1959 3803 Family truck - What to do with it

[Zapisocki]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker first time poster,

I am considering bringing our 59 Apache home from the farm and resurrecting it from the dead.

The first question I have is are the frames on the 3803 models difficult to clip? My intention is to put a box on it and build more of a low profile cruiser than a grain truck.

If not what would be the best full frame donor? I hate to say this but the crown Vic's have a 114" wheelbase which is perfect for a short box.

R

[G&R's57GMC]

Get A late Crown Vic Police Car Sell the body, engine & trans.

Install a late 5.3 or 6.0 and 4L60E or 4L80E and go for it.

[Zapisocki]

After some further research it links like the Vic track width it too wide and a Caprice would be more compatable. The Caprice wheelbase is a bit longer, however I have a long box that I will be shortening so this should not be an issue.

I found a Caprice for sale that is bagged, it may be the perfect Donor.

[dubie]

Sounds like a very cool project here. You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the 59 would you? We're all about seeing pictures around here

[mr48chev]

Before you spend any money on the Caprice, slide under it and measure the outside width of the frame rails. You also have to measure the room you have to fit the frame rails under the cab of your truck. If it is still out on the farm maybe someone can slide under theirs and give you that measurement. Basically can the cab slip down over the caprice frame without a bunch of headaches. You will have to rework the trans hump to clear building a trans hump the length of the cab but you might be able to rob the one out of the Caprice and use it. Kind of like butchering a pig, use everything but the squeal before you get rid of the bones. Fitting the bed to the chassis length sounds like a good plan.

I'm not a big fan of frame swaps for the sake of swapping frames but this time around this sounds like the better of the plans.

A lot of guys are jumping on the Crown Vic crossmember or complete chassis bandwagon and then finding out that the only wheels that fit under the rig are the Stock Crown Vic rims or rims with that same positive offset that the Crown Vic rims have and that new set of Coys out in the garage stick out beyond the fenders four inches.

They have an ugly front section on the frame that doesn't work with early sheet metal at all but years ago I narrowed the frame out from under a mid 60's early 70's Galaxy by moving the rails in on the sides as they are welded on the stock frame so it isn't hard to do. The struts that run from the lower control arms to the crossmember out front make them a terrible candidate for swaps though. That one ended up being used as a brush buggy in Central Texas.

[Zapisocki]

Mr48,

Thanks for the advise, I will do the measurements and save the trans hump.

Sounds like the CV isn't a good choice for what I want to accomplish.


Dubie,

I took pictures last weekend but the one of the entire truck didn't turn out. all I have is pics of the problem areas and the frame

[Zapisocki]

some pics

[Brendan in the "Fort]

3803 is that a 2 ton?

I bought a 47 2 ton.. Made in Canada #s are hard to compare.

Mine has a grain box and hoist that work.

It is not home yet. been to busy working out of town and a big old house reno.

[Zapisocki]

I was told that it was a 1.5 Ton by my Father, the glove box had old registrations in it from as far back as 1963 but some years it shows a 6600lbs and some years 7600lbs...

Maybe the rear leaf spring picture will shed some light... No hoist, we are Ukrainian so we didn't buy luxury items like that..

[sgtusmc]

I put a 1988 longbed single cab C1500 frame under my 59. I had to shorten up the rear to get 115". You could find a shortbed 88-98 C1500 and use everything, engine, trans, wiring. If you can't weld, buy a bolt in notch for the rear. You'll be able to slide it forward to allow for the 115" you need.

[Zapisocki]

Vin plate

9 for 1959
3803 for the model
6 for the number of cylinders
00159 it was the 159th truck made

for a while there I was very excited I thought it was the 1st truck of 1959 but that's not the case

[Zapisocki]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

I put a 1988 longbed single cab C1500 frame under my 59. I had to shorten up the rear to get 115". You could find a shortbed 88-98 C1500 and use everything, engine, trans, wiring. If you can't weld, buy a bolt in notch for the rear. You'll be able to slide it forward to allow for the 115" you need.

I keep reading that the frame is exposed under the cab when you do this, is it true? I don't really want to channel the cab, but I don't mind raising the box floor.

Did you lower it at all?

Do you have any links to pictures?

Thanks Sarge!

[Brendan in the "Fort]

Maybe the rear leaf spring picture will shed some light... No hoist, we are Ukrainian so we didn't buy luxury items like that..

LOL

The previous owners name was very slavkic. Stotscki ?

But I am Romaininan /Irish Very confused!!

Here is my VIN

[Kim57]

Sounds like a cool build.
Be sure and post lots of pics.
Kim

[mechanixman]

(in case anyone was still wondering)
3800 is a 1 ton
The 4000's stood for the 1.5 tons,
and the 6000's stood for 2 ton trucks.

It may be hard to see from the pictures, but my frame is the same as yours.
Those leaf springs are just the overload springs they used on 1 tons. I'm not sure about 1.5 tons, but I know the 2 ton springs are larger still.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Zapisocki

I keep reading that the frame is exposed under the cab when you do this, is it true? I don't really want to channel the cab, but I don't mind raising the box floor.

Did you lower it at all?

Do you have any links to pictures?

Thanks Sarge!

If you want it low to the ground you are correct, that isn't going to work for what you want.
The car frame will get it down in the dirt but allow you to have a great ride and handling.

Sometimes you have to read between the lines on here and when someone suggest to do it like they did hunt down their build thread or photos of their truck to make sure you are on the same page that they are on. We have a lot of different philosophies on how trucks should be set up and what proper ride height is. As for myself I like to run right at the scrub line or slightly below.

[Zapisocki]

Thanks Nick, and thanks Mr. 48,

I read Sarge's build thread, it seems to be going well for him but after some more research I am leaning towards the caprice. The nice thing about the truck swap is Sarge's thread is very complete. I need to find a caprice build.

What a great site, tons of usefull information.... Almost too much to make a deciscion.

Ron

[dubie]

I know the guy over at EZ Chassis Swap used to sell a kit to mount a task force body on a Caprice frame, but that option is no longer available on their website. They used to have a picture of one that was a complete swap on there too. I'm thinking of doing to same thing for the wife's 58 GMC build, going to the wrecker and buying a Caprice and stripping it. You get the closed ratio steering, power disc brakes, power steering, all in one. Mind you, it's always a lot of fabrication and messing around when you swap chassis's but that's what hot rodding is all about isn't it?

[mr48chev]

A lot of fabrication yes, but it produces a low to the ground truck with full suspension and a good ride for little money out of pocket.

Scrap or resale value for the truck's original frame and axles will probably pay for the Caprice or at least pay for part of the build. I have even thought about using the frame out from under my 1-1/2 ton as the basis for a fixture to redo frames for other trucks and hot rods on.