59 Apache - Lifelong obsession

[59chev]

Finished welding up the passenger step today. Next on the list is getting my steering hooked up.

[dsraven]

no pic, didn't happen. lol.
forward progress, I wish I could say the same.

[59chev]

Originally Posted by dsraven

no pic, didn't happen. lol.
forward progress, I wish I could say the same.

Ok. Challenge accepted. lol.

[59chev]

Got my steering mocked up with a new jag joint, slip shaft and a 3/4 x 3/4 DD U-joint. It's like Chevy designed these front ends to go in these trucks it lines up so nice! I am sure feeling it in my arms after filing the steering column shaft down to DD.

[59chev]

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.

[59chev]

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..

[59chev]

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.

[59chev]

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.

[59chev]

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.

[59chev]

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.

[6DoF]

looks clean, git-r-done

[59chev]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

looks clean, git-r-done

Thanks 6DoF,

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

[59chev]

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.

[59chev]

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.

[dsraven]

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.

[59chev]

Originally Posted by dsraven

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.

Thanks dsraven! Still lots to do but getting closer.

[dsraven]

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.

[59chev]

Originally Posted by dsraven

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.

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?

[59chev]

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

[dsraven]

Looks great.

[59chev]

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.

[SARBlade]

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

[59chev]

Originally Posted by SARBlade

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

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.

[59chev]

Part number for the Temp gauge is Bosch SP0F000049

[59chev]

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