New guy-1959 Apache questions

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Greetings fellow truck fans.

Long time lurker with a 1959 Fleetside Apache. Getting serious now on working on it.

I have read through a lot over the years, but still have two questions and decided to finally ask.

(1) Does anyone sell a bolt on IFS kit? I've yet to see one.
I really don't want to chop the frame up...

(2) What made a truck deluxe? Exterior and interior?
My understanding is (a) the interior was chrome knobs and the deluxe heater control and (b) the exterior was chrome bumpers, chrome cab trim, chrome windshield trim and the infamous bed side trim.
Would be nice to see a schematic.

We all know it is rather impossible to find the bedside trim.
I see that someone makes the end pieces as reproductions, but what about the long strips? Does anyone have some original strips for sale?

Are there any obsolete parts places or people that are worth a try to call for the bedside trim hunt?

[GRIMSS]

Originally Posted by Grape Ap(ach)e

(1) Does anyone sell a bolt on IFS kit? I've yet to see one.
I really don't want to chop the frame up...

Welcome and to answer your first question is no bolt on kit for the 47-59 trucks. You will have to weld in a MII type crossmember or do a complete front end off of something like a camaro.

[OrrieG]

Welcome. I have been looking for chrome side rocket trim for my 59 for 20 years too. Deluxe heater and controls could be optioned on a plain truck, that is how mine came, with black dash knobs.

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by GRIMSS

Welcome and to answer your first question is no bolt on kit for the 47-59 trucks. You will have to weld in a MII type crossmember or do a complete front end off of something like a camaro.

I think there is a bolt on for up to the 55...regardless, what does everyone think about the Speedway kit?
I would like to run GM brake rotors, but haven't seen (or looked that hard) for a MII type of swap like the speedway kit with spindles for GM rotors.
The 4th gen Camaro brakes are the ones I would like to use.

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Welcome. I have been looking for chrome side rocket trim for my 59 for 20 years too. Deluxe heater and controls could be optioned on a plain truck, that is how mine came, with black dash knobs.

I haven't been looking for 20 years, but for a long time nonetheless.

With the rarity, I am surprised someone hasn't produced a repro!
Why do you think no one has?
Were the original parts pot metal dipped in chrome or???

If I could get a hold of some, I think I could find someone to reproduce them.
Just a thought.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Originally Posted by Grape Ap(ach)e

I think there is a bolt on for up to the 55...regardless

I have to agree with GRIMSS. In the thirty plus years I have been working on these trucks I have never heard of a bolt on IFS and if there was would you really want a bolt on a crossmenber?

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by CAL 58 GMC

I have to agree with GRIMSS. In the thirty plus years I have been working on these trucks I have never heard of a bolt on IFS and if there was would you really want a bolt on a crossmenber?

There are bolt on kits for some of the pre-55 trucks.
The "why" is so I don't have to cut the frame.
So yes, I would want a bolt-on crossmember.

But it's a moot point, so does anyone have a comment on the Speedway MII kit?

[PDW HOTRODS]

Delux 55-59 also had big back windows.

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by PDW HOTRODS

Delux 55-59 also had big back windows.

My truck has a big back window and wasn't a deluxe, so not sure about that...

[GRIMSS]

Thanks, never seen that before. Too bad they don't have a better pic or an install.

[Atomsplitter]

Note: I do not have a 55-59 Task Force Truck, I have a '48 but if the IFS design is the same for 47-59 please read on.

Personally I wouldn't touch one of these as they use the economy a-arms with the lower a-arm support. I have one very similar to these on my '48 but it's the weld-in type. The lower a-arm support strut severly limits the vehicles turning radius as the tire hits the support thus becoming the stop/limit. Notice in every picture of this style of lower a-arm and not just from this manufacturer, they angle the photo so these supports are almost hidden because they suck. Parking lots are a hastle for me as I need to backup two or three times to angle the truck into the space.....they suck. Spend a couple of extra bucks and get a simple tubular setup and you'll save yourself some headaches down the road....literally.

Oh, did I say that they suck, that's because they suck!

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by Atomsplitter

Note: I do not have a 55-59 Task Force Truck, I have a '48 but if the IFS design is the same for 47-59 please read on.

Personally I wouldn't touch one of these as they use the economy a-arms with the lower a-arm support. I have one very similar to these on my '48 but it's the weld-in type. The lower a-arm support strut severly limits the vehicles turning radius as the tire hits the support thus becoming the stop/limit. Notice in every picture of this style of lower a-arm and not just from this manufacturer, they angle the photo so these supports are almost hidden because they suck. Parking lots are a hastle for me as I need to backup two or three times to angle the truck into the space.....they suck. Spend a couple of extra bucks and get a simple tubular setup and you'll save yourself some headaches down the road....literally.

Oh, did I say that they suck, that's because they suck!

Would this be the bad type you are referring to?

[57ExtCab]

Originally Posted by Atomsplitter

Note: I do not have a 55-59 Task Force Truck, I have a '48 but if the IFS design is the same for 47-59 please read on.

Personally I wouldn't touch one of these as they use the economy a-arms with the lower a-arm support. I have one very similar to these on my '48 but it's the weld-in type. The lower a-arm support strut severly limits the vehicles turning radius as the tire hits the support thus becoming the stop/limit. Notice in every picture of this style of lower a-arm and not just from this manufacturer, they angle the photo so these supports are almost hidden because they suck. Parking lots are a hastle for me as I need to backup two or three times to angle the truck into the space.....they suck. Spend a couple of extra bucks and get a simple tubular setup and you'll save yourself some headaches down the road....literally.

Oh, did I say that they suck, that's because they suck!

DUDE U ROCKThats just the kind of Info I come on these sites for. The wife just does'nt find theHUMOR in getting screwed out of $$ on something that you thought you couldn't live withoutThanks for the heads up

[truckdude239]

welcome to the site sorry had to do it

[hotrodsbyray]

There is a fabricator who sells through ebay that has a kit you bolt on then take to have someone final weld for you or you can weld it yourself if you weld.
The bolt on part is to be sure it is aligned properly. It is a really nice looking kit in the pics and he says he has been using for a long time on these trucks.
Never seen one in person but the pics are purty

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by hotrodsbyray

There is a fabricator who sells through ebay that has a kit you bolt on then take to have someone final weld for you or you can weld it yourself if you weld.
The bolt on part is to be sure it is aligned properly. It is a really nice looking kit in the pics and he says he has been using for a long time on these trucks.
Never seen one in person but the pics are purty

Link or seller name?

[Atomsplitter]

Yo Grape,

First of all I would say the reply to my "That IFS Sucks" is correct, the lower a-arm on the link you supplied has the dreaded support strut. You can see it if you look carefully at the coil-over spring and you will see, on each side, what looks like small piece of round bar that angles back towards the frame area. On the lower a-arm, between the lower ball joint and the coil-over, you can see the 2 bolts that hold the strut rod in place. In the attached picture you can see the wear from my tires hitting the strut and the location of the mount on the frame.

Secondly, I did a bit of googling regarding your first question about the Deluxe models. There is no definite list of what the differences between the regular cab and deluxe cab, there may be one out there but I could not find it. What I did see was reference descriptions in different company ads for things like seals that describe the rubber being different between the small back window (regular cab) and the big back window (deluxe cab). Even front window rubber seals refer to the deluxe cab version having a slot for trim to be installed. There were also things like chrome knobs inside the cab on deluxe models and black knobs inside the cab of regular models and so on.

So I would suspect that the deluxe cab, besides the big back window, has what could be referred to as an "Appearance package" or Bling! My suggestion would be to ask the guys at Stovebolt.com this question as that site is more concerned with stock trucks instead off the modified ones found here.
Good Luck

[suicidoors]

hey guys not to get off topic too far but lets say someone has a complete set of bedside spears, shortbed, what do you think they are worth??
...and thanks for letting me use your post.

[blackdiesel]

I'm with PDW, a deluxe cab is a big back glass cab.

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

I'm with PDW, a deluxe cab is a big back glass cab.

My 55 had a big back window and it was a standard model with painted
griil and headlight rims and no chrome (stainless trim) around the window
and wind shield. I think you could get the big window in custom cab and
standard cab, but have never seen a custom cab small window.

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

They bolted in the IFS front ends on GM 10 - 30 series trucks from 60 to 87.

You better tell all those truck owners to get them off of the road!

Originally Posted by Atomsplitter

Yo Grape,

First of all I would say the reply to my "That IFS Sucks" is correct, the lower a-arm on the link you supplied has the dreaded support strut. You can see it if you look carefully at the coil-over spring and you will see, on each side, what looks like small piece of round bar that angles back towards the frame area. On the lower a-arm, between the lower ball joint and the coil-over, you can see the 2 bolts that hold the strut rod in place. In the attached picture you can see the wear from my tires hitting the strut and the location of the mount on the frame.

Secondly, I did a bit of googling regarding your first question about the Deluxe models. There is no definite list of what the differences between the regular cab and deluxe cab, there may be one out there but I could not find it. What I did see was reference descriptions in different company ads for things like seals that describe the rubber being different between the small back window (regular cab) and the big back window (deluxe cab). Even front window rubber seals refer to the deluxe cab version having a slot for trim to be installed. There were also things like chrome knobs inside the cab on deluxe models and black knobs inside the cab of regular models and so on.

So I would suspect that the deluxe cab, besides the big back window, has what could be referred to as an "Appearance package" or Bling! My suggestion would be to ask the guys at Stovebolt.com this question as that site is more concerned with stock trucks instead off the modified ones found here.
Good Luck

Do you have a link to a kit that doesn't have the dreaded strut support?
Appreciate the great advice!

Originally Posted by suicidoors

hey guys not to get off topic too far but lets say someone has a complete set of bedside spears, shortbed, what do you think they are worth??
...and thanks for letting me use your post.

If you have some, put them on ebay and I'm sure you will get many many bids.

[HOTFUN]

Deluxe cabs could be bought with or without the panoramic rear window option. That's why you see big back windows on standard cab trucks too.

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by HOTFUN

WANTED: 59 FLEETSIDE box chrome trim .

Have you gotten any leads on that?

[MrSinister]

here's a link for anyone looking for the trim, even comes with a truck http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1270920977.html

[Grape Ap(ach)e]

Originally Posted by MrSinister

here's a link for anyone looking for the trim, even comes with a truck http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1270920977.html

I'm sure that truck isn't rusty at all.

[MrSinister]

btw my 56 came with the big window and no other options at all