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12-29-2020, 12:18 PM | #1 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Damn fine work sir!!! i am inspired with some ideas from this!!!
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12-29-2020, 09:23 PM | #2 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
I lengthened the Step Brackets by adding a 4" length of 2x4" box tubing, with one end cut off. I then transposed the mounting holes 4" down.
I also fully welded the bottom "stand" of the bed brace since I want to hide the bed mounting bolts. These are merely spot welded from the factory, as the whole shebang is clamped down by carriage bolts - but I don't want that. The step was shortened by removing the box brace underneath, and I cut 14.5" out, removing some stress-fractured holes. The undercoating was wire-wheeled off (knotted wheel on an angle-grinder), and the step was clamped to my welding table (1/2" plate steel), washed with lacquer thinner and TIG welded with zero filler (though I kept a length of 0.023" MIG wire in my hand for the three spots that needed it). I went TIG on this, because TIG welds are so much more malleable than MIG welded, and if I needed to correct any misalignment of the "beads" I wanted it to be easy. MIG tends to crack as you beat on it. I went -against- Oxy-Acetylene, as I'm finding it harder to work with such a large Heat Affected Zone. With TIG I set it on pulse to keep the heat down.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate Last edited by SkinnyG; 12-30-2020 at 06:05 PM. |
12-30-2020, 05:17 PM | #3 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
And the driver's side step is done. I had some measurement irregularities, so this one didn't weld up as tastily. I know you just buy reman ones of these, but they are $150CDN each - I save $300 cutting them down myself
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
12-30-2020, 10:27 PM | #4 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Also started figuring out the gas tank, and then started making a trailer hitch.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-01-2021, 01:03 AM | #5 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Reused the original in-cab tank straps, but I'm not sold on that yet.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-01-2021, 11:11 PM | #6 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
I wasn't happy with the first version of the upper straps, so I made new ones out of 1-1/4" square tubing sliced to 3/8". The top straps had to be removable, because the back panel had to be removable, because the hitch had to be removable, and this arrangement made sense to me. Which, of course, required finishing the trailer hitch (yes, the chain loop thingies are not on yet). Truck is only rated to pull 6000lbs.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-02-2021, 05:22 PM | #7 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
And here is where I got by the end of Christmas break 2020:
And you can hardly tell the bed was raised 4":
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-02-2021, 07:05 PM | #8 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Wow!! That looks awesome!
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01-02-2021, 07:42 PM | #9 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Dadgum, that looks great!
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01-02-2021, 08:43 PM | #10 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
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We'll burn that bridge when we get there My current project: Rust Therapy 62 C10 Numbers 6:24-26 |
01-02-2021, 11:13 PM | #11 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Awesome work!
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01-02-2021, 11:31 PM | #12 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
That's some fine work being done!
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
01-03-2021, 11:51 AM | #13 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Damn SkinnyG, that is some awesome work!!!
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01-05-2021, 12:51 PM | #14 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Looking good there sir!
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01-05-2021, 04:10 PM | #15 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Great work bud
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01-07-2021, 11:36 PM | #16 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-09-2021, 09:41 PM | #17 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
I reinforced the Sheet Metal Brake I made last spring and was successful in folding 30" of 18ga.
Also used my Nutsert tool for the first time, installing 5/16-18 nutserts into the passenger door for a mirror. The skin is already braced from the underside, but no factory weld nuts to fasten. While these stick a little proud of the surface, it's going to be fine. Also spent a LOT of time corresponding with Universal Air regarding bag choice on the '61, and after we talked about motion ratio, sprung weight, suspension frequency, ride height, and air pressure, I think I have finalized the way I want to go about this - this will be documented later. Universal Air gave me fantastic customer service over this (thank you!).
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate Last edited by SkinnyG; 01-09-2021 at 09:47 PM. |
01-10-2021, 12:54 PM | #18 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Great idea using the nut serts for the mirrors! I'm gonna copy that one when I get back to working on my doors
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01-10-2021, 02:03 PM | #19 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Great idea on the nutserts for your mirror. I just bought a nutset tool and I'm planning to use it for my roof lights. Seeing yours gives me the confidence that they are going to work. Thanks for the post.
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01-10-2021, 11:18 PM | #20 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
This will be roughly ride height. Needs a bit more rake - front could easily go down an inch, rear could go up some.
Not sure to start on the fender rust repair, so I'm starting with the nose. This is just behind the headlights. I'll need to drag this outside for sand blasting, then epoxy primer, before I weld it in.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-12-2021, 11:45 PM | #21 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
And another patch:
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-13-2021, 11:01 AM | #22 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
nice damn work sir....
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01-13-2021, 09:32 PM | #23 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
And another patch:
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-14-2021, 12:01 AM | #24 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
And another patch. Ready for blasting and epoxy priming underneath Friday or Saturday.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
01-15-2021, 10:21 PM | #25 |
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Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
Repair area blasted and primed:
Unrelated - anyone ever widen the rear fenders to better match the front?
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate Last edited by SkinnyG; 01-15-2021 at 10:43 PM. |
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