1958 Apache Big Window Loooooong Bed "Lucky"

[Kevin_C]

Congrats. that's a big milestone! I don't have far to go on mine to fire but haven't had much time to touch the truck lately.

[daveshilling]

A couple more photos, this time with a hood, lights, bumpers, and steps.

[daveshilling]

Bumpers are on and I took my daughter around the block for a shakedown cruise...heard some new noises and discovered a nearly empty rear diff! I expected old fluid, not NO fluid!

The rarely-seen passenger side:

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by daveshilling

Bumpers are on and I took my daughter around the block for a shakedown cruise...heard some new noises and discovered a nearly empty rear diff! I expected old fluid, not NO fluid!

The rarely-seen passenger side:

Nice. when you got that truck didn't think it would ever look that good. Natural patina looks good and the whitewalls add to the look.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Nice. when you got that truck didn't think it would ever look that good. Natural patina looks good and the whitewalls add to the look.

That's a fair assessment, and that's because it DIDNT look this good... I replaced the entire front clip when I got insanely lucky to find a patina red 59 clip with way less issues.

I love the 59 badging so much...it really makes a difference.

I think cohesive look with the white parts and white roof and white walls also help. I might try a chrome front when I can find a good chrome bumper and see how I like it.

[G&R's57GMC]

Congratulations ������ Lucky Trucky has made it to the streets .... finally, yea !

Now for all the little bits to make it road worthy and you’ll be out there cruising .
But you’ll be going eeny meeny minny moe which truck do I drive today ?

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Congratulations ������ Lucky Trucky has made it to the streets .... finally, yea !

Now for all the little bits to make it road worthy and you’ll be out there cruising .
But you’ll be going eeny meeny minny moe which truck do I drive today ?

Thanks, Glenn! You know I'll end up with a third truck

There are definitely PLENTY of things still to do with this truck... this is a bare-minimum cruise on a fair-weather day... I'm going to pick up some window glass, today and should have windows in soon.

[daveshilling]

Not a big update, but I'm stoked on the repurposing of factory GM junkyard bits.

I got the steam port connected finally, and used a factory clamp but ALSO saw this little hose joiner on an LS truck in the yard, and just let it do what it does here, too. Free and useful.

[daveshilling]

After inspecting the truck post-neighborhood cruises, I found that I missed a huge, glaring issue when I altered the mounting points and lowered the coilovers... the rear toe bars are touching the frame when the truck is just sitting.

Fortunately, Flat Out Engineering sells a kit to address this exact issue, so I've got that on order. I considered trying to find a DIY solution to this to save money, but sometimes you just need to pay the person who already found an elegant solution to your problem.

[dsraven]

ouch, good catch. its only mioney, right.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by dsraven

ouch, good catch. its only money, right.

Yeah, if it's not money, it's time. And I can always get more money, but I can't replace those pre-winter cruises I might sneak in since I'm in California....

Plus since I have one of these awful patina trucks I've saved so much money in paint and body already!! Might as well re-invest it here and there (=

[Tempest67]

Congrats on the truck,

Thanks for sharing your work,

Enjoy

[dsraven]

when I looked at the situation in the pics I thought about how you could use existing tie rod ends, cut apart and modified, to make something like that set up. like you said, why engineer something that somebody else already figured out, lol.
post up a pic when you get it installed and road tested. I'm sure others with your type set up would appreciate it.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by dsraven

when I looked at the situation in the pics I thought about how you could use existing tie rod ends, cut apart and modified, to make something like that set up. like you said, why engineer something that somebody else already figured out, lol.
post up a pic when you get it installed and road tested. I'm sure others with your type set up would appreciate it.

I'm STILL tempted to try and solve it in the garage, though, just for the sake of it. I think the real, true solution is to completely re-engineer the frame section above this axle with some box tubing, but that's a someday-not-today task I can enjoy in the future.

Once this is all covered by a flip up bed, we'll see how motivated I am to take it all apart

[daveshilling]

Since FlatOut is in SoCal, and I'm just 6 hours north, I got my part super fast and tossed it in yesterday.. HUGE difference in space, and whaddya know, the rear suspension actually has travel now!! I used to think my spring rate was way too high...

Waaay more room with this setup, not to mention the ease of adjustability(which wasn't needed but was appreciated!)

[daveshilling]

More photos where you can see how lowering the center point and mounting below instead of above the link attachment point really added a good amount of clearance.

Clearly, Don has seen this issue numerous times over the years! The kit also keeps a nice geometry that allows these rods to stay roughly parallel with half shafts, which I understand to be necessary for this suspension to function well.

I think I could still find a DIY solution, but it wouldn't look this sexy.

Also check out how perfect the Mustang tank is for providing access to the centerpoint! It looks like I planned it that way all along.

[dsraven]

that looks good. prolly less tire wear now too as they would likley toe in and out, with the old set up, as your suspension moved. well, maybe not if it couldn't move, lol.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by dsraven

that looks good. prolly less tire wear now too as they would likley toe in and out, with the old set up, as your suspension moved. well, maybe not if it couldn't move, lol.

That's a good point, I didn't even consider that defect.. granted they weren't even properly aligned in the first place, but I had more than one issue at hand.

Next up for the rear is seeing if I need to roll/trim the fender lip to clear these 225 BFG's....right now there is enough camber on each wheel to prevent rubbing, but if I correct that, I miiiiiight be in trouble!

[dsraven]

Personally I like a finger space between but that's just me. You could space the fender away from the box if need be.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by dsraven

Personally I like a finger space between but that's just me. You could space the fender away from the box if need be.

I do as well, but not enough to buy new tires or make custom fender extensions Since camber "solves" the problem and its not a commuter, it feels pretty optional...I'll likely add some more clearance in the lip, get the tires in a little closer, and just drive

[daveshilling]

Drivers side door is looking pretty complete!

This looks like just a regular old boring door... but I have spent HOURS to get to this point.

• Fixed the door bottom and cracked hinge bolt area
• new door seals
• new window felts
• new vent window rubber
• rebuilt the regulators by soaking in Evaporust, greasing everything, and replacing the 3 plastic pulleys
• Wrestled the window in
• Wrestled the interior door trim in that was bent to hell and back
• Added door handles...these should have been included, not optional!
• Replaced the mirror with an original white round mirror...had to drill out the screws

[Kevin_C]

looking good. I had considered buying that flip kit back when I bought my flat out kit. I think the price has gone up $100 since. Guess I shouldn't have waited

I just installed some repo exterior door handles and arm rest. I was surprised that the aftermarket interior trim panel did not come with the holes for the arm rest drilled.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by Kevin_C

looking good. I had considered buying that flip kit back when I bought my flat out kit. I think the price has gone up $100 since. Guess I shouldn't have waited

What's up build brother!

I drilled new holes and raised the brackets on the rear kit, and I'm also at the very bottom of these coilovers, so you might not need it.

The FlatOut kits sit too high in the rear for my tastes, which is why I adjusted the brackets and narrowed the frame channel. I know you are hoping for yours to come down with some bed wood, but just have someone stand in it and see if you like the height...better to address it now!

[daveshilling]

The last bit of regular progress has been fueled by one mission: Go on a lil cruise with my Grandpa while he's still around (which isn't much longer).

Grandpa got me started tinkering on things when I was little, so it's only fitting.

Mission Accomplished.

[Rickysnickers]

Very nice!!!