'59 Apache Camaro IFS project

[nikwho]

Well, I have not posted on here for a few months, but I have been working pretty hard. I got the truck all back together. Finished boxing in my subframe and front of the frame. Painted the frame with chassis black, mounted the fuel tank, fuel pump, mounted my radiator, booster and master cylinder and ran my new brake lines. I got a lokar gas pedal and lokar throttle and 700-r4 kickdown cables. All I really need to do to get her on the road is bleed the brakes, add some diff oil in the rear end, finish shortening the bed up(the front of he bed is done, I just need to shorten the rear) and wrap up my wiring harness install. Im on the down hill end of all of the mechanical stuff! Then after minimal body work, we'll try to get her in the paint booth by August. We're going with the original teal paint.

[nikwho]

The truck got kicked outside into the driveway because my new baby came home! I got a '67 GTO to start working on as soon as the '59 gets wrapped up.

[kgmunro]

Did you end up using the original column and mount it to the camaro subframe? Are yo running the chrome smoothies all the way around as well?? They look cool on there.

[nikwho]

Yes, I am keeping the original column and steering wheel. I used the steering column conversion bearing from classic parts and bought the steering shaft weld in u joint from a local off road shop. Similar u joint as below. Oh, and yes, the cragar chrome smoothies all the way around. picking up the two front tires from the tire shop this week.

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-59-...ctinfo/76-987/

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-59-...tinfo/76-985A/

[hammerdog57]

Nice work. What measurement did you end up using from leading edge of cab mount to front of shock hole on camaro clip? Wheel looks good in opening.

[nikwho]

Thank you! As I recall it was about 28 1/4". I tried to recheck but its hard to measure with the a-arms back on. I ended up lengthening the wheelbase by 3/4". Im happy I did. Im happy with the look.

[hammerdog57]

Originally Posted by nikwho

Thank you! As I recall it was about 28 1/4". I tried to recheck but its hard to measure with the a-arms back on. I ended up lengthening the wheelbase by 3/4". Im happy I did. Im happy with the look.

Do you mean 29 1/4? 28 1/4 would be less than stock.

[nikwho]

you know, your probably right. I was running off of memory and that was a while ago. I couldn't really get a tape measure on it with the arms on the truck. I 'm sorry! but I do remember that I extended 3/4".

[nikwho]

Well, I got a lot of progress done over the past week. I finished shortening the be down to short bed specs. I bolted up the tranny crossmember that I fabbed up, hooked up my shifter linkages and got most of the wiring completed and secured the battery. I should be driveable in the next week. prepped and in the paint booth by August and all of the loose ends tied up over the winter.

[nikwho]

We are going to do a hard wood floor, but have not decided what type of wood yet. Thinking either ash or maple. Something light colored. Did the down and dirty plywood floor just to get it together.

[nikwho]

My hood sits up higher than the cowl when I close it. I can push it down but it pops back up. It seems to me like its blown out hood hinges. Does that sound right? Anyone know of a fix other than replacing the hinges. As in, is there a way to fix the old hinges?

[hammerdog57]

Originally Posted by nikwho

My hood sits up higher than the cowl when I close it. I can push it down but it pops back up. It seems to me like its blown out hood hinges. Does that sound right? Anyone know of a fix other than replacing the hinges. As in, is there a way to fix the old hinges?

Raise the hood all the way up. Try to go past center gently. If you see any play in hinge rivets hinges are shot.

[hammerdog57]

Originally Posted by nikwho

Well, I got a lot of progress done over the past week. I finished shortening the be down to short bed specs. I bolted up the tranny crossmember that I fabbed up, hooked up my shifter linkages and got most of the wiring completed and secured the battery. I should be driveable in the next week. prepped and in the paint booth by August and all of the loose ends tied up over the winter.

Did you end up c notching frame? Would love to see a video of first drive!

[nikwho]

Yes, it got c-notched. I will take some pictures and post them. I am very bad about taking pictures. Once I get momentum, I have a hard time remembering to stop and take pictures. I will make sure I record a video of the first drive and post it up.

[nikwho]

went and picked up the front tires and had them mounted up. And did a little welding on the bed today. My buddy is coming over tomorrow and helping me wrap up the wiring and hopefully get the brakes bled. Getting closer every day!

[nikwho]

with front wheels

[hammerdog57]

Looks good. What size tires and what wheel backspace do you have? Trying to decide what to buy. Love the look of the wheels.

[Kim57]

That's looking real nice.
Kim

[rcrahn]

Looking good! How about a peek at that GTO? I'm also a Pontiac guy and always interested in seeing projects.

[nikwho]

Well, here she is. I have not had her home for long. I am in the process of stripping the small amount of surface rust that it has. The body is near perfect. I wont have to do any patch panels, floors, trunk pans, any of the stuff that i'm used to having to start out with. This one should be a lot of fun!

[rcrahn]

Very nice!

[nikwho]

Thanks! Its going to be a LOT of work, just like my '59 has been. Well, if bleeding my brakes and hooking up the fuel line goes well, I may be taking the maiden drive today! If I do, I will post a video. Wish me luck!

[nikwho]

Finishing up on the bed shortening portion. I cut the running boards down. It'll take a little time to make them perfect so you cant tell that they were cut, but worth saving the money to buy new short bed running boards.

[nikwho]

Originally Posted by hammerdog57

Looks good. What size tires and what wheel backspace do you have? Trying to decide what to buy. Love the look of the wheels.

Hammerdog, sorry I didn't respond to your question before. I just noticed it for the first time.
Actually went with 245/60-15's front and rear. Although the front wheels are 6" with 3 3/4" backspacing and the rears are 8'' with 4-1/4'' backspacing. They are the Cragar 313 Chrome Smoothies. I would have liked something both a little narrower and shorter in the front myself, but this truck is a collaborative effort with my dad. He wanted the same size wheels and tires on all four corners for the sake of being able to rotate them. We'll probably pick up a couple more of the 6" wheels and run them front and back. If it were solely my truck, it would be tubbed and sitting a tad lower on air bags. Not only that but, it would have the 454/TH400 that is sitting in my garage. Gotta keep the old man happy though.

[rcrahn]

Originally Posted by nikwho

Thanks! Its going to be a LOT of work, just like my '59 has been. Well, if bleeding my brakes and hooking up the fuel line goes well, I may be taking the maiden drive today! If I do, I will post a video. Wish me luck!

Well, did that goat make the drive?