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Jay's Bagged and Linked 1958 Chevy Apache

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  • Jay's Bagged and Linked 1958 Chevy Apache

    Some of you may know me from my `87 Mercedes 190e 2.3-16v build that I never update, or you may own a set of bag brackets for your benz that I made. I`ve always been into old trucks and have passed up opportunities to buy something old too many times before. My dad`s first vintage truck was a 1950 Chevy 3100 that we pulled out Kentucky when I was about 12. It was the typical shop truck look. Flat black, red wheels, white walls and some leafs removed to bring it down. I always had a thing for that truck and have wanted something like it ever since.

    Here's the truck that started it all


    When I was in my final semester of college (January 2014) I decided that I wanted to get a new project since I`d soon have the income to start a major build. Being from Canada there`s not much good old steel that`s affordable so I turned to Craigslist to find a good candidate. I spent weeks scouring listings in the southern states where rust is not common and amazing patina is on mostly everything. I was in the market for a 58-59 Apache. Preferable all there, original paint with sun baked patina, long bed step side and not completely molested. I emailed and texted everybody with a truck that met the criteria, but everything was either too expensive, too shitty, or they didn`t wanna work with helping me ship it to the Detroit border.

    Finally one day I stumbled upon the ONE.


    All there, original patinaed paint, step side long bed, unmolested orignal 235 inline 6 and 4 speed trans. The only issue was it was in northern Texas and only had a phone number to call. I said fuck the long distance charges and gave the guy a call. We talked and negotiated price and logistics and he sent me some more pics of the truck. From what I know he was the second owner and only had it for a couple years. The owner before him died in the late 90's and I believe the truck had been sitting since 1974 since that's the year the plates are dated that came on the truck. The price was right where I wanted it to be so a deal was struck. I sent money via paypal for a truck I had never seen in person to a guy I never met in hopes of owning my dream truck. This was in January 2014. A couple weeks later I had recieved the title in the mail and I was one step closer to owning the piece of old metal.

    The pics I recieved from the previous owner









    The months after that were filled with finishing school, on again off again with a girl and finding a career. Getting the truck home was on the bottom of my priority list, but never left my mind. I landed a job as a robotic weld technician for a company that makes brakes pedal assemblies for the big three shortly after finishing school. The money was finally coming in and it was finally time to get the old girl home. After a month and half of getting the run around from shipping companies I finally had the truck delivered in Detroit on October 31st. Exporting the truck from the US was a bit of a bitch as the policies had changed since I did it last. Importing to Canada was a breeze. Canada border patrol FTW!

    Pics from the day I saw it in person for the first time. Happiest ever! Shoutout to my amazing buddy And shop mate Brandon for helping me get the truck back on the longest day ever.




    So now youve probably read all this crap and you want to see some pictures of a badass bagged truck. Well sorry youre out of lucky. I moved from home to a different city an hour away from my old shop to be closer to work. This resulted in me not having much time for the truck, but finally the time has come. Just this weekend my buddies and I moved all our junk to a new shop that is 5 minutes from my apartment. This means I can finally spend some time on the truck.

    The plan
    4-link rear and Mustang ii front end
    5.3 lm7 mated to a tremec t-56 6 speed
    Ford 8.8 out of a Ford exploder
    Steelies and bias ply tires (possibly astro supremes at some point)
    Stockish interior (bench seat, original gauges, no flashy shit)
    Bagged
    Keep the body how it is
    Do burnouts
    Drag frame

    I might possibly keep the stock motor in it if I get to the point where it's driveable this summer just so I can drive it.

    I recently purchased a big boy welder after my old 110v lincoln was stolen from the old shop. All the fab work I will be doing myself using my new to me Lincoln cv400 mig welder. Its a big sum bitch and I'm thrilled to start using it.

    I figured I'd start this build thread today as I spent most of the day ordering parts. The list of parts I have or have coming are

    Heidts Mustang II front crossmember
    All tabs and rod ends for 4-link
    Jim Weimer air bag control arms
    Jim Weimer 2" drop spindles
    Jim Weimer big brake kit

    Anyways on to some current pics

    Unloading into the new shop. You might be able to notice that I pulled most of the leafs out of the leaf packs just to get a vision of it being lower. Shoutout to my buddies Brandon and Madison killin it on the move


    With my Yamaha XS400 cafe project that I hope to finish soon


    Little peep mirror i pick up for it


    When it was still at the old shop I cut out the rot in the floor and tacked in replacement panels. Then my welder was stolen and I couldnt finish the other side



    So that's my story. I hope I haven't bored you guys and girls too much. I'm planning to have frequent updates to keep you guys filled in. Also check out my IG as I post a lot on there too. @jaymarshall
    Last edited by Jay92; 12-03-2015, 06:18 PM.
    1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

    Commonwealth


    W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

    http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
    Air ride and custom parts
    IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

  • #2
    Man that truck looks the business! Perfect patina! I even love those wheels! Looks badass already with the ass low like that!

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks man! I'm really happy I found something with original paint. And I don't **** those wheels, but they gotta go as I'm converting to 5-lug
      1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

      Commonwealth


      W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

      http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
      Air ride and custom parts
      IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

      Comment


      • #4
        Got some work done on the truck last night. Was at the shop till 4am. Got about 3 hours work in. Lifting a bed off a frame by yourself is not something I recommend, but it worked out. Best thing about patina is not worrying about scratches.

        Picked up parts from UPS and the post office in the morning. Heim joints, bushings, tons of tabs and frame brackets. Enough to get started on the 4 link


        Pulled all the rotten original wood out of the bed. Plan to use incorporate the bigger pieces into the build just not sure what yet. Didnt get any before pics of the wood in the bed, but it was in pretty rough shape


        Then since I was already there and I was on a high i figured why not hack the back of the frame off


        Then had some fun with setting the bed over the wheels to see how she'll look. Will be lower after I notch the bed sides



        In other news I blew up the motor in my daily (2000 civic) last wednesday. Figured it was time to be a grown up and stop messin with $500 dailys. Picking up a loaded 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan on Monday as I have the day off. Then probably spend some time pulling the front end off the truck and getting that ready for the clip. Hopefully if UPS comes before I leave for work tomorrow I will have the control arms, spindles and brake kit. Pretty stoked to be gettin somewhere on this
        Last edited by Jay92; 04-16-2015, 11:20 PM.
        1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

        Commonwealth


        W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

        http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
        Air ride and custom parts
        IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

        Comment


        • #5
          why chop the frame? In for updates, the truck does have a great look to it as-is


          "Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"

          Comment


          • #6
            Cut the frame in preperation for the notch/back half. Getting new frame rails laser cut with a nice big notch instead of a universal notch. Just feel that it looks a whole lot cleaner.
            1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

            Commonwealth


            W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

            http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
            Air ride and custom parts
            IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

            Comment


            • #7
              Parts came in last week for the front end. Narrowed air bag control arms, 2" drop spindles and "big" brake kit. Heading out to the shop after work tonight to try and pull the front end off and maybe get the motor out of it so I can start getting the crossmember fit and start mock up.
              1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

              Commonwealth


              W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

              http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
              Air ride and custom parts
              IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

              Comment


              • #8
                Old truck on air? Subbed.
                My build thread (Old Buick wagon content)

                Comment


                • #9
                  Well got about 7 hours in on the truck last week. the first night I pulled the front fenders, hood, axle and all that stuff off the frame. Second night I pulled the motor and while doing that it was easier for me to get it out by removing the cab as well. Now it's ready to start fitting the mustang 2 crossmember and get the front rolling while I wait for the frame rails to be laser cut for the rear.

                  Sorry for the crap Iphone pics. Need to get a decent camera one day

                  Front end off


                  Probably what ride height will be. couple inches to the "rocker"



                  The mess of collective parts


                  My buddies 280 in the back that he NEEDS to finish
                  1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

                  Commonwealth


                  W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

                  http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
                  Air ride and custom parts
                  IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Got the mustang 2 front crossmember welded im and mocked up Friday night. Pretty straight forward. Couple measurements some welds and done.




                    Some "weldporn". Picked up a Lincoln cv400 for really cheap. It's the biggest mig welder Lincoln offers so I'm no longer limited by my welder. Finally got it set up last week and got it pretty dialed. Programming welding robots at work makes me appreciate and love manual welding so much more.



                    The lowest part on the frame is that middle tranny crossmember. With that on the ground it leaves about 2 inches at the rockers and about 3 inches at the mustang 2 crossmember. I'm gunna make a new tranny brace that will allow it to lay out fully with the stock engine/tranny
                    1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

                    Commonwealth


                    W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

                    http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
                    Air ride and custom parts
                    IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      cool, great share..
                      Cool bmw

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        great job!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Nice welds man!
                          My build thread (Old Buick wagon content)

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Oh and nice truck of course. I love that bodystyle.
                            My build thread (Old Buick wagon content)

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Raoul Duke View Post
                              Nice welds man!
                              Thanks man

                              Small update

                              Picked up some Cragar SS's for cheap on Friday. Unsure if I'll use em yet. I'll decide once I get the body back on. I more or less got them as roller wheels, if I don't like em they'll go on my dad's 57 Bel-Air wagon. Not bad for $80 tho



                              I started preping the rear end last week as well. Got the leaf spring mounts ground off and the lower link mounts welded on. New frame rails should be ready this week. I'm on vacation next week so I'm going to attempt to have the rear rails welded, 4-link done and the body back on to see how she looks. Should be an exciting couple of weeks
                              1958 Chevy Apache shop truck build

                              Commonwealth


                              W201/W124 Control arms and bag brackets

                              http://www.commonwealthmotoring.com/
                              Air ride and custom parts
                              IG - Commonwealth_mf FB - https://facebook.com/commonwealthmotoring

                              Comment

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