So I have a chance of picking up a running 58 Apache for dirt cheap. The only problem is I can't stand the front with its quad headlights and funny looking grill. I can live with the lights its mainly the grill that gets me. I love the look of the 55-57's and was wondering if those would fit, it looks as though it would. Also being a broke college student I was wondering if there was like a complete one piece tilt front end and where could I find it. If so would that be a cheaper route for now than trying to find an all steel original front off of a 55-57 front?
I have a couple of the early (steel) front ends laying around....unfortunately they're not for sale. I just mention it to let you know that they're not impossible to find. although if you lived close by and would swap what you have for what I have I'd probably do that. Freight would be expensive. There are some minor differences, the 58-59 trucks have a longer frame, you'd need to cut off a bit (2 to 3 inches) and redrill the bumper holes. The hood hinges are different, need to drill two more holes in the firewall. All the front end sheetmetal is different: inner fenders, core support, hood, etc must match the type of fenders. I don't know where you'd find a one piece gl*** front end... (btw, do your intro on the intro thread, or you'll get pestered by the board rules compliance officers)
I just did the intro thing, never realized that that was my first post. After messing around in photoshop I think I could just settle for maybe mounting single headlights and coming up with some kind of grille. I figured I was going to have to change everything from the firewall forward and that probably cost more than I can afford right now. It is good to know that it can be done though. The more I stare at pics the more it kind of grows on me. I probably am going to go ahead and get it but that means I am going to have to put my bike mods off until later which works with the Texas winter we are having.
58-9 GMC would probably interchange easily. However, I see nothing wrong with what's there to begin with. A bar grille made from 1/4" or 1/8" bar stock, (bars turned on their sides to put the thin side out and the edges sanded and polished, by hand if need be)(try your local s**** yard to make materials more affordable), with rolled pans made from any number of doner sources (60-66 Chev or GMC pickup hoods, maybe?) and nerf bars or early 60's style blade bumpers of your choice, or not, would look really good on one of those trucks, the grille alone for that matter. Nosed with shaved side emblems couldn't hurt either. Maybe even frenched headlights. Add in the interior materials of your choice with the big round instrument clustered 55 to 59 GMC dash and bucket seats from an early Pontiac Bonneville to make something really special. Always lusted for a long wheelbase widebox 58 or 59 Apache with the deluxe chrome side trim running along the bullets sculptured into the box sides, lowered way down, running deep dish chromes or Astros and bullet spider centers, with a front end treatment similar to what I've suggested above in a dark blue candy with pearl silver highlights. Of course, a overhead cam Pontiac six with multiple carbs and headers and a split exhaust, in front of a 5 speed wouldn't hurt either. Why bother trying to make it look like a tri five? If you want a 55 through 57, they are out there. These trucks can look really great without trying to make them something they're not.
55 second series cab to 59 cabs will interchange front ends pretty easily. They are repopping 55-57 fenders in steel nowadays, can't vouch for the quality, original steel is still plentiful around here.
If you want something odd and different 58-9 GMC Fleet trucks used single lights, not easy to find but out there. Jay
hey, I was gonna say that! they have a neat grille too, isn't it expanded metal or something? and they use the normal Chevy v shaped gage cluster. Reall ugly trucks but then what do I know, we have 4 of the 59 Chevys here.
Not the best at photoshop but here is what I was thinking about doing when I said changing the headlights and a new grille. The reason why I am going with an Apache instead is because it is what I can afford. This isn't the exact truck I'm looking at but its the best pic I found off Ebay.
If it's got good fenders and front end, sell them to someone who needs them and buy some 55-57 second series sheetmetal to go on it.... of course the 58-59 is my favorite Chevy and GMC trucks....
The 59 is my favorite, but only because I got mine when I was a kid, almost 30 years ago. The look sure grows on you over the years, when I got it I thought it was about the ugliest thing around. I wrecked that truck last fall, so I'm in repair mode...but we have a couple others, including a short fleetside that we got for one of my kids last winter. We got it running yesterday, fresh 235, redid all the stuff that needs done like brakes, wiring, gas tank, etc. Been a while since I used a pedal starter btw JohnnyFats, if you do get the truck you might want to try to get used to the looks first, maybe you'll like it after a while.
It really ain't that hard to find the trucks you say you really like. I dig the 58-59 Apaches... If I was gonna put a new grill in it I'd put in a vet grill...been done before, but still looks cool!
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