59 Apache 3200 Fleetside

[Texasdeere]

I was a little aggravated when I couldn't get the old sending unit out of the original fuel tank. (screws seized) But after removing the tank I can tell there is about a pound or two of rust sliding around in the bottom. So the new fuel tank was a good idea after all!

[Texasdeere]

Hey, Is it possible that these trucks were sold without hubcaps sometimes?

Maybe all four were swapped out a long time ago.

This is what the wheels look like that I have on the truck now.

[entourageguy]

Look like a bit later rim. Those will take a dog dish type cap.

[Norselander]

That's a 60s GM wheel. A factory half-ton wheel will have three clips (maybe four clips for the heavy-half 17.5").

[justcuz]

Folks probably swapped out to those wheels either after the clips broke or to get away from split rims. As I recall my 63 4x4 had split rims on it.

[Texasdeere]

That is what I figured. I will put the correct ones on it eventually

[Texasdeere]

I have been getting some work done to the truck. I got the wheels blasted, primed and painted for $90.00. The new tires make the ride so much quieter. Here are some updated pictures.

[Texasdeere]

These pictures show the new fuel tank and what the interior looks like. I haven't put the door panel back on yet.

[justcuz]

Looks nice! Thanks for posting the pics.

[Texasdeere]

Here is the engine bay and a bed shot.

[Texasdeere]

Originally Posted by justcuz

Looks nice! Thanks for posting the pics.

Thanks, and you are welcome.

I have been having a blast working on it. Next will be a carb overhaul, valve cover and side cover gaskets. Replacing the headlight adjusters and the speedometer head.

I might go and get it inspected first.

[justcuz]

Wow that is funny to see the old road draft tube on the side of the engine and a breather cap. California years ago made people install closed crancase systems on old trucks and you rarely see this anymore.
It is also neat to look through the engine compartment and see the ground!
Gotta love those old trucks, simple and easy to repair.

[1956cameo]

Awesome thread! Can't believe this is my first time to see this. You would be very hard pressed to find many other 50 year old work trucks that are that straight and rust free. Trust me that the money you paid is well worth it. Sometimes it seems like a bargain to get a more beat up truck cheaper, but it isn't. The only projects I will buy now are ones like your truck. They make a restoration go so much faster and cheaper!!

Santa Fe is just around the corner from me. When I get my Cameo roadworthy I will have to make the trip down to see your truck. Just let me know if you need a hand with anything.

[Texasdeere]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

Awesome thread! Can't believe this is my first time to see this. You would be very hard pressed to find many other 50 year old work trucks that are that straight and rust free. Trust me that the money you paid is well worth it. Sometimes it seems like a bargain to get a more beat up truck cheaper, but it isn't. The only projects I will buy now are ones like your truck. They make a restoration go so much faster and cheaper!!

I am with you on that one. It was more than I wanted to spend but at least the trip to pick it up was cheap, about $120 for fuel. Plus it looks cool just like it is.

When I picked up my 64 C20 in Kansas a year ago I spent about $1500 on the trip to pick it up. (fuel, motel rooms, and food)

Santa Fe is just around the corner from me. When I get my Cameo roadworthy I will have to make the trip down to see your truck. Just let me know if you need a hand with anything.

Thanks, That sounds good, I have never seen a Cameo in person before.

[dwcsr]

I thought it was a bit pricey at first but looking at the pictures I see all the work you don't have to do easily covers the price.

[Texasdeere]

Originally Posted by justcuz

Wow that is funny to see the old road draft tube on the side of the engine and a breather cap. California years ago made people install closed crancase systems on old trucks and you rarely see this anymore.
It is also neat to look through the engine compartment and see the ground!
Gotta love those old trucks, simple and easy to repair.

I am pretty sure a breather cap is original. There was one on it that I still have but it seemed to be pretty clogged up so I put a new one on it.

[Texasdeere]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I thought it was a bit pricey at first but looking at the pictures I see all the work you don't have to do easily covers the price.

It will need both cab corners replaced, (hidden by the fleetside) a few small dents fixed and that back fender unrolled and straightened.

The lack of rust, originality, fleetside, and big back window were big sell points for me.

I am not much of a body man, but I may try to pull that fender down myself.

[joemacho]

dang realy nice pick m up truck like the rear view mirror but over all nice work getting it all fixed.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Texasdeere

I am not much of a body man, but I may try to pull that fender down myself.

Easy to do, secret is to find where it started to crease and relieve the tension at that point while pulling it down. If you just yank on it it will want to spring back and weaken the metal at that point. Use a picking hammer at the crease. If its been there for a while you might have to shrink the metal at the crease.

[1956cameo]

Sounds good. Yeah I have only seen about 5 or 6 cameo's in person myself. This was the only one I saw in person that was for sale. Its pretty rough but it is a genuine cameo originally red with white trim, and originally a 265 v/8 truck. Much rougher than your 59. Found it down in Rosharon.

[Texasdeere]

Originally Posted by justcuz

Wow that is funny to see the old road draft tube on the side of the engine and a breather cap. California years ago made people install closed crancase systems on old trucks and you rarely see this anymore.
It is also neat to look through the engine compartment and see the ground!
Gotta love those old trucks, simple and easy to repair.

Never seen one before but here is a Californiaized 235:

[justcuz]

Thats what I am used to seeing. Although a variation of it is to use a Ford FE series engine oil filler cap with the hose going to the air cleaner from the top of the oil cap.

[Texasdeere]

I got the new headlights adjusters installed Saturday. I couldn't find any rivets that would fit, 1/8 too small and 3/16 too big, so I just used the screws that came with the adjusters. I need to tighten up the steering box some next.

The Big News I guess would be that I finally figured out what was painted on the doors. I never could figure out what the top word was. (P or R***mond?) It used to say "Rosamond" as in Rosamond CA. "Rosamond Trailer Sales" The front bumper has an Edwards AFB sticker and a Air Force registration sticker on it still. Rosamond is pretty close to Edwards Air Force Base. The guy I bought the truck from did say it was originally from California before the long stay in a Oklahoma barn. He said the previous owner sanded the words off but you could still make them out some.

http://www.avhub.net/RosamondCa.htm

[Daniel U]

To me that's one of the cool things about having an older vehicle.

[OrrieG]

That is cool, you might dump a message on the Rosamond Craigslist and see if anyone associated with the old company might have a photo of the truck back then. Its amazing what you can dig up on the internet.