My 2nd real post - introducing my 59 blue fleet side

[VTX-Black]

Before I introduce the truck, here is the back story.
My wife got the itch for an old truck. Reasoning was that a well done older truck could be had and made reliable as an all season daily driver that you could dispose of in three years when it rusts out, and be way ahead of one year depreciation on something new and cool. (New is easy, new and cool is not).

I started buying truck mags and found an issue that had a red and white cameo. I'd never seen a cameo before but was struck by its lines. The next week I browsed the auto trader and BAM! I found this fleet side Apache (…at a price that would even fit it into the dispose after 3 years rust category).

[VTX-Black]

I'd never seen a fleet side Apache either. I didn't know that they existed, although I was familiar with the step side.

I grew up in Canada. Old trucks don't last very long on our salty roads.
A friend moved here from Texas in the late 70s, and had brought back a 55. I hand't seen one of those either at that point.

He and I used to drive to school in that. When I got a sports car, he always wanted to drive it so I used the 55 most of one summer.

…but the fleet side look was something very different to me, and those big four headlights! How could I have missed their existence for over 50 years? To my eyes this is every bit as nice (or better) than the holy grail 57 chevy Belair.

…and to find one a week after I discovered the Cameo article, and in chilly Canada where old trucks disintegrate no less. I bought it for not much money, long distance, site unseen (other than the pictures you see here), and picked it up a week later on a flatbed.

[VTX-Black]

said flatbed….

(This will make a fantastic surprise 50th birthday present for my wife I begin thinking…)

[olelefty]

That is one beautiful truck. Congrats. on your purchase.

[Kim57]

Very nice truck.
Kim

[VTX-Black]

Thanks ole lefty!

Kim, I just found your build thread. Wow!

[northerngmc]

Nice looking old truck......

Trucks in western Canada don't wrought quite as quickly.......

[daveshilling]

Awesome!! Just needs a set of chrome steelies and a 5" drop, and you're all set

[Daze57]

Very nice

[poncho_villa]

Yes. Very nice. Any details about the drivetrain?

[OrrieG]

Nice find, as time goes by you will appreciate even more the subtle differences the way the grille is integrated and the fender line runs back from the headlights, over the wheel opening and down to the lower body bump. And of course the great bed. Short fleetsides are almost, or more rare than Cameos because most fleets were used for working trucks and order in the long wheelbase. So post some pics of the engine compartment and interior.

[dubie]

great looking fleetside. We're just getting started on my wife 58 GMC short fleetside rodstoration.

Is it the stock frame and suspension under the truck? Looking at the giant wheels and the offset, it almost looks like the truck is on a newer model chassis

[VTX-Black]

This next post is a bit of a shocker.

To some, they will be appalled, while others will be thrilled!

Here goes:
Wayne

[Kim57]

The six is pretty cool.
Kim

[OrrieG]

Nothing wrong with the six, I drove mine for 8 years and about 70K miles on the 235. It had about 180 K on the odo, it was the second engine, a 58 car 235. Speedo quit working after turning over 200K and I drove it until the engine lost oil pressure 6 years later.

[VTX-Black]

I also have this just in case. Not sure if I will use it but could use some guidance on my decision:

[VTX-Black]

BUT…before I do anything to hasty I should show you these.

People asked me about the interior. It is as thrilling as the engine compartment

[VTX-Black]

And I was asked about the frame.

Stock

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by VTX-Black

I also have this just in case. Not sure if I will use it but could use some guidance on my decision:

Just my opinion, tear into the corvette (apart) sell the extra parts, then purchase the FlatOut engineering kit and there you will have a V8 and GREAT handling suspension to boot.

[fabguy]

SWEET looking truck man.

This is what goes through my mind when I look at my 58 or almost any 4 eyed truck.

"There ain't nothing in the world
Like a 4 eyed girl to make me act so funny make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose
Like a girl,
oh baby that's what I like"
Yes its from chantilly lace. My wife thinks I am nuts sometimes because whenever I see a 4 eyed truck I will humm that song, and she just looks at me and shakes her head.

[Katrina/10]

Drive it till it rusts out?

[VTX-Black]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Drive it till it rusts out?

Ya, …that plan changed as soon as I saw the truck.



This thing was an arizona truck up until just a couple of years ago. Apparently it was rescued from the desert at some point and was still drivable, and all original sheet metal under that paint. I only have the one pic of the underside but I shot a video and it is amazingly fresh. I'd say the truck was two years old if I didn't know any better.

As for the leaf, yes one stock leaf…and not really drivable in my opinion, although it can be driven. The steering is also ridiculously heavy with those wheels… but I have that vette for parts, and that car has a rebuilt motor and tranny. Plus, I am aware of the suspension kit for putting the vette suspension under the truck.

When I realized that other than the leaf, the truck is totally unmolested, this project began to confuse me so I have done nothing other than to add a cover to protect the box while I finalize my plans.

This leads me to the interactive part of this post. Let the ideas fly!
Any and all suggestions welcome.
The shifting is a bit vague, but the three on the tree is cool, but I'm not married to it.
The six doesn't burn oil and although I forget the mileage, it is not extremely high.


Here is the cover and the "how I built it" thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=606489

[Russell Ashley]

I love that truck. Put dual exhaust on that six with some good sounding mufflers and drive it.
If it were mine I'd ditch those wheels though. I'd rather see less wheel and more sidewall. Those wheels don't fit the "vibe" of the rest of the truck to me.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I love that truck. Put dual exhaust on that six with some good sounding mufflers and drive it.
If it were mine I'd ditch those wheels though. I'd rather see less wheel and more sidewall. Those wheels don't fit the "vibe" of the rest of the truck to me.

I have to agree with Russel and some of the others, the garrish "Gangsta" wheels just don't work on that truck. I looked to see if someone like Coy made a clean looking spoke wheel in a 16 or 17 inch size six with a six lug pattern last night but couldn't find any good looking modern looking rims with that bolt pattern that would run a tire with some sidewall on it.

[VTX-Black]

Here is one idea I had. If I keep going in the hot rod direction these are pretty similar to the look of the ones on my race car that I might tow….but then there is also the corvette wheels that I already have on the parts car.

Not sure if they suit, or even if that is the direction to go.
Some have suggested putting it back to stock with vintage looking two tone paint scheme and abandoning the whole hot rod look.

I'm keeping this thread interactive so let the opinions fly!