My 1955 Chevy 3100 build

[55 Chevy Dave]

Other friends stopped by on the following weekend, so I put them to work helping me put the cab back on the frame and dropping the engine and trans back into the frame.

I then put in the exhaust headers. After making a slight adjustment to one of the motor mounts, the headers seem to fit just fine.

I am very happy with how the firewall looks behind that engine and don't regret all the time and effort spent to get it to that point!

[55 Chevy Dave]

After spending the better part of a day filling the remaining holes in the cab floor and grinding all of my welds on the inside of the cab, I measured the location of the steering column penetration through the factory firewall and drilled a small hole through my new firewall and pulled a string from the rough location of the future steering wheel through the new firewall into the engine bay. After making a small adjustment to my pilot hole, everything seemed to be lining up nicely, so I cut the 2-1/4" diameter hole and inserted the new steering column.

The rear primary exhaust tube on the driver's side seems to wrap around the steering column nicely. Check out the third picture below.

I ordered the tilt column, so I know I will be able to adjust the steering wheel location inside the cab.

It looks like I need to order a 10"-12" straight extension to install on the end of the steering column and then install my first u-joint heading forward toward the rack and pinion. Then I would have a straight shot to the second u-joint attached to the rack and pinion.

I have not seen a steering linkage extension that connects directly to the column. Do they make such a thing? I know I would prefer to avoid a third u-joint in the linkage from the end of the column to the rack and pinion. I would have a straight shot if the end of the column was closer to the ground by 10"-12".

How far should the 30" steering column extend past the firewall into the engine bay? Any feedback would be much appreciated. As with everything else on this thread to date, I have never done any of this before. Guess it's time to do some more internet research!

[Advanced Design]

Looks good Dave! For steering information, check out page 26. http://borgeson.com/Images/100th_Catalog.pdf

Borgeson provides really good information on measuring for and putting a steering shaft system together.

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[58-GMC]

I like the smoothed dash. Truck is looking great!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by 55 Chevy Dave

I previously ordered a set of Patriot exhaust headers and a polished stainless steel Flaming River steering column from Summit Racing.

After a long search on this forum and hunting up and down on the internet, this is the only set of long tube headers I could find for my application.

The steering column came with a dent in it, but Summit promptly sent out a replacement at no charge. UPS wanted me to take some pictures and e-mail them, but to date, they have not indicated that they want the damaged column, so I may end up with a spare!

I have always had great success with Summit and would highly recommend them. Whenever I have a choice, I always order from Summit. And no, I don't work for them!

I love my SUMMIT! -- I have the Patriot fenderwell headers, they are very well put together.... if you want to get rid of that column You just let me know what you want for it. Im ready to bite that bullet and need to get it done and can probably live with a dent.... if not Ill pass it on too.

I think you can get up to a 36"-38" colum Ive seen out there. Check the flaming River and IDIDNTDO IT web sites,,,,

[55 Chevy Dave]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Looks good Dave! For steering information, check out page 26. http://borgeson.com/Images/100th_Catalog.pdf

Borgeson provides really good information on measuring for and putting a steering shaft system together.

As always, the forum members come through with some much-needed education. Thanks Doug for helping me out - yet again!

[55 Chevy Dave]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looking good.
Kim

Originally Posted by 58-GMC

I like the smoothed dash. Truck is looking great!

Thanks again for the compliments!

[55 Chevy Dave]

Originally Posted by ptc

I love my SUMMIT! -- I have the Patriot fenderwell headers, they are very well put together.... if you want to get rid of that column You just let me know what you want for it. Im ready to bite that bullet and need to get it done and can probably live with a dent.... if not Ill pass it on too.

I think you can get up to a 36"-38" colum Ive seen out there. Check the flaming River and IDIDNTDO IT web sites,,,,

PTC, I will hold onto the column for a week or two more, just in case UPS changes their mind and wants it back. Otherwise, I'll be in touch to work something out.

[RockinKees]

Nice work Dave!
Beautifull dash!!

[dug224]

Did you have the passenger side smooth dash metal fabricated or did you purchase ready to install? Great photo documentation. Makes it fun to follow.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Originally Posted by dug224

Did you have the passenger side smooth dash metal fabricated or did you purchase ready to install? Great photo documentation. Makes it fun to follow.

Dug224,

I purchased the blank dash panel from Brothers Truck Parts. It fit very nicely. Definitely worth the money.

[55 Chevy Dave]

After moving the firewall hole about 1/4", the steering column linkage seems to be working. It binds a bit in one spot, but I think that is because I don't have all of the set screws installed. It should be fine.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I did not get the hood media blasted with the rest of the panels because I was nervous about warping the metal. I sanded through several layers of paint, primer and body filler to get down to clean metal.

There are only a couple of spots that need to be cleaned up a bit.

[55 Chevy Dave]

Here's the hood back in place after getting it down to bare metal. I also reinstalled the bed so I could work on it next.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I pulled some bucket seats out of a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse from the local salvage yard. I built wood bases to mock the seats up. After being reupholstered, I think they will work out great.

[55 Chevy Dave]

The tailgate didn't make it to the media blaster either, so I had to sand on it for a while also. It also seems to be in pretty good shape.

I installed the roll pan under the tailgate. I first had to cut a section of the rear cross sill out to make room for the license plate indentation.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I want to keep the factory rear bumper and thought the roll pan would work nicely to hide the gap from the bottom of the tailgate to the top of the bumper.

I cut slots in the bottom of the roll pan to allow the bumper brackets to pass through. After some trimming, checking for proper fit and then trimming again, I was able to install the rear bumper.

[55 Chevy Dave]

It is definitely looking more and more like a truck! Too bad I can't take it out for a drive!

[oldman3]

Moving right along, and looks good...Jim

[Kim57]

You're making good progress.
Looks real good.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Nice!!
You've done a lot of work lately!

[Advanced Design]

Nice work Dave! I noticed a vibration reducer at the steering shaft connection. Planning the same for the Burb and I think it makes a difference.

[Baldeagle SR]

Dave Your doing about the same thing I did on my truck . One thing you might keep in mind , you might put your floor in before you mount the rear roll pan permantely . It would a lot easier getting to the floor bolts. Nice work you are doing. Rich
There are some pic here. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=576185&page=4

[slck57]

I really like the roll pan/bumper idea. Where did you get your roll pan?