1958 SWB C4 Fleetside - NZ Build

[QBRacing]

So I got into it after posting the last pics and actually did some work on the ol girl.

The Lokar accelerator floormount pedal, brake pedal pad and highbeam pad have been installed.

I also made up a brake return spring. This mounts between the factory spring hole on the pedal and a new l bracket I made and bolted to the top of the CPP underbody brake booster setup.

I woke about 2am this morning thinking that I never remounted the rear calipers before testing the brake pedal spring and pad mounting.... I was right. As such the piston was fully pushed out binding the two pads the to outside and it was a mission to get them unbound even with the bleeder released, but I got there in the end.

So after that I set to and decided to try and fix the rear rake issue the 58 has with the C4 rear kit installed and on the lowest setting with the aldan coilover (as supplied by Don at Floatout).

I ended up making an L plate that mounts on top of the chassis and allows the rear perch to be mounted 1.5" higher than designed. I can't see any reason it wont work but until the paint dries and I mount it and drop the rear I wont know for sure. I can always raise it slightly if required

Youtube Video can be found here.

[6DoF]

at least you had the pads in there!! would have been an epic mess when you blew the piston out.

[QBRacing]

Just adding the pics for the rear upper coil over brackets I made a while back

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by QBRacing

Just adding the pics for the rear upper coil over brackets I made a while back

Nice! I had basically the same concern with the rake on Dons kit... I raised all three mounts up an inch, and took an inch out of the frame. I started with the larger longbed frame though so I had some room to spare.

I just drilled new holes in the mounts in additional to the original ones, so that the conventional mounting is still possible. I like the L bracket you did.

[QBRacing]

Handbrake Setup Complete

In short
I ran the factory C4 rear cables to some custom mounts in the rear,
Could have ran a camaro/nova cross over cable but I made my front cable to short so had a custom rear cable made too.
Made a custom front cabl which runs through the original 58 pully and uses a heim joint to conect to the factory 58 handbrake lever.

Watch the video, that will make more sence, forgot the pics and the trucks on the ground now.

Q

[QBRacing]

Here is a quick image to show the rake of my 58 Apache with the rear coil over mount modification and both front and rear springs on the lowest setting.

[QBRacing]

So I have been working on the hood mounts and hood hinges and have struck a problem and come up with a solution I think.

Lets start with the YOUTUBE VIDEO here and then the description and images below.

--------------------

As I have a 55-57 cab on my 58 Apache I knew about the differences between the hood mounts at the firewall. My hood never fit right as i previous slotted some already modified 58 hinges to get them to fit better (but not enough i guess)

So I bought some Eddie Motorsport Hinges which look friken awesome however there is an issue.

The 55-57 hinges have a different mount at the hood itself, they are closer together and offset (white hood) when compared to the 58-59 which are wider and inline (black hood).

[QBRacing]

So I took a heap of measurements and obviously the 55-57 are wider at the front and middle due to the single headlamp, however they are the same width at the rear and the cross braces even have the same spacing.

So I unpicked the inner mount plate from the white hood and lined it up on the 57 hinges and it looks fine,

Then I lined up against the black hood and it looks like it should fit perfectly once i unpick the inner section of that one.

[daveshilling]

Nice! That's a smart solution, and you get to access more rusty metal to clean up while you're there.

[QBRacing]

Today's update comes courtesy of covid boredom

I splashed out and bought some Altman door catches which I air freighted in and even with all the lockdown rubbishbonly took 10 days to arrive. The courier even put them straight in the garage (contactless) which was great.

When I got home and was able to inspect the package I was immediately worried as the bix had suffered damage so to work I went.... and as expected the main support panels were both damaged. 1 easy fix, 1 not so much

[QBRacing]

So now me and the mad scientist got to rip the block apart and replace the piston rings you fried....

I mean, I took to it with some 4x2 and a Hammer and got it somewhat usable, I don't plan on using the whole panel as I am making a complete door card.

Other than that, I now just need to cut the door frame for the latch insert and off i go...

Oh, and I installed the underfelt and carpets too...

[6DoF]

oh yeah, i'd have let UPS or FedEx or whoever buy me a new set! they sometimes let you keep the broken set too.

[QBRacing]

Trying that but being in New Zealand does have disadvantages....

Forgot the front shot of the carpet. Doesnt quite fit the firewall over the hump but pretty good in general..

[QBRacing]

In the last few weeks I have cracked into the ol girl as I just want to get it on the road or ready for summer at least.

I finally got around to installing the Alden door catches, well one at least, as I need to make a small mod the the window channel in the left door before I can install the second one. VIDEO HERE

I also completed the install of the electric window wiring which allowed me to install the kick panels , carpets and seats again. In the rear I notched the rear cross bar to allow clearance for the fuel filler neck and sliced the rear arches to get ready to widen them. I am doing that to allow the swaybar to run up inside the wheel arch. It will also allow me to run a 12" wide rim later on (maybe). VIDEO 2 HERE

[mrbuck]

Looking good QB- did you go with a one piece window set up? or have you just not reinstalled the vent windows? i want altman latches but not sure they work with the one piece windows.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by QBRacing

So now me and the mad scientist got to rip the block apart and replace the piston rings you fried....

I think the old guys on here appreciate the Fast and the Furious reference

Looking forward to seeing the latch install completed as I've considered it as well.

[QBRacing]

Originally Posted by mrbuck

Looking good QB- did you go with a one piece window set up? or have you just not reinstalled the vent windows? i want altman latches but not sure they work with the one piece windows.

Yes I have 1 piece electric windows and they do not interfere with the Altman latches.
Initially I was going to follow a guide on here for one piece windows (maybe grims and blackdog?), who advise you need to cut the rear channel out and move it back for it to work. If you follow there instructions I am sure it would work but i decided I wanted electric. I bought the specialised kit and you do not need to remove the rear channel so now I need to refix it in place, I found the channel but not the lower bracket so I need to make a new one, thats the only reason I havent completed the job yet.

Originally Posted by daveshilling

I think the old guys on here appreciate the Fast and the Furious reference

Looking forward to seeing the latch install completed as I've considered it as well.

As above. its all pretty much done other than fabricating a new lower rear window guide channel support and welding it back in place. The left door shuts fine, the right is complete and only doesnt work properly as when the panelbeater did my cab corners and steps a few years back he made the door gap too small. Its off to a new panel beater in a few weeks to have this fixed.

[Jason 56]

Very impressive work through your whole build. It’s coming together great. I think the overall look and stance are dead on Thanks for all the videos. I’ve learned a lot from them.

[QBRacing]

Started on the rear arches yesterday.

Found a purfect sized piece of scrap metal which I cut two 5.5" x 47" strips from, cleaned it up a little bit then started spot welding then in.

Got one side done and fitted (just needing a final weld) and the otheside is half done. It's going to look great.

[QBRacing]

Getting close

Finished the tubs finally and even managed to get some underbody spray on them and the inside of the fleetside and up under the guards to better protect the steel from our crap NZ climate.

Prepared the deck cross beams by installing nearly 1million rivnuts and have the board for the tray finally.

!!! Youtube Video HERE !!!

[QBRacing]

Partially assembled after a coat of black....

[QBRacing]

Test fit complete

Time for disassembly and some stain

Then reassembly...

Sigh

[QBRacing]

With the alloy jig I made from one of the crossbars I drilled all the holes in the wood which made purfect sence because all my holes would line up to the rails.... and they did... except two.

BUT

I didn't figure that out till I was staining the boards after drilling them

[QBRacing]

The very rear crossrail which is part of the fleetside is different to the ones either side of the guards and the front one...

The mounting for the rear bar is NOT in the middle if the rail, it's in a u shipped bucket in front of the rail..... that means I drilled the rear 10mm holes in my deck in the wrong place

The blue bar below is my jig bar that I used to drill the wood.

SOLUTION
Drill out the rear rail at that point and use the holes in the wood to affix the wood to the rear panel

PROBLEM
Nothing now bolts the rear of the deck to the chassis

SOLUTION
weld a piece of stainless to a bolt and drop it in the cup to mount the tray to the chassis at the rear still. Can't even see my oopsie once the timbers on (p.s, that's just a corner piece to give you the idea)

[QBRacing]

And voila.

1 deck completed ...except 10x stainless washers and the fuel trap door which is on its way...