The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - The SILVER INDIAN: '61 Apache Stepside, 5th Wheel Hauler in Brighton, England.

Chevy Apache · 04-23-2016, 05:37 PM

Well after getting the truck back, it was time to take a look at what needed to be repaired or should I say what didn't need fixing lol, it had previously been hydraulic suspension but this had been removed before I got hold of it, the rear bed had been half dismantled was wondering why they hadn't totally stripped it down,are that's because someone had welded the 2 bed sides to rear panel, so managed to strip that get it off. Then to look at the rear suspension I was told it had new rear coil springs yes they were new but the fixings know that's another story bit of flat bar across the bottom and top of the springs 12 mm wide 2 mm thick fixed 10 mm bolt through the middle time to fix that part, fabricated my own mounts for job done, Then it was time to repair rear shock mounts. Time to look at the front suspension,jack it up to inspect all the front suspension to find top arms loose all the bolts that hold it to chassis loose, lucky it stayed on the trailer,so after hours of research on the internet and chewing everyone's ears,I decided to fabricate my own front suspension,modified front crossmember and lower arms to accept coil over shocks. Then time for the brakes and clutch love the 4 on the floor means I can drive it like stole it lol, well yet another saga the owner just needs rear flexible hose found one that fitted tried to bleed them with no success time look bit into it master cylinder us , so decided to do brake up grade and drop spindles from cpp brakes full kit plus master cylinders and servo.
So get that sorted nice kit to fit.time for a test drive that's the first pic I posted.

04-23-2016, 05:37 PM	#14
Chevy Apache Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: England Posts: 173	Re: The silver Indian Well after getting the truck back, it was time to take a look at what needed to be repaired or should I say what didn't need fixing lol, it had previously been hydraulic suspension but this had been removed before I got hold of it, the rear bed had been half dismantled was wondering why they hadn't totally stripped it down,are that's because someone had welded the 2 bed sides to rear panel, so managed to strip that get it off. Then to look at the rear suspension I was told it had new rear coil springs yes they were new but the fixings know that's another story bit of flat bar across the bottom and top of the springs 12 mm wide 2 mm thick fixed 10 mm bolt through the middle time to fix that part, fabricated my own mounts for job done, Then it was time to repair rear shock mounts. Time to look at the front suspension,jack it up to inspect all the front suspension to find top arms loose all the bolts that hold it to chassis loose, lucky it stayed on the trailer,so after hours of research on the internet and chewing everyone's ears,I decided to fabricate my own front suspension,modified front crossmember and lower arms to accept coil over shocks. Then time for the brakes and clutch love the 4 on the floor means I can drive it like stole it lol, well yet another saga the owner just needs rear flexible hose found one that fitted tried to bleed them with no success time look bit into it master cylinder us , so decided to do brake up grade and drop spindles from cpp brakes full kit plus master cylinders and servo. So get that sorted nice kit to fit.time for a test drive that's the first pic I posted.