The SILVER INDIAN: '61 Apache Stepside, 5th Wheel Hauler in Brighton, England.

[Chevy Apache]

Hi there hope this is allowed to be posted here, this is our new truck a 1961 Chevrolet Apache manual long bed. We are in England.
Well where do I start, my wife was looking on Facebook and came across this truck for sale as it was near to where we live, as usually anything that we buy we find is the other end of the country. So doing as I was told I looked at the truck and the pictures looked brilliant, only to find there was no price, then said to my wife I don't think we can afford it.
I was then told to phone it, but I said no, as I didn't think we could afford it,
So I thought that was the end of it, but my wife, son and nephew had other ideas, a couple of days later we went to visit my nephew as I walked through the door I suddenly got handed my sons phone to say that I had a call and it was the owner of the truck, after having a long conversation I arranged to view on the Saturday morning, myself and my son went to view, saw the truck and instantly fell in love, then made a deal with the owner and left to go home, then as we were driving home the owner called to say they had changed there mind an didn't want t sell, well to say I was gutted was an understatement after moping around all afternoon and evening I finally get to bed, the next morning my son had a missed call and answer phone message asking me call to call them back, to which I did and they said that we can now buy the truck again so I was like jumping jack flash and took a deposit out hoping they Wouldnt change there mind again, And then the build started, this picture was are first meeting

[Chevy Apache]

Here's another pic with our granddaughter

[66ChevyMax]

Love the truck and the story, enjoy!

[Chevy Apache]

Thanks we love it, will to add some more pics and info

[Grizz1963]

Welcome Pete, good to see your build thread.

Love the truck, and of course the Indian hood ornament.

First two pics came out sideways, have edited and reloaded them.

[Chevy Apache]

Thanks rian not very with these things lol, gonna trie and post some more later

[ibrown50]

Welcome Pete, very nice truck. Look forward to more up-dates

[Chevy Apache]

Posted via Mobile Device

[Chevy Apache]

Originally Posted by Chevy Apache

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Well not sure we're to start so here go, when we went to collect it which I had asked the owner to measure the truck to check if it would fit on my trailer he gave me the measurements so we thought it would fit, wrong measurements so hour and half later front bumper off and loads of block later finally we had her loaded up ready to rock and roll
Posted via Mobile Device

[Chevy Apache]

Originally Posted by Chevy Apache

Well not sure we're to start so here go, when we went to collect it which I had asked the owner to measure the truck to check if it would fit on my trailer he gave me the measurements so we thought it would fit, wrong measurements so hour and half later front bumper off and loads of blocks later finally we had her loaded up ready to rock and roll
Posted via Mobile Device

Posted via Mobile Device

[Chevy Apache]

Posted via Mobile Device

[Chevy Apache]

Originally Posted by Chevy Apache

Posted via Mobile Device

Posted via Mobile Device

[Grizz1963]

Not sure if your iPhone is to blame Pete, mine messed with me for a while, flipping the pics etc.

[Chevy Apache]

Well after getting the truck back, it was time to take a look at what needed to be repaired or should I say what didn't need fixing lol, it had previously been hydraulic suspension but this had been removed before I got hold of it, the rear bed had been half dismantled was wondering why they hadn't totally stripped it down,are that's because someone had welded the 2 bed sides to rear panel, so managed to strip that get it off. Then to look at the rear suspension I was told it had new rear coil springs yes they were new but the fixings know that's another story bit of flat bar across the bottom and top of the springs 12 mm wide 2 mm thick fixed 10 mm bolt through the middle time to fix that part, fabricated my own mounts for job done, Then it was time to repair rear shock mounts. Time to look at the front suspension,jack it up to inspect all the front suspension to find top arms loose all the bolts that hold it to chassis loose, lucky it stayed on the trailer,so after hours of research on the internet and chewing everyone's ears,I decided to fabricate my own front suspension,modified front crossmember and lower arms to accept coil over shocks. Then time for the brakes and clutch love the 4 on the floor means I can drive it like stole it lol, well yet another saga the owner just needs rear flexible hose found one that fitted tried to bleed them with no success time look bit into it master cylinder us , so decided to do brake up grade and drop spindles from cpp brakes full kit plus master cylinders and servo.
So get that sorted nice kit to fit.time for a test drive that's the first pic I posted.

[mjh1965]

Hi I just spoke to Rian Grizz he told me you need an in cab tank . You are more than welcome to have my old one it's ok . Andy ( uber cool ) has had the sender unit out of it but it didn't leak and there wasn't a smell of petrol (gas) in the cab . I have just fitted a new in bed tank .

[Grizz1963]

[QUOTE=mjh1965;7571346]Hi I just spoke to Rian "Grizz" he told me you need an in cab tank .

You are more than welcome to have my old one it's OK.
Andy ( Über Cool ) has had the sender unit out of it but it didn't leak and there wasn't a smell of petrol (gas) in the cab .
I have just fitted a new in bed tank .


Pete, I think if I recall correctly, that tank was a newly fitted unit, not the original from the truck.

So as long as you working have a sender unit, you will be good.

[Chevy Apache]

Thanks Rian and Martin was nice to have a chat with some like minded people, be nice to meet up some time thanks for all you're help

[Chevy Apache]

Well then it was time for bed repair.
After closer Inspection the bed and rear fenders need more work than I first thought after hours of sanding grinding and fixing of other bogies final time to paint at last job done.
Time to refit the bed surprise surprise more boges more fixing welding Grinding.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Chevy Apache

Thanks Rian and Martin was nice to have a chat with some like minded people, be nice to meet up some time thanks for all you're help

Always a pleasure Pete, we are all in this together.

Speaking of which, thanks for sharing these photos with me today.

Just to prove this is a real daily and working truck.







Impressive stuff.

[Chevy Apache]

Well we're do I start lol here goes.
Well here it is in the flesh now this how it now.
This was a very grey area us for us as we didn't know if this would work due to the weights as we prior towed it with Ford F-150 truck that just didn't work as it was to high.
As it is coil springs on the rear we just didn't know so it was time to fabricate chassis mountings for the fifth wheel coupling.
So know it was time to hitch it up and see what happens to our surprise it was spot on,couldn't quite believe it.
Well we then decided it was time for are maiden voyage drag racing 360 miles round trip with out fault.

[Chevy Apache]

Thanks to a very good friend Rian.
Got more parts for the truck tonight, thanks mate

[MacQuigley]

Thats one hell of a caravan Pete. But a very nice truck to tow it with!

[Chevy Apache]

We are getting there slowly but shorley.
Thanks for everyone's comments

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Hello Chevy Apache... and welcome to the forum.

Good looking truck, it looks very solid. And great name... Silver Indian!

[Chevy Apache]

Evening everyone.
Go to collect parts for my other truck Ford F-150 and stumble across a pair of rocker panels for our 61 step side.
Wonder what I will be doing in the winter