My '59 Apache

[Denee007]

Kim, I have to say this is crazy work! Unfortunately the battery area ridge(my new battery will be going under the truck, not the original location), I need to cut out the bad and weld in new metal. I'd have to consider this a relatively difficult task~! Probably not so bad with the cab off of the truck!

I"m taking tomorrow off, or at least really organize my garage, makes me feel better starting off when everything is in its place, or close to its place! lol
; )

[Red Foreman]

Looking good, can you do mine when your done

[Denee007]

OMG! you have a bunch of holes too! eek! At least your cab is off to work on it

Originally Posted by Red Foreman

Looking good, can you do mine when your done

[OrrieG]

Uhhhh....does that transmission have you pinned under the truck? Hubby go check the garage, she did not run away!

[Denee007]

I needed a chuckle Orrie!! I'm just taking a break from IT, my lower back has been giving me some problems and my knees! The only time Gary comes looking for me is when he's hungry I'm doing better, maybe after this weekend I'll get back after it; still need to wrap up the firewall, gag! Plus I have a wedding shower to put together this weekend ; )
Thanks for checking in on me

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Uhhhh....does that transmission have you pinned under the truck? Hubby go check the garage, she did not run away!

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[Denee007]

Wow! Mistake after mistake I keep making! If my fenders weren't welded into place, I'd consider with what I should have done in the first place, install a front end clip! Or Maybe I should have gone for the toyota gear instead. I've had enough bad truck news for today.
: (

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...23#post7823023


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[Kim57]

Sorry to hear that.
I'm sure with enough help you could do a frame graft even with the fenders welded on.
Kim

[OrrieG]

Can you move the box closer to the front? See my comment just posted in the original bump steer thread.

[Denee007]

I'm so glad to see your comment,,as I'm sure Russell will be a little relieved that something can possibly be done vs extreme measures. I have one question, but am going to take it to Russell's thread so there won't be redundancy.
See you over there after the kitchen is cleaned up!

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Can you move the box closer to the front? See my comment just posted in the original bump steer thread.

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[Denee007]

I like never found my build thread! Lol
I need the "eye of the Tiger", to get back to work!

Other projects: converting my Honda eu2000i to propane(actually natural gas, propane,and gas), getting it prepped for whatever storm may brew.
2) repairing my 4k honda pressure washer, the cat pump was leaking oil.
Now just waiting for parts on both.

I'm sitting here in the cool ac, so nice! Husband is away till tomorrow, I can do whatever I want!! I wish a cool front would blow through and at least take some of this humidity away!
; )
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[Denee007]

Hi ya'll! finally got back to work on my truck!

My goal today was to get closer finishing relocating my steering gear forwardly from where it was to increase the distance of the drag link. I still have some pretting up to do and not finished. I'll be working on the frame to clean it and make it look nicer. I'll get Sid at dropped axles to make a long drag link sleeve, just need to figure out how long it should be, no hurry. I'll be working on a plate to go on the inside of the frame to beef it up. One hole was off that I wound up having to take my die grinder to enlarge the hole to the side. I think I can fill the hole somehow to remedy this.

You can see in the photo where the gear was by the little triange cuts in the fender well.

[Kim57]

Good to see you back at it Denee.
Kim

[Denee007]

I've made a plate over where the old steering column came through, I'll be figuring out where to drill the hole for my new column. I put the mock engine back in with the headers to verify possible interference. Looks like I have plenty of room~!!

I guess my main question here is adequate space for a radiator and which choice of fan, be it electric or the fan in the pic, or opinions are quite welcome!. However doesn't look like a lot of space. I don't have a radiator to put in, can any of you, my faithful followers tell me a 2 core radiator will clear what i have here?







below; firewall kind of as good as I'm going to get it, except for filler.


If all looks well, I can proceed with closing my frame in (blocking it in), Install the steering column(temporarily), make sure it's where I want it, put the seat back in(argh), re-install the steering gear, get the length of the shaft from the steering gear to the column. A months worth of work

[Denee007]

Kind of exciting seeing some progress! I guess it's time to put the seat back in, ugh, seats are a pain!



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[_Ogre]

looking good.
trial fit the seats, but leave them out until your done with all the wiring
your back will thank you

[Denee007]

Thanks! I just put them in to check the clearance between the seat and the column capish, of which proved I needed another steering column drop. I ordered another drop from Scottshotrods, now hurry up and wait lol. Plenty else to do!; )

Originally Posted by _Ogre

looking good.
trial fit the seats, but leave them out until your done with all the wiring
your back will thank you

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[_Ogre]

for that column drop, try moving it back and make a bracket to hold the column closer to the dash

[Coupeguy2001]

Hi Dennee,
You have a long water pump.
Back in the 50's, they were the shorter version, and the truck was designed to use one with the engine in the original position.
To make your dimensions work, you might have to use one.
Summit racing and other vendors sell two groove pullies for the short pump and a matching one on the crankshaft.
You will have to get your new brackets to line up with the short version, or do away with the clutch fan, and use a thin electric fan or some sort of flex fan and keep your pump.
Another alternative is a custom radiator.
My 57 uses a 3 row aluminum one, but you might be able to get away with a 2 row. mine is over 3 inches thick, but a 2 row might just come in at 2 inches. ( each row is about 1 inch wide).
The only way you will know is to find a vendor that sells aluminum radiators and start measuring.
Although, snce we are a limited market, the vendor may not have a radiator in stock and only be able to provide pictures and dimensions.

[Denee007]

Hi, and thank you for your response. I think I'm going to have to make this setup work. Perhaps the idea of a custom radiator may be an option. I hate to order a radiator and it not fit! That why I'm asking a out this possible clearance issue or not. I wish I hadn't tossed the original radiator. X

Originally Posted by Coupeguy2001

Hi Dennee,
You have a long water pump.
Back in the 50's, they were the shorter version, and the truck was designed to use one with the engine in the original position.
To make your dimensions work, you might have to use one.
Summit racing and other vendors sell two groove pullies for the short pump and a matching one on the crankshaft.
You will have to get your new brackets to line up with the short version, or do away with the clutch fan, and use a thin electric fan or some sort of flex fan and keep your pump.
Another alternative is a custom radiator.
My 57 uses a 3 row aluminum one, but you might be able to get away with a 2 row. mine is over 3 inches thick, but a 2 row might just come in at 2 inches. ( each row is about 1 inch wide).
The only way you will know is to find a vendor that sells aluminum radiators and start measuring.
Although, snce we are a limited market, the vendor may not have a radiator in stock and only be able to provide pictures and dimensions.

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[OrrieG]

I just took two measurements that might help. I have a 1" spacer on my fan to get it centered in my shroud. 1/8" or so fan blade flange. 4 3/4" from flange to radiator. 3" from radiator to where it attachs to the support in line with the fan centerline (rad side supports are wider at the top). I have a big truck radiator which is 1" deeper than stock small truck ones.

[Denee007]

Thank you Orrie! That really helped!! Is that a flex fan? That looks like it would be much less thick than what i was possibly going to use. The fan clutch assembly takes up a bit of space and may not be a very good choice for my application.
Suggestions for a radiator that won't break the bank?
; )

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I just took two measurements that might help. I have a 1" spacer on my fan to get it centered in my shroud. 1/8" or so fan blade flange. 4 3/4" from flange to radiator. 3" from radiator to where it attachs to the support in line with the fan centerline (rad side supports are wider at the top). I have a big truck radiator which is 1" deeper than stock small truck ones.

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[OrrieG]

Yes, flex fan with aluminum blades.

[Coupeguy2001]

You are measuring to the wrong thing.
You need to get a piece of angle, and put it across the opening. your radiator will not go all the way out to the crossbars.
You will lose a little over an inch if you put something across the opening and measure from that to the fan, but that's where the radiator goes.
In 58-59, chevy put the radiator in one spot,, and used a shroud for the V8 models. The 6 cyl. models just had the fan in thin air.
That way of compensating for the V8 is different than 55-57, in that they installed a V8 kit to mount the radiator 6 inches aft of the 6 cylinder position on those earlier models.
I guess somebody figured out that one radiator position was less assembly on the line, and they could build em faster.

[_Ogre]

good info coupeguy.
still learning all the changes to the 58-59 trucks
this is a factory shroud in my 59 panel

[Denee007]

Sometimes it good to have something else to fix, something quicker. My moms (she's 86) lawntractor was in need of attention. So I overhauled the mower deck, new idler pulleys, all new belts, new muffler, changed oil/filter, I even wrapped the exhaust with exhaust wrap. I took it back to her today, she was impressed~ It mowed great and was quiet(for a lawntractor), Another satisfied customer!!
! I wish my brothers would take an interest in fixing things like I do!

Anyway, back to the Apache tomorrow!!!