Hot Rods Official 1959 Chevy Apache Build Thread

nice. I just finished my 59 chevy truck

 

Yeah I am getting there. One tiny itty bitty baby step at a time.

 

Got my 5 lug brake conversion in the mail for my '59. Picking op the passenger chev rear end and corvette posi thursday. I still gotta weld in the v8 mounts and trans mount and box the front frame rails. If it wasn't 110 fking degrees here I would be further along. We are going to have to have an apache meet cause I am seeing and hearing about a lot more of these apache builds. What are you doing on the suspension of the truck?

 

the front end is a 5 lug disc brake conversion w/ power steering. Rear is stock for now and I will probably swap it out a little down the road. Rear is 3.90 gear ratio and in perfect shape, I do have 6 to 5 lug wheel spacer conversions (?) on the back. (I am drawing a blank on the name right now) Engine is a 1992 350 chevy with a serpentine belt setup with a 1986 camaro 700R4 tranny, freshly rebuilt. Dual exhaust with Thrush Welded mufflers. The weight of the new engine and tranny drops the front end automatically about 2 inches, which gives the truck a nice rake.

I agree though, we should decide on a place to meet everyone. I have been seeing a lot of these builds as well.

 

Funny thing is the 235 weighed more than the small block.

what kind of primer are you using? if it's not an epoxy or sealer you're gonna have to strip it back off as it'll just absorb moisture and take it right to the metal.

 

Well what would explain the drop in the front end since the 235 that was pulled out was making truck ride at normal stock height and now that this thing is in there it is dropped down? Would it be a drop axle (dont think I have one of those, but I guess I have never seen a normal axle for this truck) I have more weight in the bed than was normally intended because of my fuel cell, so wouldnt it lean the other way? The only thing I can think of is that the springs are having a harder time with this engine/tranny??? Can you explain? This is not a reply to chew anyone's ass I am just trying to learn. That primer is a red oxide epoxy primer, am I going to have any trouble with this? It is an epoxy primer, I thought I was safe.

 

Not sure what explains the drop, but a 235 is about 50lbs heavier than a small block. What has changed since the 235 was pulled?

If it is an epoxy primer you should be good though. A lot of people just throw some primer on and think they're good.

 

I have used a tube crossmember for both front and rear and the engine is now sitting much lower than before. I suppose there would have to be some kind of drop axle or something to explain the drop.

I will be putting some high build primer on it soon after I do a thin layer of glaze to make sure it's smooth. I do have vacation time to burn before December 31'st... why not get this bad boy painted?!

 

Besides the engine, is there something else different? Like now you have a big heavy auto trans where before was a lighter manual trans?

 

the manual is NOT lighter, bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, cast iron case.

 

Oops.

He can take a picture of that front axle and we can tell him if its dropped.

 

was that axle on there with the 6 though?

 

I know for a fact that the front axe was only removed by me because there was at least 40+ years of gunk and surface rust on it prior to me taking it off. It hasn't been off before I can tell you that much, as far as it being changed a long time ago (close to when it was new), maybe. There was a 5-lug/power brake conversion to the front, but I did my research and it doesnt look like anything has changed there... So I suppose that the drop maybe from that. I will try to post some pictures tonight.

 

Just finished the inner front a pillar on the drivers side. I started tearing apart what I thought was steel on the passenger side front A-pillar, but found out it was mostly bondo. I then started taking out all of the rotten metal and will start fixing it tomorrow. Here are some pictures of the front drivers side.

 

Here is where I am with the passenger A-pillar. It is going to be a mess....

 

I also did some work on the front passenger fender. Here are those pictures.

 

Done with the front of that one, now to work on grinding and fix the other rot hole opened up by blasting.

 

I got the passenger side half way done, tomorrow I will weld the nut on the back for the hinge and then I will try to get the inner front A-pillar in there and be doing something else these next couple days before my business trip for a week

 

Great job so far man!

 

Thanks! I really want to start cooking on this thing before it starts getting too cold out that my kerosene heater wont keep me warm any longer!!

 

I totally forgot to post pictures zman sorry! I will definitely get to it this weekend!!

 

Here are some pictures of the finished A-pillar on the passenger side. YAY!

Here are the other pictures of the front suspension for an old request. Let me know if this a drop axle.

 

Look like a stock drop to me - see pic below. This is on a bone stock Cameo. I have a spare axle at home I'll check too.

 

stock axle...

 

cool guys thank you!

 

Well I finished up the major patch on the passenger side front fender. I also worked on the brake and gas pedal assemblies and go them where they need to be. Next step is to get this pig down the road for the first road test for well over 30 years. I will be posting some pictures of that fairly soon as well!

I will be gone on my business trip and will be bored to tears trying to find something to do since I normally come home and work on my truck.

 

Alright, well I dropped the tranny pan today to replace the pan gasket that was leaking ATF. I will be bolting that back up tomorrow and filling it full of ATF. I lubed my U-joints on both ends on the drive shaft as well. I will finish vacuum bleeding the brakes sometime this week and see If I can take this pig down the road. I will post a video once I get it moving!

 

So I dropped the tranny pan and installed a new gasket... unfortunately this pan does not have a drain plug so later on down the road I will get a better quality pan that has what I need on it. This will do for now though. I also did a little patching on the passenger front fender... not too much longer and I will get this front clip into some primer and back onto the truck! I am excited.. The days are getting shorter though so it looks like I will have to get my spotlight fixed.. hehe

 

Is that the stock steering arm on the drivers side spindle? Thanks
and BTW youre dong an awesome job.
-Lance

 

Nice work. Keep at it and you'll be riding in no time!