I have a 58 apache with a 283 in it when i ran the vin # on the motor it matched the truck and also found out that the frame it sits on were used in corvets it was made in kansas city. My question is is this rare every where i look they are either strait 6 or 235 v8
You're a lucky guy, Red ... all the '55-'59 Chevy trucks I've had were on regular ol' truck frames. That 235 V8 was the "Fleet Economy" optional engine normally found only in butane fueled Canadian Pontiac taxi cabs exported to Cuba ...
good one 302! Really now, redriver, how about a pic of that frame? 50s chevy pickups had leaf springs all around, the 53-62 Vette had leafs in back and 49-54 p***enger car coil spring front suspension.
I got a 58 with a 283 which was in the truck when it left the factory....my frame however, sadly, is a mere truck frame.... but I could always take the truck body off of it and put a vet body on it...would that make my frame a vet frame?
I don't think that 283 trucks were all that rare although I think its pretty rare to find one today with a 283 and the original. We pulled a lot of 328s out to swap in 327s and later 250s when i was a kid. I don't know that I've ever seen an Apache with a Corvette ch***is, and probably if I did see one I'd think it was an early IFS swap. So I'm gonna have to say that whatever else is original in the truck the fact that it has a corvette ch***is and is the ch***is that came with the truck would make it as rare as hens teeth. I'm not a restorer by no means, don't have the patience for it, but I think if i had one like yours I might start to list a little in that direction. Just think about it, an Apache with a hot numbers matching 283 ( did I mention I like 283s) and a road race (for the day) ch***is. I'd at the very least have to try and run it up Pikes Peak just one time.
It has leaf and coil springs in the back, and the front only leaf springs. I will just take a pic of it real soon. And f.y.i. a shade tree mechanic told me about the frame. i just ment that the # on the block matched the vin # search. Not that the search said that it was a corvet frame sorry if I mis led any one that was not my intent.
better check that "frame number" again...and then double-check the wheelbase of a Vette against the wheelbase of your pickup..."vette frame" indeed...what the heck do they smoke in your neck of the woods? dj
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