The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Project Journals 1959 Chevy Apache 1/2 ton Panel Truck

Looks great!

thanks! I found it..I fixed it....I'm driving

Pictures my friend - pictures please!!!

probably should as the first 2 1/2 pages of the journal are not for this truck. How I got it. no wires
no engine no trany no brakes no cluster no proper tools no skill....no nothing except a pile of junk. Probably cost me my marriage my livelihood
my health, but hey. I`m still kicking. It`ll out live me.
thanks Dan .

BD - It's come a long way, as have your skills. Enjoy the truck.

thanks, long way in a short time. This was June 1st 2025

some left over floorboards for the interior.
helped with the door closing and not sounding like a tank

You guys may have done this but I can show what I do with my clutches to get more
resistant and tighter feel. I cut off the end of a spring shackle and weld to the outside of the clutch
arm joint. Hole is already there in the frame for the spring. I am using 2 clutch springs.

just an update. I have it now like the other 58 with a OEM clutch spring.

Hunting season is happening. 1958 Step is parked. Still driving this. 25-30mph gust coming off some of
these big fields is enough to move me around some. 1/2 ton panel.
Got around to getting the right color front turn signal lenses.

I was lucky to find that original spacer that brings the wiper switch knob (top left)
in flush with the cig lighter and choke cable knob.

Just the simplicity of the dash. L to R. Lights -Voltmeter-IGN-Wiper 2 speed -Lighter-Choke-Heater 3 speed.
Radio On/Off. L/R
Plenty of leg room. Both seats have lap belts. Dodge Interceptor center console.

All thats given way to the pursuit...and football

Satin paint with my truck. Got a good buck about a month ago. Some very cold weather has everything on hold.
Im not laying out there on that cold concrete. I did buy some sta-bil and stater fluid for later.

First time out 2026. Roads are dry and most of the salt is blown off. Highs soon in the 50`s.

Looks great, nice to see you taking advantage of our February spring weather.

thanks, I get alot waves around. No one else driving any old vehicles around this time of year.
I forget sometimes I'm in one. All I know is I can fix whatever goes wrong here.
Taking my 2018 GMC into the dealership for a check engine light is WAY too much money. Making it easier to diagnosis repair makes it more expensive for the owner.
I`m contemplating getting another set of wheels with snow/mud tires for the rear and drive this all year.

Nice looking panel. I've always liked those, used to have a '48 A.D. 1 ton back in the mid seventies. Had lots of fun with it. I know what you mean about all the attention that's coming your way with the OLD truck. My '53 3600 is my everyday driver. Can't go anywhere without generating a conversation or getting lots of thumbs up going down the road!

Thats right! My two are the 1/2 ton economy 6 lug. I don`t see many around.
The 58/59 TF have that intimidating look front on to me. Anything 4 headlamps I like.

So this morning I go to fire it up and it tried and then stopped. It wasnt trying to start. Spin over and all.
But nothing. Hmmm.. is it getting enough gas? Did the fuel pump fail? Carb. in need of attention?
Ignition module failed? (HEI) Those thoughts were immediate.
Its been 4 years now I`ve been driving he truck and I had an issue with the wiring connector to the DIST housing from the
IGN switch from the start. I had taped it tight to the DIST. Well, thats not a good fix and the tape in the cold finally failed and that connector
slipped far away enough for there to be no contact at the DIST.
The catch on the wire connector needs to be shorter so the plastic will catch on the plastic nub on the DIST housing.
Simple enough! I`ll look for a different connector with a shorter catch. I taped it back up w/ new gorilla tape for now....
or the next 4 years. Or leave it that way and if I park it somewhere, just pull that connector down 1/8 inch . It won`t start.
Thats a idea for a kill keyed switch with out losing power to the radio.

Putting together some pics I took as I went. The brakes were redone 4 years ago. All the way.
Master, wheel, lines.

The longest brake shoe should always be on the rear side of the drum toward the back of the vehicle. If yours are reversed, go back in and switch them.

replaced the output shaft seal on the M-20. Piece of cake.

Today was cool in the fact I repaired the inside door latch linkage.
Broken spring. I had another old linkage here and took them both apart and repaired/replaced. A new one is about $36.