Down the rabbit hole I go. '60 Apache

[Desert dog]

While on an errand a friend and I stumbled across a 1960 Apache short bed step side sitting out in the cactus desert behind a friends house. It hadn't been moved since parked there in the early 70's. I spoke with owner who said it's mine if I can pull it out of there.
Needless to say that will be a big chore. The pack rat midden in the cab, engine compartment and underneath could be measured by the bushel. There is virtually nothing left of the tires. There is some rust in the usual places but it is complete down to the hubcaps.
We intend to bring it back to life in form or fashion but first must get it to safe harbor, and I'm sure we'll have many questions along the way.

My first one is as follows; I was hoping to grab a set of rollers off Craigslist. After some research it appears that, while readily available later 6 lug wheels wont work on the front end. Can I use wheel spacers to make the newer wheels work? And if so what size would they need to be?
Thanks in advance, wish me luck, photos to follow.
Regards.

[MusicMan70]

Desert dog;

I used 2" spacers in the rears and 1.5" in the front to mount the later wheels on my Suburban.
I don't recall if the spacers come with the metric lugs or not.

I did go back to steel wheels.

The spacers will work if you just want to mount them for rollers. (great idea)

Hope that helps some and subscribed for the photos, Good Luck!

[AcampoDave]

Wheel Vintiques makes oem style 6 lugs sold at Summit for around 80 bucks each.

[Desert dog]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

Desert dog;

I used 2" spacers in the rears and 1.5" in the front to mount the later wheels on my Suburban.
I don't recall if the spacers come with the metric lugs or not.

I did go back to steel wheels.

The spacers will work if you just want to mount them for rollers. (great idea)

Hope that helps some and subscribed for the photos, Good Luck!

Thanks for the reply. Would you be willing to part with the spacers?

[Desert dog]

Photos loading upside down. Any help?

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by Desert dog

Photos loading upside down. Any help?

Explanation and info:
https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...d.php?t=743225

[MusicMan70]

Thanks for the reply. Would you be willing to part with the spacers?

PM sent Desert dog

[Desert dog]

Here are some photos.

[MusicMan70]

That first photo with the crutches laying on top is Classic and the seat...hilarious... but,

the truck looks clean and I do like the small rear window and bumper guards too.

Should clean up real nice and look forward to more photos as you go along.

Photos of hubcaps when you can too.

[Desert dog]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

That first photo with the crutches laying on top is Classic and the seat...hilarious... but,

the truck looks clean and I do like the small rear window and bumper guards too.

Should clean up real nice and look forward to more photos as you go along.

Photos of hubcaps when you can too.

It is indeed quite a site.
Sorry I didn't get photos of the hubcaps, but I did manage to get a closer look at them after hacking through the underbrush. They aren't original to the year. It appears they're off of an early 50's truck.

[MusicMan70]

I am curious to see what stock wheels are on it?

[Desert dog]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

I am curious to see what stock wheels are on it?

While there yesterday I popped one of the hubcaps. The wheels appear to be a matched set of the kind using three clips to retain the hubcap.
I'll be back out there tomorrow and get more photos.

[Desert dog]

Here's a photo of the spare. It is the same as the ones on the truck. 15" wheel. The tire has been baked to hardness in the AZ sun for 40 years. I would bet it would hold the truck up as its as hard as a rock.

[DPowers]

I assume you are going to trailer it out? If so why not pull it out with the tires/wheels that are on it now and then put it on jack stands, pull the 15 inch wheels off of it and then put some roller tires on those rims? Or find a set of 6 lug truck rallyes? They are usually pretty reasonable.

[Desert dog]

Originally Posted by DPowers

I assume you are going to trailer it out? If so why not pull it out with the tires/wheels that are on it now and then put it on jack stands, pull the 15 inch wheels off of it and then put some roller tires on those rims? Or find a set of 6 lug truck rallyes? They are usually pretty reasonable.

Yes we are planning on flat towing it out. Unfortunately, dragging it out isn't an option. And we don't want to mess with the original rims right now as they will need to be cleaned up and painted prior to mounting tires.
I purchased a cheap set of 16" 6 lug wheels and tire rollers yesterday off a '99 Suburban, and have wheel spacers on the way. My concern is the size of the tires. They're 245/75 16s, about 4" larger in diameter than what's on there. Hopefully they'll clear everything enough to get the old boy home.

[Desert dog]

After 4 hours of digging we got truck off its chassis yesterday and on to blocks. It wasn't pretty under there. Caked with midden and cactus.

[Desert dog]

And today, for the first time in over 40 years, it was wheels down and rolling. Albeit just a foot or two.
Now on to the interior and the bushels of midden. Fun times!

[MusicMan70]

Well congratulations on the extrication Desert dog!

Those wheels give it that beefy look and at least its rolling.

[350TacoZilla]

Hell yeah man, congrats on saving an old truck that was just sitting. Funny the name Desert Dog would be a good fit for the truck considering its resting place and I use to run desert dog tires lol.

[Desert dog]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

Hell yeah man, congrats on saving an old truck that was just sitting. Funny the name Desert Dog would be a good fit for the truck considering its resting place and I use to run desert dog tires lol.

And believe it or not, the tires are Desert Dog tires!

[doobiebro]

Saweet! I can see you suiting up and spending weeks cleaning her up but well worth it!

[DPowers]

Nice

[350TacoZilla]

Originally Posted by Desert dog

And believe it or not, the tires are Desert Dog tires!

Haha thats awesome. Do they still have the dog cartoon stamped into the sidewall? I haven't seen any in years. Either way that is a awesome coincidence.