59 Apache/C6 Corvette build

[tdishon]

Baby steps. 59 Chevy V8 hood emblem or 55-57 GMC hood vent?

[dsraven]

All that metalwork and no hood pancake? You getting soft? Haha
Hole in the hood could be an intake pick up?
You building a Chevy badged or gmc badged?

[tdishon]

It started life as a 59 GMC and have planned on 59 Apache conversion, but grafting the hood vent with GMC badging is sounding attractive. It's a hard choice. That v8 chevy emblem looks good on the hood.

[57FleetsideC4]

I like the chevy V8 emblem personally. It seems to blend in good with the restof the mods. Steve

[dsraven]

maybe stick with the hood that fits and the v8 logo emblem, looks good. grafting the gmc hood hole into the narrower 58-59 hood may look crowded unless the hole size was downsized a bit? the hole may make it look taller or cluttered? its a bit of work also. will you also be badging the front fenders and tailgate or leave that badging off for a clean and smooth look? if so then the hood badging may look out of place so possibly the vent hole with a tastefully done logo or mesh would fit the mood a little better?
hows that for a clear cut answer, lol.
one thing that seems to stick out on these trucks is the bulbous front edge of the hood. personally, I like a hood that is slightly pancaked to drop the height of the front of the hood a bit. have you seen kabwe aka bams build? maybe search it and try around post 11 for his version or post 2230 for his other version. maybe you like maybe not but there are some different options for you to look at anyway. if you happen to have an extra hood laying around you could try the front vent hole or pancake or drop the center area between the lateral rails or another idea of your own maybe.

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by 57FleetsideC4

I like the chevy V8 emblem personally. It seems to blend in good with the rest of the mods. Steve

This is my opinion as well.

[6DoF]

cosmetically it's really coin flip and they are close ... i kinda lean towards the chevy emblem i guess.

but there is function with the vent, and i loooove me some functional details like that. if you can incorporate that at all, do the GMC vent!

[tdishon]

Originally Posted by dsraven

maybe stick with the hood that fits and the v8 logo emblem, looks good. grafting the gmc hood hole into the narrower 58-59 hood may look crowded unless the hole size was downsized a bit? the hole may make it look taller or cluttered? its a bit of work also. will you also be badging the front fenders and tailgate or leave that badging off for a clean and smooth look? if so then the hood badging may look out of place so possibly the vent hole with a tastefully done logo or mesh would fit the mood a little better?
hows that for a clear cut answer, lol.
one thing that seems to stick out on these trucks is the bulbous front edge of the hood. personally, I like a hood that is slightly pancaked to drop the height of the front of the hood a bit. have you seen kabwe aka bams build? maybe search it and try around post 11 for his version or post 2230 for his other version. maybe you like maybe not but there are some different options for you to look at anyway. if you happen to have an extra hood laying around you could try the front vent hole or pancake or drop the center area between the lateral rails or another idea of your own maybe.

I read through Bam's build. Very nice and lots of detail work! I do like the changed hood on post #2230 and up. I think the GMC hood vent and emblem may only take away from the grill and bumper.
As for badging the rest. The tailgate is Chevrolet script. If I did GMC, I would have t change that... The sides are up in the air. I feel the 59 spears are very "clunky" and big, but I do have them. May just do the simple V8 factory emblem off the 58-59 GMC. Going to place some options on it and see what sits better with me. I'll post pics when I get there.

[tdishon]

I found this picture of a 59 with the gmc vent grafted on. I assume the GMC emblem will go in it and the spears removed.

[jaws61]

That's a beautiful so far and unreal metal work.. I'd say the Chevy front over the GMC.. it's just alot cleaner look in my opinion, I'm curious that was 3 inches widen for the back fenders and what size are thoses tires because the stance is perfect and unreal..

Thanks so much for the update and it motivation for sure to see new ideas..

[dsraven]

some guys have had success with airbrushing the emblems on the fenders. check ogres build.
chevy hood, eyes will gravitate to the bumper.

[tdishon]

Originally Posted by jaws61

That's a beautiful so far and unreal metal work.. I'd say the Chevy front over the GMC.. it's just alot cleaner look in my opinion, I'm curious that was 3 inches widen for the back fenders and what size are those tires because the stance is perfect and unreal..

Thanks so much for the update and it motivation for sure to see new ideas..

The feedback has been great. Thank you.
The 3" added to the back fenders made room for the 61 impala tail lights (one on each rear fender). It lust looks right. The tires are 355 19". The stance is level. I figured pro-touring should be level with no rake.

[gottattooz]

I love the Cadillac bumper. I tried to get a 53 Cadillac bumper and grille for my 58 panel, but it was too expensive and too far away for my budget. I took a chance on a 1950 Buick bumper and grille, so I like what I'm seeing with your build. I'm also using 1958 Impala turn signal housings.

I think the GMC vent in the front of the hood would be awesome, especially if it could double as a fresh air intake for the air filter. Also looking forward to what you're doing with the 61 Impala tail lights.

-Josh

[dsraven]

any firm decisions made on the hood yet?

[tdishon]

Originally Posted by dsraven

any firm decisions made on the hood yet?

Yes, I visited Hammer Fab and went over everything with Levi. We both agreed to keep it all Chevy. He loves the V8 59 hood emblem and it doesn't take attention away from the grill/bumper. The sides are not getting the Apache spears. It is getting a little simpler treatment with the 58/59 V8 logo in front of the door under the body line. The front still has work. The grill ends are air intakes ducts and blinkers. Lots of work to follow. Cleaning up the rear right now and 61 impala tail lights getting worked in.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by tdishon

Yes, I visited Hammer Fab and went over everything with Levi. We both agreed to keep it all Chevy. He loves the V8 59 hood emblem and it doesn't take attention away from the grill/bumper. The sides are not getting the Apache spears. It is getting a little simpler treatment with the 58/59 V8 logo in front of the door under the body line. The front still has work. The grill ends are air intakes ducts and blinkers. Lots of work to follow. Cleaning up the rear right now and 61 impala tail lights getting worked in.

I vote Custom hood emblem, because custom grill and custom bumper.. why stop there? Why must my eyes fall upon anything factory at this point?

[tdishon]

Some tailgate cleanup.

[tdishon]

Doors are next.
Love the new door handles I came across. Knuckle pockets are next for the door handle. I know everybody has different tastes, but I was never a fan of the factory door handles.
Electric door latches off 2020 Corvette and Nu-relics power windows with factory looking interior handle switch for both door and window.

[6DoF]

my first thought was "that's super bad ass!" ... then i thought while super different and neat, that system always seamed overly complicated to me.

please, PLEASE! don't forget to put the manual door release levers inside the cab!! and safefy train passengers where it is. someone died in a vette fire in the road in front of my in-laws when a drunk crashed, battery disconnected, fire started, and the driver had no clue how or where the manual release was. my wife drives a C7 daily and that always kinda worries me when i think about it.

(sorry for the downer topic ... just couldn't keep it to myself ...)

[Jason 56]

Looks somewhat familiar :lol I like it.

[tdishon]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

my first thought was "that's super bad ass!" ... then i thought while super different and neat, that system always seamed overly complicated to me.

please, PLEASE! don't forget to put the manual door release levers inside the cab!! and safefy train passengers where it is. someone died in a vette fire in the road in front of my in-laws when a drunk crashed, battery disconnected, fire started, and the driver had no clue how or where the manual release was. my wife drives a C7 daily and that always kinda worries me when i think about it.

(sorry for the downer topic ... just couldn't keep it to myself ...)

That was the first thing I thought. Corvettes have a manual lever next to the seat on the electric latches. These have one on each side of the seat and the drivers side has an manual exterior release on a key. Not knowing where the manual release lever is located would be of huge concern. Pic for reference of a pass side latch off a c6 or c7 corvette. The c8 2020 latch has three bolts mounting and two manual releases on the driver side (and one on the pass side like in the pic).

[57FleetsideC4]

Fantastic fab work. Steve

[slammed57]

excellent fab work! I really dig the bed rails finished off

[slck57]

Nice!! I'm using the same door handles on mine.

[tdishon]

Originally Posted by slck57

Nice!! I'm using the same door handles on mine.

I saw those 55 Thunderbird handles and had to buy a set just to see if they looked ok on the truck. They looked right at home and they even look similar in design as the 59 impala knobs I have on the dash.