61 Apache 30 build

[Plastic Mechanic]

Howdy fellas.
I had been searching for a unique pickup for a while, and stumbled across this on CL, about 3 hours from the house.
I drove up and took a look, and although the price was right, I didn't buy it on the spot, because of issues getting it home.
The truck has a valid inspection, and while the PO drove it regularly, this is not the truck you want to drive on a major highway, with traffic running 75 mph with two 3000 ft mountains to cross.
I also didn't want to lose a tranny on my 1/2 ton suburban towing it over those mountains.
Long story short, I drove back up, made the deal, and found a transport service to haul it 175 miles to the house.


Plans are to make this a driver.

Swap the Eaton 5.14 rear for a 14 bolt with a more street friendly ratio.

Swap the torsion front end with a 73+ tonner, with better brakes and power steering.

Swap the 235 and three speed tranny to a streetable, but unique power plant.
Small blocks, and chevy big blocks are out.
I'm currently considering Chevy 292's or 250's, with a possible blow-thru turbo set-up. An old caddy big block, period correct. Possibly a 366 "tall deck".

I'm going to replace the wood bed with a flatbed, or cut the sides down to about 12", i'm undecided there.

I'm going to reduce right height with a spring package at minimum, or possibly bags.

I dont want to change the body or paint at all.

Here are some pics.

Your comments and advice are welcome.

[rwade]

I agree, that truck is awesome! I think your on track with your plans.

Wade

[Captainfab]

It sounds like you have a good plan. So this truck does have the torsion bars up front? The few '60-'62 C30's that I have seen, had coil springs up front.

[Plastic Mechanic]

'Morning Captain,
This truck does indeed have the torsion front end.

The only reason I'm going to do a front end swap, is to gain power steering, and better brakes.

Eric

[66Submarine]

Neat truck.

Why would you want a 366? It's just a small bore/tall deck BBC.

I'm personally putting a 454 and a NV4500 heavy-duty overdrive 5 speed in my stepside C30 driver/work truck.

Just an observation, but I don't really see a flood of threads detailing BBC swaps on here today (seems like most people are using an LSx or an inline six).

What kind of performance are you looking for? How much power is "enough"? A 292 in stock form is/was rated at 170HP/275FTLBS gross output. In comparison, the Hot Rod guys did a junkyard 454 with a mild $100 Summit-branded cam and made 408HP/511FTLBS. http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...-collar-build/

I haven't seen many actual dyno graphs for hot rod inline sixes, but there's one at the bottom right of this page (I'll see if I can embed it): http://www.12bolt.com/lump_head_info...nder_head_flow


Something like 278HP/318FTLBS with the "mild cam" and modded head. I'll also note that since the exact cam isn't mentioned it's probably a harsher/more "modern" type of grind. They did another cheap 454 with a Comp XE268H and got 446HP/542FTLBS: http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...-engine-build/

Here's a clip of my truck as it is with the 250/SM420 4 speed/4.57 gears for kicks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSoP7EZEGmk

I'd like to mess around with a turbo on a 292, but I haven't done it yet. Tom Lowe has a video of his turbo 292 El Camino where he says in the description that it made 243HP@4,300RPM and 320FTLBS@2,900 at the wheels (dividing by .8 for a 20% driveline loss would make that about 303HP/400FTLBS at the crank). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz2UaM3i-gQ

454's can also be found pretty cheaply now IME (it seems like about $500-700 can get you one with pretty low mileage out of an old motorhome or something like that on craigslist).

It obviously depends on what you want to do and what you're satisfied with, but I wouldn't immediately discard the idea of an old BBC if you want to make a heavy truck get out of its own way.

Another potential option would be the 348/409 if you really needed to make sure it was an oddball (it would also be period correct for 1961)...

[TJ's Chevy]

Welcome aboard! Like the truck! Well....if ya want to do what Everyone one else does then put a V8 in....if ya want something unique and cooler then a turbo 6 would be sweet...A stock 292 on 8 pounds of boost will be at almost 400 torque which is plenty for a 1 ton. Now a hopped up 292 with the same boost could make 500 torque...so...A word of warning that the inline 6 is more expensive to do, but is well worth the smile afterward. If yer gonna ask for advice on the straight 6 I'd only talk with inline 6 gurus...trust me...you'll understand why if ya do. lol But in the end its what you want and what you can afford. I just got my hotrod 292 done and I'm really happy. And I stand to correct 66submarine...a 292 with a mild cam will easily make 290 hp and 330 torque.

[Plastic Mechanic]

Thanks for the comments Submarine.

I know that a 250, or 292, or even a 366 won't ever do what a 454 does with ease. in my neck of the woods, everything over 20 years old, has a small block or big block Chevy stuffed in it.

I feel like this truck deserves something out of the ordinary.

From a spending standpoint, there's no cheaper way to make good power.

My mind is certainly not made up. I've got my eye on a parts truck that has a 454/sm465 combo in it, that would save me a bunch of time and effort.

Eric

[amueller454]

cool truck man! I'm diggin it

[Plastic Mechanic]

I've got a couple of donor 73+ one tons i'm looking at to harvest front suspensions, and rears from, and i'm torn as to whether to swap everything from a newer truck to my chassis, or just do a cab swap, and use the newer frame as well.

While i'd like to use as much of the 61 as i can, i'd also like to be driving as quickly as possible.

Any thoughts?

Eric

[Plastic Mechanic]

This old gal is going to surrender her front suspension, power steering, brakes, and rear axle. You can imagine how happy the wife was to see this thing dropped off!

[Captainfab]

Keep your original frame. It is much easier and with better results. Been there done that.

Originally Posted by Plastic Mechanic

I've got a couple of donor 73+ one tons i'm looking at to harvest front suspensions, and rears from, and i'm torn as to whether to swap everything from a newer truck to my chassis, or just do a cab swap, and use the newer frame as well.

While i'd like to use as much of the 61 as i can, i'd also like to be driving as quickly as possible.

Any thoughts?

Eric

[Plastic Mechanic]

Was able to remove the front suspension, and 14 bolt rear today.

[Plastic Mechanic]

Donor truck is obviously SRW. Really torn on whether to keep things moving, and use it as SRW, or spend the time and money going to duals. Interested in keeping the truck unique, so if i go singles, it needs to be a unique tire package.

[LVPhotos]

Super Singles! Like big rigs.

[Plastic Mechanic]

Back on track.

Made an even trade for a cab & chassis rear axle.

Next step is an axle flip kit.