Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I needed to get access to portion of the frame under the cab for a few projects:

- Drill holes to permanently mount the transmission crossmember
- I need to move the battery box down an inch or so to give more clearance to the cab floor
- I'm planning on painting this portion of the frame while the cab is out of the way

I previously build some 2 x 4 cribbing with straight non pivoting caster wheels when I sandblasted the frame a couple of years ago. To take the cab off I jack the truck up, place the cribbing under the steps then drop the frame out from under the cab. It makes it easy to roll the cab backwards and forwards by myself.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Making progress on a bunch of little stuff
- get the transmission crossmember bolted in - Done
- move the the battery box down - Done
- got the first coat of primer on the part of the frame that will be hidden under the cab..

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Making progress.. I got the frame painted under the cab and remounted the cab back on the frame. Then I got the front end stripped down and de-greased and gave it a coat of red oxide primer.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Front end is now done. This is going to be a driver so I didn't worry too much about the paint. I just brushed on two coats of Tremclad Rusty Metal Primer and two coats of Tremclad Satin Black. It actually turned out alot nicer than I thought it would. All wear items in the front end have been replaced. I used mostly Moog front end parts with a Proforged Steering linkage kit and KYB Gas-Adjust shocks. Only thing left is to re-install the swaybar.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Now that the front suspension is done, I've been focusing on fabricating a mount for a rear gas tank. It's not quite finished yet, but it's coming together. I drilled out the rivets in the rear crossmember and flipped it around so it pointed backwards and moved it back a little. The bed floor will be raised by a couple of inches, so I built it so the top of the tank will be a raised above the frame rails the same amount for maximum ground clearance.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I got a bunch of stuff done since my last update. I finished welding up the gas tank mount and painted the frame and rear end. Installed all new wheel cylinders, shoes, springs, and drums in the rear. New rotors, calipers, pads and bearings in the front. I painted the calipers, drums and master cylinder with VHT Caliper Paint. I ordered a set of emergency brake cables from Control Cables that I will connect to the stock e-brake handle under the steering column.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

looks clean, git-r-done

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Thanks 6DoF,

Finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Still lots to do but I'm getting closer.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I've bent and flared most of the brake lines now. E-brake is done.

Next up I started on the firewall. The plan is to just leave the body in primer and get it running so I can enjoy driving it again. Paint will come later but I want to at least get the firewall painted for now. I smoothed the welds from filling all the holes in the firewall and the patch panels in the floorboards. I used a strip disc on my angle grinder to get the majority of the paint off and I will go back with the die grinder for the spots I couldn't access.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I used some filler and block sanded the firewall. My bodywork is far from perfect when you look close but I'm calling it good enough. I created a makeshift paintbooth in my garage with poly sheeting. Sprayed my first couple of coats of primer.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Nice looking paint booth. I've done that before lots. My garage has windows opposite end of big door so I use furnace filters over then and made a 2x4 frame for my garage door end that spans the width but is only as tall as a furnace filter. Then staple furnace filters on the frame and let the door down to rest on top of the frame. I get cross flow ventilation that way. If no wind (like really? No wind in calgary?) I use an electric fan outside the window to blow air into the shop. Wet down the area around the shop outside to keep dust to a min.
Keep plugging away and you'll be done.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Thanks dsraven! Still lots to do but getting closer.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

High build primer is your friend. That and wet block sanding. Use different colors of primer as layers that will easily show if you get close to sanding through. I use grey and black.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

That would be the right way to do it. My truck is just going to be a shop truck type build so I just used short strand filler to cover the welds then a couple of coats of Tremclad Primer followed by Tremclad Black.

If I'm using Tremclad Professional, that means I can claim that the firewall was a professional job right? :lol:

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Got the firewall painted. Not perfect, but close enough to good for me.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Looks great.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Where did you find the gauges for this mod? Are they gauges all electric, meaning will they work with an LS setup?

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

The Bosch Temp gauge is electric and I got it off of Amazon. The Oil Pressure and Voltage was a 3 gauge set and I picked it up at my local KMS Tools. The Oil pressure gauge is manual.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Thanks, we have a KMS on the island here, they’re pretty good.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

You bet!

The 3 gauge set came with a temp gauge as well but it was the capillary tube type and I wanted electric. For oil pressure I don't mind the tube since it can be disconnected / shortened or replaced if ever needed.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Part number for the Temp gauge is Bosch SP0F000049

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Making progress..

- Primed and used boxliner from halfway up the back of the cab to 2/3rds up the inside of the firewall, also did the outside of the firewall behind the inner fenders. I will put down sound deadening and carpet or a rubber mat at some point in the future but I plan to run it as is for now. I also switched to the 4 speed style floor hump to give me the inch or so clearance I needed for my transmission.

- Installed 3 point seatbelts and a lap belt in the center

- I've always wanted a Moon Gas pedal. I adapted a new heel pivot pedal to work with a reproduction of the factory v8 linkage

- started laying out the wiring, will be a nice change of pace for a while

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Hey, nice progress.
Sometimes a change like that can get you all fired up again.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

You bet! Nice to finally be putting stuff back together instead of tearing it apart.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Looking really good. It's nice to start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. You are on the fun side of the project. Steve

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I have a moon pedal like that and would like to use the stock V8 linkage as well. Can I get some pics and details to see how you did it?

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Thanks!

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Great project! To me, it's always cool when a certain vehicle just resonates with somebody. Even if their parents don't initially agree, haha. Great work on grabbing the truck that inspired your imagination and making it into a cool driver. And now you get to do round two with innumerable refinements. I confess that I am a fan of stock type stuff but I would imagine that the original running gear made it drive more or less like a troop transport. It will be cool to hear how the truck drives after all of these changes. Thanks for taking the time to post.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Thanks LT7A! It will be really interesting to see how the personality of the truck has changed. I drove it quite a bit the first time I got it on the road. Longest drive was a 450 mile round trip for the 100th anniversary of the town I grew up in. They had a parade with a vehicle representing each year as possible and I represented 1959. Top speed was 50 or so MPH and the 6 cylinder was singing at 3000 RPM with the stock 3 speed and stock rear end.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I got an amazing surprise for my birthday! My brother gifted me a known good running 305 to kick-start my project. He got the engine, cleaned it up and painted it over the past months. He lives almost 5 hours away so it was quite the surprise when he called me out of the blue and dropped it off. It is complete carb to pan, including starter, distributor and alternator. I was absolutely blown away!

I still hope to rebuild my 327 some day but now I can get on the road sooner rather than later.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

That's awesome. Get it in there.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

That’s the plan. I’m just going to clean up the transmission and paint it first. The Engine looks so good I can’t in good conscience bolt it to a grimy transmission.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Thats bad ass, you have a good brother. Time to bust out the degreaser and pressure washer...You'll be cruising in no time!

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Got my transmission de-greased and painted this weekend. I modified my extra engine stand by making a support out of some scrap steel that bolts to the tailshaft mount.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

I finally got the 305 dropped in. I think I will have to switch over to a short water pump setup to clear my radiator. I have a clutch fan that I want to run that won't clear with the long water pump. Luckily I have a brand new short water pump that I bought for my 327. I painted the water pump, pulleys and brackets while I was waiting for my flexplate to arrive.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Gotta feel good to see it between the rails, eh?

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Absolutely.. it’s been a long road getting to this point.. can’t wait to hear it make some noise. Just need to plumb the fuel line, hook up the shift linkage and hook up a couple of wires.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Happy New Year!!

I hung the fenders and hooked up the wiring for the headlights and park lights/signals. I also moved the radiator up 1" to give me more clearance from the lower radiator outlet to the sway bar.

Just need a lower radiator hose and some v belts and it will be ready to fire up for the first time.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Got the gauges installed. If you remember from earlier in the thread, I swapped out the temp gauge and oil pressure gauges and converted the amp gauge to a volt gauge by using the guts from 2" gauges in the stock cluster. This is the first time I got to see it all lit up. I'm stoked by how it turned out. The green backlight from the reproduction Sunpro tach gives off a cool eerie glow across the dash.

Re: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession
 

Nice job, looks good!