Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache

[wrnchhead29]

Needs more Bondo and a lot more Shiner Bock

[texascowboy593]

Welcome aboard Wrnchhead! About time you showed up...

[JIMBO59]

Sounds Like You Have A Winner Tex.

[texascowboy593]

OK I was able to do a little work on the truck yesterday. I pulled the bed off and fought like crazy to get the fenders off. I could only get 5 or 6 undone. The rest got the grinder treatment. . I cleaned up where the fenders attach to the bed sides and shot cheap primer on the bare metal for now. The rust wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was also able to get the brakes working. They aren't the best, but they should be enough to pass inspection. I plan on a disc brake upgrade but It'll have to wait for now. I plan on getting the pwr steering situation figured out soon. I will post install pics at that time (3-4 weeks away). Later, J

A couple more pics for those who wanted them (wrnchhead29)

[dwcsr]

That all looks to be in pretty good shape.

[KP1972]

Hey that looks great! I still have a ton to do to mine. My son lives in CS and has an old Chevelle. If you are close to Texas Avenue, he could come by and give me a report.

[texascowboy593]

Hey KP, I'm not far from Texas Ave but the truck is. It's outside Franklin an hour away from here. Once it's shored up and can be driven and painted I will be bringing her home to do the minor work that the Homeowners Assn won't shoot me for...

[wrnchhead29]

Thanks for the pictures, it's starting to look like a truck again after the Shiner bock wore off.....lol. I think that I need one now!

[texascowboy593]

Today was the day for sanding...
LOTS of sanding. Just prepping for the paint that I still have to buy.

The Blazer tank I ordered from Classic Ind. should be in on Tuesday. The sending unit, mounting straps etc. should follow soon after.

I did remove the driver side door so I could remove the offending metal in preperation for welding a new panel on. pics enclosed...

For the heck of it, I put one of my new fender emblems on just to see how it would look...

[texascowboy593]

more pics...

[dwcsr]

Your getting there, I like the emblems

[Jebb1978]

Nice work Tex! She's coming along fast, your making me Jones for a truck day!!!

[texascowboy593]

Thx for the responses guys. Its coming along as fast as I can do it. This truck wont be concourse perfect by any means but it will be nice enough to turn a few heads.

I'm needing to get it done pretty quick because I dont want to wear out my welcome where it currently is (not my shop). The big stuff such as body and paint are being done there then when re-assembled I will drive it home where I can work on a new wood bed, interior and other smaller things I dont need a ton of space for.

I hope to get a TON of work accomplished the last weekend of the month. Those are vacation days I had originally put in for to go to the Good-guys show in Ft. Worth. If all goes as I currently have planned, There will be painting done that weekend.

Let the race begin...

[texascowboy593]

I just got the Blazer tank from Classic Industries in today an it is in great shape! I sure like the coating put on it. I thought it would be bare metal I would need to coat before installing...The rest of the parts for assembly should be in in a couple of days. I'll try to install and plumb the lines Saturday. Of course I'll send pics of the install...Later, J

[CAL 58 GMC]

Nice work on the doors and I love those Hot Rod emblems too!

[texascowboy593]

I appreciate that Cal. We will see what the welder (which I am not) can do with that door. I followed the directions from the Brothers website about door skin replacement. 1st time I ever did anything like that. I was a bit hesitant but I figured no one else but me could do it so I just "did it".

BTW those "hotrod" emblems came from mooneyes. They can be found at a lot of places. They were $10-15 each. They are solid metal with mounting tabs thru the fender...no 3M stick on stuff here!

[dwcsr]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with a gas tank in his living room.

[texascowboy593]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with a gas tank in his living room.

My wifes not too glad to see it in her living room!!! I assured her it won't be there come Saturday.

[texascowboy593]

Finally got the Blazer tank in!!!

It didn't take too long to install it. Along with the straps I purchased the stock padding to go in between the straps and tank and the pinch points on top.

After I installed the tank I removed the old tank and it hit me... I can use the original filler neck with the vent tube. I would have taken the little breather off and connected it but I didn't have the right hose with me (30 miles to nearest parts store). I think I will be using a cool cap in the fender. I just feel better putting a cap in the fender rather than a bed fill...I can't seen to find the picture of an installed one on the web. I guess Ill have to do it and bring the camera...BTW the fuel line will be more secure than it shows to be in the pics b4 I startr cruising around!!!

[texascowboy593]

couple more...

[Jebb1978]

Looks really nice Tex! Am I crazy or is it sitting to high on the frame to put the bed back on?

[texascowboy593]

Jebb, it's gonna be a close call. I will make the "southern engineered" modifications if necessary. It'll be awhile before the bed goes back on...

[Jebb1978]

Well either way it looks great!

[DennyB]

Awsome progress!

[texascowboy593]

I appreciate the comments guys! I did do a little work last weekend but it didn't amount to much (didn't have camera with me anyway). In an earlier post I made the bold statement that I would try get some paint on the truck this coming weekend. It's not going to happen. I ran out of time and money . I do have the next 5 days off to work on it and I hope( ) to have it "ready" for paint at the end...

I did fill the old gas filler hole in the cab and some sanding but that was about it last weekend.

I originally took these days off to take my '71 to Ft. Worth to the Good-Guys show, but since I took on this project, I figured the time would be better spent getting "Tracy Lee" ready to shine.