New from DFW- 60 LWB apache

[ftgmotorsports]

Hello all! I am the owner of a small parts company and I have been longing for a 1960 Apache since I can remember. My great grandfather was a WW2 vet at Normandy and was also my school crossing guard in elementary school. I drove to school with him everyday and drove home with him from k-3rd grade. I had many of stories and memories riding around in that old step side. I am building this one to honor his life and impact he had on my life. He was my hero in many ways.... I have a LOT of questions so please bear with me as I learn some things. Without further- meet Ralph (Great Grandfather name).

I bought it from a gentleman who has already restored and coated the whole frame and brake system... as well as has rebuilt the motor and trans and installed all new hard brake lines and new bushing along with mostly new hardware.... new radiator and a nearly flawless interior. This has been worked on sitting in a storage unit for 20 years... he just wanted out of it and the payments to the storage unit.















I already got a 2005 5.3 swap for it and I have questions for you all about it. I will read as much as I can though and ask the least amount of questions possible.

[ftgmotorsports]

Oh and here is who will inherit it I hope...





stock engine

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

That looks like a nice sold truck.....and a lot of work already done. Keep us updated on your progress and feel free to ask questions

[Clyde65]

Welcome neighbor! I am in South Fort Worth.

Wow! that is a nice truck, lots of work in that dude to this point. Lots more to come I bet also.

There are a lot of us 60-66 guys around DFW, keep your ears open, we may have some get togethers.

[ftgmotorsports]

Thanks....gonna try to sort it all out alone....but well see.

[1963c-10]

Welcome and great looking truck. Looks like its already had some nice work done!!

[Jeff La]

Nice truck and nice to be ahead of the game LOL

[ftgmotorsports]

Thanks all! I really hope to get the front spindles and disk brake swap in and installed soon.

[WhippinSaw]

Cool truck in good shape, Get it road, and fix it up< gonna be nice.

[ftgmotorsports]

Originally Posted by WhippinSaw

Cool truck in good shape, Get it road, and fix it up< gonna be nice.

Thanks

Your interior is just right!

[morethanstock66]

Welcome,

Nice truck, nice to get in a few steps ahead. I'm just south of FW also..

[ftgmotorsports]

I have questions about what all is REALLY needed for a 5.3 lm77 2005 engine swap and using the 46l0e or using a 700r4 with this engine. Which trans is best?

Do I need the ecu from the 2005 or will any ecu work? Do I need the pedal assembly and so on? I have the complete harness and I have the dbw throttle body.

I can read a whole lot and I have searched quite a bit but there is some gaps for me. Can someone help me out?

Also I should interrupt here. I have been building imports for over 20 years. I have personally done over 350 swaps and hybrids... auto to manual swaps etc. I have swapped a 99 tahoe 5.3 into a 67 camaro but it was converted to carb. This is NOTHING work wise for me. I just want to ask questions cause I smart enough to know that I dont know everything.... and asking the well versed is easier than trying to figure it out alone.

[TJ's Chevy]

That 235 you have in there is sweet! Not everyday you see a hopped up engine..no it isn't completely stock..those didn't originally come with 3 carbs. lol Cool truck and a neat engine!

[Clyde65]

Come to my house and you can see what you will need!

[ftgmotorsports]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Come to my house and you can see what you will need!

PM sent

[morethanstock66]

Originally Posted by ftgmotorsports

I have questions about what all is REALLY needed for a 5.3 lm77 2005 engine swap and using the 46l0e or using a 700r4 with this engine. Which trans is best?

Do I need the ecu from the 2005 or will any ecu work? Do I need the pedal assembly and so on? I have the complete harness and I have the dbw throttle body.

The stock ECU will work, but you if you are going to put it in the truck you need to pare it down. Take it to someone, or if you have the software, crack the ECU and strip away all the excess process you don't need. Our trucks don't have all the electronics that it will want to control. You can pick exactly what you want to control and set parameters. EFI Live and other manufacturers are good for that. Painless makes good engine harnesses and even coil extension harnesses- if you want to relocate coils for an older engine look. To make it easy, you may want to grab the gas pedal and the wiring with it, so it is easier to set up for you.

[ChefCy]

Welcome. Nice truck!
I'm in Houston.

[4dranch]

Nice truck to start with, and great story about your great grand dad one of the true American Hero's.

[ftgmotorsports]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

Nice truck to start with, and great story about your great grand dad one of the true American Hero's.

Thanks... he was amazing and I hope to make the truck as amazing as he was.

I THINK I may have just bought a wrecked COMPLETE 2004 chevy silverado 5.7... running... for 750.... 140k miles. ITS TOTALLED but complete!

[ftgmotorsports]

Well I found a better deal on a complete and totalled 2002 silverado with 141k miles....its still running and complete...trading my 2005 5.3 and 700 cash for the whole truck. Now I have everything matching from same tuck for the apache and no more hunting for pieces...

[Clyde65]

Its always better to have a complete truck when your doing a swap like this, the small stuff adds up and usually frustrates the crap out of you!

Good luck, lets see some progress in a build thread!

Call me if you need something, not sure what I can help with but ill help any way I can!

[Clyde65]

Its always better to have a complete truck when your doing a swap like this, the small stuff adds up and usually frustrates the crap out of you!

Good luck, lets see some progress in a build thread!

Call me if you need something, not sure what I can help with but ill help any way I can!