Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window

[Daze57]

stinkin' rats !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kim57]

Rats suck.
Kim

[Chevette]

Rats in Pasadena? I thought all the rats were is Sacramento. You can probably buff the valve covers back to new. The intake will likely need to be blasted (if you're going to be picky). Too bad, because you really had the engine looking good. Rats! Who'd a thunk?

[ChuckDriver]

Sorry Dan!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks guys. Yeah, this seriously sucks. The engine was the only thing on the truck that was starting to look good, lol.

I'm gonna put a snap trap in there when its parked and Maybe a tray of some poison too.

[Daze57]

hopefully no cats climb into the engine area with your traps set !

[_Ogre]

i'd check to see what else the rats chewed on. vac hoses, plug wires, etc..
if your running points, clean them up with a little sandpaper
but it sounds vacuum related

around here no rats, but we have killer squirrels
anything parked outside get stuffed full of black walnuts.
they chewed a hole in my cold air pipe, pulled all the paper out of the filter and then proceeded to fill everything with walnuts.
how my truck ran with all those nuts in there is beyond me; throttle body, air cleaner, cold air pipe and inner fender was full of nuts.
i didn't notice it until a nut rolled under the throttle cam and stuck the throttle wide open.
once a squirrel stashes nuts in there, he will go back and stash them again and again.
i could fill a truck bed with the nuts i've cleaned out under the hood



mowing my yard or even walking in the yard can be hazardous in the fall

[Russell Ashley]

Dan, just drive it more often. Lots more fun and doesn't give the rats time to take up residence.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ogre,
I will definitely have another, closer look with a flashlight in hand to make CERTAIN there's nothing chewed.

Russ,
You're EXACTLY right. The reason I wasn't driving it was becasue I took the door latches, door panels, window cranks, etc off in preparation or cleaning up, priming and painting. I did that, bought new door rubber, window felt and anti-rattle strips. Then I found more rust in the lower doors than I originially thought there was (naturall, right? I shoulda known better).

And because I haven't gone out and bought a bottle of Ar/Co2 (about $190 at my local Airgas supplier) nor .023 wire ($20-30) for my welder I guess I won't til January because of the holidays and a planned ski trip right after. But once that arrives I will be able to make the repairs.

I went out there Sat with the intention of pulling her out, cleaning her up, and doing some prep work - cutting rotted metal out, etc. But honstly, I just got pissed off and cleaned the rat crap & nuts and went inside and sulked!! Very adult, I know! I haven't given up. I'm in a lull but I can feel myself coming out of it and YOUR trucks and the encouragement (and teasing, lol) you give are the things that keep me going.
Thanks guys!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, I've done exactly "Jack" on the truck for months.

But Daylight Savings Time started today & I want to use her as my weekend driver/Home Depot runner so I got back to work today. I've had the hood latch & panel in front of the radiator off awhile. I hadn't reassembled cause I could see the front end was very dirty & loaded with surface rust (Yeah right!) Plus, the grill - one of my main attractions to the '55-'56's - looks nasty. I pulled the bumper, grill, under-apron today:


Grill is in overall good condition - no rust through - with "light" (for 58 years) surface rust on the backside. Options are a cheapo old Sears siphon sandblaster if I'm careful. OR I can try naval jelly or Ospho. Opinions? If Ospho, do I soak it in a bath of it for a few hours?


Backside:


Underside of Apron:


Incidentally, I intend to paint the backsides with either KBS or spray undercoating. All opinions appreciated. What have you guys done with yours? I've heard with KBS (or POR15) you WANT to put it over rust like that. I think I'd just wire brush it and paint. Whaddaya think?

[Kim57]

Those look pretty decent for their age.
POR-15 is supposed to go over rust so I guess you could knock the loose stuff off and paint it.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, that's what I've read too. It just kinda-sorta strikes me as half-assing it. Maybe I'll just try it and see. I DIDN'T buy KBS' pre tretment stuff thinking it was probably just a degreaser. Can anyone confirm that? Or does it have MAGICAL powers? lol.

[mark '87 930]

Those Rat bastards..

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mark '87 930

Those Rat bastards..

GAWD, isn't that true!

Rudy, thanks for the tips. But I know how I am - impatient! I took the day off today cause its so nice out. In headed over to Home Depot to check out NJ, Ospho and Rustoleum's spray converter. Maybe I'll get several & compare!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dan in Pasadena]

Rudy, Thanks. I put the miscellaneous rusty-as-hell bolts into a plastic ex-frosting container overnight (it held up well) and they came out clean as a whistle! I rinsed and dried them and the container, then put them back in the container and sprayed Gibbs oil in there liberally. I'll leave them in there until I reassemble it all.

Here's the backside of the grill (grille?) after the Rust Reformer dried 24 hrs and; even though you can't really tell, I sprayed the backside with Rustoleum Hammered Black. It hides minor imperfections and I'll spray the front with Rustoleum Chrome. If it looks cheesy I'll respray it in an off white - you guys tell me if it looks like ass. I want honest opinions. I've had pretty good results with their Brite Mettallic Aluminum before and was told the chrome is even better. We'll see.



Here's the Apron. I shot it in Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer (red oxide, sorry forgot to snap a picture) and immediately painted it Sage green in satin finish. These photos aren't all that accurate color-wise, but it IS a little more mint than I'd prefer. I was using Duplicolor Self Etching primer just for the green color cause EVERYbody's is gray or red oxide. But the green fades badly in the sun. So I thought I'd try this. Jury is out on the color.

[mechanixman]

Looks great so far,
Can't wait to see them on the truck.

If you want to use chrome paint, go with the Duplicolor chrome. I've had great experience with it so far. People have seen it and said it looks just like slightly aged chrome. I'd say that's a step up aesthetically from chrome looking paint.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh, good tip. Thanks. I'll go looking for some.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, so here is the grille after chrome paint. It's kinda....meh....

It has a couple small runs so I'm going to have to sand/repaint tomorrow.

Jury is out on whether I like it enough to leave it.



I suppose for a weekend driver it looks ok.

[wood1]

Looks pretty good in pictures..

[Kim57]

The picture looks fine.
Kim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kim.

No disrespect to anyone but some guy's opinions carry a bit more weight than others. Guys I recognize for doing nice work that I aspire to...eventually. Kim, you're certainly one, Bam of course, Ogre, Rude Dude (Rudy), Sarge (sgtusmc), ChuckDriver for sure cause I want to own HIS truck!, and on and on. There are a number of guys.

I may install it and live with it awhile. Now that I've pulled that panel I realize it's no big deal to pull it again if I decide to change it.

Someone (I can't remember who - sorry) mentioned they sprayed the backside of their bumpers with rubberized undercoating. I was gonna do that but I have de-rusted my front and now I'm thinking I will use Rusto Hammered silver - because I already have it, and because I think its a bit more in keeping with the "look" of a chrome bumper. I'll have a photo of that later today.

[rgunlock]

I used hammered silver on the backsides of my bumpers and they look nice. I think you'll like it.

[Rude Dude]

Thanks for the kind words Dan, your build is also an insperation to me and others on this site. Good job the front end work!

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks Kim.

No disrespect to anyone but some guy's opinions carry a bit more weight than others. Guys I recognize for doing nice work that I aspire to...eventually. Kim, you're certainly one, Bam of course, Ogre, Rude Dude (Rudy), Sarge (sgtusmc), ChuckDriver for sure cause I want to own HIS truck!, and on and on. There are a number of guys.

I may install it and live with it awhile. Now that I've pulled that panel I realize it's no big deal to pull it again if I decide to change it.

Someone (I can't remember who - sorry) mentioned they sprayed the backside of their bumpers with rubberized undercoating. I was gonna do that but I have de-rusted my front and now I'm thinking I will use Rusto Hammered silver - because I already have it, and because I think its a bit more in keeping with the "look" of a chrome bumper. I'll have a photo of that later today.

[mark '87 930]

Dan, I didn't have an opinion.. but even if i did it would likely get discounted as they do here at home. I wear pants when my wife is not around... otherwise it's back to the skirt when she comes around

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mark '87 930

Dan, I didn't have an opinion.. but even if i did it would likely get discounted as they do here at home. I wear pants when my wife is not around... otherwise it's back to the skirt when she comes around

lol.

Ever notice how you'll tell your wife, "Babe, we oughta do X" but it's never valued as much as if say me - who she wouldn't know from Adam - came into your house and said, "You know you oughta do X" Suddenly it is profound!

Bugs the crap outta me when it happens at my house.