Projects 1959 Chevrolet Apache 3100 - Build Thread.

It's time I do this properly... and start a build journal for the pickup that I got from Goozgaz.

Here are a couple of shots that he had posted...





Beautiful pickup, huh..

I drove it around for a month without doing anything to it except wash it and add oil. That and let the boys play in it.



Then the brakes started to give me trouble. A major brake was needed, and bearings and a new master cylinder.

There is a temporary seat in there (donor from an S10) while the stock seat is out getting re-upholstered. I cleaned and painted the floors. The doors have new rubber... this weekend I will hopefully have time to install the new felts and window channels that I got from Golden State Pickup Parts... and a replacement radiator.



Tonight I installed a Mooneyes steering wheel, using a Grant adapter. Only $18.50 from Amazon, and the box was unmolested.



My wife figured that I needed some protection, so this was my Christmas gift. I removed the knob from the lighter and JB Welded this in there:


That's all for now... more work this weekend!

 

nice ride, enjoy the kids while they are young. The truck can wait

 

I am... and no it can't! It's my daily driver!!

 

one more shot before I crash... I have posted this before, but I dig it.

 

Great...I'll be looking forward to seeing the progress on this one... I'm doing a 58 myself

 

It's about time.

I'll be following this.

 

yeah Im along for the ride too.........soft spot for these babies!

 

miss you.

 

That's bitchin.

 

Truck is killer bro I see why Goozgaz is missin it, my next build is going to be 55-63...not sure which style yet, money n time will tell. Enjoy and keep us posted!

 

Most of the repop stuff is cheaper for the '55-'57 than the other years as they are much more popular. '55-'59 is more expensive to lower with it's solid front axle and leaf springs front and rear. If you do a '60-'63, get the '63. It has coil springs up front versus torsion bars in the '60-'62. '60-'63 will probably have the cheapest purchase price and are usually more readily available than '55-'59. No matter which one you get, you'll love it.

Now back to the build thread. Can't we get an update since last night? I mean, it's been 8 hours, haven't you gotten anything done in that time?

 

What's your plan for this? I ask because I am in the middle of a build on a 59 as well. I'll definitely be following this.

 

I did dream about it... woke up all stuck to the sheets.

The Plan:
- Remove a few leafs to lower it.
- Paint the wheels the same red as in the bed.
- The seats are out getting the tuck-n-roll treatment... (By Roger!)
- Sent it to TJ to get the interior painted white... door inserts painted red.
- Fix all the little electrical demons.
- Fix the heater, defroster (re-core it at the radiator shop).
- Build a bed floor out of plywood.
- Basic stereo setup, only an MP3 player, no head.
- I have a 292 that might land in there.

Longterm (what I was dreaming lastnight):
- Find a donor Cadillac with a big block
- Swap the front frame clip & driveline
- Lakes Pipes
- Do Donuts.

- Joe

 

Your totally correct on all that, I should of been more specific..Ive been doing alot of cost research (LMC is alotta help). Wish GM designed there truck arms in 55'!!! Either way his 59" Apache is a supper clean lookin truck, they have been catchin my eye for awhile now, cant wait to see his progress!

 

...here's a shot of my 55 I'm workin on...It's gonna run a 292 inline...
I lowered this in the rear by knocking the rivets out of the rear spring hangers and flipping the hanger 180 degrees and bolted it on top of the framerail, then you can install the rearend on top of the leafs and use lowering blocks; mine has 2 inch blocks rite now; will see what works after the bed is set back on.

This truck came with lowered rear shackles which helps with this setup; the shackles are about 6 inches long; orig. rear shackles mite not work as well as they are shorter.
I lowered the front with a Nova clip.

 

Meddler - your GMC is crazy man.

 

what are you doing for the rest of the drivetrain?

 

You can also swap the spring hangers on the inside of the frame rails to get a wider tire in there if so inclined.

 

This showed up in the mail today... Thanks for the link to the Early Ford Store, Terd.



$25 with tax and shipping is way better than over $100 for the stockie switch assembly.

- Joe

 

Cool! I'll be following this thread so keep us updated!

 

...I'm plannin on runnin a 292 inline six, maybe a 4 barrel intake, dual exhaust, with a turbo 350, the rearend is a Nova with 3:08 ratio,...engine is stock otherwise.

 

I got a chance to buy a decent 59 GMC with a good running 270 six banger...I want it sooooo bad but I also wanna finish up my 34 coupe. BTW, the 59 Jimmy comes with a clean 55-56 GMC front clip and an extra 270 motor....I's soooo tempted.
I ran a 292 in my 68 chevy shortbox with clifford headers, chevy HEI ign. and a clifford intake with a Q-jet. At first I ran a 55 chevy 3 speed overdrive and when it broke [after 3 years of abuse] I used a 700R-4...terrible mistake. Next time I'd use a world class T-5. The fresh 292 with the modifications really COOKED! and the dual exhaust with glasspacs sounded good enough to get tickets with.
The photo was taken before I got the dual exhaust on it..single pipe.

 

I managed to blow all the cash I had to get my '52 back on the road once I got my '59.

If everything works out, I'll run that 292 and the stock 3 speed.

- Joe

 

Well - I have the drivers door window channel and anti-rattles in (should have started with the other side)... what a pain in the ass. The kit that I got from Golden State was for 55-63, I had to trim and bend it to fit. The stock one that I pulled out had little keeper tabs on it, I ended up using a self-tapper to keep the channel in place.

If you look closely you can see a mistake or two, but man, what a difference driving it. Not a squeak!

I'll do the other door tomorrow, who knows, maybe I learned something!
- Joe

 

Nice truck. Good luck with your build.

 

Joe,

You're welcome. I'm definately getting one of those. Thanks for posting the up close pics! It looks waaaaay better (more style to it) than the other universal lever I got. I dig the green end of the lever, doesn't it light up? Does it have provisions for 4-way hazards?

 

It's supposed to light up on the end, no hazard switch...
Mas Grande: http://picasaweb.google.com/poutous/1959ChevroletApache12Ton#5432285910168648386

- Joe

 

The other window channel kit is in. The first couple of places that I called to get the kit said that the factory was re-tooling and would not have the kits instock for another 2 or more months. The kit that I used was a real pain in the ass, maybe that is why the other places are re-tooling.

My advice to anyone needing to re-do the doors on a 55-63 pickup is to wait for the new kits.

- Joe

More to come....

 

I just got this picture from my friend Roger..



www.rogerdstarkey.com

 

Looks killer! Can't wait to see more!