[Markeb01]

One more recent change - although I’ve been very pleased with the cosmetic appearance of the 58 Impala door mirrors, they just haven’t worked very well so Friday night they came off and the holes were filled using my standard JB weld method. Since my son currently has all my body working and paint stuff I’m just going to leave it as is for a while. The defects are only noticeable within 10 feet so I figure it’s good enough for now.





Saturday the new Bob Drake peep mirrors arrived and were given a good polish and then installed. I think these may be the first outdoor photos since the portholes and mirrors were installed:





I preferred the styling symmetry of the Impala mirror location better than the peeps, but I’ve driven behind a peep mirror from 1970 until the early 90’s, so I’m very familiar with the sight picture and limitations. At this point in life I'd rather have mirrors that actually work than mirrors that look better.

 

[Markeb01]

I’ve made a few more improvements since my last post. I’ve added Vintage Air under dash A/C, an open guard for the fuel pump switch, and a new easier to read quartz electric aircraft clock. Also every pull or rotary switch and cable grew a matching polished aluminum ball knob. Even the 4 way flasher gained a polished stainless ball. I also painted the glovebox GMC emblem black after hours of masking:



The snow tires on rally wheels were also installed recently, with a matching set of 15x7” trim rings this time. I also got tired of the appearance of the peep mirrors and went back to the Impala versions:



One other minor accessory is the addition of a late 40's Buick-like hood ornament:

 

[mt94ss]

Looks so nice! Great work.

Mike

 

[Blue Goose]

I'm with you Markeb,I like the Impala look more.Tried using peeps but just couldn't get used to em

 

[lakeroadster]

Lookin good Mark. Getting rid of all the red stuff in the cab looks so much better!

IMO peep mirrors only look good on a vehicle where everything is shaved (no door handles, no chrome, etc.)

 

[Markeb01]

A couple of weeks ago, having nothing better to do, I started thinking about the military parking brakes I’d seen in just about every military vehicle I ever encountered back in my USMC days in the late 1960’s. The feature I liked most was the ability to set the cable tension right in the cab, by adjusting the knob/handle. And I haven’t been very happy with my stock/chrome handle as I had to slice off nearly 3” to clear the tufted upholstery on the kick panel. I never cared much for the stock design to begin with as it is rather hard on a person with lower back damage.

I discovered it was originally designed in the late 1930’s and is known as the Orscheln “overcenter” design. It has since been fitted to just about everything from heavy trucks to fork lifts.

Currently there are dozens of versions available on Ebay and various military surplus sites. Rather than dealing with the problems associated with something that might be worn out, I ordered a new parking brake mechanism that looks nearly identical to the one used in the Dodge trucks and is designed for a GM step van:



$37.93 brand new from Mill Supply:

https://www.millsupply.com/workhorse-parking-brake-handle-pbh20.php?p=36275&cs=1+133

I did have to make some adjustments to the new handle assembly to allow it to fit and operate correctly, but it is a simple bolt in. If I were to get tired of it, the original parking brake can be reinstalled with no modifications to the truck whatsoever.

Here’s what the adapter plate looked like before final modifications:





The parking brake was final fitted and adjusted, the cable mounting bracket was lowered to better align with the new system, and the entire assembly installed which operated perfectly. It was then removed and torn apart for paint.

All the parts were washed with wax and grease remover several times, in between stripping, sanding, and acid primer applied on the bare metal parts. The final step was two coats of Rustoleum Appliance Gloss Black Epoxy. Here are all the parts in paint. The color is off as I took the shot without flash under the heat lamps:



The color is actually a deep rich black. This snap is with flash showing the true color:



And this is a close up of the operating handle. It really came out nice:



All buttoned up and back in service, the new handle is much easier to use for someone like me with a worn out spine. No more pulling – just a swing and push to the side. And no effort at all to release:

Here it is in the “off” position:



And here it is in the “parked” position:



I still need to get a correct length clevis pin. I had my choice between too long and too short. So I picked the one that would work for now.

That’s it until I can dream up something else that needs “improvement”!

 

[406Rich]

Sweet Mark..!

 

[lakeroadster]

Wonder Why GM Put The Hand Brake There?

That looks better than stock Mark.

But.....

Do you find it difficult to actuate the Hand Brake, while driving, using the foot brake and depressing the clutch?

Just seemed like it would be a problem if you lost the juice brakes and needed to get stopped in a hurry, hence the name "Emergency Brake".

Even as a parking brake, doesn't the stock location hinder getting in and out of the truck with the brake engaged?

Your thoughts, based on your experiences?

 

[Markeb01]

It really isn't in the way at all. I do have trouble getting in and out of our Honda CRV all the time as there isn't sufficient room for my right knee to clear the bottom of the steering column, even in the "up" position. I'm so used to dealing with that problem, this installation causes no issues at all.

The only goof I've encountered so far is reaching down to release the hand brake after 20+ years of having it in the old location. Takes about a second to regroup and go for the new handle. I'm sure in a couple of months I won't remember the old one was there.

 

[lakeroadster]

Most Excellent

 

[Markeb01]

A while back I added Dagmar’s to the front bumper guards, but they were too high and offended my sense of style. I worked on lowering them, but had so many problems with alignment of the left bullet I pulled them and went back to stock guards. A few days ago I revisited the project, and figured out how to resolve the alignment problem. Here they are back on the truck:









They are dead level, the tips are both 19 ¼” from the ground, they both point directly forward (about 5-7 degrees inward) and are the same distance from the grille bar on the backside., I’m thrilled they came out so nice. I considered bigger bullets like from a 55-59 GMC, 55 Buick, or various Packard’s, but they’re too big to blend well with the smaller 4 headlight system.

It’s a funny illusion, from a distance they look rather small and thin. From up close it becomes more obvious how shapely they are and how far they protrude in front of the bumper! Cosmetically I think they really add a sense of style, although clobbering knees with them isn’t so much fun! This is something I have to remember whenever I’m working on the engine!

 

[406Rich]

Cool Mark, I like them, Madonna has nothing on you...! beer

 

[Markeb01]

Having not yet found nirvana level satisfaction with my steering wheel selection, I’ve recently achieved at least a better level of understanding. I’ve finally found the perfect wheel, at least now I know what I want.

Going back a while, I had a 1950 Oldsmobile wheel (and parking brake) in my 1954 Chevy in the 1970’s:




I loved that wheel with the deep blue center and gold “Saturn/Earth” emblem in the center. It came out of a mint condition Olds 98 that just arrived in a local wrecking yard. I also relieved it of the chrome door strikers and lock knobs as well. A few months ago I was perusing a steering wheel restoration site and noticed a similar Olds wheel that had been recast in transparent blue:



I didn’t notice at the time it had been reduced from 18.5” to 16”, and the horn ring was also moved inboard. A couple of days ago I was watching My Classic Car on YouTube (season 19, episode 4) and saw the transparent wheel in one of the giant roadsters they were featuring. At least I thought it was the same wheel at first:



Further inspection showed it to be an original full size version in a lighter color, and with silver trim under the dome. At this point in time I no longer want an Oldsmobile wheel, but I sure like that transparent rim. After I win the lottery I want to marry that rim to a new Mooneyes wheel as I’ve never seen this done. But since these custom wheels cost somewhere from $1,000 - $1,500, I’ll be settling on a standard blue metalflake wheel once I can save up an extra $100 to waste on something else I don’t need!



An interesting footnote for some - the Olds 98 emergency brake handle in 1950 was the same exact piece used in the 55-57 T-Birds. It was the first time I ever saw a part that originated on a GM car used in a Ford.

 

[Markeb01]

I contacted the guy that does the transparent wheels, and he won't touch anything aftermarket, so that's a dead end. In the meantime my son bought me the blue Mooneyes wheel for an upcoming birthday. Here it is mounted. Maybe not as cool as a transparent wheel, but it sure does sparkle in the sunlight (along with the toggle switch jewels and metalflake shift knob:

 

[406Rich]

And here I thought you were done....! LOLfahne19

 

[Markeb01]

I keep telling my wife that all the time too!

I’ve been a bit distracted the last couple of days on a very important mission. The DVD “The Creeping Terror” was running in the garage while I was working on stripping cabinet doors, when I looked up and noticed the monster eating the couple in the little roadster:



For years I assumed the car was a Borgward, but for the first time in the history of the universe (and needing a distraction) I decided it was essential to confirm its identity. So I looked up Borgward on Google Images and was surprised to find none had the wrap around windshield shown in the movie. Having grown up in the 50’s when “foreign” cars were at the height of their popularity, I started looking through every brand and model I could remember, seeking the true identity of the car.

I knew it had to be late 50’s or early 60’s because of the wrap around windshield and recessed steering wheel:





I tried every brand and model I could remember, plus the oddballs that weren’t very popular like DKW, Lancia, NSU, Peugot, Saab, Simca, etc.

This went on for a couple of days until I tried Vauxhall, and came up with a few models with wrap around windshields. They still weren’t the right car but a photo of a Skoda was also included, a brand I had never heard of. When I got around to searching under Skoda, I hit the jackpot. The letters on the fender emblem even matched up (although the emblem is missing in the photo below). It spells out Felicia. I could see the 1st and 3rd letters were tall, but couldn’t make out any of the individual figures. I had tried a variety of T’s, L’s, and C’s, but never came up with a word that made sense. Further confirmation proved the vehicle to be a Skoda Felicia:



These were made in the Czech Republic from 1959-1964. Now the only question remaining is how it got to California at the height of the cold war!

What does this have to do with truck? Absolutely nothing. But now that I’ve resolved the mystery, I can shift focus back on the rear fender analysis! I have as many mixed feelings as others have opinions on how well the late fenders would look on my truck, but I still think it could be made to work and look great:





I’m wondering if I could add the new fenders while retaining the stock 1960 steps, and I’m thinking the stock 73 wheel wells might make the tires look more centered than they do in the 1956 openings. Especially with 275/60/15 tires on 8.5” rims. Opinions are always welcome.

 

[406Rich]

Mark as far as I' m am with this its your truck. But if it were me I'd run the stock fenders, do you think that maybe ( with another set of stock rear fenders) section an inch out of the lenght in the front area, or try it with glass fenders...?Course that woul mean all new bolts holes in the bed for the front section and not sure how much of the step would not line up, may have to mod it too....!

 

[Markeb01]

Truth is this concept will likely never happen. My wife would rather have a bathroom downstairs rather than more truck improvements! That and I'm not convinced the changes would look better in the end. I've just always liked the looks of those fenders on the 60-66 trucks, but I'm not all that enthusiastic about the later steps. So far I'm finding happiness with photoshop efforts and a 1/25th scale model!

 

[406Rich]

I keep telling my wife that all the time too!

I’ve been a bit distracted the last couple of days on a very important mission. The DVD “The Creeping Terror” was running in the garage while I was working on stripping cabinet doors, when I looked up and noticed the monster eating the couple in the little roadster:



For years I assumed the car was a Borgward, but for the first time in the history of the universe (and needing a distraction) I decided it was essential to confirm its identity. So I looked up Borgward on Google Images and was surprised to find none had the wrap around windshield shown in the movie. Having grown up in the 50’s when “foreign” cars were at the height of their popularity, I started looking through every brand and model I could remember, seeking the true identity of the car.

I knew it had to be late 50’s or early 60’s because of the wrap around windshield and recessed steering wheel:

Skoda...here ran across this on another search about half way down Mark.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...ndex.php/2012/05/16/them-funny-furrin-cars-los-angeless-1958-imported-car-show/

 

[Markeb01]

Cool, thanks!