Apachomatic - 1959 Chev. Apache Build

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Apachomatic - 1959 Chev. Apache Build

slab · BRANT COUNTY, ONT

Great project. Keep on post'n. I would try to bang out the dents. Lots of metal to work with on those old trucks.

BARRIE, ONTARIO

Well , not me on the fenders . I have a terrible eye for straightness . but over the winter the fenders would be a great subject for learning practicing on . ..77.

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Nice project! Lots to work with there and I have to agree with Rich on the fenders - if they're as rust free as they look, pound them out, learning as you go, and they'll likely be better quality/thicker than repops. Bring them out to the metal meet in the spring!

51 Styline · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

I would try to bang out the fenders, after all what have you got to lose. A little time , sweat, few brown pops but you gain experience , and possibly the knowledge you are or are not a metal worker.

Sacotu · COBOURG, ONT

did the truck come from the states? reason i ask is in the american gmc's used pontiac motors and a 347 was one of the motors used from that era. noticed the back axles is 5 bolt, stock was a 6 bolt. was the drivetrain at one time updated or repaired or is that part of the ongoing rebuild. i just got a repop fender for my beast and it was in the $500 range. i had damaged it in the spring but i had already repaired it 20 years ago. good luck on your endeavors these are my favorite trucks.

31 Blackrat · WATERDOWN, ONT

Apachomatic I love it ,,,just an old story I gotta share, when I met my sweety I had a german shepherd named earl,It was just me my son and earl,she wanted to make some applecrisp pie but my stove wasn't up to snuff,,anyway the pie got a little to crispy and when we cut it,it blew all over the kitchen floor so I said don,t worry the earlamatic will clean it,,,he did and she still loves me, just sayin,,,

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Cab Off

Removed a TON of dirt, tar, petrified cow crap from under the cab and removed some rusted out metal from the pockets in the back corners of the cab.

A LOT of time with a wire wheel, paint scraper and torch. If it had been an even coating I would have left it for sound deadening and protection, but since it wasn't, more POR15

before After

Cab on

More painting underneath and fab to do, but this is where I'm at right now.
-- Edited by apachomatic on Thursday 16th of October 2014 09:26:51 PM

-- Edited by apachomatic on Thursday 16th of October 2014 09:43:27 PM

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Looks very good! Like those trucks.

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

I will try my hand at banging out dents. I may have to start by pulling some. Does anyone recommend torching and cooling dents while trying to tap them out?

Sacotu - the truck was from the states (based on the VIN) But I think the 347 and the drivetrain were from a 1957, not sure if it was a car or truck. It has a Pontiac 9.3 rear in it, which I have heard are tough, but hard to get parts. I plan on swapping it out.

Blackrat - Apachomatic came from the Apache (obvious) and the fact that I drive with hand controls, so an automatic trans. is easiest. That and the truck did have a Hydra-matic in it.

wolfman1 · ST GEORGE, ONT

Good old hammer and dolly will be your best bet
You can do more damage with a torch if you're not really careful
Check out www.allmetalshaping.com
A "slapper" will help you a lot. Although I haven't used one, I hear great things about shrinking discs.

-- Edited by wolfman1 on Friday 17th of October 2014 12:26:24 PM

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Hi Pat, Great little truck you have there.

As for the dents, you should be able to remove most of those dents without too much trouble. Take your time though.

A 16oz hammer without any sharp edges around the perimeter of the head will be your best friend. You don't want to mar the metal. After figuring out which dents came first(first in.. last out), slowly work from the outside of the dent inward shrinking the metal whilst hammering it out. The centre of the dent has experienced the majority of the stretch and you don't want to stretch that area anymore. Once it's close to the body's contour, finish up with a slapper and dollie. Again, don't strike the dollie too hard. Striking on the dollie will stretch while striking off dollie will help shrink. You want to average out imperfections of the surface area....slowly... until you have a smooth surface. You can make a slapper using an old leaf spring. I've made a few over the years for different applications. Feel free to check out my facebook page. There's an album showing how I made mine.

Hope this helps and best of luck with your project.

By the way, as wolfman1 mentioned, you can do a lot of damage including hardening the steel with a torch if you're not familiar with the torch shrinking technique making it even more difficult to repair these dents. They were introduced cold... and most of the time you can remove them cold.

-- Edited by invision on Friday 17th of October 2014 01:01:34 PM

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

thank you so much for the information. I feel some hope for success with these fenders now!

I will post pictures of the hammer and Dollie kit I have. Will a "normal" body hammer work with this thicker metal? the bottom sections at the rear of these fenders look as though they have been crushed in rather than just dented. Would there be a different technique for this? I guess I will know more once I get my hands in it.

thanks again guys. I love this place!!

I am off to inVisions page to check out slappers.

Flatduck · ONTARIO

I know a local guy here in Sudbury who has fenders that aren t dent and he may be interested in that engine he owns one truck without the stepside box and one with theregular both are short box and standard one truck is a gmc and the other is a chev.....................both trucks are kept inside and aren t the sitting grass junk rusted thing

he got a load of part from the states last year if your interested I could talk to him and you exchange phone numbers

dodge38 · MISSISSAUGA, ONT

Good luck with the project, seems like we bought the cars at the same time (April 2013), let's see who's car is drivable first - I vote for you

Redneck Rydes · TRENTON, ONT & SOUTH CAROLINA

As a major truck guy, You have done a fantastic job with this one,nothing like cleaning up cow crap.I have bought a lot of trucks from down here in South Carolina and brought them back to Ontario,you would be surprised at some of the treasures I have found living in them.Keep up the good work and if you need some sheetmetal I have some yards in My area that I deal with and still have lots of good parts on them.

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Thanks Redneck

I have a LOOONG way to go and winter is coming.

I have found a few treasures in this truck along with the cow crap.

Other than some old carb. parts and a busted out taillight, I found a pair of fur hands that were above the rear view mirror on the roof, a pencil that doesn't look much newer than the truck, and a button (I think) down in the mud and crud in the pocket down by the rear cab corner (nice job GM, mold in a pocket to collect crap and moisture to rot the cab out)

stuff

Me and the guys will be test fitting a chev. 305 and a 700R4 trans this weekend so we can fab mounts.

Has anyone changed a speedometer from electronic to cable on a 700R4? I want to use my original gauges.

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Merry Christmas

and

Seasons Greetings

-- Edited by apachomatic on Thursday 11th of December 2014 04:42:46 PM

BAMBAM · WELLESLEY, ONT

Dual purpose Hot Rod/Yard Art

Very cool...

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

The bottom of my drivers door is shot.

I bought a replacement panel and decided to mark and cut the line last night. I invited my neighbour over to give me a hand. He brought gloves, ear and eye protection, and his health card, just in case.

This is me and a grinder.

grindoor

Here is the new panel in place.

door

I need to clean up the inside of the door and make a patch for a spot on the skin, then I will weld a new hinge support in and make sure everything fits.

I hope my mission to save this door instead of replacing pays off.

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Looks good Patrick! One piece at a time.

Keeping and saving original panels is always the best route to a rebuild.

Sacotu · COBOURG, ONT

most excellent. your doors looked to about the same shape as mine were.

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Made a patch panel for the bottom of my door but gave up on that for now. Need to get my steering column done and in so the truck can be moved around the yard easier.

Sanding and bondo time in my basement (very understanding girlfriend)

mask

There was a cracked section on my steering column (1978 Camaro column). Just wanted to clean out the crack and re bondo. The more I sanded, here is what I found.

.

Someone filled the entire hole with mud.

Here it is sanded down with 60.

There is a lighted starter button where the key used to go and the old cruise switch will now be my high/low dimmer.

So some backing behind the hole, a couple of coats of bondo, tons more sanding and then zinc chromate primer.

lots of fun!

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Here is a custom spinner know a friend made for me to go in the '59.

It has a 1959 Canadian silver dollar laid in it.

And the knob for the dimmer switch. The switch will fit inside so I will have high/low beam button on the column. The switch goes to a relay to handle the amperage.

flatduck · SUDBURY, ONT

here the picture of the gmc he has plan to redo again ya he may be crazy a little I think anyway

flatduck · SUDBURY, ONT

when you get old lollllllllllllll well here we go that left rear fender if he goes ahead to plan he wants to change it to one with the cut away for the tire like yours ya to me I think it s stupid but he like that wheel on the fender , by the way it could be sold complete if a guy offers the right money

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

I am back after a while.

New (to me) fenders with fewer dents and creases. Still need some body work, but much better than what I had (see top of post)

Here is the heart of the beast:

A 350ci small block Chevy built by Wrights Engine Rebuilding in Thornhill, Ontario.

Claims to have 300hp and 350 ft lbs of torque.

After that I sold my Pontiac 9.3" rear and picked up a ~89 Camaro rear. Posi with .411 gears. Does that should like a fun package?

The truck has been moved into a shop for the winter where the real work will happen!

Shock mounts, motor mounts, trans (700R) mount, sway bar, driveshaft, rear end (leafs and shocks) and wiring all planned for this winter.

I will not be able to pay for final body work and paint for a while, so I plan to roll her in original paint and primer first.

-- Edited by apachomatic on Wednesday 14th of October 2015 12:49:22 PM

-- Edited by apachomatic on Wednesday 14th of October 2015 12:57:03 PM

69SS454 · MILTON, ONT

Nice build. Looking good so far. Keep us posted

slab · BRANT COUNTY, ONT

thanks for the update

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

A TON of work has been done since my last update and I have a lot of friends and family to thank for it. My dad sacrificed half of his small engine repair shop to house my truck this winter. It was a slow winter for him, which resulted in a lot of work done for me.

Here is the photo stream

Engine dropped in place and heavy mounts welded to the crossmember

this

Just enough distributor clearance

dist

Drivers side of engine

right

Front of engine

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Forgot to show the transmission before engine went in

Headers had to be cut , bent and re welded to clear the steering shaft

Steering (not an easy task)

BIG thank you to Rick at Duke Point Auto Recyclers and Ratmotor (on this site) for the steering parts!

Christmas time!

My girlfriend and I painted the rear end (Camaro with 4.11 POSI) with POR15

Driveshaft Flipped

REALLY hope we got the pinion angle right!

flip

GF and I did something a little different to the driveshaft

shaft2

Seat went in pardon the mess!

My GF and my neighbour helped paint the floor with brush on bed liner (if you do this, use a roller)

SHIFTER!

Rad, Fuel and front brakes are plumbed

Somewhere in there we did pulleys and the brake booster. Who knew there were so many pulley and bracket combinations. We still are not sure the correct bracket for the power steering pump, but the guys made one.

WE ARE SET TO FIRE THE ENGINE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 14TH, MY BIRTHDAY!

Whitey · CLARINGTON, ONT

keep up the great work young man! i can' t think of a better birthday present...

Undead_Edsel_59 · LONDON, ONT

Awesome truck! And great progress.

Ratmotor · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Great progress Patrick! It has come a long way from the last time I saw it. Any parts you need that I have just ask and they will be yours!

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

Inner and Outer fenders are on for the purposes of running headlight wires.

Truck got Moved to my Dads for the winter, hoping it will leave under its own power

Got some Magnaflows from TDot Performance and tips from MBRP

The guys mocked up and welded an X pipe and the mufflers

Whitey · CLARINGTON, ONT

Looks great, love the stance! Keep up the awesome work.

teejay99 · BELLE RIVER, ONT

It's come a long way ...lookin' good !

T

33 fuel · ORANGEVILLE. ONT

Cool build thanks for posting the pics

cr55 · DELAWARE

Great looking truck! I love that body style!

apachomatic · PARRY SOUND, ONT

I thought I had replied a long time ago but thanks so much for the comments guys! Amazing how supportive guys with such nice cars are. This will be far from a trailer queen or a track star, but I am really looking forward to making some noise in it, some day...

It has brakes now, that could come in handy :D

Sacotu · COBOURG, ONT

one step closer.