Project '54 5W Chevy HELP PLEASE!!

[Daniel U]

Hey there, you can read my introduction at: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=212749
I need some help with a few things. Have any of you retrofit lap style seat belts to your P/U? I'd like to use the GM style that were metal and offered in the mid 70's(to early 80's I believe ). I'm calling "Glide Engineering" tommoro to order my seat. I'm also looking for a fuel cell to mount under the bed where the spare used to be. The problem is that I'm running a TPI intake from an '87 IROC and need an internal fuel pump like the ones found in the later 80's Camaro/Firebirds/Corvettes. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Daniel U P.S. Anybody here from Central CA.? I live on the "Central Coast" about 45 min. from Morro Bay. I'd like to hook up sometime if there are any gtg's with Chevy pick up truck clubs. Here's a pic of the day I bought the truck for $1200. I drove it home!

[Daniel U]

Pics:hood, rear fenders,rear chassis

[Daniel U]

more pics:bed with out fenders or finished ends.

[Daniel U]

some more....I'll keep you all updated as more work is done. I wonder if my son is gonna be a Chevy guy when he grows up?

[Daniel U]

Some more pics of the new Walker radiator with elec. fan, and the pass. side inner fender that will hold the heater hoses for a cleaner firewall. Enjoy!

[Daniel U]

some more pics: of my steering linkage and ceramic coated cast iron headers and my finished bed end(and son).

[texascowboy593]

Thats all lookin good...Welcome from TX!

[CAL 58 GMC]

Welcome, Very nice work! I have to ask, what is that on the inner fender for? I live in Clovis right next to Fresno. As for your tank question, Kustom tanks can make you a tank that use internal fuel pumps. Here's the link to their site.http://www.kustomtanks.com/
It looks like your son has plans on that truck becoming his when he starts driving.

[Daniel U]

Thanks guys. Cal 58, you are only about 2 hours from here. Any good Chevy truck clubs local? Thanks for the link. I'm checking it out now! Where are you at with your project? I'll keep you all posted. Gotta order some parts, later Daniel U

[Daniel U]

So I got a few more parts ordered today.....
I ordered 3 chrome buckled lap belts in "tan" for my truck through: http://www.julianos.com/lift_latch_seat_belts.html
my seat w/ contoured foam through: http://www.julianos.com/lift_latch_seat_belts.html
a fuel cell through:
http://www.kustomtanks.com/
and my hood bumper kit, and decals for hood emblem through:
www.americanclassic.com
I'll keep the updates coming as parts come in and are installed. Thanks for the positive feedback. Hope to see you a a show in shine soon!

[CAL 58 GMC]

Your welcome Daniel. Are you near Paso or closer to Pismo? My sister lived in Grover city for years. I'm glade to see you got your tank. Now, at the sake of maybe upsetting you, you might want to re-work you steering linkage. You want to try and make it as straight as possible. It looks like the u-joint might get bound up. I read somewhere that if it's too much of an angle it could bind up when you’re driving and it goes without saying, that would not be a good thing. From looking at what you have, you might need to shorten the shaft below the bottom u-joint and make the top shaft a little longer. I should have some of my DD shaft left over and I would be more then glade to give it to you. Check out Flaming Rivers web site:http://www.flamingriver.com/p_view_i..._Tech_Tips.gif

[Daniel U]

I'm in Paso. The inner fender will hold the heater hoses and A/C. The problem we encountered with the steering was that the headers would hit the steering during use. Other than having custom bent headers ($1500.00) made through Lemons headers, this was our only other option. I'm really trying to keep it in budget. I still have to wrap the interior with leather, put in a stereo, get my pulleys, and paint the thing.

[PBFAB.COM]

Dan-

As for your fuel delivery/tank issue... you don't actually need to go with a custom tank that has an internal pump. I have done numerous fuel injection conversions; TPI, LT1, and LS1. You do have to have a return line back to the tank. There are multiple brands of exterior mounted pumps that will work. The important thing is finding one with the correct psi. A custom tank would be trick... and spendy, but not necessary.

The truck is looking very nice! Keep it up!

[CAL 58 GMC]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

I'm in Paso. The inner fender will hold the heater hoses. The problem we encountered with the steering was that the headers would hit the steering during use. Other than having custom bent headers ($1500.00) made through Lemons heaers, this was our only other option. I'm really trying to keep it in budget. I still have to wrap the interior with leather, put in a stereo, get my pulleys, and paint the thing.

Cool idea on the inter fenders!! I completely understand about trying to stay within a budget. I just don't want to see ya going down the road and it binding up and you lose control. I would check with Flaming River just to be on the safe side. Anyway you go, you’re really doing a nice job!

[Daniel U]

Thanks, I talked to a vetran truck builder and he seems to think I'll be ok. I will definitely watch it on the maiden voyage. When will this be most critical? Will it be noticable at all times or are there certain speeds/terrains that will cause this to become more noticeable? I can steer it right now with no problems. Thanks again for the concern.

[Daniel U]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

Dan-

As for your fuel delivery/tank issue... you don't actually need to go with a custom tank that has an internal pump. I have done numerous fuel injection conversions; TPI, LT1, and LS1. You do have to have a return line back to the tank. There are multiple brands of exterior mounted pumps that will work. The important thing is finding one with the correct psi. A custom tank would be trick... and spendy, but not necessary.

The truck is looking very nice! Keep it up!

Already ordered the tank. But it will help in the future as I plan on all my projects to be EFI of some sort. Any pics of your tank/ fuel system?

[PBFAB.COM]

Here's a pic of the tank, pump, and fuel pressure regulator. The regulator is pretty trick... the return line comes out the bottom of the regulator, and you can mount the regulator wherever you want, making your return line whatever length you want (in my opinion, the shorter the better... in this case anyways )

[Daniel U]

WOW, that's a completely custom chassis. How much $$$ invested in that? Thanks for the pic. Very clean!

[Daniel U]

I plan on running American Torque Thrust II wheels on my pick up. Does anyone know what kind of back spacing I need. Also how wide can I go and keep the stock fenders/bedsides. I plan on going with 17's or 18's.

[55ChevyPU]

Originally Posted by Daniel U

WOW, that's a completely custom chassis. How much $$$ invested in that? Thanks for the pic. Very clean!

I always get jealous whenever I look at porterbuilts truck, When I was choosing a color originally I actually had a similar color in mind, I was looking at that blue VW Beetle color.

[PBFAB.COM]

Dan-
A chassis like that one runs in the $20K range... everything but the wheels tires and paint.

55 Chevy-
If it were up to me everything would be blue! That VW Blue is a good one. The orange you picked out is definitely on my favorites list! And for the record... that blue 55 isn't mine (I was given free reign to build it as if it were mine!). I have a 57 that will one day be just as nice!

[Daniel U]

OUCH! And I thought $30K was a good price budget for my truck. I better add up my reciepts before I go over!

[entourageguy]

OOPS to late !!!!

Brian

[Daniel U]

I got my seat belts in today. I take some pics when I get them in with the seat for mock up.

[Daniel U]

I found out today that the '54-'55 1st series pick ups had different frames in the rear than the '47-'53's did. Just a little trivia.