58 Apache Build Thread

[Dean Jenkins]

Passenger door has the same rust as the driver's. No big surprise.
Ordered bottom door shell sections and will try @dhutton01 method of only lifting door skin flange where needed, and the cut out and replace what is needed.

Bigger challenge is the lower hinge brackets on both doors. They are shot and no replacement parts available.
This will push my fab skills.

 

[dhutton01]

Passenger door has the same rust as the driver's. No big surprise.
Ordered bottom door shell sections and will try @dhutton01 method of only lifting door skin flange where needed, and the cut out and replace what is needed.

Bigger challenge is the lower hinge brackets on both doors. They are shot and no replacement parts available.
This will push my fab skills.

View attachment 40229
View attachment 40230

 

[Dean Jenkins]

Good video. Lays it out clearly. Like everything he did except the weld through primer.

 

[Rick O]

Dean another good YouTube vedio on 55 truck is Old man fixing stuff

 

[Dean Jenkins]

Well that was easy (not!)
Major panel blasting is done.

Now to clean the shop and move on to next phase.
Good part is that blasting was done in the "strip curtain booth." 95% of mess is contained there.
The "booth" has good ventilation, slightly negative, which helps.

 

[1A Rock]

Do you reuse your media? If not how much have you used so far?

 

[Dean Jenkins]

The truck came from the factory as a long bed.
My plan is short bed.
Default (and likely) plan is to buy reproduction short bed sides.
~$1000 each.

But, I have this crazy idea that I can cut down the factory sides to short bed.
I saw a guy do it on YouTube and it looked easy...

Seriously though, this will be the most challenging sheet metal thing I've ever tried.
Needs two cuts and butt welds. About 8 inches in front of wheel opening and about 12 inches behind to make the opening center on the rear axle correctly.
There are some good videos. I like the one from Brothers the best. Different year style. But same idea.

And, if I hash them up, back to default. Buy reproduction sides.

 

[Dean Jenkins]

Do you reuse your media? If not how much have you used so far?

Yes. I used Tractor Supply fine coal slag.
I added about 25% fresh media to each pot.
Screened through 1/8" mesh. Someone else mentioned that the TSC slag needs to be screened even when new. That is 100% correct.
500lbs total for cab and front sheet metal.
I'd estimate ~ 15-20% goes out through the ventilation as dust. The slag fractures easily.

 

[RosharonRooster]

View attachment 40228

i dont know how you do it dean. that weather is miserable lol. my daughter has relocated out of seattle area. shes on the boat going to virginia for the next few years.

 

[Dean Jenkins]

i dont know how you do it dean. that weather is miserable lol. my daughter has relocated out of seattle area. shes on the boat going to virginia for the next few years.

Funny, miserable is relative. I grew up in this climate and like it. My younger sister lives in San Antonio and we visit occasionally. I ask "how can you stand this heat?"
But we'll be there this weekend and a little sun will be nice after a northwest winter.

 

[RosharonRooster]

Funny, miserable is relative. I grew up in this climate and like it. My younger sister lives in San Antonio and we visit occasionally. I ask "how can you stand this heat?"
But we'll be there this weekend and a little sun will be nice after a northwest winter.

should be pretty nice in san antonio. probably mid 80s. thats about 3 hours from me

 

[crashtech]

The thing I remember about Seattle is how much it rained, even in summer when I was there. Everything was so green! All of my life has been spent in semi-arid climates, so that really made an impression on me.

 

[zachm]

I blasted inside my shop once on my first build. After that everything was done outside.

Agreed did it once never again

 

[Moomoo813]

I think the longbed looks weird, out of proportion.
Speak freely! I respect your opinion.

Hi Dean, do you know of any of Apaches for sale? Thanks Stephen.
Also wondering if you knew a spot a drop in bedliner for an Apache short bed, fleet side. Thanks.

 

[Moomoo813]

Hi Dean, do you know of any of Apaches for sale? Thanks Stephen.
Also wondering if you knew a spot a drop in bedliner for an Apache short bed, fleet side. Thanks.

That was, a place to buy a bedliner for a short bed, fleet side.. I don't have any interest in a spray in bedliner

 

[Dean Jenkins]

Hi Dean, do you know of any of Apaches for sale? Thanks Stephen.
Also wondering if you knew a spot a drop in bedliner for an Apache short bed, fleet side. Thanks.

I quit looking once I bought mine. I scoured Facebook marketplace and craigslist for 6 months to find the right one. There is a "Apache pickups for sale" group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CuxgZUefr/

No idea about a bedliner, never looked into it.

 

[chevman]

I quit looking once I bought mine. I scoured Facebook marketplace and craigslist for 6 months to find the right one.

Extensive corrison protection

 

[Dean Jenkins]

As I updated previously, major blasting done. But i wasn't happy about the media I was seeing dribble out.

Made me think there is a lot trapped in pockets and voids.
Not only a risk of puffing out into fresh paint, but a pocket of media could hold moisture and cause corrosion.
I really wanted to roll the cab over and let gravity help.
I've seen "tip over jigs" to roll a body 90 degrees. But i wanted to go 360.
So, designed and built one.
8 foot diameter "wheels" Made of doubled up 7/16" OSB, 4X4'S lagged to cab mounts and then cladding and bracing to attach 4x4's to the wheels.
I gave it a 75% chance of being strong enough.
But, it worked!
Not robust enough to do major work on, but stable to roll the cab over and get media out.
And it will be nice to paint underside with cab at 90 degrees.

And it was worth it. Here is media that came out on first roll

 

[crashtech]

Hopefully you don't live on a hill.

 

[jtfx6552]

Darth Vader's Apache..