At that time any and all little chips/glitches will be fixed.

Since I had so much trouble with the windows and messed up the paint I’m a little reluctant to do the bed......we’ll see...

[lowdownstar]

good luck

[lower50's]

That sucks. Don't worry it will all work out. What if you used painters tape around the edges would that have helped? I know it's a little late now.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I DID use painter’s tap around the window. THREE layers and I still managed to scratch it. DAMMIT!!!

[akdg87]

the painters tape always seems to pull up paint if it gets nicked. i had the same problem with my dads car when i was putting the motor in.

Something less adhesive with more cushioning would be optimal.

[G&R's57GMC]

10 days and no update ?

[Nut Case]

Dan

I can see you dancing about and quoting Daren Macgavin playing the father in "A Christmas Story". I to have done the dance when things don't go as they should.

I just learned that painters tape isn't a that great. Got figure something else.

I just stinks to have to touch up paint, oh well, you so close to the time you can walk out the front door strool to you freshly finished Tk and go for a joy ride, just for the heck of it.

Strong work Dude, I can see your pain.....

NC

[G&R's57GMC]

19 day's and no update !

What's happening Dan ?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Glen,
Been interviewing for a consulting job about 250 miles away from home so not a lot after the windows.

BUT, I’ve been sanding/finishing the bed wood. Finally got sick of wet block sanding with 800 grit and hit them with 320 grit on my palm sander. Worked great. Flattened the film great, put the 7th (or is it 8th?) coat yesterday. Laid down amazingly well though I’m sure it cost me a few mils. Tomorrow I’ll likely hit it with 1500 or 2000 and polish with car wax and be done. THEN I can start assembling the bed.

[Dan in Pasadena]

In progress. Not much extra room between inside of tires and bed wood. Maybe 5/16” but it’ll be ok (I hope! Lol)

Damn, sorry for the sideways photos. You get the idea though.

[MIKESAD50]

Wow, wood looks really nice.

[oldman3]

Dan, when you put the side panels on, that is going to be tight. You may have to run a 1/4" spacer behind wheel...Jim

[dsraven]

that's what I was just going to say, spacers would fix you up as long as the tires have room on the outside against the fender and the wheel studs are long enough, or swap the studs as well.
nice job on the wood, you're not gonna want to put anything in the box now, lol.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi guys! Thanks for the responses and suggestions.

I bought the wheels without considering their offset because they were DAMN cheap on Craigslist. But they did end up costing me to make some repairs and have them re-polished. I actually prefer gray spokes but before I invest more money for a more correct offset I need to get the bed and fenders together so measurements will be accurate and the fenders are still at the painter’s.

My current concern is there are no holes in the bedwood and it’s obviously finished. I will have to be VERY careful to avoid chipping the finish - I plan to drill through masking tape then VERY slowly pull the tape - suggestions welcome.

OFFSET WASHERS - What is the purpose of them, anyone know? Once I get all the wood in hand tight, all squared up, tailgate in with no binding, THEN I’ll pull the boards to measure locations for the main mounting bolts & gas filler. I plan to drill the main bolt hole then trace the offset washer location and very carefully drill the recess for them with a spade bit. BUt I still don’t understand why they had to be offset. Other suggestions how to do this?

The truck is going back to the body shop Friday for the hood to be fitted. I hear that is quite a job to get right. Hopefully

[dsraven]

you could try tape and a forstner bit instead of a spade bit, less trauma to the wood but a bit more work to get the hole in the right spot with an offset washer. check out the mar-k instructions for a better description.

http://www.mar-k.com/_assets/images/...s_3-8_ofst.pdf

or here for pics and description. older truck series but same methodology

https://talk.classicparts.com/thread...ed-wood.12180/


the offset washers are used for the bed to frame bolts so the washer jams in the hole it is recessed into as the bolt is turned. the bolt has a back like a carriage bolt has and the washer has a square hole to accept the bolt. the washer is set down into a shallow hole in the wood, when you tighten the nut up under the floor the bolt can't turn because the washer jams in the offset hole. I think this is how it works anyway.

[ChuckDriver]

Bed wood looks great Dan!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks dsraven, thanks JJ!

That’s a simple reason for the offset washer I’d not considered. So it was just to facilitate assembly at the factory by one man. Interesting.

Yes, ok on the Forstner bit. I’ll go buy a new one so it’ll be very sharp and cut s l o w l y! Wish me luck!

[lower50's]

I think you will need more space between bed and tires.

[idbeast]

I've got 1/2" on mine. 11" tire in the 12" opening.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys.

I was working on the bed wood today and I pulled my rear wheels off so I won't have to work around them when I get to installing the bed sides. Once that's done I'll stack some washers between the rims and the hubs to determine just how much of a spacer I will need to clear the tires. I think 1/4" should do it but I won't order any until the fenders are on too. I keep thinking about whether I'll use welt or not because it never came on these trucks when new. But, trucks were the bottom of the bucket in those days. They got nothing more than necessary to get them sold. So I keep thinking with this attempt at a nice build maybe I will use it.

There are SO many variables putting the bed together, so many bolts, and every part depends on every other part to go on square and flush. I've got all the wood in loosely bolted down. Tomorrow I plan to install the bedsides and tailgate, check for "square-ness" and tail gate gap from side -to-side before doing final drilling of the eight main frame bolts with offset washers. I also bought a new 1-1/2" Forstner bit, tested it on scrap and the fit around the offset washers is perfect.