The Apache

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by fabguy

Great build, looking good

Thanks Fabguy! I have read through your build, and you sir have a gorgeous truck

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

Sweet progress

Thanks man! Hoping to get rid of the '64 and get her back home soon.

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by 4Eyedtruck

this thread is like an apaches junkies heaven and on its first page alone so many pics keep up the good work

Thanks 4eyes! I love build threads with pictures, but hopefully soon it'll have pictures of awesome stuff like painted chassis, engine, and body. Appreciate the kind words

[Groyd]

I need to give you my '57 to work on for the time being. Wouldn't want your skills to get rusty while you're waiting on yours.

I hope to see it cruising around soon.

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by Groyd

I need to give you my '57 to work on for the time being. Wouldn't want your skills to get rusty while you're waiting on yours.

I hope to see it cruising around soon.

Well hey thanks for the offer hoping to have it home soon. I cannot wait to get it going... just need to get rid of the blue truck first and get some room in the shop and some money in the apache fund.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested in cruising sometime! It'd be nice to meet a local guy.

[broey]

awesome work so far!

[made2drag]

love your truck and the direction your going....

[Flames97]

Your build is looking good.

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by broey

awesome work so far!

That means a lot coming from someone with a truck like yours! I've read about Gordo several times. It's one of the trucks I'm shooting towards for my goal

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by made2drag

love your truck and the direction your going....

Originally Posted by Flames97

Your build is looking good.

Thanks fellas. Worked on it a little tonight... Still taking apart the front end and started boxing the frame up front.

Here's a couple pictures, and there will be more to come. Pretty happy with how my welding is coming along. The thick metal on the frame is a piece of cake, just gotta practice on the thinner stuff now... Also happy with how we continued the dimple on through. Since then the gap has been filled between the two and we will smooth it all out.







I will be posting pictures of the bags I got later on tonight hopefully, so get ready to school me on how this stuff works and if it'll even work on my truck

[-hooch-]

Also picked up a pretty nice 54-56 steering wheel. I may end up using it unless someone on here would want to trade for a 57-59 style??

Some cracks, nothing bad. GMC horn button.

[Kim57]

Coming along real nice.
Kim

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Coming along real nice.
Kim

Thanks, Kim!

Still slowly welding on the frame and boxing it up. I need to get the rear end figured out. Can't decide if I want to bag this truck or not.

[thelonerife]

Nice build. sub'd

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

Nice build. sub'd

Thanks! Really hoping to get back on this truck soon. Gotta get some cash coming from the blue one...

[OrrieG]

[quote=-hooch-;6554210]Also picked up a pretty nice 54-56 steering wheel. I may end up using it unless someone on here would want to trade for a 57-59 style??

Some cracks, nothing bad. GMC horn button.


you know that the 58-59 is dished about 4" and usually will not work with newer GM columns. I got a 48 flat wheel to use with mine, see pic. My build thread has lots of detail on the wheel restoration too.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice work Hooch, keep it up!!

[-hooch-]

[quote=OrrieG;6573618]

Originally Posted by -hooch-

you know that the 58-59 is dished about 4" and usually will not work with newer GM columns. I got a 48 flat wheel to use with mine, see pic. My build thread has lots of detail on the wheel restoration too.

Thanks for the info! I will check it out, and I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I asked a steering column vendor about it this weekend at Goodguys, and he said Ididit makes an adapter plate that we could use to make it work. I'll let you know when I figure it out!

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Nice work Hooch, keep it up!!

Thanks Chuck! Hoping to get a lot done this week... I'll keep y'all updated.

[-hooch-]

Went to goodguys this weekend. Some good trucks down there that have me motivated to get back on mine!

While I was there I met a local celebrity, got to ride in a NASCAR around the track, and got a good picture of one of our other cars.

[Kim57]

Pretty cool.
Kim

[-hooch-]

Thanks Kim. Well guys, I have questions... I have figured out some about the bags I've got, but I still don't know much. I'm looking for some schooling...

The bags that I got are Ridetech and they are shock waves I believe. They came off a really fancy '40 Ford, but the front ones are taller and the rears are the shorter fatter ones I always see on trucks. So if anyone could tell me if these will work on my set up? (just for reference I've got the '75 el camino front sub frame and not sure about the rear end).

Next question, is there any problem with reusing the entire system or parts of the system? I didn't think there would be with reusing the tank and compressors, but the bags?

Next question, any information on how to make the bag setup work on the front? I have been hearing some applications are bolt in for cars from the 60s, so I was assuming someone makes a bolt in kit for a '75 el camino. Any word on this or anything that would be better?

Next question...questions actually. I have been looking at a lot of trucks around here trying to figure out how to set up the rear end. Obviously there's the porterbuilt rear and others I'm assuming, but are there any systems where I can keep the leaf springs?
Is it just best to do a three or four link? I would like it be as simple as possible (and hopefully somewhat inexpensive).
I would like to keep as much of the bed as possible, so what do you all recommend for this?


I'm sure I have a ton more, but hopefully this will be a good start. My goal is to lay it low, but I don't necessarily care about laying frame. I suppose the end goal would be as low as possible while keeping as much of the bed as possible and maybe keeping the leaf springs? Just help me fellas...

[-hooch-]

Thought of another question... How low can I go on the front without having to change the inner fenders? I plan on running 20" centerline smoothies.

[_Ogre]

big back window and fleetside bed... what's not to like about it
fyi, the apache name was 58-61.
no idea why gm bridged 2 different partial models with the apache moniker

[-hooch-]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

big back window and fleetside bed... what's not to like about it
fyi, the apache name was 58-61.
no idea why gm bridged 2 different partial models with the apache moniker

Thanks man! I just think apache sounds meaner than "the 55" or something else. Plus being in oklahoma we have a heavy indian influence