The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Apache questions.

I am looking at buying two 1958 Apache pickups. One is an original V-8, shortbed stepside , with big back window. The other is a shortbed with the fleet side bed. I want to put the fleetside bed on the big back window truck. That would give me a fleetside, big window truck with the original 283 in it.

Now my question, does the tag on the truck say what bed it ccame with? I don't think there is a difference in switching the beds, but figured I better ask before I buy and make the change over?

Thanks

whatever you would like to do is fine by me....you only have to answer to yourself (and your Wife!)

Well the 1/2T short Step was model 3104 and the Fleet was 3134. If the "paint code" tag does not have those numbers or they do not appear anywhere on truck or Title, I think it would be hard to tell. Supposedly the fleets came out about mid year 58 to replace the discontinued Cameo, which means that Fleetside was only made for 1.5 years , you would have a pretty rare truck worth some coins. (albeit a clone)

I am going to look at the big back window truck today and the fleetside on Saturday morning. I will see what seems to be the best way to go after getting them. The stepside does not have the spare tire carrier on the bed.

I went over and looked at the 58 Apache truck today and I really liked what I saw............except the sunroof that had rotted out the interior edge of the roof. Here are a couple pictures of the truck and the damage. How hard would it be to repair this section of the truck? Are parts available, or do I need to find a donor truck top with a big back window? A little rust in the fenders and some scale on the lower cab corners. The bed was in great shape with spare tire carrier still there. The V-8 is still in the car, but not running. He wants $4000 for the truck.

What do you think about the price with the roof damage? Thanks

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Links no good, make sure you test. Also read short bus for posting links. Use the link from photobucket that is for forums.

That's weird, I used the photobucke links? I will try again. Thanks

The Photobucket link for forums does not work with our software. Use the 'direct' link.

Looks like a big job to take care of rusted roof. I'm sure it can be done, just going to be $$$.

He is pretty set at $4000 and I just don't know if it's worth that with the rust issues. I would buy it in a second if it was only the sunroof without the rust.

Do they make the interior parts for the roof?

You can fix anything, you can put on a new donor roof. But that is too much rust for me and there are plenty of trucks to put a fleet bed onto. Definitely NOT worth $4000 from what I see. There are articles in mags of people putting in big window kits or donor big windows. That truck is almost a parts truck in my estimation. But I'm out west with a different perspective.

If he wanted half that price it would get my interest, but I've never tried to buy a big back window 58, so I don't know the prices or how rare they are. Around here that truck isn't worth that price.

I don't think the roof rust is a big issue, I would want to swap the roof cap anyways to remove the sunroof. However, you could always try and find a BBW parts cab to swap the back window from into the fleetside, if it's in better shape.

Sadly the truck as a whole is pretty decent, a little rust here and there, but really not horrible. The bed is in great shape as are the floors and rockers.

I think I side with Bartamos, on this one. Both trucks for 4 maybe... but the inner panel rust of the cab looks like a pain to work with. And how bad is the bondo under the paint? Just cause you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there hiding more unpleasantries.
I'd be sure about the rest as far as rust goes and offer 1/2 of what he's asking. You're not buying 'what could be' but What Is.
No running motor makes it a boat anchor till proven different in my book.

All that said you don't see many 58's up for sale compared to other years for some reason. Were they all chopped into 350/350 hot rods or something?

Just keep it mind , it sure isn't going anywhere. Get your money ready and when you find the right one with a CLEAR TITLE, grab it. In my opinion the Tri-5 years, 55, 56, 57 are way cooler and more desirable generally, like the cars are. The Fleetside availability in 58-59 is what makes them neat. If you are going to do a Barrett-Jackson truck, you would want to do a BBW. But if you have to build one by cutting and welding for a driver, it's just because you want to....not for any big profit. Only a few guys "have to have" a BBW. Short bed anything is more desirable in most markets. Any short bed Fleetside 58-72 is money, big window or not, motor or not, running or not. There are no short bed 3/4T. Original 4X4 is another order of magnitude.

I am looking at the fleetside tomorrow morning. He is asking $3500 for it, but it's on a newer frame of some type.

Frame swap, I would be cautious.

I don't even want to discuss it for fear from the frame swap lobby. But I will say this...OH NO!

LOL I don't know yet, I will find out tomorrow. I'm kind of a stock guy when it comes to old vehicles. I don't mind putting stuff like disc brakes and the like, but I like to keep them mostly stock.

Don't get me wrong, I think people should do what they want with their vehicles!

Yeah like that truck your looking at, did what he wanted to. It is not worth more than a parts truck.
That cab is a mess and likely not worth the effort to fix. He is way overpriced, 500 is too much unless the frame and powertrain parts are good.
As far as clear title, whats that? I know of a truck they did a messed up title on because the inspector didn't understand the reason the number in the cab does not completely match the one on the frame on a late TF.

If you are considering repairing the roof in that truck get a copy of the new Classic Truck magazine. They have a article about fixing a rusted out roof on an older truck.

I'm leaning away from buying the rusted one at this point, but thanks for the info on the magazine.

Here are some pictures of the fleetside I looked at today. It sites on a 76 short wide bed frame. The body is in OK shape, but the frame needs shortened about 3" and the engine and tranny does not come with it at $3700. I think I struck out again.

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Keep looking, you'll find something.

"There is ALWAYS another". My Dad told me that and it has ALWAYS been true no matter what the subject is. It's good you are being rational about it. Believe me we have all bought trucks that were a nightmare from hell. Avoid clones, swaps, rust and no title. I have bought two to make one. Both were orig. The left-overs will either be spares of hard to find parts or saleable to recoup. Look in Ca. also.

I would look for a rust free cab. Remember that if there is that much rust then think how thin the metal must be that hasn't rusted through. I you can find a big window then that's great but any rust free cab would be much better than a rusted one. It's not worth fixing.

I passed on the trusted out big window truck. Just not worth it.

I will keep looking and hopefully find one I like. As bartamos said, there is always another one out there..

You made a good choice not to buy. I noticed on the '58 Step BBW... the emblems. I have a orig V8 '59. If I'm not mistaken the hood emblem is not from a V8 as there should be a 'V' embedded stretching outside the Bowtie on both sides, and the side emblems look like '59 vintage. For future reference my vin# also starts with a 'V' and have read this distinguishes the original V8 in the vin.

Yep, hd4unm is right. Those front and side emblems are from a '59 6-cylinder, not a '58 V8. I would be interested to know what the VIN says it is. I suppose it could be a '58 with a '59 front clip on it, but then you have to wonder why it needed a new front clip, collision? Anyway, it sounds like you are going to pass on it. I would too. That is some nasty rust in a very bad place to repair.

Personally, I like the looks of the 59-59 Chevy trucks better than the 55-56-57s. But then again, I've always loved the look of a '58 Impala over a '57 Belair.
I do LOVE the look of a '57 GMC though. I think it's one of the best looking front ends to ever grace a pickup.

Good luck with your search!

One more thing, I have both a big back window truck and a small back window truck. I think the big back window cabs look best and they bring a few more dollars but truthfully, I prefer driving the SBW truck. I feel like I'm in a gold fish bowl in the BBW. Not only that but when the sun beats down through that big window, it'll cook ya!