1958 Apache 38 Dually Dump Project

[meatwagon83]

man this truck is bad ass!! i just read all 19 pages of this thread and i cant wait to hear this thing run!!

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Great progress. The left side looks like positioning tabs were added to help line up the replacement panel? Might just be how the photo looks on this Ipad....

Thanks AD, we "castle cut" (I just made that term up ) the cab on both sides and used a stepping tool to indent the "teeth". Scott's experience is showing through there. We thought it was a great way to line up/reinforce the new panel...especially when working with the curved profile.

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks good.
Always nice to have some experienced help with that kind of stuff.
Kim

Thanks Kim, definitely nice to have cool friends with talent!

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Maybe I missed it; apologies if so. What color is planned? Can't wait to see it.

(A LITTLE part of me would like to see it Tonka truck hard gold/yellow) but itd probably look better long term in another color.

Well, at the moment we are thinking a light metallic silver

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

man this truck is bad ass!! i just read all 19 pages of this thread and i cant wait to hear this thing run!!

Cool! Thanks MW!!

[RockTonka]

Spent some time on the front today. Cleaned and welded up the seams and repaired a few cancer spots. Passenger light brow is gonna need some love

[Kim57]

It's going to look good with all the seems welded and smoothed.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

Like the "castle cut" (both the term and the process)....like a castlated (sp) nut.

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by Kim57

It's going to look good with all the seems welded and smoothed.
Kim

I hope so...

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Like the "castle cut" (both the term and the process)....like a castlated (sp) nut.

I thought it was a cool technique too...



Picked up more parts from the powder coater

The side and hood emblems were fairly rough with peeling chrome and heavy pitting. After sand blasting, the PC shop had to use a "primer" coat that helped smooth inconsistencies and allowed the pot metal to breathe a bit (out gas) while being heated to 400 F + the first time, then the final hammer tone coating completely covered the pits...the parts exceeded my expectations.

[dyno]

Love this project! Those powdercoated, hammer finished parts look awesome...really unique.

[rgunlock]

Those hammertone accents are going to look awesome on the silver paint you mentioned.

[Kim57]

Those parts came out really nice.
Truck is going to look great with them on it.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

Trim looks great! Because the truck is so big it would look awesome in a bright orange or yellow!!

[scotts62]

Is it done yet...?

[RockTonka]

Maybe...if ya hung around for the real work

Scott swung by and hammered out a brow piece for us...then left before any hard stuff started (welding and grinding)

Got the passenger light brow patched (seriously, thanks Scott) and smoothed a bit...gonna need a little more work when Scott gets it into his hands.

[scotts62]

Hey looks good, needs some finessing on the nose some from what I can tell but it's way better. Nice job!

[Kim57]

Nice job on the repairs.
The chassis looks real nice.
Kim

[dyno]

What did you use for the steering gear? Saginaw Chevy truck box? That's what I used for my conversion and the drag link end hits the tire when turned all the way to one side. I've been looking for a shorter pitman arm, but can't seem to find one.

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice job on the repairs.
The chassis looks real nice.
Kim

Thanks Kim, we're getting plenty of practice!

Originally Posted by dyno

What did you use for the steering gear? Saginaw Chevy truck box? That's what I used for my conversion and the drag link end hits the tire when turned all the way to one side. I've been looking for a shorter pitman arm, but can't seem to find one.

Yep, 2WD box with a high steer crossover. The pitman arm is 6.5" center to center.



We finished up the driver's door. Just like the cab, the PO made some crappy decisions we have to live with...like welding the door hinge arms in place (poorly).

We fixed that by welding the hinge arms in really well!

If we can't adjust the arms in the doors, we don't really need access plates...sooo...

We hung the door...fits pretty well! We will have to shim it to the back about 3/32" or so though.

[Kim57]

You're doing nice work to bad the PO didn't.
Kim

[RockTonka]

Thanks Kim, we appreciate that! At the very least, the previous work done may have protected/preserved the truck enough to make it into our hands.


Got in some Crow lap belts today (ordered on Mon). We went with Crow because they offered a grey 2" lap belt and had an option for black anodized hardware that we thought would flow well.

[Truck Guy99]

Sweet build. Started lookin at it when it first started a few years ago but it's come a long way! That cowl you built is sick! Keep up the great build and fab work. It'll all come together in the end if you keep your eye on the prize.

[6BT 56]

Originally Posted by Truck Guy99

Sweet build. Started lookin at it when it first started a few years ago but it's come a long way! That cowl you built is sick! Keep up the great build and fab work. It'll all come together in the end if you keep your eye on the prize.

Check out all there threads ..... These guys have there eyes on lots of different prizes . Lol. This truck is coming along well. I may have missed it ? does it have air now as well ? Cant wate to see it buzzing down hwy with 10K on it and not break a sweat .

[faribran]

I have read thru your build. Nice, very nice. I have 1 question. Who is the welder? All are spot on.

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by Truck Guy99

Sweet build. Started lookin at it when it first started a few years ago but it's come a long way! That cowl you built is sick! Keep up the great build and fab work. It'll all come together in the end if you keep your eye on the prize.

Thanks TG, and thanks for checking back in!

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

Check out all there threads ..... These guys have there eyes on lots of different prizes . Lol. This truck is coming along well. I may have missed it ? does it have air now as well ? Cant wate to see it buzzing down hwy with 10K on it and not break a sweat .

Hey 6BT, good to hear from ya again...thanks for the kind words! We don't have any plans to add air to this...stock heater for the time being.

Originally Posted by faribran

I have read thru your build. Nice, very nice. I have 1 question. Who is the welder? All are spot on.

Thanks for taking the time to check out our build! I do all the welding, thanks for noticing that part of our work!

[Dieselwrencher]

Wow, greta work guys! I really like the tab system to help position patch panels. That powder coat turned out awesome and wil look awesome on a silver metallic. I bet you all are getting real anxious on this one!

[RockTonka]

Thanks DW!

Yea, we're anxious to start putting this back together but realize that it always seems to take longer and cost more than we could ever plan on...soooo we just keep keeping on!

[RockTonka]

Not much to add, been ordering some parts here and there...bunch of little stuff. We spent some time this weekend reworking the rear of the bed and added LED brake lights, reverse lights, and rear facing rack lights.