1961 Chevy Apache My Beater

[hardwaa]

1961 Chevy Truck. This is my favorite year of all Chevy trucks. This truck is ROUGH but I totally DIG it!! 6 Cylinder/3 speed trans. A autorepair/hotrodshop installed the dropped front spindles, added front disc brakes and got it running. They also pulled the front torsion Keys and the rear coil springs out to bag it. Customer lost interest/ran out of money. truck sat for 6 months. I Bought it Thursday Jan 5 2018.

My plan is to keep it simple and cheap.

Pic is how i found it. It was LUST at first sight.

[hardwaa]

After getting it home I gave it a Good wash. Checked over all the fluids was able to get it to start! I even drove it up and down the street at about 5 mph (No suspension)

[hardwaa]

The seller needed the wheels and tires back. I scrounged around found some stock 3 nub not 4 nub 15x5's for the front and 15x6's for the rear. Bought some tires and used hubcaps.
I also located some missing hardware for the torsion keys so i could install working suspension back in the truck. Added some lowered rear springs at the same time. The Beater was starting to take shape!

Side note I learned stock wheels came is 15x 5, 5.5,and 6"

[hardwaa]

Spray painted the wheels Bermuda green metallic 1954 Chevy car color. Had a local guy buff side walls to expose entire whitewall.
Hubcaps are 1961-1962 chevy car.

[hardwaa]

Next was make this truck reliable. replaced all the normal maintenance stuff. Fluids,Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, upgraded to a pertronix 1 and coil. Also replaced H2O pump, rad cap, t stat, hoses,added a H2O temp gauge, belt, fuel pump and hoses.
Brakes were new up front. I replaced rear brakes and hose.

[hardwaa]

Next I got to do some FUN stuff to get this truck ready to work.
Tailgate chains removed.

[EricU]

Originally Posted by hardwaa

Spray painted the wheels Bermuda green metallic 1954 Chevy car color. Had a local guy buff side walls to expose entire whitewall.
Hubcaps are 1961-1962 chevy car.

Jeff,

1) Sharp Truck!
2) Can you explain what you mean (I know, self explanatory) about having a local guy buff side walls to expose entire whitewall? I have never seen that before.
3) I want that hood for my 63!!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by EricU

Jeff,

1) Sharp Truck!
2) Can you explain what you mean (I know, self explanatory) about having a local guy buff side walls to expose entire whitewall? I have never seen that before.
3) I want that hood for my 63!!!

I am not sure if this answers your question


https://youtu.be/yXm0ZTxRrTU

Also this even better video.


https://youtu.be/JnwevOfIUqA


Hope it works.

[hardwaa]

Originally Posted by EricU

Jeff,

1) Sharp Truck!
2) Can you explain what you mean (I know, self explanatory) about having a local guy buff side walls to expose entire whitewall? I have never seen that before.
3) I want that hood for my 63!!!

Yes white letter tires and thin whitewall tires have more white under the black sidewall. Here is a pic. His machine he is sitting on spins truck wheel. He has a “grinder” that shaves tire. Smells like burnouts when he does it...Bonus!! PS I suck at typing. Feel free to call me Jeff 480 329 0328. AZ time

[jimmythompson1964]

What did you do about the suspension?

[hardwaa]

Originally Posted by jimmythompson1964

What did you do about the suspension?

I reinstalled the torsion Keys up front. This is my first torsion bar truck. Rides Great.
In the rear I installed 4" lower CPP rear springs.

[jhrusk]

Just found this thread. Such a cool truck.

[plainred65]

Missed this truck first time around, very cool. Nothing better than being able to use a truck like a truck.

[hardwaa]

Was at Goodguys in Scottsdale in November. Had a BLAST. Also cleaned the truck up a little. Wash,scrub, and wax before Goodguys.

[Grizz1963]

I love what you have managed to do with thismtruck, and to keep it a working truck is just perfect.

I was looking for one of these hoods for a long time to fit to my 66 C10 which has a thread on here, but in the end decided it was not going to happen in England.

In the mean time I bought this http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=774451 and it has made me happy and returned my mojo.


I hope to see more of your truck being used.

Thanks for sharing.

[64RELIC]

I really like the wheel, tire and cap combination you came up with. Classic.

[jhrusk]

Awesome truck

[roastmaster]

I've seen this truck periodically on ig and now on here. I haven't really seen it at the club meets though. you should totally take it out this weekend

[hardwaa]

So-Cal Speed Shop Arizona has a Great little show every 2nd Sat of the month. Starts early 6AM. Pic from yesterday’s.

[hardwaa]

Christmas tree day!

[Grizz1963]

I love the way you,also record your truck working (well, it really is play to us)


Every time I see an update, I have to look in.


Merry Christmas in the mean time.

[Android04]

Way to keep it alive and using it for what it's meant for. Love it.

[hardwaa]

Merry Christmas and Thanks for all the comments.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by hardwaa

Merry Christmas and Thanks for all the comments.

Right back at ya, and thank you for the entertainment.

You are getting me inspired to get my finger out and back to my C10 once the summer comes back and the Blazer is done.

[hardwaa]

Goofing off tonight at a local hangout with 2 friends.