Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Well I finally got a good paycheck! My 1st 5 Day work week since before Christmas!!! I decided to congratulate myself by buying my steering column! It's a 32" paintable tilt Flaming River column. Over the course of the next 4-6 weeks, I plan on getting the other parts for getting the steering completed. Soon after that, I'll get a bench seat from the junkyard and get it re-upholstered and mounted up...Things are BACK ON TRACK!!!:metal:

BTW: I also had to buy a new fuel gauge to match up with the Blazer Tank sending unit. The gauge that comes installed in the Brothers panel is for the original in-cab fuel tank (0-30 ohms). I bought the 0-90 version for replacement. If anyone needs a 0-30 ohm gauge (pic below) post here or shoot me a PM... "Updates forthcoming as conditions warrant":)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Picked up the p/s gearbox from a buddy of mine yesterday and just finished painting it to "freshen it up". I also pulled the old manual set-up out in preperation for the new Flaming River column that should be in Wednesday!:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Cool! What's the steering box out of? I kinda like the black grass thing you got going!;)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Don't know about the steering box. It was thrown in when I bought the truck and I forgot to ask the PO about it...BTW don't tell my wife about the black grass...It'll grow out and be cut in a couple of weeks...shhh;)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

spray some green over it noone will notice

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

:lol:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Wow, Your Moving Along Quick With It Tex. Its Looking Great. Nice Choice Of Color. Mine Will Be Wild Cherry By House Of Color When We Get To That Point.lol

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

That Wild Cherry will be killer!:metal:

Only had a little time to play today. Got the steering column yesterday afternoon. I was asleep when the UPS guy rang and knocked on the door B4 he took off. It made my dog angry and WOKE ME UP!!! That's the fun of working odd hours! I think it's gonna look great! I went ahead and got the wiring together for the column harness.

I hope to (time permitting) get the p/s box mounted on the frame rail Saturday. I still need to get a floor cover, 2 Borgeson joints, steering shaft and p/s pump brackets to complete the installation.

Boy I'm getting close now. All I need to get it inspected and street legal now is a bench seat, seatbelts and parking brake cables!!!:metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Got a little more done today. I mounted the Saginaw steering box on the frame. The Borgeson joints, steering shaft, and floor plate have been ordered and should be here by Friday. I still need to buy the pump mounting bracket and hoses to complete the steering. Set the column in place just to get measurements, etc. Did a little more wiring as well. I have to take that a little at a time. Wires going every direction drive me crazy!:hm:

With a little luck and a few more dollars, I'll take her around the block for the 1st time in about 2-3 weeks!!! I'll shoot video of that and post it when the time comes!:metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Hey Tex, what kind of brackets do you need? I might have some out in the garage. Let me know and I will look.

Bernie

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Hey pgf, I need a power steering pump bracket (Old Saginaw style) 350 Engine w/ Short water pump... Thats all I know how to describe it... I'm about to head out of town in the AM and wont be back til Thurs or Friday. If you have a match, Let me know and how much you want for it and we'll work something out...Thx, James:)

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

OK, my goal is to get the truck done (pass inspection...not "finished") for the local car show on June 9th and 10th. I am waiting on 1 Flaming River steering joint and a March power steering pump bracket. Those should be here in 2-3 days. I might have a free seat in Oklahoma. The guy is supposed to call me later today to confirm. My wiring is 95% finished. All lights work except for the license plate light which I'll tackle in a few mins.

We had just put in new floors in the house (PICS HERE) so I have been tied up with the cash to finish her off.

Here's a couple of lighting pics:rolleyes:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Looking GOOD TEX

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

looks good

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

looks great

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Nice work man!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

I was bored today so I made a little video of some progress...

LINK HERE

:metal:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Cool video.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Thx Daniel!

Now for something a year in the making: A video of my maiden voyage! OK so its only around the block but MAN that felt good! I finally got all the power steering components I needed to finish the job and it works like a charm. I especially like the ease of installation of the March Performance power steering pump bracket.

I still have a couple of kinks to work out. My main concern is the TH400 Transmission dosen't want to shift from 1st gear...:confused: I didn't really play too long with it so I'll check it out tommorrow.


Here is a couple of pics and the link to the video...Enjoy!

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

That's so cool!
I can't wait till I'm just working out kinks.
Thanks for the video!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

That's way cool, congrats.
I need to get mine road worthy soon before my I lose my mind.

Tri5

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Tex, can you give me some more details on yer front axle? I hate my IFS setup, and it needs a rebuild anyways, so I'm looking into ripping it out and replacing it with a solid I-beam axle like you have. Also the cowgirl decal, where did you get her from? Thanks!

Edit: oh yah, almost forgot - yer truck is how my dream truck would look like, effin badass :D

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Ivan, The 3 inch drop axle is from C.P.P. www.classicperform.com
I got the cowgirl decal thru an Ebay store although I don't remember which one...Just goto www.ebay.com and search cowgirl pinup...Thx!:cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

:lol: You and me both

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Good news and not so good news...

1st the good: I got a helluva deal on a set of 01 Silverado bucket seats. They just need a good cleaning. No rips, tears or fading. I got them for $80!!!


Now for the not so good: My tranny won't get out of 1st. Its a TH400 with what I believe to be a full manual reverse shift valve body. It wont get out of 1st! I'm still playing with it and if my tinkering dosen't cure the issue, I'll be headed to the shop for some surgery!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

The good part about using those seats are that the seatbealts are built in, how well would these work with a big window cab?

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

They will be quite visible thru the big window but I can live with that for now. I'll be researching maybe chopping some of the middle of the seatback out when I get them re-upholstered in a couple of years...Who knows!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Here's pics of the seats installed::cool:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Wow, they are visable! If you chop some out wouldn't that affect the seatbelt? Did you also made brackets for them?

Tri5

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Yeah they are pretty high but I can live with that for awhile. I dunno about cutting them down if it would interfere w/ the seatbelt. I'll cross that bridge in a couple of years.

There are a couple of what I think are "extra" holes in the floorboard. I just measured width-wise from the top lip of the interior step to the other and calculated where they should sit. The inside front corners of the seats matched up with an exsisting hole so I drilled it out a little wider to accomidate my new grade 8 bolts. I used 3/8 x 2in there. On the outside fronts I used 3/8 x 3in. I had to drill new holes for that.

The rear of the seats is another story. I drilled all new holes for them. I do need to go back and fab up some kinda short spacer between the seat and floor so the seats will slide smoother back and forth. I'll be doing that today.
:lol:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Well, My transmission (TH400) won't pop out of 1st so she's going to the tranny shop. I've tried and researched many different tricks to get her to shift but to no avail... The guy who will be working on it thinks (after talking to me about what it's doing) it won't be too big a deal. He seems really reputable and his wife and mine are old friends...:cool: I'll be dropping it off tomorrow and since I'll be away I won't pick her up till the weekend:whine: .

I can tell ya'll this, That is one snappy engine under the hood! Even though the trans wont up-shift, it sooo wants to fly, Very responsive!:hm:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Got the truck back from the shop today and it feels good to have all gears available! Apparently it was a "fresh" rebuild when I bought the truck. My tranny guy said it looked like new in there but the valve body was rusted. Apparently whoever sonic cleaned the valve body used water instead of the oil-based cleaner. The truck sat for 1 1/2 - 2 years and the VB was exposed to the Texas high humidity hence the rust. Well I have a new VB and she can fly! Now I need to do a full check/replacement of the brakes and she'll be ready for the road!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

[QUOTE= Now I need to do a full check/replacement of the brakes and she'll be ready for the road![/QUOTE]

Ahh hell, brakes are over-rated anyway...........:lol: :lol:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

I agree.... use them once or twice and your hooked on them, its like you cpmpletely forget how to stop without them.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Update: Finally got the brakes done and the truck is now inspected and street-legal! At highway speeds she has a high rpm. I have no idea of the gear ratio out back and I may have to do something about that in the near future.

I'll be "breakin her in" tonight with my local car club cruise. I'll post pics and maybe a video link later tonight!

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

great to see shes up and running again.:metal: i have the same problem with the gears at 60 she runs about 3400 rpm. i am looking at swaping in a 700r4 so i can have the overdrive. i could swap in a different gear but i sure do like how peppy it is off the line now.

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

on my 52 chevy I opened the hood and stuck pennies in and closed the hood and the springs fell out. When it was time to put them back in I just put them back in and opened the hood a little more and the pennies fell to the ground. Then all that is left is to call the kids out and tell them they can have the pennies. :)

http://lotusfelcher.com/images/11-16-02/0115.jpg

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Ok I went on a cruise tonight and HERE IS THE VIDEO
DISCLAIMER: There is an F-Bomb at 6:20 in the video (didn't realize it till after the video was uploaded:o )
The guy in front of me is in a 54. There was also a 68 Camaro and a 71 El Camino there as well. The rest of the cars were late models...
Here's a couple of pics as well:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Couple more pics:

Re: Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache
 

Hey Tex

Truck looks good...
Must feel good to be "on the road"?
Brian ...:cool: