Our new Apache

[lynx5653]

Our new project 58 Apache,72 4x4 Blazer frame,350,auto,t350 trans,etc.
Need new tailgate for sure. Will be replacing grill,bumper,head light bezels with new chrome. Still deciding if I should change color or not.

Truck is being shipped from Missouri soon I hope.
Any thoughts or ideas are welcome

[NEWFISHER]

That thing looks BEEFY! nice score

[meter swinger]

Awesome. I never get tired of seeing Task Force trucks in the air.
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[Gator Alum]

Love the 4 eyes. Good luck with the project!
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[lynx5653]

SORRY TRUCK IS A 59, JUST GOT TITLE.

can anyone decode vin number? my vin says 3800 series truck emblems say 3100.
VIN 3G59S110598

[beanyard]

Originally Posted by lynx5653

SORRY TRUCK IS A 59, JUST GOT TITLE.

can anyone decode vin number? my vin says 3800 series truck emblems say 3100.
VIN 3G59S110598

31 may not be accurate according to the vin but when they shortened it and put 6 lug wheels they made it a 31. I would stick with those emblems. Btw nice trucks. I personally like 59s best.
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[mr48chev]

It looks good. I'm with you on the tailgate swap but someone will like that one enough to take it off your hands and smile doing it.

[rgunlock]

Nice score on your truck. Looks a lot like mine wants to when I get it put back together

[OrrieG]

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/vin/vinbuster.html

Started out life as a 1 ton 3800, 135" wheel base, built in St. Louis.

[Maximus]

Is that a aftermarket tailgate? looks to me like it just might be one of those sheetmetal covers that wraps over the OG tailgate?

Re-reading - it might have been a wrap around cover but they apparently are "weld-on"...

like this

http://www.ecklerstrucks.com/1954-87...ate-cover.html


also, as others have said, the 2nd digit on the vin, the "G" is a 1-ton, the 3100 would be 3A.

Not uncommon for a full frame swap project to start from a 1-ton truck...

Sweet truck!

[Divine 59]

Your truck was built a little before mine at the same plant. my vin is 3A59S133134..If I recall my truck was built in may or there about, I would have to check some other casting numbers on my truck to verify this.

[lynx5653]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Is that a aftermarket tailgate? looks to me like it just might be one of those sheetmetal covers that wraps over the OG tailgate?

Re-reading - it might have been a wrap around cover but they apparently are "weld-on"...

like this

http://www.ecklerstrucks.com/1954-87...ate-cover.html


also, as others have said, the 2nd digit on the vin, the "G" is a 1-ton, the 3100 would be 3A.

Not uncommon for a full frame swap project to start from a 1-ton truck...

Sweet truck!

Well whatever that tailgate is it has to go along with diamond plate

[lynx5653]

Finally truck was delivered, rougher shape than po told me. My wife and I are excited to start work on it, need to tear it all down and see just how bad it is.One problem we have is it is lifted and sitting on 35" tires it wont fit into our basement garage, need to lower it somehow. Any ideas that are quick and easy? will post more pics soon.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
David And Gail

[Wheelie]

put small wheels on it. Very cool truck!

[meter swinger]

Do you have any car dollies that sit under tires? Harbor frieght has them. You could pull your wheels and sit the axles on the dollies, using 2x4 lumber for cribbing to protect the brakes. Granted this will only work on relitively level ground or the truck could become uncontrolable.
Or you could put the axles on top of the springs but then it wont clear 35's so you would need a 2nd set of wheels and tires.

Or you could take a saw to your garage. JK.
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[_Ogre]

Flatten the tires? lmctruck.com has a good vin decoder in their index
Nice looking truck

[apacheben]

Nice truck. here is a picture of mine...still working on it. not a 4x4 just sits high.

[lynx5653]

thanks for the suggestions and Apacheben nice looking truck. perhaps a pic of my garage will help everyone see the problem better, if only i had one lol. I will come up with a solution tomorrow.

[OrrieG]

When I converted mine to 4wd in 1985 I drove it into the small Model T garage we had at the time. I ended up lifting it 4". When I went to pull it out to take it to the muffler shop the cab would not clear the door header. I let air out of the tires, keeping just enough so they would roll and drove it out. I got my wife and kids inside to compress the springs more too!

[AK56]

Nice truck! It's good to see another 4x4. It makes me feel better to see I'm not the only one crazy enough to want to deal with the issues that come with an extra drive axle. Double the drive lines, u joints, gear sets, etc. and a t case. I think it's worth it though.

I had the same problem getting my truck into the garage. I found a set of stock wheels on CL for $20 and got some free worn out low profile tires from the tire shop.

Here's some pics.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=329381

Good luck with your build.
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[lynx5653]

Your truck looks great. Just measured my garage opening it is 6'8. Going to my mechanic today and see what he says about lowering it enough to get it in. i have a set of 245's on 99 tahoe rims not sure they will drop it enough.

[lynx5653]

My wife and I are both excited about our new truck,however neither of us has a clue as to where to start or what to do, no welding or cutting experience, no body work experience, nothing.
We could farm the work out but would really like to give it a try and invest in equipment and tools rather than pay someone else to build our truck. We really want to do as much work as we are able ourselves.
Any and all advice is welcome and needed.

Questions:
pros and cons of sand or media blasting the body , average cost to farm out?

how easy is it to repair dash, radio opening in particular? Po installed aftermarket radio. Or should this be farmed out to a pro?

since whole cab is welded together how easy or difficult to remove bad pieces and install new? ie floor pans,steps,fenders,etc.? bolt on parts I can handle and have done some on other vehicles,cutting and welding no clue.


Anything anyone can add or suggest will be greatly appreciated, we dont want to mess it up and then have someone else fix it.

I assume first thing we need to do is strip off paint to bare metal and see what hidden problems we may have, again media blast or buffer/sander which is best ?


Thanks in advance

David and Gail

[Highsider]

Me being fairly new here, you are in a great forum for all your questions.
I found info by going to previous pages and reading topics.
The Search at the top is a start.
Good luck.

[lynx5653]

we live in the search area,they should supply cots to sleep on

[lynx5653]

new doors ordered. Going to get price on media blasting tomorrow.