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Projects My Apache...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Shane Spencer, Sep 15, 2012.

  1. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Yeah im just gonna weld the box to the frame. Another guy i saw made a removable door on the side of the cab step. I like the door in the floor better tho

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  2. dubie
    Joined: Aug 17, 2004
    Posts: 698

    dubie
    Member

    i saw one guy welded in a door from an old house fuse panel into the floor so he had a bit of a bigger opening to access the under mounted battery. That was done on a 59 Apache
     
  3. NEWFISHER
    Joined: Dec 16, 2011
    Posts: 591

    NEWFISHER
    Member
    from Oregon

    Stock 47-54 Chevy truck under floor mounted battery
     
  4. 1959apache
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,635

    1959apache
    Member

    Hey thief, that idea is patented by me.

    haha :D

    I thought about the same thing but thought it may look to gaudy, I think I am going to have a pin striper come in and do a design around the clock. If you can make it work it will look awesome.

    good job on it so far. keep plugging away at it
     
  5. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    I think the clock would look cool. If it were me I'd probably try to make the face of the clock bezel flush with the front peak of the dash and the top of it flush with the highest point of the dash.
     
  6. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    The clock is just held on with duck tape in that pic for a brief look. I have to cut the dash to get it more flush looking.

    And 59 apache i had never seen the chevy car dash done but thought it would look cool. I had debated between a shitload of olds, pontiac, chevy etc etc to find something cool. I also found a dude who made the speaker grill area of the 51 car dash hinge down and hide a stereo behind it. Ill try and find a pic. U should do it man itd look sick, i know if i was keeping the chev dash i would try lol. God knows how itd look

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  7. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Heres the hinging panel, its actually ac controls in this pic but u could make it work for alot of stuff....

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  8. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    A close friend of mine who does a lot of customizing offered me a complete and in tact '57 BelAir dash and offered to help me alter and install it into my pickup. It sounded cool, but I just couldn't wrap my head around the amount of work that would be necessary...not to mention the expense. He wanted $1000 for the dash which was very reasonable considering all the chrome was new and every piece was there, but the fabricating and wiring...sheesh.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2012
  9. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Yeah man i feel ya, the chevy dash seemed cool but i wasnt sure how much work and all was involvedand if it would look good. Its like, if i had one laying around id try it azap but i wouldnt dump money to take the risk

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  10. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    Last edited: Nov 28, 2012
  11. tjet
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 1,350

    tjet
    Member
    1. Early Hemi Tech

    That dash is nice. I wonder how much work it took...
     
  12. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    I messed with the clock bezel some. Smoothed the entire outer edge some where it met the dash and pie cut the under side to bend the profile back. Also brought the clock face back into the dash more. I tried to tack the cuts back but it started to burn up a little. Go most of it tacked in, squared up and i just covered the underside in epoxy to harden it up. Ill just have to do the diy chrome paint method or something

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  13. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    Looks like it fits pretty nice, good job on the trimming. I wonder if you could find a way to mimic that top profile somewhere else in the dash...maybe over the instrument cluster but obviously larger to encompass the width of that area? Just thinking out loud...
     
  14. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    I was thinking of something along those lines but im just gonna leave it as is. Im kinda anxious to see how the "spray chrome" works out. Theres a few threads on here and i gotta say if its done right it looks damn legit, but we will see. I also talked to the guy who makes the new gauge panels, hes gonna try to get me a set of uncut panels and i can cut them for whatever gauges i decide to run. Should look very clean. Heres the panels he makes. The gauges i want are a bit different. I gotta save my penniez for those

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  15. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Also, the truck that i took the battery box idea from had a 55 chev car dash as well. Heres a few pics. Search "kabwe 55 build" on google. Its on the 67-72 forum. Not hamb friendly at all and not really my cup of tea but he has an assload of skill and tons of cool tricks on his truck. I like watchin his build

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  16. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    Damn, the mods on that truck are insane. Like you said, not my cup of tea either, but impressive work. Personally I'd like to pancake my hood and add the 58-59 indent, but I've heard that it takes a good 20+ hours to get it right...and my skill level is far from even trying something like that at this point.
     
  17. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    yeah he has alot of cool ideas. i like how he capped the bedrails off. seems like itd be a good idea on the east coast. anything to prevent rust over here is a major plus
     
  18. 1959apache
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,635

    1959apache
    Member

    you sell yourself short. I think you can do it, might as well try... once you get into it the job wont seem as hard I am sure.

    Now would be the time to do it (before paint)
     
  19. 1959apache
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,635

    1959apache
    Member

    Yeah that is a pretty sick truck. A LOT of custom work there. I think you are doing a pretty damn good job though.
     
  20. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Hey buzznut, get in touch with meddler1 on the 58-59 hood mod. He did it on his jimmy, he helped me out with his suspension info

    Thanks 59, i wish i could fab like that guy. Hes a beast, and his build has been on my internet favorites since i bought my truck lol

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  21. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Got the battery box finished with the grinder finally, welded to the frame, and the muncie is now in place. Also the battery box was my first weld on 220 with .35 wire. Seems easier to control the puddle....

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  22. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    Looking good...man I'm jealous of your welder, looks like you're getting a good feel for it.
     
  23. 1959apache
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,635

    1959apache
    Member

    thats a cool shot of the back of the engine with the tranny. Are you going to have to shorten the drive shaft any?
     
  24. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    What rear axle are you running in this truck?
     
  25. Shane Spencer
    Joined: Oct 3, 2009
    Posts: 2,160

    Shane Spencer
    Member

    Im running the 9 inch thats back earlier in the thread. Its a 31 spline with 3.55 gears i picked up for 120 bucks. And the only reason i have to shorten the shaft is because the 9" pumpkin is longer than the 10 bolt was. The munice is the exact same length as the th350 i pulled, literally bolts right in and uses the same slip yolk. Also the clock bezel is gonna need some serious epoxy work, so we will see how that goes. Im gonna re do the bellhousing and smooth it better and re paint it. Im gonna throw a re build kit in the munice, clean it up soon. Also as soon as i find a set of camel hump heads to trade for im gonna pull the motor, clean it all up. Do the heads, a new cam and paint the frame and everything while the motors out. I cant wait to see what the golds gonna look like

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    Last edited: Nov 29, 2012
  26. farmer12
    Joined: Aug 28, 2006
    Posts: 7,717

    farmer12
    Member

    Love the work done so far, looking good!
     
  27. n847
    Joined: Apr 22, 2010
    Posts: 2,724

    n847
    Member

    Nice work on thebattery box
     
  28. n847
    Joined: Apr 22, 2010
    Posts: 2,724

    n847
    Member

    err...battery tray!
     
  29. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    I think it's funny that you're going gold on the engine...I was THIS close myself to choosing that color. I found a Rustoleum hi-temp color that I fell in love with and a friend talked me out of it because it wasn't "traditional chevy" enough in his opinion and I bought into it. Even though I'm over the thought of Rustoleum hi-temp, I may still go with a gold that is close to that same color. If you go looking for it to check it out, it's a satin finish medium gold tone that looks a little frosted...very cool IMO.
     
  30. tjet
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 1,350

    tjet
    Member
    1. Early Hemi Tech

    I like your battery box, but that top strap concerns me. Too close to the posts IMO - fire hazard. Maybe use a piece of strong wood or Micarta instead? A piece of hardrock maple skateboard deck is very strong & would look nice
     

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