[dmaggard]

xx.... nice truck. I love the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Glad to see people fixing them up. Seems like you see more and more of them all the time. My father inlaw has a 44 Ford 1 ton I'll be putting back together for him this winter. It's an original restore. Not a hot rod. Yep, a 44. Long story. Keep posting the pics. Love to see it come along.
Dave

[dmaggard]

Originally Posted by DOUBLEDICK

Dave we were talking about the club I am in and its web site "classicsandrods.com" C.A.R.s is a very small club but you would never know it if you judged it by the web site.

Enjoyed the web site. Lot of nice rides. You've really put a lot in your truck. Great pics. Love that BB.
Dave

[DOUBLEDICK]

What is up with your truck Dave?

[dmaggard]

Not much has been happening. I have the engine loaded in the back of the pickup and I'm heading to a town about 60 miles east of Atlanta in the morning. I'll be coming back home tomorrow too. I'll leave it down there until they do their thing with it. I wish I had bought the truck with the original engine and built my own. Live and learn. The trans is in the shop being rebuilt and a shift kit installed. Got a welder today and I'll be cleaning up the firewall and doghouse, filling holes and repainting. I'm going to go ahead and order the parts for the front disc brakes, the power booster, and the lowering springs. I'd like to get all that done before I reinstall the motor. I promised my father inlaw I'd put his 44 back together when I get this one out of the garage and I'd like to get them both done over the winter. I'm gonna be busy.
What are you into on your Apache?
Dave

[billg_69gmc]

Hey all,

thanks double d for pointing me over this way...
I have a 59 step that is err 2 yrs into a frame off. Doing it all myself so far.

Here's my web site for those who want to look at the progress.

http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/x/mxbill/ApacheProject/

Just started sheet metal work. I've been bouncing back and forth on finishing the shop and getting back to the truck. For those interested, I installed a split heat pump as my last project to get thru the winter and prepare for next summer... no exuses left!

Stats:
Montana bred, 59 Apache... adopted from eBay
It was "patched" previously by PO, and that is the only thing wrong with it.
Toe panel patches that were welded right over existing cancer. Lower outer door hinge, and rear cab corners. All else looks ok.
Original 235 from what I can tell.
Put in the CCP power brake booster on the frame rail
Mono leafs all around
Front disc kit
Rear end swap from a chevelle station wagon.

Any questions, feel free to ask. I'd say I have resto work under my belt and still feel like a babe in the woods... but I'm loving it.

billg

[dmaggard]

Nice truck billg. Did you have any problems with the power brake unit fitting correctly in the stock location? I'm doing the same thing to my 59 this winter and it looks really tight in there. I have a V8 with headers and I'm going to have to take a really close look at it. I love the 48. I sold my 52 five window this summer and I drive the 53. The 59 is my hot rod. I want to do a complete hot rod project on a nice 47, 48 or 50. Keeping my eyes open for one. Enjoyed the pictures on your site. Nice job.
Dave

[billg_69gmc]

The power brake booster was an easy install. Since it does shift backwards, I believe you drill one hole in the frame for a mounting bolt of sorts... The instructions from Classic Performance pretty much lead you through it. I plan on doing all my brake bleeding prior to putting sheet metal back on the frame and I think the filler hole in the floor may need to be moved slightly... also added residual valves since it is mounted on the frame.

If you goto Classic Performance site, I think you can download the install instructions to get a good idea of the install.

The 48 is bone stock. Got it off ebay also... its from S. Dakota... I use it as incentive to get the 59 on the road!

billg

[DOUBLEDICK]

Dave I have a little bearing trouble.My seal came out of the back of the hub and snow,dirt and water got in and ruined the roller bearing.Fortunately classicparts sells just one bearing.no one else would sell anything but the whole kit for $175.I am just waiting on UPS to deliver the new bearing.On a different subject I also did the power brake conversion.I will post a couple pictures of mine from under the truck to give you an idea of the clearance issues.I used the kit from brothers trucks.It comes completely assembled, you just have to mount it and run the brake lines.It mounted in the same bolt holes the stock master came out of and uses the stock pedal assembly.I run a stock parking brake so I had to move the pulley for the cable back but it was a simple thing to do.While I was at it I put in a line lock and a pressure activated brake light switch too.

[DOUBLEDICK]

billg that is a nice truck it looks good in red.I also liked the background.it looks kind of like the Ely area.Except the snow is in my yard too

[dmaggard]

I've been looking at different setups and wondering what all I need to do when I set this thing up. I've been considering a line lock. When I get it back in the garage I'll check and see what rear gears I'm running. I'm going to have to put new brake shoes on the 53. Can't get the side with that had the brake fluid leak to quit grabbing. I'm just going to change out to new shoes. I'll probably order the brake kit and the lower mono leaf spring from CPP. I think they are all about the same. Looks like it will be after the first of the year before I get the motor back. The shop had gotten some heads that had the brass fitting just a tad too long where the valves ride in the head. It just literally beat the rocker bolt in two. The new intake should give me 30 or so more horses to play with and they seem to think that problem I was having with the slow starting when hot had to do with that same valve spring. Hope this takes care of it all. It was 70 degrees here in TN today. Snow?

[billg_69gmc]

Originally Posted by DOUBLEDICK

billg that is a nice truck it looks good in red.I also liked the background.it looks kind of like the Ely area.Except the snow is in my yard too

I believe you are referring to the picture of it when it was in Montana. That's one of the ebay pictures that sold me on the 58/59 apache. It looks mean out of the box like no other IMHO. The truck now resides in Georgia in an assortment of bags. I got held up on the build to finish the garage, now that I have heat/air, I have no excuse.

Tonight I was cutting more metal away to replace the toe board and the outer front pillar and found more rust, so now I have to buy the inner front pillars.

Anyone have a strong recommendation on spot weld drill bits? Eastwood has a few and the one I have is about shot. Anyone have luck taking them to a professional bit sharpener? anyway, it's getting late... time to sleep.

[DOUBLEDICK]

billg good luck on the rebuild I know it is a labor of love. on another note.Hey Dave it is good to see a shop stand behind their work.Sounds like it will be a busy winter for you( if you can call 70 degrees winter. It was 6 below last night and tonight wont be any better)keep taking and posting those pictures.Anything I can help with just ask.Sometimes just a picture helps allot.I can take pictures of anything I have done at any angle you need and post them for you just ask.I will do the same for anyone that asks.

[hotrodsbyray]

just gettin deeper on to this site - i have an intro posted but that's about it. have a 57 short stepside i am trying to repair all the prior owners "upgrades" to make road worthy again. i've gone through a bunch of this thread but didn't notice info about your coil-overs on the front. do you have a link or a journal that discuss that mod and the whys behind it?
i have a 350 in now but going to a newer 4.3 v-6 with FI - i know, i know - more wimpy but really all i need and i am thinking about that future $5 a gallon gas.
once i figure out how to get photos to upload i am gonna start a journal on this long rebuild!
good thread and thanks guys for starting it!

[hotrodsbyray]

duh - i forgot - has anybody ever suicide mounted the doors in a 55-59 - i want to do that but would like to see what others have done.

has anybody ever considered a front clip with a chevy colorado or gmc canyon? i did some quick prelim measuring and at the area just ahead of the firewall the frame rails seem to be very very close in dimensions!

[Kim57]

This truck has suicide doors on it. If you contact the owner through cardomain.com he might be able to help with what you want.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2301030
Kim