Projects My Apache...

honestly the only thing that worries me is the seat. the kick and the headliner insert seem fairly simple and will be done with the same color tuck n roll, or pleat, idk what the proper term is. i MAY do door panels on the lower half of the door but im still not sure. ill probably just leave the steel door. also what kind of sewing machine is used ? is there a decent unit i can buy that wont break the bank ?

 

my vin was below the blue tag idk if thats normal or not ? it just fell off at some point. either way the old cab is long gone so ill need to do a vin tag at some point

 

What are you running for a drive shaft? One piece or a two piece... We've got a two piece and I'm trying to figure out how to make the mount for the center yoke. I don't know how much strength it needs, I figure it's just holding it solid so it doesn't need a whole lot of reenforcement? Am I correct?

 

im runnin a one piece. im not sure how much strength they really need. you may be better off having a one piece made and bypassing the center mount situation. especially if the shaft is old or possibly out of balance or needs ujoints. money involved in making a mount and new components for the shaft may equal a new one piece. local driveshaft guy here can make a one piece or shorten/lengthen any shaft with all new joints for around $80 balanced and good as new

 

Wow! I had no idea they were that inexpensive? We pulled the motor from a 81 chevy long bed and I wanted to keep the driveshaft from it cause we already had it and didn't need to buy another. So I was just going to shorten the second section of it and use it. I believe the u-joints are good. Hmmm... Might have to drop by the driveshaft guy and get a price now! thanks GG!!

 

Try to avoid a huge driveshaft shop, they have a waaay higher shop rate and they take waay too long. I go to the junk yard and find the ends I need, the right shaft size bring it to my guy down the street and he does everything for $40.00, including stripping down everything and putting some black enamel paint on it and does it right in front of me (usually 30 minutes to an hour).

 

It is normal, that is how mine is set up and wasn't touched since I took them off. Have you checked the parts places yet to see if they sell the blank tags? I swore that they did.

But I have been wrong in the past (deluxe door trim lmao)

 

Getting insurance money and I might have it sold as-is by the end of the week.. still sucks man, the car was solid!

 

That appears to be a pleat. You need a machine that can sew through foam up to one inch. Search on the hamb for decent machines. Also there are tricks to gluing this stuff and different brands of glue.

 

that was a bitchin ride man, sucks the tree got er that bad !!!

 

i had the shop i go to make a custom front and rear shaft for a 97 cummins i had. he used some pretty beefy shit to support all the torque that thing was pushing out. i think for EVERYTHING brand new including slip yoke he charged me like 260 for both shafts. and they were monsterously strong, turn around time was a day. i think he quoted me $70 or $75 to redo the one for my apache. and that was with the cost of a new end to accept the proper u joint for the 9 inch. its really not as expensive as youd think if you find a good shop

 

ill have to get in touch with you on that as well as the welding tips. ill get ahold of you one of these days ! haha i wont be starting on the patch panels for another few weeks. holidays are about to empty my wallet something fierce !!!!

 

Yeah it will empty your wallet pretty damn quick, but my wife went out of her way to order some parts for the truck for Christmas even though we really don't have the extra scratch for it. I have the hookup for 10% off too if you order through classicparts.com (Parts America) and actually have some lower door hinge pocket patch panels for you if you need/want them, they would be very discounted of course, maybe we can do some horse trading.

Yeah, weren't you supposed to call me early this week?... liar!

 

Yeah, one piece is the way to go with these trucks. I had my existing driveshaft shortened 1.25 inches (the posi 10" has a longer pinion assembly than the 12 bolt I had before). I also needed a new slip yoke for the M22 and replaced the pinion u-joint as well. $110 into the whole thing including balancing....not a bad price.

 

Yeah my family is hooking me up with a lot of small stuff for the truck for christmas. The nickel and dime type shit, idk exactly what but i keep seeing small boxes of parts at yhe door

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Hmm, well mine was about $335. Complete shaft thought with Spicer super duty joints and new yoke. They had it done and at my door step in 2 days though, so I guess it was worth a little extra. N

Nice work on the front frame horns, I thought about doing mine but didnt. Maybe later on down the line.

 

Thanks shadams, also check your local autoplus parts dealer. They sell a brand of ujoint that is same quality as spicer just packaged as an off brand. I cant remember what there called, its a blue and yellow box

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Totally off topic but today was kind of all over the place. Family is super excited, got the tree up in the house, and hit the local town xmas parade. Its officially full holiday mode here. On the other end i found out my friend billys father passed. We grew up together and just knowing his dad is the same age as mine is kinda surreal. It sucks . And me and my buddy are only 20, just wayyyy to soon for a parent to be passing away. He was only 51 i believe....... Idk, just strange. We were almost like brothers when we were younger, and now the dude who was always around at our football games or whatever just isnt there anymore. Send your prayers out to his family......

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Damn that sucks. My Dad had a heart attack at 49....luckily my brother was with him and got him to the hospital pretty quick and no major damage was done but it really make you think. Sorry to hear that...

 

Sorry to hear Shane, keep yer head up and be there for your buddy... Hes gonna need ya.. I too lost 2 friends this year, 34 and 39 years old... sucks big time!

 

My father passed away at 53 years old...9 years ago. Losing someone when they are so young and you still need time with them is one of the hardest things to accept. He will deal with this pain a lot over the next year, and even though it gets easier, that wound never completely heals. Remembering the good times and listening to others tell me stories of how my dad positively affected their l lives helped a lot. Just being there for him and understanding that there will be times that he breaks down without warning is the best thing a good friend can do.

 

Thanks fellas, hes tough as nails. just a little overwhelmed right now........


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Also has anyone got a chance to check the crossmember to cab floor clearance ?

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It's pouring here...literally flooding everywhere, including about 2 inches of water standing under my truck. As soon as I can get on a creeper and roll under there I will.

 

Hell, its not that serious lol. Dont drown urself for a measurement man !

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Arts and crafts time !!!!! Lmao. Heres my basic notch design. Im gonna pick up steel for this tomorrow hopefully. Also jamco fucked up my order so im just gonna build a set of lowering blocks. The inner box plates will triangulate out to the outer flange edge on the crossmember like you see in the second pic. I am 2.5 inches above the rear crossmember which will keep me below the bed wood. The front notch may be shorter depending on floor clearance

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Which one is it again, I said I would do it and I can... the rear one right???

 

That'll never hold!! More duck tape!!!

 

The one under the rear of the cab. Like right under the gas tank area

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I figured some elmers glue and popsicle sticks would add to the strength, dont hate !!!! Haha

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