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55 to 59 chevy truck owners

935K views 3K replies 212 participants last post by  DOUBLEDICK 
#1 · (Edited)
My name is Richard Johnson and I am building my second Apache truck.I drive this truck every day and am doing everything I can to make it a pleasure to drive and still be a good work truck.I like modern drive trains and stock body and interiors.I am looking for other guys that have and drive these trucks to talk to and share Ideas and designs for custom made parts with.I have sent private messages to a few people on this board and only one person responded.At his request I sent him pictures of my custom sway bar mounts so he could make some for his truck.Without sway-bars these trucks are no fun to drive.I am curious to see what others have done and share ideas.
 

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#178 ·
I broke the u-joint but I haven't twisted the drive shaft yet.So far I have broke the transmission mount the drivers side motor mount twice and broke the traction bar mounts on both sides.Here are the broken traction bar mounts and the new ones I designed,made and installed to cure the problem
 

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#179 · (Edited)
58 owner here

Hey guys great topic and lots of usefull information here. I just bought a 58 apache that has a 70 chevelle frame grafted in front complete with suspension and sway bar. also has a chevelle 12 bolt rear installed. truck came with a another 58 parts truck complete minus engine and trans and a whole bunch of extra parts. the previous owner was a rod shop owner that started the project but due to health reasons had to go out of business and i happened to be in the right place at the right time..everything you see in the pictures plus a whole lot more and it only cost me 500 george washingtons he had 1500 worth of chassis and frame labor in it alone. it will be a bit of a project but i'm optimistic. Bob
 

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#181 ·
Thanks Kim
as soon as i get it back to my shop i'll blow the body apart and media blast it to see exactly what i have to work with. i think my direction with this project will be nice cruiser with a 400-450 hp 383 sbc. i'm really loving the amount of aftermarket and reproduction parts available for these trucks :thumbup:
 
#182 ·
Been a while

Hey Guys,
Its been a while since I posted but I keep reading this thread. I just moved my truck to my new office/shop area. I posted some pics of the truck outside and in the space. I look forward to having a dedicated space just for the truck! Now I know the space isn't huge...but its mine! Later guys.

Hey double D I will be getting with you on the sway bar mounts you made. I need to make some also and get rid of the cheap looking one I have now.

Here is a link to one of the pics in the new space

http://hotrodders.com/journal_photos/00026732/11672597262.jpg
 
#183 ·
Gator go to page 2 it is post 25 of this thread.I posted pictures of my sway bar mounts holding a tape measure next to them.You should be able to make copies of them based on those measurements.I cant take more detailed ones right now because I am in Las Vegas for my wife's cancer surgery.I should be back in Ely about the 20th of January.
 
#184 ·
DOUBLEDICK said:
Gator go to page 2 it is post 25 of this thread.I posted pictures of my sway bar mounts holding a tape measure next to them.You should be able to make copies of them based on those measurements.I cant take more detailed ones right now because I am in Las Vegas for my wife's cancer surgery.I should be back in Ely about the 20th of January.
DD that is exactly what I was looking at. I think I can get it from there. We will be praying for your wife. Hope very thing turns out fine.

James
 
#188 ·
Hey guys and girls,
I have decided not to do a suburban front frame section. i think it will take way to much time and i want to lower my truck. with the suburban front frame section the track width is about 6 inches wider then the track width on my truck. so now I want to do a mustang ifs, i have found one for around 1430 but cant find one any cheeper. it is from fatrodder on ebay, has anyone ever delt with these people?
 
#189 ·
I've decided to drop the front of the 59 and I bought one of the lowering straight axles. I'm not sure it's going to lower it as low as I want it but I thought I'd give it a try. Soon as I get this Christmas stuff out of the garage I'll be starting the install. Also going to put disc front power brakes along with a new stronger tie rod and tie rod ends.... and rebuilding the king pins. I'll post to the journal. Thoughts are with you DD.
Dave
 
#190 ·
Thanks everybody.My wife's surgery went well and she is resting here at my sisters house in Vegas.We will find out from the biopsy if she needs chemo or not.The doctor said noting else showed up on the PET scan and she did not expect the biopsy to come back positive for cancer.So keep up the prayers.
 
#192 ·
DD........ when I called CPP I asked them what was my best choice for lowering the front end and they told me the lowered axle was by far a better choice than the mono spring but I never thought to ask them about the two combined. The mono takes it down about 4 inches and the lowered axle about 3. 7 inches may be too much. I'll put the axle on and see where I'm at with it. I'm afraid of steering bump or some kind of bind with the steering if I get it down too far. I've never done this before so I'm just guessing. Did get the garage clear of Christmas today so the 59 will be going back to the work table. I've been having withdrawals from not getting to work on my truck.
Dave

PS, my Dad is a survivor of colon cancer of 15 years and my Mother a survivor of breast cancer of 16 years. Mom had chemo and Dad had to undergo radiation. They are both doing great. Keep the faith.
 
#193 ·
Hey guys... i need your help asap... i got my motor ready to pull just a couple minutes ago, can i pull the motor and tranny at the same time or am i gona have to drop the tranny then pull the motor out. the reason i ask for your help asap is because i have to give the cherry picker back tomorrow later on in the night. your help is appreciated!

thanks, Mike
 
#195 ·
Make sure you have enough hoist to get the motor and tranny high enough to clear the truck. Get the hoist as close to the engine as possible and you may need to let the air out of the tires. My one ton hoist handled my 350 and tranny just fine. Used a leveler between the hoist and engine. Take your time.
Dave
 
#197 ·
I wondered the same thing when I took mine out. I'm going to put it back in the same way. If I had a lift to get the truck up in the air I would opt to put them in seperately but I'm going to try and put them in together. I think coming out together was easier than putting them in together is going to be. I still have the front end on my truck. I took out the radiator but the grill etc was too much to mess with. Just had to get it all up in the air high enough to clear. If you have the front off the truck it shouldn't be any problem at all.
Dave
 
#198 · (Edited)
dropped axle

dmaggard said:
I've decided to drop the front of the 59 and I bought one of the lowering straight axles. I'm not sure it's going to lower it as low as I want it but I thought I'd give it a try. Soon as I get this Christmas stuff out of the garage I'll be starting the install. Also going to put disc front power brakes along with a new stronger tie rod and tie rod ends.... and rebuilding the king pins. I'll post to the journal. Thoughts are with you DD.
Dave
I would not spend the money on a dropped axle,as it will never handle like a sub framed conversion,even if you replace or rebuild the spring eyes, but if you do use a dropped axle, you can take every other leaf out of the springs both front and rear to soften the ride, as long as you don't use truck for heavy hauling, and keep speeds under 100 MPH, because it will never handle no matter what you do, I know because I tried..sub frames have disc brakes,independent suspension,power steering box's,sway bars,side mounts for the motor,etc.--STRAIGHT AXLES SUCK and are dangerous at high speeds...AND YES I ONCE LOST A TIE ROD END DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
 
#199 ·
This truck I'm working on is going to be for weekend fun, rod runs around town and just fun. I've had it up to 80 with no problem and really don't see the need in going any faster. I like to build a truck with a basic theme in mind for the truck. This one is a tubbed out old school feel with a bottle rocket engine and gears. I agree with the sub frame idea. I wanted to lower this truck without going that route and keep the straight axle. I actually like the original steering in this particular truck. Going to put the works on the 53 I drive everyday. The rear is where I want it already and rides pretty well for what it is. I may take out a leaf or two on the front end. Thanks for the input.
Dave
 
#200 ·
Bone stock these old trucks drive like a bowl of soup.The combination of front and rear sway bars with the traction bars ties it all together and eliminates the buck board bounce and sway.The control arm suspension provides a smoother ride but my strait axle suspension 58 handles better than my 97 astro van .I ordered a hellwig rear sway bar for the van because I drive the 58 all the time so I really notice how sloppy the suspension on the van is when I am forced to drive it on road trips to Vegas.In my opinion the strait axle is not a hazard if it is not worn out and sloppy at the shackles.The hazard is the old style tie rod ends that can come apart while driving.A 6000lb truck will never handle like a car no mater what suspension you put under it.Controlling how that weight is transfered around on the suspension is the most important thing when it comes to handling.
 
#201 ·
I guess that is part of the point I was making. One of the things that attracts me to these old trucks is that they are old trucks. I do like trucks with altered suspensions too, but my first love is the old straight axle. My 53 has the stock front and rear suspension and I drive it everyday. I have had it on the interstate a few times also. It drives like an old truck. Then I get in my 64 Impala 4 door hardtop with the power glide 327 and I float down the road like a big boat on a smooth lake. Variety is the spice of life. If I actually had to choose one over the other it would have to be my old trucks.
Dave
 
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