My 55 Chevy 4X4

[marc55]

I was looking into late 70s Eldorado rear calipers but I read they don't work that good and it would cost close to $300 for complete calipers with the actuators. Then I would need to buy a e-brake cable. So I bought some front refurbished calipers for $20. Still not cheap but for around $300 I can do a drive line e brake. The install would be easier and look better in my opinion. I know a drive line failure would prevent the e brake from working but I am mainly looking for it to be a parking brake. I doubt I would remember to pull the brake if my truck was coming apart on the freeway.
The one plus for bigger rims is I think 17s would clear my idler arm and I could bring the rim in about an 1 1/2" so the tires don't stick out so much.

[6BT 56]

I had actually considered putting 2 callipers on each wheel. Your rite there dirt cheap . Then just run another set of brake lines parallel to the primary ones and just use a old single line or maybe a boat trailer master cylinder with some sort of mechanical arm to engage. It would make people ask dumb questions abt why you have 4 callipers on the rear but it would be cheap, dam strong and in a emergency it should actually have stopping power .

[marc55]

Not much this week. Auto zone has free shipping on parts orders and they did not have everything in stock for my rear end so I decided to try shipping to my house. I did not know I would be getting 6 separate orders delivered over the next week. Still waiting for my seals. So I painted my calipers. I also need to start measuring for new rims to see what I can fit. I really want to pull the front tire in about a 1 1/2". Going on vacation with the kids this week. Have a safe good 4th.

[marc55]

Vacation really slowed me down. I did get the rear in and the last body parts to the sandblaster. The front is not bad I don't think I am going to do anything to it all it needs is a new rotor.

[marc55]

I was able to sell the old diffs last weekend. So I cleaned up the front and installed it. Took the rest of the stuff to the sand blaster and hopefully I will have all that in primer next week. Also started looking for new wheels.

[marc55]

More slow going. I did clean and paint my transfer case. The sand blaster is dragging his feet.

[marc55]

I want to do a metallic silver. Originally I wanted to add a green pearl in the clear coat but decided it would not look right. Now I want to do a subtle 2 tone silver and silver and paint the dash a emerald metallic green.

[Purcell69]

Looks good Marc. For years I was going to go with a darker metallic gray on my build, but lately I've been feeling like going back to the original turquoise and white. I definitely want to see how yours turns out.

-Joe

[marc55]

Man this is a good feeling having something done.


Power windows also showed up. The best part is they just bolt in.


The latch kit is nice the doors close very good but not exactly a bolt in.


Had a couple problems. The interior door handle was catching and not fully allowing the latch to close all the way so a little pressure on the door and it would pop out to the second latch catch. Had to cut more out of the door for clearance. Second the latch kit will not let you lock the door from the inside. The detent action for the door lock handle could make it confusing to use the door if you did not know. You could not just pull the handle to open the door you then had to push the handle back so it would latch properly. 3rd I wanted power door locks but the only way the lock works is the key prevents the button from going in so powered locks would not work because the button being unlocked would always allow the door to open. So I decided to make it like a reverse shaved handle kit. I bypassed the interior door handle and am using a electric button to open the door from the inside. I wanted door handles on the outside but basically they are shaved because the solenoid is what will open the door. I will actually just use the key lock as my emergency bypass if I have a dead battery. As long as I don't get a dead battery when I am in the truck I will be ok.

[made2drag]

Awesome!!

[marc55]

Well I am all married up. It was safe to say it was not a traditional wedding. Everything went good and it was a blast.


Anyway, I was able to get some work don this week on the truck. Had to fiddle with the door latch on the new door for a couple hours to get it ti fit right.


This is the door release button. I also had some clearance issues with the solenoid linkage binding up. Finally the keep it simple stupid approach worked best. Simple rod bent around the latch hole. I think I might need door poppers for the door to work. I could used some suggestions on where to mount them. I wanted to put them above the bottom hinge but I think the door has to close straight on the plunger. So the bottom left is where I think they need to go.

[ptc]

Awesome wedding pics! - Assume it was on "All Hallows Eve"?

Truck is looking gooooood too!

[marc55]

Yep Halloween wedding. It was full costume for everyone. The bridal party was steampunk/day of the dead. Beatle juice is our good friend and he performed the ceremony and he nailed it just like in the movie.

Made good progress this week. New tailgate did the latch/hinge modification. The new fender fits pretty good specially the hood gap where I had issues on the old fender. I also added a bed liner to the bed and cab. Kind of a waste to go over my paint job but I wanted the insulation. I will probably still add sound mat on top of that.

[marc55]

So I made up my mind about the dash. I am going to use my drop console and put a single din dvd player in it. I can have navigation and back up camera and the screen will fold into the unit when I want. The cab is so small I will just use 2 corner vents for the AC. I also added 2 more button holes where the stock stereo goes and filled the ash tray. I will use them for hazards, fog, dome, interior, rear flood, and cruse control. I have a couple odds and ends but I think I am ready for paint.

[marc55]

Thanks. The worst part is I was set on silver with green dash for the last 2 years and now I am thinking about metallic green with silver dash. Big decision. Now that I have a wife I guess I can just let her pick. Happy wife happy life

[rgunlock]

Hopefully your wife will be more helpful in that regard than mine. Mine insisted it was my truck so I pick the color, but I knew if I picked the wrong one I'd never hear the end of it

[marc55]

Doing some finish work on my console. Truck should go to the painter next week.

[marc55]

Between the holidays and some delays with the painter the truck is finally to paint. Now I just have to deal with paint jail. This if my first project I am having someone else paint. Hopefully have some pics in a week or so. In the mean time just doing odds and ends. Working on cleaning the glass.

[marc55]

Went to check on the truck at the paint shop. They Have most of the front end sheet metal hung and the doors dialed in. Also found my steering wheel.

[marc55]

The budget sucks somethings just would not fit right and needed a lot of work but you have to do things right. I knew what I was getting into. if I did all the work it was going to add a year plus to finishing the truck. So I picked money over time. I have painted plenty of cars and just did not want to put in the time. A good garage paint job is a lot of work. TIG is new to me but I always wanted to learn, same with the chop. I figure read a book watch a video and go for it.

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by marc55

A good garage paint job is a lot of work.

Tell me about it - even a somewhat good garage paint job is a lot of work, and I still have to redo a couple of panels.

Originally Posted by marc55

TIG is new to me but I always wanted to learn, same with the chop. I figure read a book watch a video and go for it.

Seems to me that is how we figure out most of the skills required for this hobby!

[marc55]

WOW 6 years. Life hit hard. I usually paint my cars but I decided to save time and have it done. That was a mistake. Painter was a total flake to make a long story short truck was in paint jail for 3 years. I was also able to build our dream house and shop 64x40. So the truck was in storage during the 2 years it took me to build the shop. I am finally up and running and have started working on the truck.

[dsraven]

not usually a fan of the 4x4 trucks becauise guys usually put too much tire under them that sticks out way past the fenders, to look like a monster truck I guess. yours is more tastefully done, nice.
64 x 40........jealous. mine is 26 x 30 and usually has too much stuff piled along the sides.

[Southcity]

Welcome back! glad you are able to pick back up on this 4x4, nice truck! now we need more pics of it and your new shop!

[marc55]

I usually like as a deep rim but the look was not right. I have had plenty of 4x4s that throw rocks down the side of the truck and I did not want that. The shop is a hybrid so I could make it match the house. I did all the work except the floor and install of the garage doors.