Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Kim57]

Nice trucks.
The LS engines make a ton of HP without a lot of mods.
I think you'll be very happy.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice trucks.
The LS engines make a ton of HP without a lot of mods.
I think you'll be very happy.
Kim

Thanks Kim. How's the back?

I agree they make a lot of power even stock. I'd never really looked into LS engines. I just figured they were out of my league somehow. I'm impressed with the four bolt/canted main bolts, the deeply skirted blocks, etc. The more I look into them the more pleased I am with my choice. Definitely NOT "traditional" looking but I think I'll get all the reliability and power I need and still have decent mileage out of it.

I haven't been this truly excited about a vehicle in awhile!

Take care of that back, buddy! We want to see you at upcoming cruises and shows.

[ChuckDriver]

Looks like its all coming together Dan, can't wait for more updates!!

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks Kim. How's the back?

I agree they make a lot of power even stock. I'd never really looked into LS engines. I just figured they were out of my league somehow. I'm impressed with the four bolt/canted main bolts, the deeply skirted blocks, etc. The more I look into them the more pleased I am with my choice. Definitely NOT "traditional" looking but I think I'll get all the reliability and power I need and still have decent mileage out of it.

I haven't been this truly excited about a vehicle in awhile!

Take care of that back, buddy! We want to see you at upcoming cruises and shows.

Back is a little better every day. Doctor is holding off on PT right now because the incision site had a reaction to the glue they used to close it.
thanks for asking.

A lot of guys don't like the looks of the LS with the coil packs on the rocker covers but personally I think they look O.K. with a little paint work.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Back is a little better every day. Doctor is holding off on PT right now because the incision site had a reaction to the glue they used to close it.
thanks for asking.

3M Panel Adhesive, right?! Lol

Originally Posted by Kim57

A lot of guys don't like the looks of the LS with the coil packs on the rocker covers but personally I think they look O.K. with a little paint work.
Kim

Right now I'm leaning toward relocating the coil packs out of sight and using the Holley low rise or medium rise aluminum intake as its "cleaner."

[Dan in Pasadena]

September 3, 2016

An update for later:
Corvette rotors/calipers won't allow use of my 15" vintage Torq Thrust knockoffs. Too bad! I'm going to go up to 17". I don't like "forklift-low profile tires" but I think I can get 50 or even 55 series on 17" rims and I can live with that.

The Torq Thrust II rims all have the curved, shiny painted spokes I don't especially like. I'll continue to look for 17" TT's w/straight spokes, but I am considering others. My truck is no longer anything like the "shop truck" it once was. The whole look will be different. It won't have the handling but compared to the straight axle/leaf springs it'll FEEL like a Pro Touring to me!

I'm considering polished Salt Flat style rims and I also found a U.S. Mags rim called a Rambler. It looks like a high dollar one piece forged rim (to me) but it's fairly affordable for a set of 17x7's & 8's. Pic's posted below:

Polished Salt Flat style


U.S. Mag Ramblers w/ gray spokes


U.S. Mag Ramblers w/chrome finish

[Dan in Pasadena]

And just to remember the look on vintage trucks I found these:

I wish this were a lighter photo

[Nut Case]

Danny Boy

This is your baby, do it like you want, what ever floats your boat.

I'm with you I like 50-60 ratio tires, and I have the vette IFS/IRS as well, so the old school won't fit.

Check out some Foose see if anything looks good and fits the budget.

Thread is great, good stuff.

Keep on keepin on

Nut Case

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

....I'm with you I like 50-60 ratio tires, and I have the vette IFS/IRS as well....
Nut Case

How do you like the IRS? Would you do it again if you had it to do over again? Would you recommend others (like me) do it?

I kinda like the idea of having full Corvette suspension under our vintage bodies. Then again, I ask myself, why? I theoretically would like to be able to very occasionally tow a boat which I could do with the regular rearend with air shocks. Not sure I could do that with IRS.

[Kim57]

Both those rims are very nice.
I like the salt flat style in a flat gray finish.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Rim choice is always the hardest! The gray Ramblers look nice!

[Nut Case]

Danny Boy

I try to use this rule of thumb from my wise father. "When you think of buying a truck think of how you plan on using this truck for 95% of the time you have it, then tailor the truck to work best in that light."

But then there are times you do as you darn well please.

My plan on my build (as soon as I can bring it back to life) is to go for handling and ride. I have a 02 Tundra for towing. So no towing for my build.

I plan on using 17" rims (not yet picked out) to fit the vette calipers, and try to find the highest ratio and the widest foot print possible.

Keep on keepin on

Nut Case

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Nutcase, PM sent.

[Coupeguy2001]

I have been off the forum for a while.
So sorry to hear about your mother. She raised a good son. (one interested in task force trucks) but hey, your dad had a part in that too.
Looks like you are getting closer to that $50 K number every day.
Time to upgrade your garage with bells and whistles. (literally) for security.
I have another friend still in california that tells me that custom cars and trucks are being stolen by the hundreds and shipped off to foreign countries. The ads for the stolen vehicles aren't even shown in this country.
Not to add paranoia, just an ounce of prevention.....
Keep it up Dan, looks like you are going to have that killer truck soon.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for the kind words Coupeguy. Truthfully, mom didnl't have anything to do with making me a Task Force truck guy - dad did that. I "helped him" swap out the 235 for the 283 he put in it (I handed him wrenches) and later he swapped that out for a 348.

Dad's been gone since 1990. He was only 66 when he passed and I'll be 62 soon so it's feeling like he died VERY young now. But mom raised me otherwise and she did a good job otherwise.

Yeah, the price on this originally-intended-to-be-a-shop-truck is going way up. I always wanted a beautiful one and I never thought I'd be in a position to have one. Now I just hope this comes out like I have in my mind's eye. Time will tell.

[Coupeguy2001]

You'll get there. Problem is that yours is finally going to be prettier than mine...............

[Dan in Pasadena]

September 12, 2016

Ok, I'm out of town but "Mike" sent me this photo today as a teaser and I am stoked about it. The Flat Out crossmember has been mounted and suspension parts fitted. Obviously, the rack isn't in yet and I can't tell for certain if everything has been welded out yet but it looks good to me!


He also told me the engine was torn down and there were no issues, all is good. It's been honed, re-ringed, new bearings and seals installed. Awaiting new head bolts from GM to finalize the rebuild. The trans has been torn down too and no issues were found. I opted to go with a Mustang 8.8 rearend instead of rebuilding my 10 bolt, which will give me four wheel discs and I THINK limited slip. Not that I really need either but the rear discs will look better if I end up going with those spoked wheels above. Man, the "slippery slope" is slick as hell!

I'll be back in town shortly and will check in then with more photos.

[Kim57]

Going to be real nice when finished.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Wow, that's coming together fast!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim, thanks JJ!

I'm honestly REAL excited, I haven't been this excited in a long time over anything. I was talking about building a '55-'59 since I was 25 and that was long ago, unfortunately. I had a small window '57 20+ years ago that had been a Navy vehicle and then a school district truck. I had no MIG welder then, few tools but got it running nice even if not all that cosmetically nice. Had to lose it during the divorce 16 years ago front my high school sweetheart and swore I'd get another and it would be nicer. Getting close feels like revenge, somehow! Lol.

[oldman3]

Front end looking sweet...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Jim! Can't wait to check in on the progress when I get home.

[Rude Dude]

Dan have them box the front of the cross member since the have it there

[Coupeguy2001]

Now you know why I didn't take mine completely apart.
I was done in 4 months, and it woulda looked the same as it does now just shinier paint.



But yours will always be nicer--as long as you jack it up and wipe the dust off the frame every month.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

...box the front of the cross member...

Rudy,
?? Do you mean the front of the frame rails? The cross member IS boxed from
Flat Out.

I actually wondered if there was any value to doing that beyond the obvious aesthetic improvement? But if I do that it wouldn't it be best to box the entire frame? These trucks were meant to flex a bit given they'd be on farms, etc.