Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

A great looking project. Congratulations.

It looks like the bed came from a 63-66 donor, so getting the wood and strips to match with the angle and rear sill holes will be important. This is not the time to be welding up bolt holes to get things to line up. Just be sure your bed kit supplier knows the unique combination of parts used so they can make it fit right the first time.

Mar-Ktech

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Looks good. Is the front end a one piece front tilt? Are you going to run ext. mirrors? I love those big back windows!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Mar-k... I will probably be giving yall a call in a couple of months about the bed wood...

Daniel... its not a tilt front-end. You maybe referring to one of the pics where the bottom rear of the fender sticks out. It hadn't been bolted down yet. I've got 4in peep mirrors with smokey glass I'm putting on the top of the doors.

I appreciate the comments guys! Going to load her up for the ride home...I'll post pics later!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

I felt confident that this build would look great in that colour. Well done Tex. Keep the pics coming. You have a fan club.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

It looks great. You sure have made some progress in a short time. Can I bring mine over for you to finish?

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Are they ever really finished???:confused:
Truck looks really good!!!

Brian..:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Ok I got the ol girl home last night and was busy with other things around town. Just finished with pulling her out in the driveway and cleaning the glass. There was some paint from the PO on the windshield and my wife used steel wool (Very fine grade) and it came right off! It also worked on the back glass on sap-like stuff on the inside. There are old scratches in the glass still but MAN what a difference! I can see now!

The 4" peep mirrors I bought didn't fit on the top of the door as I hoped they would so I put them in the radius at the front of the doors. I can use the driver-side one just fine but the pass. side is not as functional. I have tommorrow off so I hope to get the front bumper cleaned up and installed along with final install on the gas filler. I still need to line up the hood as well as repaint the headlight bezels (they got over-sprayed:o ) Later, J:metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

More...:)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Dang James I didnt know your truck was already painted, the way you made it sound Saturday that it was in pieces. Looks good!!!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Love how it turned out!!! With that big back window you will have a great view. Another 4 lighter..........
Brian ...:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Thx 72 Iv'e been a busy bee so to speak!

BTW, Thx so much for all the help Saturday. Those parts are perfect for the task at hand. Looks like I have a front end to tear down next weekend! Dana and I really appreciate your generous offer! If we see each other at a Houston area show, I have to buy you a beer or two!!!:metal: :metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

yea the peep mirrors mounted on the top dont fit for me unless I adjust the door to be really low and I wont do that. Truck looks good.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Couple of progress pics. I put the headlight bezels, bumper, parking lights and taillights on. None of the lights are wired yet... I also installed the Billet Specialties wire looms on the valve covers. Thats all for now! J;)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

thats an amazing hood prop, you should sooo use that at shows.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Looking good Cowboy...maybe sometime soon we will see it at a show here in Houston.

Hey 55 That prop is pretty cool but you would have to compete with about 10 other trucks with the same prop...so you have better have your shovel really clean or they knock off points.

Bernie

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Looking GREAT Cowboy! You have made some great progress in such a short time. Keep up the good work as you finish up.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Thx for the comments guys...If I get the shovel chromed I may have a better chance of winning:lol:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Got a couple of things done today. I put the filler hose together with the filler on the fender and I put the new hood springs on but it looks like the hinges need to be replaced:whine: . Couple pics of a trick I learned from another website: Use a floor jack to stretch the spring then put stuff in the spaces to hold its length til you put the spring on. Pretty easy!:metal: (no more shovel to hold the hood up!!!)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Looking good buddy!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Great place to store the wrenches too!!
Brian ...:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Ok.. that is a neat little trick for the hood springs... is this a common trick? I'm kind of a troll and I generally just read threads and look at the pics, but this is neato.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

I found the spring trick on stovebolt.com. I hadn't heard of doing such a thing til I researched the "best way to put hood springs on" My only problem now is that I have to take them off because I need new hood hinges!!!:banghead:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

i've seen the put-hardware-in-the-spring trick before in an old issue of hot rod magazine but hadnt seen the stretch-with-jackthing before .
they propped the hood stuffed the hardwhare in the springs and closed the hood slightly to make the springs fall out

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Progress Report: Not much going on. Work's slow and Christmas is upon us. No cash-ola to pour into the monster... But I did get the exterior door handles on, wire up the gauge panel and put a half-a$$ exhaust extension on (just so it will pass inspection!). That is not how the exhaust will remain. I plan on new headers and a Flowmaster set-up. I do have some video of it running with the new "high performance" exhaust extensions. I think it actually sounds decent! Click HERE. See you down the road! J;)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

First...Nice project car !Second ,in my opinion ,House of kolor paint (expensive )is hard to beat .I have that on my '55 and I love it .A good wax job & it has such depth to it.Just brings out the color& shines like He_l !!!!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Thx lowpro! As to HOK Paint, I'm pretty sure that's what I'll use on my next project...someday...:rolleyes:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Exciting News!!!


NOT!
I haven't done much but crank up the old girl every week and let her run a few mins...Work has been at a standstill and I have no play money because of it. I had to give up a run to Kansas City because there will be a solid sheet of ice between Dallas and KC this weekend. So much for that money!:drama:

Anyway, I will be busy pulling the intake due to finding 3-4 different coolant leaks where it was apparently not installed correctly before I bought it!:censored: Once I re-do that I will either hook up the electric choke or get a manual cable (just like the ability to manually control it:crazy: ).

I'll let ya'll know how it turns out tommorrow! Later, James;)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

I got manual choke :cool:..yours is coming along good!

and yes oklahoma is officially a popsicle!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Cool video clips Tex!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Not much to report... The re-sealing of the intake went well although the water neck is now leaking (damn chrome POS!). I guess I'll head to the parts house tommorrow for a good old cast-iron one! I have another goofy vid of me revving my truck a bit. Its HERE. I screwed my back up opening the hood on my 71 Saturday so I've been off work all week and I'm going stir crazy!!!:drama: Hope to be back at work Monday and making money so I can make some REAL progress on the truck to report... Later, J:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Tex, Ya Been Real Busy To I See. Ahh, Turquoise Blue Again. Seems Like Gm In 58 Got A Deal On That Color Paint. Every Other Person I Talk To Had That Color When They Found Their Truck. I Can See Why Gm Used It. Fresh Paint Always Stands Out. Did You Totally Disassemble The Bed For Painting Or Just Shoot The "box". My Ground Up Rebuild Is Coming Along. It Will Be A "brand New" 1959 Big Window When I Am Done.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

The truck is looking real good. I like that color!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Tex, You may have a hard time finding a cast iron one at the parts atores anymore. They are mostly going to have the chrome ones. Try a junk yard. I use to have a bunch of those things but I don't know if I still do. If you can't find one let me know and I will look to see if I still have any.

Bernie

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Thx for the comments ya'll!
Jimbo- I pulled my bed off and then took the fenders off. Had to use a cutoff wheel on half of the bolts due to rust...But I think we have all dealt with that:lol: but yes, All 4 sides of the box were left together for paint.

Pfg- I thought a cast iron housing would be a little hard to find as well. O'reillys had just sold there last one but the girl said the other 2 stores in town had them in stock. Napa was closer for me, so I went over there and they had one for $15.00. I tell you I don't like those chrome housings!

BIshop- Thx for the input!

If I get to making the housing swap today, I'll post up to tell you how it went. Thx, J:)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

that's funny, on my '55 bel air i had years ago, i used a chrome water neck with the o-ring seal to STOP a leak coming from a cast iron one with the paper gasket.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

UPDATE: My wife has given me the go-ahead to get a new steering column! (She's making more money than me right now) Where is a good place to buy one on-line? Where's the best deal, what length? (30 or 32 inch) should I get Ididit or Flaming River? Once I get it in, I can start tying in all the wiring and install that p/s upgrade that I've been sitting on. Work has been extremely slow. It's tied directly into the new housing market and when it slows down, so does my work:( .

Not long after the steering column is installed, I will head to the junkyard to find either a nice 60/40 bench or a couple of buckets to re-upholster. My wife is ready to get this thing going and driveable. I think she's tired of me looking sad everytime I go into the garage and not having the means to throw money at the truck. My 71 is starting to develop some problems and I need the 59 as a backup just in case.

Looks like the train is about to be back on the track!:metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

A little progress: Painted the tailgate and figured out the cowgirl sticker placement. The words "The Tracy Lee" will be to the left of the decal at an angle painted on by a pinstriper. I also mounted the radiator overflow can on the inner fender but I'm not sure if I like it there. There's pretty much no room in front of or beside the radiator:m6: I found a good deal on a Flaming River column. 32" ready for paint floor shift tilt for $265.00. I should be getting it either next week or the week after. Here's the pics!:metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

I'm digging the tailgate man!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Thanks Bro!:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Look'n sharp Tex! I think the overflow looks fine.