SkinnyG's '61 Apache

[SkinnyG]

I now have a heater core.

Note:

ROCK AUTO DOES NOT SELL ONE THAT FITS 60-63

I ordered what I thought was the right one, and they say is the right one, but it is not. Both hoses exit up top, whereas a 60-63 needs to have one exit down low. They are aluminum.

I ended up cutting the top tube off and plugging the hole, then drilling a new hole and TIG welding the old feed tube in the correct place.

The only leak I had was where the ground arced a hold into one of the cooling tubes. Which I TIG'd closed (100hz focused the arc beautifully).

With this core, I cannot actually adjust or turn off the heat. Not likely a problem, as I can balance it with window and/or fan. Still ok, too, as an LS needs to have coolant flow between the heater hoses.

Loaded the truck for a dump run but when I went to start it, the fuel pump relay feed wire had actually lost contact, so I had to re-crimp that. Dump run tomorrow.

[SkinnyG]

Took a load of prunings to the dump:

[bigmoe]

I temporarily used a u shaped hose on my water pump and never did bother to hook up my heater core. If I ever do hook it up I'll use a diverter valve (pictured) that allows the coolant to circulate when in the off position.

[SkinnyG]

I saw those on another thread (yours, maybe?), and tucked that away for later.

If the constant flow causes a problem, I'll fit one of those.

Got a link for them?

[bigmoe]

Just google image heater core bypass valve and you'll see a few different vendors as well as other styles.

[cwcarpenter98]

That's the same valve that my A/C system uses. Seems to work well, although I haven't needed heat much at all yet.

I appreciate seeing your truck still being used as a truck, even with all the work you've put in to it

[SkinnyG]

As I struggled with bodywork skills that were below my mind's goal, I have been telling myself "in five years from now, when this is peppered in rock chips and door dings, and the engine is coated in road grime and blow-by residue, how much am I going to give a (crap) about how imperfect it is?"

It's a truck. Use it.

Plus, it's lasted 60 years before I got it. If it lasts another 60 years, I'll be well over 100 and should not be driving.

And second full fill-up (about 50gal so far, 224 miles). That's less than 5mpg, but it's been a lot of idling and tuning.

[SkinnyG]

I just discovered that if you don't TELL HPTuner's VCM Scanner that you're running 2-Bar, it won't know you're running 2-Bar, even though it's getting a 2-bar signal. Nice.

[350TacoZilla]

I know I have said it on here before but I would never want to own a vehicle that had truly perfect paint and bodywork as I would be afraid to drive it. The first door scuff or rock chip would kill me. Your truck is way too nice for me to throw a lawn mower or firewood in.

I'm also not good with bodywork so maybe the stars aligned there or I just lowered my expectations but I'll be happy if mine ends up looking good from the other side of highway at speed lol.

[SkinnyG]

I don't know why I had to do what I did, but I now have a working parking brake.

9" Ford axle, aftermarket 5x5 axles

90's Caprice rotors

90's Z/28 calipers

Fabricated my own adapters.

For some reason, I had to remove the parking brake levers, and build up quite a bit of metal so that they would apply without "over-centering" and becoming inoperable. I did discover there is an adjusting screw for one side of the brake pad, which I had to replace with a longer one, but it didn't all want to play nice with me.

But I have a welder and a grinder, so I won.

[SkinnyG]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

Your truck is way too nice....

You are way too kind; pictures hide a lot.

I sprayed the entire bed in tinted raptor bedliner, and the bed strips in black Raptor. The bed wood is Trex composite deck boards - I will never worry about scratches, or ever having to replace it.

[SkinnyG]

I lowered my brake pedal close to an inch today; whatever was comfortable with the gas pedal I have.

Adjusted the push rod, and there was ample adjustment in the brake light switch. Fabricated a similar stop as to THIS LINK HERE.

Also changed my wastegate boost reference from the turbo compressor to the intake manifold. I was finding that I'd start out with 5psi boost, but it would steadily fall to about 2psi as the engine reved higher. Today I had an epiphany - it's probably losing 3psi through the intake piping and intercooler, and only 2psi is getting into the engine. I will test the relocation soon.

[SkinnyG]

Wastegate running off intake manifold pressure is much better than off than off the compressor outlet. I don't know what I was thinking earlier. As I'd give it some stick, it would spool up to 5psi darn near instantly, then slowly drop down to about 2psi as engine speed increased. My epiphany was that I was losing 3psi in the intercooler/piping.

Also, latest video:

Engine & Trans Cooler Lines! - YouTube

[SkinnyG]

Took my sweetie out today.

Oh, and the truck:

[realvc]

Thanks for the clarification between your sweetie and your truck.

[Braunschweiger]

Have fun on the trips.

[SkinnyG]

6psi boost.

Sorting out spark advance now that I can log my knock sensors.

Also working through lean heatsoak issues.

Alternating my daily commute between the truck, and my way cheaper on gas Hyundai.

[SkinnyG]

Latest video:

Finally, a REAL "First Start" Video! -...

[SkinnyG]

The Boring Commute 3: The 1961 Chevy Apache...

[Braunschweiger]

The truck runs well, great.
Now I've been traveling in Canada and it's very relaxed traveling with you.

[SkinnyG]

Buckets are from an '04 Honda Civic. Center seat was made from the Civic's back seat. I made a cup holder.

[SkinnyG]

Hung some wall art in the shop:

[Braunschweiger]

Nice Wall Art

[SkinnyG]

Added another:

[SkinnyG]

We're not dead yet.

The '61 is under a car cover for now.

I've been building rear sway bars for my daily driver (Hyundai Accent). Here is the evolution:



The back is a torsion-beam axle, which is a twisting solid axle. This design limits the twist. Aftermarket bars are 16mm. Here (left to right) is 19mm, (not shown: 22mm which is on my wife's matching Accent), 26mm hollow, 26mm hollow with better arms, and 32mm hollow.

Also took eight winter steelies and cut and welded them into a set of 15x7.5's:





Yes, it's lowered. Both of our Accents are lowered. I have never, ever, owned "stock" anything.