The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1959 Apache 31 Build - "Ol Blue, The Family Truckster"

My Chevy Apache 31 shortbed stepside was born in Comanche, Texas in 1959. My grandmother Ruby Nelson bought it brand new and used it as a light-duty farm truck, mostly for delivering chickens and chicken eggs around the De Leon area. My grandfather Coy Nelson drove it around also (when grandma would let him). In 1966, my grandparents gave the truck to my dad, Bob Nelson. He used it as a daily driver for years.....I remember him picking me up from school in it throughout most of my elementary school days. It was a special treat to ride home in the back!!! Ol Blue went into semi-retirement around 2005 and did a great deal of sitting around, just begging to take a jog around the neighborhood. Except for the once-a-month engine startup, Ol Blue didn't see much action during this time. In 2010 Dad turned Ol Blue over to me, and it sat in my driveway most of the time. Beginning in 2014 I started to get serious about returning Ol Blue to its glory days, and thus it began:
4/24/10 - Replaced headlight relay switch and headlights
5/15/10 - Replaced heater core
5/22/10 - Replaced radio, added speakers
7/17/10 - Replaced rotor, points, cleaned rocker arms, adjusted valves
1/24/14 - 1/29/14 - New battery, points, plugs, set timing, new clutch, reset plug wires, new fuel filter, new radiator cap
1/30/14 - 4 new tires, Hankook Dynapro HT RH12 - P235/75R15XL 108T OWL
2/6/14 – Windshield and back window replaced
3/3/14 - New side/vent glass on both sides
3/6/14 - Replaced gas tank, added sending unit, replaced temp gauge, replaced choke and throttle knobs, replaced fuel pump, rebuilt carb, replaced side windows, valve job, cleaned oil obstruction in block
3/31/14 - Replaced leaking seal, lubed speedometer cable, adjusted gas gauge

Next thing up is a makeover, both inside and outside. The interior will be repainted a two-tone, Comanche Gold Metallic and Charcoal Grey. The seat will be redone, new visors, mirrors, lights. All the pedals will get new rubber as well as the floor. The exterior will be painted the original Tartan Turquoise. It will get a new oak wood bed with polished steel separators. This part of the project will start around the end of April....can't wait!!!!

Left Side

Back Left

Back

Back right

Right Side

Front

Bed

Very nice, your Apache looks to be in great shape. Keep us posted on your progress.

John

Thanks John....I will.....taking it to get painted in a week or so.....will be a couple of months before I get it back.


Robert

On Friday I drove Ol Blue 80 miles to San Angelo, TX where he will get an exterior and interior paint job, seat cover, new wood bed, and chrome bumpers/grill. Very excited!!!! Should take 2 months or so

Restore is going slowly but surely. He has most of the body sanded down and primed. Bed is removed and gutted. He is working on the interior right now. Seat is out, getting it upholstered next week.

Hi!

That's a very nice truck you got there. My father was surfing the internet when he found this page and your truck. I'm his son and he asked me to join this site so that we could contact you. We live in Sweden and we own a similar truck that you do, a yellow Apache 1959. It would be nice if you could send us some more pictures of your truck and ofcours you'll get some pictures of ours. Maybe you can contact us by email; [email protected]?

It would be fun to get to know you!

John and Anders - Sweden

Here are the pics of the restore:

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Well, after 6 months, this project hit a snag. I had taken it to a restorer in a town about 90 miles away....he had said 2-3 months. After 6 months, all he has done is sanding and filling on the front and the cab. He also sprayed primer. I told him about my concerns about 2 weeks ago (mid October). He got really mad, then got really trashy. We had about 25 email exchanges in the last 2 weeks. He said I was thick, called me stupid several times, and then told me to come get my f**** truck. He also called me a liar and denied that he said 2-3 months, that is until I found the email he sent me saying the same thing. He also clearly said he would pay for paint and materials, then ended up charging me for it, holding my truck hostage. Then he threatened to jack the price estimates up. I ended up having to call a couple of lawyers for advice, the Sheriffs Dept, and the JP. I made arrangements and picked it up yesterday. It is now with another restorer in a town about 40 miles away. They pointed out all the flaws in this jokers "work"......his ego is MUCH larger than his "talent". Anyway, hopefully we are on the right path now.

It's never good to hear when someone has trouble with a repair shop. Hopefully you get much better results with the new guy.

Good luck, and keep us informed.

John

Thanks John! Yeah, it was a nightmare dealing with that first guy. The new guys are a lot better!