1959/1991/2003 Chevrolet Apache/C1500/Siverado
0
Mods
1959 Apache cab, front clip, and bed on 1991 C1500 chassis, with 2003 LS swap. Chemically lightened with speed holes, and all major parts are previously thoroughly tested with at least 300,000km on them.\r
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Check out the youtube channel - it currently is all about updates on this build and you can see my ugly mug and updates on the truck. \r
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Youtube - https://youtu.be/rMpLu9-A4iA
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Check out the youtube channel - it currently is all about updates on this build and you can see my ugly mug and updates on the truck. \r
\r
Youtube - https://youtu.be/rMpLu9-A4iA
Build story
This is my covid-19 build, I need a shop truck and decided it would be a good idea to get this Apache that has been sitting in a corner of this shop for 5 years, and owned it for 7. I started sometime in the beginning of March. Lets call it the 12th.\r
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Being that I am on a tight budget due to being a cheap bastard, I am trying to get this thing together for under $4k total. Since I have had this truck for about 7 years, that means I spent about $571 a year on the truck if I hit my budget goals. \r
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The truck was originally bought for $1500 and the cab and front clip was previously swapped onto a 1991 C1500 frame with the 1991 bed, but the frame had rust issues. So I bought a rebuilt frame from someone else that was all sandblasted and painted all pretty. It also had all new parts on it and was only $500, and was also setup for the 55-59 cab. I found out why he was selling it - it had been shortend too much and was un-usuable because the front wheels ended up in the cowl.\r
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I had sold the good running TBI 305 that came in the truck when I bought it for $300, and the recently rebuilt Th700 trans for $350 (too nice for this truck), and the 3.42 rear axle was sold for $150 also. Brought my total cash outlay to $1200 at this point. \r
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So at the start of this quarantine, I pulled in the old rusty 1991 C1500 frame, stripped it bare, welded up and rust and knocked off the big chunks, and then epoxy coated it. I stole all the rebuilt suspension off of the too short frame and put it on this one. One leaf spring had a broken main leaf and fell apart when I pulled the rear end, so I had to replace that too. Add $380 for epoxy and a new leaf.\r
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I am doing the boring LS swap, but I am going with the cheapest LS I could find which came in a 2003 Silverado and is only a 4.8l or 283ci. I am going to tell my insurance that it has a non original 283 in it. The entire truck was $500 and the previous owner drove it to my shop. I stripped the truck of everything I needed plus some parts for my daily driver Silverado, and then sold it for scrap. Got back $300 for scrap, and sold some interior stuff I kept for another $200 making the drive train free. I also used a lot of parts on my daily driver, saving me a ton, and making it a little nicer.\r
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I bought a $60 set of adaptor plates for the LS, and some new stock replacement engine and transmission mounts for a whopping $40. I have a complete fuel line kit for an LS in a completely different vehicle sitting in my shop that I was given. It apparently doesn't fit anything but we will make it fit. I did buy a 1998 C1500 gas tank with the pump and everything in it new since the old one was rusted out and leaked. So did all the ones I found in the wreckers. It put me back $300, but came with all the new straps and has the high pressure fuel pump the LS engine needs. I also bought a new set of rear shocks since they were completely shot and I want to drive the hell out of this thing. I also bought a whole new roof, posts and everything, for $150. The one on the truck is rusted out. Because of course it is.\r
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So as of April 11, I have about $2200 into the truck. Frame is painted, suspension is in. Fuel tank is in.\r
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April 14th - engine/trans is in now.\r
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I have been trying to put up more images, but this thing is fighting me. Just have some images of where I started. Still has the 305 and rotten frame in these pics.\r
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April 18th - Cab is on new frame, and started putting video diary on YouTube. Check it out. Videos are better than pictures anyways.\r
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I also bought new Tie rods and Adjusters, sway bar bushings, and sway bar struts. She will be a handler, this one. The ones in the chassis I swapped off of were brand new, but super cheap ones. The tie rods and adjusters had also been painted with epoxy primer by the previous owner and no longer were adjustable. Rock auto to the rescue with gen-u-wine AC Delco parts. There is another $100 of the budget spent.\r
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Also, one cab mount was welded on backwards. Going to have to cut it off and weld it on the right way. This is what happens when you are by yourself at 3 am working on a truck. LOL. No biggie.\r
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April 23rd\r
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Had to work the last couple of days but back on the truck for a couple hours. Cab mount fixed. Fuel lines kind of sorted (not really). Got those rear shocks in (mostly).\r
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April 25th\r
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Had to spend another $150 for sheetmetal patch panels to fix the drivers lower door pocket, and a new master cylinder. I fab'd the patches on the other side but don't have the time to this time. I am up to $2450 on on pig as of today. I need to pull down the exhaust off the shelf that I took off the 2 donor trucks and see if I can make it fit.\r
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May 24th\r
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I have not been updating on here for a while, as I have been putting updates on my youtube channel instead.\r
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So far, since the last update on here, I have installed the front sway bar, managed to get the Y pipe installed for the exhaust, the rear shocks are in properly, the front a-arm adjusters are installed, the power steering is hooked up, the alternator and front drive is all in, one cab corner is cut off so I can get to replacing it, steering column is fit, and the old shaft from the 91' c1500 even fits between the column and the box. I am sure there are a few more things I am forgetting.\r
\r
I had to order some parts to put this thing together - power steering lines, some fuel line fittings, and inner cab corners. Another $200 spent putting my total up to $2650 so far. I have to order a muffler, some hangers, and a couple clamps to put the exhaust together since the original muffler from the 2003 was rusted out. The rest of the exhaust was stainless, so I am using the rest.\r
\r
I found a driveshaft that fits that I will be sending out to be checked. It looks like its lost a weight.\r
\r
I have also decided to go with a smooth firewall as it will be easier to cover the entire thing with one piece of sheetmetal than to fill the dozens of holes cut into it.
\r
Being that I am on a tight budget due to being a cheap bastard, I am trying to get this thing together for under $4k total. Since I have had this truck for about 7 years, that means I spent about $571 a year on the truck if I hit my budget goals. \r
\r
The truck was originally bought for $1500 and the cab and front clip was previously swapped onto a 1991 C1500 frame with the 1991 bed, but the frame had rust issues. So I bought a rebuilt frame from someone else that was all sandblasted and painted all pretty. It also had all new parts on it and was only $500, and was also setup for the 55-59 cab. I found out why he was selling it - it had been shortend too much and was un-usuable because the front wheels ended up in the cowl.\r
\r
I had sold the good running TBI 305 that came in the truck when I bought it for $300, and the recently rebuilt Th700 trans for $350 (too nice for this truck), and the 3.42 rear axle was sold for $150 also. Brought my total cash outlay to $1200 at this point. \r
\r
So at the start of this quarantine, I pulled in the old rusty 1991 C1500 frame, stripped it bare, welded up and rust and knocked off the big chunks, and then epoxy coated it. I stole all the rebuilt suspension off of the too short frame and put it on this one. One leaf spring had a broken main leaf and fell apart when I pulled the rear end, so I had to replace that too. Add $380 for epoxy and a new leaf.\r
\r
I am doing the boring LS swap, but I am going with the cheapest LS I could find which came in a 2003 Silverado and is only a 4.8l or 283ci. I am going to tell my insurance that it has a non original 283 in it. The entire truck was $500 and the previous owner drove it to my shop. I stripped the truck of everything I needed plus some parts for my daily driver Silverado, and then sold it for scrap. Got back $300 for scrap, and sold some interior stuff I kept for another $200 making the drive train free. I also used a lot of parts on my daily driver, saving me a ton, and making it a little nicer.\r
\r
I bought a $60 set of adaptor plates for the LS, and some new stock replacement engine and transmission mounts for a whopping $40. I have a complete fuel line kit for an LS in a completely different vehicle sitting in my shop that I was given. It apparently doesn't fit anything but we will make it fit. I did buy a 1998 C1500 gas tank with the pump and everything in it new since the old one was rusted out and leaked. So did all the ones I found in the wreckers. It put me back $300, but came with all the new straps and has the high pressure fuel pump the LS engine needs. I also bought a new set of rear shocks since they were completely shot and I want to drive the hell out of this thing. I also bought a whole new roof, posts and everything, for $150. The one on the truck is rusted out. Because of course it is.\r
\r
So as of April 11, I have about $2200 into the truck. Frame is painted, suspension is in. Fuel tank is in.\r
\r
April 14th - engine/trans is in now.\r
\r
I have been trying to put up more images, but this thing is fighting me. Just have some images of where I started. Still has the 305 and rotten frame in these pics.\r
\r
April 18th - Cab is on new frame, and started putting video diary on YouTube. Check it out. Videos are better than pictures anyways.\r
\r
I also bought new Tie rods and Adjusters, sway bar bushings, and sway bar struts. She will be a handler, this one. The ones in the chassis I swapped off of were brand new, but super cheap ones. The tie rods and adjusters had also been painted with epoxy primer by the previous owner and no longer were adjustable. Rock auto to the rescue with gen-u-wine AC Delco parts. There is another $100 of the budget spent.\r
\r
Also, one cab mount was welded on backwards. Going to have to cut it off and weld it on the right way. This is what happens when you are by yourself at 3 am working on a truck. LOL. No biggie.\r
\r
April 23rd\r
\r
Had to work the last couple of days but back on the truck for a couple hours. Cab mount fixed. Fuel lines kind of sorted (not really). Got those rear shocks in (mostly).\r
\r
April 25th\r
\r
Had to spend another $150 for sheetmetal patch panels to fix the drivers lower door pocket, and a new master cylinder. I fab'd the patches on the other side but don't have the time to this time. I am up to $2450 on on pig as of today. I need to pull down the exhaust off the shelf that I took off the 2 donor trucks and see if I can make it fit.\r
\r
May 24th\r
\r
I have not been updating on here for a while, as I have been putting updates on my youtube channel instead.\r
\r
So far, since the last update on here, I have installed the front sway bar, managed to get the Y pipe installed for the exhaust, the rear shocks are in properly, the front a-arm adjusters are installed, the power steering is hooked up, the alternator and front drive is all in, one cab corner is cut off so I can get to replacing it, steering column is fit, and the old shaft from the 91' c1500 even fits between the column and the box. I am sure there are a few more things I am forgetting.\r
\r
I had to order some parts to put this thing together - power steering lines, some fuel line fittings, and inner cab corners. Another $200 spent putting my total up to $2650 so far. I have to order a muffler, some hangers, and a couple clamps to put the exhaust together since the original muffler from the 2003 was rusted out. The rest of the exhaust was stainless, so I am using the rest.\r
\r
I found a driveshaft that fits that I will be sending out to be checked. It looks like its lost a weight.\r
\r
I have also decided to go with a smooth firewall as it will be easier to cover the entire thing with one piece of sheetmetal than to fill the dozens of holes cut into it.