SkinnyG's '61 Apache

[Low Elco]

After several years at WFO, I'm in the same position. This year was lining up to be calmer, but they're beating on the door. Trying to learn to relax, is not relaxing.

[SkinnyG]

I finally started digging into the rad support. Rusty nasty bottoms were cut out, and I blasted until I ran out of sand.

[SkinnyG]

And for giggles, I finally finished these signs:

[SkinnyG]

[cwcarpenter98]

The new signs look great up there. Now you just need a Chevy bowtie to complement them!

[SkinnyG]

Surprisingly, while I have owned more GMs than anything, I am not a Chevy fan at all.

(grin)

[SkinnyG]

Primered. I'll let it cure for a week before welding in the patches.

[SkinnyG]

Patches welded in:



Next patches formed:





And primed, to cure for another week (you can see the shifter arm and the proportioning valve mount here as well):

[350TacoZilla]

Odd, I'm not able to see any pics for last couple pages but no problems earlier in build. Also not showing me any kind of error or large un-used portion of the box, just shows your comments like thats all that's there.

[SkinnyG]

Odd.

Click this link and see if the image shows up.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...33-672x378.jpg

[SCOTI]

I'm still seeing older & current images w/o issue.

[SkinnyG]

All this was primed, then welded in:



Also making changes to my solvent tank, which dissolved its second pump. Bought a skookum pump which will now be held in a translucent bucket, pumped up to the tank, and drained back into the bucket.

[SkinnyG]

Inner fenders mounted so I could tweak the door-to-fender gaps.





Not perfect, but if you aim for perfection, you'll never get it finished; Chevy aimed low, I can too.

Handy to use studs to hang the fender when you know you're going to take them on and off repeatedly:



Also made a bit to my home-made slide hammer to pull door and fender edges into alignment with each other.

[cwcarpenter98]

I like that slide hammer. Have you done a video or explanation in the past on what you did to make it?

[SkinnyG]

No. It's pretty simple.

1/2" rod, threaded UNF on either end.

Handle is SCH40 pipe with a UNF nut welded in it.

Hammer is 1.5" solid round.

The "hook" is a piece of scrap 3/16" flat bar I beat to a 90° in a vice, welded to a UNF nut. 1/8" would be better as it would slip in through the gap easier.

You can buy these. I just make a lot of my tools.

[SkinnyG]

I made the slide hammer when I was trying to fix the crushed roof in my '77. I merely made this tip today.

[cwcarpenter98]

Thank you! Sometimes it's more fun to make something useful rather than just going out and buying it

[SkinnyG]

Builds skill, too!

[SkinnyG]

And just tried a bit of blocking on the walnut bag fender to see what would happen. This looks promising. Could build this up pretty easily with just more epoxy primer.

[SkinnyG]

Things are progressing too slowly.

I recently bought a Hyundai Accent to daily drive (36mpg) instead of my C10 (10mpg). Our gas (premium, because 11:1) is $1.99/L, that's $5.50US/USgallon to you 'Muricans and £5.50/IMPgallon in the UK. The car will pay itself off in less than a year in savings alone. AND help me financially finish the '61.

Pops took a tumble recently, the second of significance, and that, coupled with a few other things has me looking for a care home for him as he's rapidly becoming unable to care for himself. My goal was to have the interior painted over Spring Break, but we'll see what happens.

If I have to choose between focusing on the truck or helping my pops, I have to choose my pops.

I'll keep you updated when I'm back on the truck.

[cwcarpenter98]

I would make the same choice if I was in your situation. Take care of your pops, we'll be here when you're ready to get back on the truck

[350TacoZilla]

x2! take care man, the truck will always be there.

[aggie91]

Family first. My Dad just turned 80 in January and still gets along well and my Mom is 78, but I am not looking forward to dealing with putting them in an assisted living when the time comes to that.

Take care of him, the truck will still be there later.

[SkinnyG]

A bit of an update. I've puttered a bit with the truck, but also been distracting myself modifying the Hyundai I bought to avoid gas prices.

61 C10 Apache - Part 26: Starting Reassembly -...

[SkinnyG]

Began spraying the interior this afternoon.

While I am using a new charcoal mask and a relatively ventilated area, I'm not McLoving it. I already have asthma; this ain't making it better.

I ordered a supplied air system.