1958 Apache 38 Dually Dump Project

[RockTonka]

I've been around here for a bit with a build for my son, but never got around to creating a personal log-in until now.
While searching for parts for my son's build (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=*dirtrod*), we stumbled across this 58 dually and just couldn't get it out of our minds.
We found this in a field where it had been sitting for about 10 years unmolested. The more we dug around in it, the more we liked it. Supposedly, it had been "freshened up" with a bit of bodywork and paint and had the dump flatbed installed right before being parked with perhaps questionable clutch issues.
The previous owner had driven it around for a month or so after having the work done and really couldn't remember why he parked it...and there it sat until we started fooling with it.
The old guy was set on getting what he had paid for it in the late 90's and not a penny less, which was a bit more than we thought it was worth. We couldn't justify what he was asking without having a better feel for its mechanical condition, but he was really cool about letting my boy and I tinker with it in our spare time in his field.
This is how it looked initially...

[RockTonka]

It was difficult to find time to work on this truck with everything else going on, but it was always on our minds and we were able to find a couple hours here and there to work on it together over the last year or so.
The carb and valve cover had been open to the elements for a while and were the most obvious issues initially. We pulled the valve cover first and were kinda surprised to find it all relatively clean...the carb, not so much. We pulled the carb and brought it home to rebuild. On another visit, we pulled plugs and squirted a bit of diesel down each cylinder, drained the oil, and found that the master cylinder (no brakes) and radiator were dry.
Went back another time and were able to get the motor to turn over...encouraging, at least it wasn't locked up from sitting.
It sat like that for a couple months with us having a rebuilt carb at the house but not being able to find time to go out and work on it.
Fast forward to Father's Day weekend...my son and daughter come in together wanting me to look at a "flat tire" on her truck. I head out to find this...

[RockTonka]

Absolutely blew me away!! Both kids (17 and 19) have been working full time jobs to help pay for their higher education, fuel, bills, play/project money, and other incidentals and still managed to put their heads together (without Mom or I's knowledge) to make this happen.
They were able to negotiate the price down to 2/3's of where I had been stuck with the ole boy, pull other rigs out of the way, get this flat tired, non-steering, non-braking, heavy-ass, rig up onto the trailer and bring it home without us having a clue!
I couldn't be much prouder of them!

So, a couple hours at the carwash and we had a better idea of what we were working with.

[RockTonka]

One of the things we kinda dug about this truck was the PTO driven dump bed.

[sgtusmc]

Wow what a good story. You have some really great kids man. The truck looks really solid. I wish you the best with her, and keep the pics coming.

[RockTonka]

Since it was at home (for the time being), we were able to move through it a little quicker.
New plugs, wires, cables, battery, gas tank, fluids, and the rebuilt carb had it running after a weekend of trying.

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

Wow what a good story. You have some really great kids man. The truck looks really solid. I wish you the best with her, and keep the pics coming.

Thanks! The kids have their moments...this is one of their better ones!

The culprits...

[RockTonka]

So as it sits now, its running - although quick to start and seemingly pretty smooth, it will smoke quite a bit upon acceleration, has a oil leak or two, marginal brakes, rotted tires with 4 out 6 kinda holding air, but driveable (around the neighborhood), a VERY smooth PTO lift that seems to be in perfect shape, all in all...MUCH better than we were initially thinking.

[Kim57]

Neat story and truck.
Kim

[RockTonka]

Our next hurdle is finding some of the elusive 19.5" P30/35 8-lug wheels to adapt over to tubeless radials...if they fit. Lots of opinions there! I really prefer the look of the stock 18 inchers, but the cost/trouble of the bias plys are not worth it.
We will chip away at the leaks and rattles, but don't have a solid direction yet. I would like to keep it as stock as possible and just play with it like that, but the urge to mod it is strong.
If issues with the drivetrain (brakes, clutch, axle, engine, and whatnot) become overwhelming then a later model transplant would make some sense. We also have a tranny/transfer case/front axle from a 4x4 61 GMC that would be somewhat period correct and might basically bolt -in.
We don't know where this will take us, but the journey is the funnest part.

[RockTonka]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Neat story and truck.
Kim

Thanks!

[68GMC454]

man now those are soe good kids.. nice truck.. my dad bought one off a farm in new jersey when i was about 5 or 6 an used it to move us to western virginia, then used it to work the farm for along time.. these are great trucks...

[RockTonka]

I've been looking for bread vans for wheels/tires and stumbled across this the other day...a 86 Grumman GMC van with a transplanted 4BT and the standard SM465/C&C 14B (and the 19.5", 8 lug wheels/tires).
Only prob was that the driver filled it with gas and drove it till it stopped.

[RockTonka]

Well, the bread van wheels didn't fit over the drums. We're thinking of cutting the rear of the bread van frame off, with suspension, axle, wheels/tires, and sectioning it into the 58. This will give us a cleaner frame (original has some questionable scabbing going on) with later model brakes and better suspension. The 19.5" wheels fit on the front with no problems...hub bore was perfect, allowing the smaller 1/2" studs to work with the larger stud holes of the bread van wheels.
That will give me a runner while I chase down a dually front 60...thinking I want to 4x4 it.
Also going to work on the 4BT and see if we can get it running, if it fires up then that and the 465 might find its way into the 58 also.

[RockTonka]

My son has been working through a bunch of little things that needed attention...got the lights all working, straightened the tie rod and replaced the TRE's, replaced a body mount, tightened up a lot of loose (rattling) parts, all so he could take his GF down to Sonic.

[RockTonka]

Ended up swapping the whole van (minus wheels/tires) for a BBC/465/205 combo in pieces and a C&C 14B. Swapped in the 14B and 19.5 wheels/tires last night. Much better ride and brakes now.

[RockTonka]

Added some mirrors, insured and tagged it, and took it out on the town...

[pgf545]

NICE!!!!! My kids barely scrapped enough money for a couple of CD for me for fathers day. And then they want money from me so they can go out...

Bernie

[joe231]

This is one cool truck!
It going to be super cool as a 4x4

[RockTonka]

Thanks!

This thing puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

We've been working on little things here and there, seals on the doors, got the wipers working, rear sway bar in, some old shocks on, dropped a little gauge cluster under the dash so I can monitor vitals while I figure out what I'm going to do with the original set-up.
Also dropped a few tie downs around the perimeter while we were cutting off the old stake pockets and welding new (right size for a 2x4) ones on with a rub rail.
Starting to bring some parts in for the 454 while the 465/205 are being freshened up. Also got a line on a dually 60 front that I should be picking up in the next week or so...

[RockTonka]

new bed sides this weekend...

[GeorgeVale]

Lovely job on the bedsides they look great.

[vk_chevy]

very cool project, you guys are doing a great job on bring it back

[RockTonka]

Thanks for the comments, we appreciate the feedback.
We got the engine stripped down and to the machine shop Fri., we'll see what we have to work with there. Also picked up a dually front 60 and got it tore down this weekend...bit of cleaning/paint, rotors/calipers, seals, and it should be good to go.

[71'tahoe]

What a cool project! I dig it man!