Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

i can appreciate the work you guys have to do to keep old trucks alive over there :D
nice save on the bed sides, little rust on the truck helps there
your garages are a little tighter than what we have here, looks like you have to grease the sides to get in :D

i saw your comment on the gas sender float
we have a 68 jeepster in the shop, changing it over to efi
we found this when we dropped the tank and it worked :D

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0y42jjgg.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

High marks for creativity !

Any port in a storm...

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Hahahahahaha..love it ogre..looks like something my dad would have done

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Yep sure is a tight fit through the door. Haha. Funny re your comment of the sender as someone on a UK forum just told me the same tip of using a rear light bulb.

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

The rear lights have been a bit hit and miss with bad contacts and earths. So decided to replace the bulb holders. Bought these twin bayonet bulb holders from Welcome to Auto Electric Supplies and they are designed as retrofit into existing lamp units so perfect for the application.

old bulb holder, held together with metal putty!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pslqv2ybbe.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psz0ovwy1q.jpg
old ones removed with hacksaw
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psbqkfsuvs.jpg

Hole drilled larger to accept new holders
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps0ep4erfo.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps53wsgsme.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pstisy8mvo.jpg

new holder in place, then the lip is peened over to crimp against the existing lamp unit and provide earth return. Shown part done, but it's peened all the way round and open up like a flower.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdcugwxcr.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pslteyqmra.jpg

finished items, Ta-Da! Took about 15 mins for both
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psiocptv3v.jpg

Next up slightly wider rear wheels, 5" rims off and 8" rims on.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psnoviwvuu.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Looks like a tight fit on those rearwheels ;)

Nice fix in the taillights, have to remeber that, Thanks for sharing!!

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

it was still on the jack in the photo, its a good 1 1/2 " clearance to arch

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Great solution on the tail light bulb holder! That was on my list to figure out. Also, nice recovery on the left side rear wheel well opening. Like you, I have much work to do on my bedsides. dug

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Nice fix on the lights.
Kim

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Saturday I decide to tackle the driver side lower hinge repair I'd been putting off since I got the truck :D.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psiegnn9a2.jpg

I got a repair panel from a UK truck parts importer. Nice quality panel and decent gauge of steel. First up remove the door to reveal the extent of the rot.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqe0xsokn.jpg

Sharp intake of breath and start cutting, the area cleaned up well with only localt rot that hadnt spread too far, although I'll need to make a closing panel to go under the arch later.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pshe7s82lr.jpg

next up trial fit of repair panel and a little trimming and drill for plug welds
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psl3gkzjiv.jpg

Door back off to complete the welding
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psauva2nnj.jpg

Light grinding and small amount of filler to blend top of panel in
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psfwvwyxjf.jpg

Quick lick of brush paint to keep it weatherproof
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps2hnyg0at.jpg

Door back on shuts nice, and all finished before the sun went down:tup:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxpwrxbnh.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Nice job Andy

You always impress me with your work.

As always in the UK summer, I am cutting hedges today so no truck time this weekend.

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Very nice fix on the hinge pocket!

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Very nice fix.
Kim

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

I'm very pleased how well it went. So much better to plug weld, so no welds are on show. Years ago I think I would have run an ugly weld all the way round lol

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Nice fix!
Factory new!!

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Uber-nice repair!

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Mark came round at the weekend and we did an oil change and fitted a HEI dizzy to his truck.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psaz6ehqml.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdhbekdgu.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pshiy7p3gz.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Went for a run on Saturday night and noticed a small oil leak running down the block under the exhaust manifold, it's been a bit damp in this area before but not a visible leak that you can wipe away and then come back after about 10 miles running. Arrgh! and with a 1000 mile road trip planned in July to France i thought it best to take the plunge and get the head off. So 2 hours later it looked like this.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psoo3j9uci.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Andy are you both driving to France in July of so you can always pop in on your way home for a cuppa and a break

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

yep we are both going in trucks ( fingers crossed all running ok) but going Newhaven to Dieppe takes about 140 miles off french side each way

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Too bad about the oil leak. Hopefully you will have it fixed in time for your trip.

Off topic from a build, do your neighbors have any curiosity about the old Chevy trucks? I am guessing they don't see a lot of them and was wondering about their response.

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Yep neighbours love them and to the point sometimes it difficult to get work done with so many asking about them. The guy opposite thinks I'm a serial killer and dump body in the rear of my green truck. Mostly people get them and like them, the odd passerby asks the same non car type person question, like it will be nice when you paint it and then look completely confused when I say it's not getting painted. The level of confusion on their face deepens when I say actually I've gone to great lengths to paint the repaired area to match the original worn paint.

The american car bug has rubber off an another neighbour 3 doors away that now has an 89 Chevy Caprice painted like a police car complete with blue lights and logo'd up.

Oh and dont forgot the 71 Dart in the garage.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psrpniq08d.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Got the head off tonight, good news and bad news. Good news is it looks like the oil leak was just a weep from the threaded head bolt holes and the head appears flat (checked with straight edge). Also confirms what I thought when I first got the truck that the engine has been rebuilt recently, as there is very little carbon build up. The carbon came off with first light pass of a wire brush. :D Bad news is found 2 of the push rods bent, checked on rockauto website and not available ARRGH!:eek:

Can find a place in US that will ship on 14 days! but need it sorting pronto for trip to le Mans. Then remembered my contact in Reading Rex Ward dealing in WWII military vehicles. Quick phone call to him today asking if he has 2 second hand ones, he reply's I have them new at £8 each, how many do you want, result :tup:

Parts order and on there way to me, which give me a little time to strip and check all the parts and re lap the valves etc. Need to check valve timing and all the rockers are fine to see if I can find out way the 2 pushrods bent, which where both on exhaust ports. Rex thought it may just have been over rev'd at some point as he says he has seen that before. However I dont recall seeing loose rockers when stripping it down as surely a bent rod is now shorter than a straight one and hence have play at the top. Also strangle the bent rod is still the same length as the straight rods, could the rods have been too long form another model?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdwzdxunm.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6ucxf1dg.jpg

light clean of the pistons
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...pskuniuw0y.jpg

I also did find the water ways from block to head blocked, not sure if these are the supply or return path?
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psr4zv2txa.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6aiypx4f.jpg

Offending push rod
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psfk2wc9sk.jpg

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Engine looks nice and clean inside.
That's really bent.
Kim

Re: 59 Apache SWB Fleetside in UK
 

Were you getting any strange engine noises due to the bent pushrods?