"Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Hi All,

Been lurking for a while now, but wanted to ask a few questions.

My girlfriend and I picked up a '59 Apache 3100 a while back and have been collecting pieces in order to start are rebuild on it. Last weeekend we found a '59 Apache 3600 at a price we couldn't pass up, so we grabbed it. It has a blown motor and has been sitting for a few years.

The 3100 (we are naming her Bonnie) has a great running 6 in it with a 5speed out of an S-10. The 3600 (he will be Clyde) has a bad motor. We have a 350 that is going in Bonnie and she is going to get a Mustang II front end and a new rear end. So we plan to just pull all the ruunning gear out of Bonnie and put it all in Clyde.

Here's where my questions come in. Can someone point me to some reference material for all the differences between the 3100 and the 3600? Anything significant I need to be worried about for this change over? The 3600 has a heater/defroster in it. Was this an option or is it likely to be aftermarket?

Any and all advice is appreciated. We haven't played with the old trucks yet, so this is all new to us.

Of course I know you want pictures so I will toss a few in.

Thanks, John


Here is Clyde in all his glory

Re: New guy with some questions
 

Here is Bonnie

Re: New guy with some questions
 

...and the labratory where they will exchange pieces and parts. Our last project was the Trans Am.

Re: New guy with some questions
 

Really like bonnie. Can't help to much with your question thogh, sorry.

Re: New guy with some questions
 

There are a lot of differences mostly in the frame, driveline and suspension. Body is the same. Frames are thicker in the 3600, rear is different, wheel lug count is 8 not 6. heavier springs and larger brakes.

Re: New guy with some questions
 

all I got to add is it sure looks like yall are having some nice weather. Wanna trade

Re: New guy with some questions
 

Beds are obviously different. Heater was an option with two levels. Standard had a knob to operate, deluxe had levers and chrome bezel. The heater box and core is different between the two. A factory assembly manual has all the detailed differences in the frames, etc. I thought the 31 was a short fleetside but your looks like a long one (32?)

Re: New guy with some questions
 

Might as well make this my build thread.

I spent the last couple weekends stripping Bonnie and transfering some of the stuff to Clyde.

So far:

Motor, transmission, fuel tank, brake lines, front and rear axles, shocks, and fuel line from Bonnie are in Clyde.

Bonnie is stripped and ready for her new Mustang II front end, and Ford 8.8 rear end.

Bonnie goes off to the welder this week.

Clyde is another story. Bonnie had a cable E-brake, and Clyde had the E-brake on the back of the transmission. I'm going to have to figure a way to rig that up. Clyde had a two piece drive line so I'm going to have to get a new driveline made that is a tad bit longer. The wiring on Clyde is a disaster. I pulled everything out of Bonnie and will use that to rewire Clyde. I ordered a complete new wiring harness for Bonnie so she doesn't need her's anymore.

If anyone local is interested. I plan to sell the motor, transmission, and both axles from Clyde. He's a one ton so the axles are 8 lugs.


Some photos:

Re: New guy with some questions
 

Bonnie loses her front end

Re: New guy with some questions
 

Clyde inherits a motor and front axle

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Clyde inherits a motor and axle

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Bonnie getting degreased and power washed to look good for the welder

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Bonnie is going to be my driver, so she will get all the goodies.

Clyde will be the workhorse around the property and used to make Home Depot runs. He will be the step-child and receive all the hand me downs.

Rippin' and strippin' is the fun part. Now the work starts in putting everything back together.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Any updates?

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Thanks fo asking.

I've been busy with too many other projects to stay on top of this.

Heidts Mustang II IFS is installed. Motor mounts are done. Under bed fuel tank is installed. Brake booster is done. Brake lines and fuel lines are installed. Steering column shortened and installed. Waiting and waiting and waiting for TCI to deliver my 4 link rear. It is supposed to be here Monday.

Once that is done I will yank the cab off. The get the frame all painted and get the firewall cleaned up and all the holes filled.

Trying to decide what to do with the dash. The one in Bonnie is hacked up around the radio hole. I ahve a very clean replacement dash. Just don't know if I want to replace the whole dash because I keep reading that it is a pain to do. Or just cut the section needed out of the good dash and weld that into the current dash.

Once a decision is made there, and the work is completed, I am going to put the whole truck back together and drive her. Too broke for paint now, so she will not get painted for a few months, but I want to drive her so bad.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

My computer and camera have been down (thank goodness for the Iphone allowing me Internet access) so its been a while since I have provided updates and photos.

Went with Heidts Mustang II front end

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Installed a TCI 4 link rear suspension, and under bed mounted 19 gallon fuel tank.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Went with a Ford 8.8 posi rear end with 3.73 gearing and of course disc brakes

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Managed to swap out the old broken glass for some nicer pieces

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Cleaned up the motor

SBC 350 massaged a bit with a Muncie M21 4 speed behind it

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Gotta be able to get her stopped so brake booster added as well as porportioning valve for adjustability

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

I've spent ove my current budget already so she is going back together without the body work or paint. I just want to be able to drive her for a while while I save the funds for the final steps.

Spent time painting what will be under the hood. Inner fenders, hood hinges, hood latch, radiator support etc.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

So this is what Bonnie looks like at the moment.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

I think the stance is about where I want it to be.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

The engine compartment should look good when its all back together

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Next weekend I will put the new wiring harnesses in her. Then bolt all the sheetmetal back on her. Then trailer her down to the muffler shop for complete exhaust and over to the tire shop for alignment. After that she will be my summer driver.

Took her down the road and back in front of the house with the open headers and no weight on the rear end. Spun the tires in all four gears and sounded really nice!!

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Trying to decide what to do about the dash. The current dash is pretty well hacked. I have a second dash in really nice shape. Should I cut the middle out of the nice dash and put that in Bonnie, swap the dash with the one in Bonnie, or just buy the patch panel I see in catalogs and off the nice dash to someone who really needs it?

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

the two dashes

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Does the damage under the heater control hole extend over to the glove box? It that is repairable in place I would get an aftermarket patch panel and sell the good dash after the repair is completed.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

From the looks of it I would fix what you have with that dash without cutting into the nice one. If you want it original then buy the patch from LMC, otherwise roll a piece of sheet and weld it in.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Drill out all the spot welds and put the white one in and DON'T paint it! Nice Build x 2!!!

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Time for a litttle update. Been busy putting her all back together. The plan is to drive her all summer then take her all apart this winter and get the bodywork and paint done.

The motor looks great

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

I used the Factory Fit wiring assembly and completely rewired the entire truck. I laid out the whole thing on the dining room table and figured out where everything goes. The wiring went in fairly easy and only cost me about a day.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Hung all the sheetmetal back on her. Kinda sucks putting on pieces that have damage but I want to drive her now.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

I think the stance came out ok. Right now there are 245/50 series tires in the back with a 25" overall diameter. I'm going to run those till I kill them then up the rears to 30-32" diameter and maybe 300 wide.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Got the exhaust in. Went with single chamber mufflers with 2 1/2' pipes the entire way. I think its a little too loud and will probably be taking her back to get two chamber muflers swapped in.

My girlfriend gave me a ride to pick up Bonnie and hated the square tips I picked out.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Got the front end alignment done and have been driving her a bit. With the Muncie 4 speed, 3.73 gears in the Ford 8.8 rear end, and the low profile tires, I'm winding her up too much when on the freeway. Ordered up some 3.08 gears from Summit Racing and those are going in the rear later this week.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

So now its time to drive her and enjoy her. Between now and winter I will choose a color and figure out what I'm going to do for bedwood and the interior.

Now the girlfiend and I have to fight over what to drive.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

Of course I don't get to relax too much. The next project is waiting in the garage.


Meet "Sheila" currently a '71 Firebird with a valve stuffed in the #4 piston.

Sheila will soon be a Formula clone with a smoking motor.

Re: "Silver's '59 build thread"
 

You do really nice work. For the price of the patch panel I'd buy/use it and hang the stock dash in my garage as art. Hell I'd be tempted to put a radio in it as my garage BOOM BOX..