1960 Chevy Apache Project..... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:14 AM

I thought I would start a thread of my own on my progress. My goal is to get this truck so it runs and drives. I have a very slow schedule in the winter time. By the time March rolls around this has to be up and running because my summer business kicks in and I will have zero time to fool with it.

I found this truck on Facebook. It was missing the motor and transmission. My friend shipped it for me from Oklahoma to Binghamton NY. 1250 miles...When you got free shipping you have to take what you can get. If you look close the front and rear tires are on the edge of the upper deck. If the truck was 6 inches longer it would never have fit.

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:18 AM

The day it arrived I was pretty excited to get it unloaded. When I got the truck unloaded it was discovered that the rear cross member was missing. So when the truck sat on the ground the front bumper almost touched the ground. That didn't make it very easy to load it on my car trailer.

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:25 AM

I was able to find the rear cross member on ebay. I know I could have done the 73-87 front end swap. I wasn't sure about cutting the hole front end off the truck. I did some searching at a few local junk yards. Every single 73-87 Chevy truck the lower control arms were so rotted out the springs were pushing out the bottom of the control arms.I live in the rust capital of NY... After doing some reading on here I now know the swap is a very easy one. I will search for one and maybe at a later date do the swap.

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:30 AM

After doing some searching on craigslist I was able to find a 350/350 that was removed from a street rod. I paid a $1000 for the motor and trans. It was complete with all accessories. It also came with a auto floor shifter. I was able to pretty much bolt the motor in. I made a rear transmission mount with some angle iron. That was very simple to do. I will post a picture of the mount.

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:32 AM

Here is the motor with the new radiator...

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:37 AM

When I bought the truck I said to the guy do you have the drive shaft for the truck. He said I have a pile of them. So I said throw one in the back of the truck. So of course it was not the one from this truck. So I took it to my local drive shaft shop. He looked it over and said he could shorten it about 15 inches. When I went to pick it up he said I made you a brand new one. So today im putting in the drive shaft.

I have tried to get it started but I have no spark. I bought a new module and I hope that solves the spark problem.

Dans1960SWB · 01-08-2016, 04:50 AM

In the middle of this project I was lucky enough to find a lift for my garage. This took a couple weekends of getting it home and then putting it back together. It was well worth it in the end. I know some people say the four arm lift is much better. I have seen two occasions that a car fell off of a four arm lift. This is much safer....

Ta2Don · 01-08-2016, 08:55 PM

and Welcome aboard…

Good looking start...

Sub'd and watching...

namloc · 01-09-2016, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dans1960SWB

I was able to find the rear cross member on ebay. I know I could have done the 73-87 front end swap. I wasn't sure about cutting the hole front end off the truck. I did some searching at a few local junk yards. Every single 73-87 Chevy truck the lower control arms were so rotted out the springs were pushing out the bottom of the control arms.I live in the rust capital of NY... After doing some reading on here I now know the swap is a very easy one. I will search for one and maybe at a later date do the swap.

My 1960 GMC torsion bar front suspension had cut of torsions and had been attempted to be modified by the previous owners.I did the conversion using an 87 c10.It fit's with minimal work.I did post a few pic's during the build.

Dans1960SWB · 01-09-2016, 07:55 AM

I was all set to do the swap. Captain Fab had talked me into it. Then I searched for a front end. I even searched for a whole truck. No luck except rotted out junk.

Dans1960SWB · 01-10-2016, 11:57 AM

Well yesterday I got the truck running. I got to drive it out of the garage.....I HAD A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE!!!!

downadirtroad · 01-12-2016, 11:28 PM

Congrats on the truck and the lift!

A lot of people switch out all the torsion suspension, and I understand why, but that suspension is one of the reasons I love these years of trucks.

Keep up the good work!

5000Apaches · 01-21-2016, 09:58 AM

Just wanted to chime in about the torsion bars on the 60-61 chevy. I always thought they were unique and as a teen during the hight of the low rider phase it was an inexpensive way of dropping the truck on the ground. At least in the front I used spring clamps for the rear.

Nice score on the 60, that's a good looking truck. Looks to be in good condition also.

01-08-2016, 04:14 AM	#1
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	1960 Chevy Apache Project..... I thought I would start a thread of my own on my progress. My goal is to get this truck so it runs and drives. I have a very slow schedule in the winter time. By the time March rolls around this has to be up and running because my summer business kicks in and I will have zero time to fool with it. I found this truck on Facebook. It was missing the motor and transmission. My friend shipped it for me from Oklahoma to Binghamton NY. 1250 miles...When you got free shipping you have to take what you can get. If you look close the front and rear tires are on the edge of the upper deck. If the truck was 6 inches longer it would never have fit. Attached Images Last edited by Dans1960SWB; 01-08-2016 at 04:39 AM.

01-08-2016, 04:18 AM	#2
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... The day it arrived I was pretty excited to get it unloaded. When I got the truck unloaded it was discovered that the rear cross member was missing. So when the truck sat on the ground the front bumper almost touched the ground. That didn't make it very easy to load it on my car trailer. Attached Images

01-08-2016, 04:25 AM	#3
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... I was able to find the rear cross member on ebay. I know I could have done the 73-87 front end swap. I wasn't sure about cutting the hole front end off the truck. I did some searching at a few local junk yards. Every single 73-87 Chevy truck the lower control arms were so rotted out the springs were pushing out the bottom of the control arms.I live in the rust capital of NY... After doing some reading on here I now know the swap is a very easy one. I will search for one and maybe at a later date do the swap. Attached Images

01-08-2016, 04:30 AM	#4
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... After doing some searching on craigslist I was able to find a 350/350 that was removed from a street rod. I paid a $1000 for the motor and trans. It was complete with all accessories. It also came with a auto floor shifter. I was able to pretty much bolt the motor in. I made a rear transmission mount with some angle iron. That was very simple to do. I will post a picture of the mount. Attached Images

01-08-2016, 04:32 AM	#5
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... Here is the motor with the new radiator... Attached Images

01-08-2016, 04:37 AM	#6
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... When I bought the truck I said to the guy do you have the drive shaft for the truck. He said I have a pile of them. So I said throw one in the back of the truck. So of course it was not the one from this truck. So I took it to my local drive shaft shop. He looked it over and said he could shorten it about 15 inches. When I went to pick it up he said I made you a brand new one. So today im putting in the drive shaft. I have tried to get it started but I have no spark. I bought a new module and I hope that solves the spark problem.

01-08-2016, 04:50 AM	#7
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... In the middle of this project I was lucky enough to find a lift for my garage. This took a couple weekends of getting it home and then putting it back together. It was well worth it in the end. I know some people say the four arm lift is much better. I have seen two occasions that a car fell off of a four arm lift. This is much safer.... Attached Images

01-08-2016, 08:55 PM	#8
Ta2Don Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 4,203	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... and Welcome aboard… Good looking start... Sub'd and watching... __________________ DON Proverbs 27:17 US Air Force Retarded errr Retired My '65 Stepper Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=533920 My '60 Rusty Patina Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...66#post7402266 My '72 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...59#post7204359 SOLD

01-09-2016, 07:55 AM	#10
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... I was all set to do the swap. Captain Fab had talked me into it. Then I searched for a front end. I even searched for a whole truck. No luck except rotted out junk.

01-10-2016, 11:57 AM	#11
Dans1960SWB Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 115	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... Well yesterday I got the truck running. I got to drive it out of the garage.....I HAD A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE!!!!

01-12-2016, 11:28 PM	#12
downadirtroad Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Herington, Kansas Posts: 3	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... Congrats on the truck and the lift! A lot of people switch out all the torsion suspension, and I understand why, but that suspension is one of the reasons I love these years of trucks. Keep up the good work!

01-21-2016, 09:58 AM	#13
5000Apaches Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fishersville Va Posts: 6	Re: 1960 Chevy Apache Project..... Just wanted to chime in about the torsion bars on the 60-61 chevy. I always thought they were unique and as a teen during the hight of the low rider phase it was an inexpensive way of dropping the truck on the ground. At least in the front I used spring clamps for the rear. Nice score on the 60, that's a good looking truck. Looks to be in good condition also.



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