Newish guy with a 61 apache

[Clrussell]

Been meaning to start a thread for the last couple weeks and have just been to lazy to take the time.

Anyway, I picked up a 61 c10 apache short narrow bed a couple weeks ago. All original minus wheels and tires. Well and the driver fender and door has been replaced probably 30 years ago.. 95% sure it's been parked since 75. Perfect patina and minimal rust compared to most.

235, 3 on the tree.

Got the engine running with a tune up and carb rebuild, had to add an external oil Line to the head to get oil to the valve train. Cleaned out the cab and all that.

Plan was to get it running and drive it old school First. Carb is pissing me off and it needs an entire brake rebuild I don't want to sink money in just to take back off when I swap it.


Plans are :
I've got a 6.0 sitting in my shop awaiting a home so that's where it's gonna end up. Prolly 4l80 and mild cam and springs

Power disc brakes keeping the 6 lug, using Captain Planet adapter plate. Power steering, ac somehow, interior redone like it's supposed to be. Patina on the outside.

See if I can upload a crooked pic

[Clrussell]

Another pic

[Clrussell]

Driver side

[Clrussell]

One thing I'm on the fence about is I have a rolling 64 short bed frame sitting at the house that I'd planned on using on my sons 62 build someday. However I can clean it up, swap the brakes and spindles, paint etc. put the 6.0 in, then just body swap and still have a short bed frame for my boys truck.

Don't really need super awesome suspension on either as both will be static drop and just dailyable rigs not race cars.

So I'm trying to decide on that.

And if I want to sink the money into gettingnit driving as original before I swap
It.

[Captainfab]

IMO the '63-'66 frames are easier to work with. Especially when it comes to an LSx engine swap.

[Clrussell]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

IMO the '63-'66 frames are easier to work with. Especially when it comes to an LSx engine swap.

Thanks. Andnits a different brake kit I think. (Spindles)

[buds56]

I'm doing a 61 also with a 5.3,
Have to agree with Captfab on the newer frames
If I wasn't so far along I believe I would look for a 63-66 frame

[DPowers]

Use the 64 frame on this truck would be my vote.

[Clrussell]

Thanks guys. I'll go drag it out of the weeds.

Any build threads with an ls swap that has good pics? Been digging through and not finding much.

[Clrussell]

After work tonight I cleaned up the interior more and prepped it for some
Por15. Mostly just want something good to coat the panels with and then I'm going to lay sound deadner down before a new rubber mat.

[Clrussell]

Thanks john for getting my bracket out so quick!

[Clrussell]

Found the ls swap section. I'll be there a minute

[Clrussell]

Coat of por15 on the floor pan

[LostMy65]

I'll be watching

[Clrussell]

Guess I've not updated much here. Got it running a while back. New ignition set, carb rebuild and a fresh battery and I got it runnin. No brakes or clutch so I put a reman master on it and got clutch working. Then it sat for two months until today.

Today I checked some wires and started rewiring the rear light, need a new brake switch and headlight switch. It's not sending power to the front park lights. Bought new front brake hoses and wheel cyls to get some brakes. Also freed up the linkage for the column shifter. Really just want to get so I can drive it under it own power before I frame swap and LS it.

Me and the guys at work have been joking about putting a small turbo on the 235, and one of the guys brought me in a banks turbo off a 6.2 diesel kit he had laying around so it sat on the shelf until today.

I think it's going to be easier than I originally thought.

Pics will probably be sideways thanks to phone posting..

[Clrussell]

I kinda wonder has anyone turboed one of these before? I honestly don't plan on making any power what so ever with it. Just wanted to put the turbo onnit and make it work.