1959 Chevrolet Apache pick up

[Renee]

http://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/2...95%3B%2A%2C%2A

Hello there:

I am an author writing a story about a girl whose only inheritance is a mechanical bull. I recently spent some time with the guys in the '73 to '87 forum to get some help on selecting a vintage truck to haul the closed trailer with the bull inside.

I have now decided on the 1959 Apache pick up in turquoise for the truck. It will have a big old pair of steer horns riveted to the front. Any ideas about what type of tires it would need to haul the trailer?

I decided on the older truck mostly for its looks but also because I have a scene where the truck rear tire blows out, the trailer fishtails and goes backward down a hill, dragging the truck with it. It will also be wet and windy to add to the scene and make it more believable.

Any thoughts or input as to the truck or the scene would be welcome!

[Renee]

I'd also to find out any info on what the original key fob might have looked like.

[dsraven]

pretty tough to get one of these old gm trucks to back down a hill, trailer or not. lots of grunt power. only wanna go uphill. haha. maybe a Ford?
key fob was non existent, just a couple of keys on a dealership labelled tag.
good luck. post a few pics when you get it done.
oh, don't hurt the truck or you'll have a bunch of angry guys asking questions. haha

[Renee]

Thank you!

[Renee]

How about changing a tire on the '59 apache pick up? Would it be pretty much the same as changing a tire on a newer truck? I have a scene where a 12 year old is learning to do it, a 12 year old girl.

[OrrieG]

these came with a bottle type jack mounted the the driver side cab well, operated by a folding handle. Work well on level surface with solid ground below. Most people also carried a hy-lift jack and some large board like 2 or 4 x 12 for use in sloppy soil or snow off road. Before my kids could drive they need to know what and how to check fluids and change a tire on their own. Most owners also used an after market X lug nut wrench with a pipe cheater bar for leverage.

[dsraven]

is this a movie, a novel, a story for fun?
if the truck had a big star wheel wrench, like a lot of ranchers have tucked behind the seat because truck, trailer and other farm implements don't all use the same size wheel nuts (and so the reason for the jack all jack mentioned earlier) then the girl would get more leverage on the tight wheel nuts. one foot pushing on one leg of the star while pulling on another leg of the star. all while contorting the face, haha.

[Renee]

dsraven. this is a contemporary novel and it would make a great movie. The 1959 turquoise Apache pickup would be the star.

[dsraven]

another way fora 12 year old to get tough lug nuts off with a short wheel wrench would be for her to use a "snipe" on the handle of the lug nut wrench to gain leverage. a snipe is usually a short length of pipe that can be slid over the handle of the other tool, whether it is a lug nut wrench or some other ranch tool, to effectively make the handle of the tool longer so the user can get more mechanical advantage. another tool any rancher would likely have in his truck. like a length of rope, some fencing pliers, a few extra shot gun shells or some spare barbed wire on a roll.

[Renee]

Thank you. I think I will use the snipe. Would make sense for a young girl to need some extra oomph to remove the lug nuts. How much do you think that spare tire would weigh?

I also found a photo of some vintage iron chock block, so I'm using those too.

[Softpatch]

Those bottle(wind-up) Jacks found in these truck are
Not User Friendly
State of the art for 1950's

You unfold the handle ( sometime can be a Pinch)
the handle has a snap mechanisms in the middle to hold the jack handle straight while turning.
This action take coordination to turn While holding the handle straight to operate the jack.....
What ends up happening if you loose patience because the jack slowly raises the handle unsnaps and folds sometime pinching fingers
.
That and the fact the Jack is held in place by a spring
just getting the jack out of it's holder can be a trying experience
and should be practice often if wanting to use
.
Why Most Daily drivers of these truck op for a Hydraulic jack
.
Now I don't want to rain on your parade
I feel I must rip the band-aid off....

Although you fallen hard for a Turquoise 1959 Apache....

These truck did not have Power steering,Power brakes
and Nonclapsable steering column
(nicknamed The Impaller's)
nor did they come from the factory with seat belts.(manditory 1964)
or padded dash
even the windshield wipers were very iffy.

Starting in 1955 through 1963 these trucks were affectionately called
" Knee knockers"
Because of the rap around windshield
if the cab/front fenders are compromised the doors will be pinched and non operable stuck.

When they made these truck designers were not thinking about
safety or comfort
at least not at highway speeds
they were made as utility truck to be worked
.
Knowing what we know today about safety
would we let any love ones ride in our Era truck.....NO
Do I own truck's YES.! (59,63,)
Do I feel safe in them No.!
Will I stop driving them ..No.!

.............For the love of the beast.!
If I were to leave you fine fokes
doing what I love there would be no better way to go.!
.
.
........Sp
.

.

.

[nail pounder]

It sounds like ya got a good story going, I'm sure my 12 yr old daughter would like to read it. She likes my 58 Apache but her heart is set on the 66 C20. I can tell you from experience, with a little ingenuity and leverage, a 12yr old girl can change a tire. Not to mention the cab of these old trucks are small, with the seat forward reaching the pedals is not a problem. Good luck with your novel.

[Renee]

Thank you, NailPounder, those pictures are great. Your daughter is beautiful and I love her boots.