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Thread: 59 3100 Big Window Shortbed Fleetside Apache

  1. #1
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    59 3100 Big Window Shortbed Fleetside Apache

    Had a friend call a month or so ago asking me to help him sell his truck. He is not much of a car guy, and it was in the family for several decades. Running when parked in the garage 10+ years ago, but not started since.
    Short story is that we found a mutually agreeable price based on it's condition and he was happy to sell it to me, as he knew I was into these old cars.
    Just like the story with finding my Nomad...I wasn't looking for another project. It landed in my lap so to speak...but I couldn't turn this one away.
    Truck is in too good of condition.

    Manufactured in the GM Los Angeles plant (Van Nuys to be exact), probably never left So Cal. Barely any rust...
    46,000 miles on the odometer. I feel fortunate to own this truck now.

    Not gonna do much with it for a year or so. Just keeping it securely locked up. Focusing on finishing the Nomad build.

    Here's the pics:
    IMG_1756.jpgIMG_1759.jpgIMG_1760.jpgIMG_1762.jpgIMG_1764.jpgIMG_1767.jpgIMG_1772.jpgIMG_1773.jpg
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  2. #2
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Very cool truck Paul. Looks like a nice project once you finish the Nomad.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  3. #3
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    It's very unmolested, so it's difficult to think about tons of mods to it.
    It doesn't have the stock 283. It has a later 327 with a 4 bbl carb. Still has the stock 3 speed column shift manual trans though.
    Straight axle in front, etc.

    And the truck will be for my wife anyhow... She like's the old column shift manual trans trucks. Personally, that don't work for me...we had that with our 9 passenger wagon, and that non syncro-mesh 1st gear was a PITA. So out it came, and in went a 200-4r 4 speed automatic. And I will for sure lose that heavy duty back bumper at some point.

    I've been all over the internet looking for pics of custom built 59's and found a few that I like the look of.

    Really like the last pic, especially the wheels and color combo.

    59 Fleetside_Aqua-White.jpg59 Fleetside_Black.jpg59 Fleetside_Blue-White.JPG59 Fleetside_TwoTone Green.jpg59 Fleetside_White-blue.jpg
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  4. #4
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    Yesterday I spent the afternoon putzing around with this truck. Pulled the carpeting out of the cab, then removed the gas tank (which straps in behind the seat). It was bone dry. Opened it up and inspected (what I could see) on the inside, and it looks pretty clean overall. So I put the high pressure hose to it for a while (on the inside) and scotchbrite scrubbed the outside, then set it in the sun to dry. it appears to be leak free.

    IMG_2947.jpg

    IMG_2951.jpg
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  5. #5
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    Then I moved into the engine compartment and removed the fuel pump, carburetor (which was stuck shut), spark plugs (none of which were gummed or fouled). The oil pan was full of oil, and I can see the radiator is full of fluid and holding. So I put several squirts of 20/50 into each spark plug hole, then put a wrench to the crank pulley and turned it over several rotations with relative ease. It turned easily...no stickyness. Might get lucky here and find this 327 engine in good shape. Won't know until I button it all back up and do a compression test.

    Fuel pump looks brand new (albeit 16 years ago when it was last put on)...

    IMG_2954.jpg

    The carb is very jammed in the closed position and I'm gonna have to do a rebuild on this Rochester 4 barrel...

    IMG_2952.jpg

    IMG_2953.jpg

    And the top of the intake manifold is pretty dirty but I'm not going to remove it at this point. Just clean it up as best as I can and put it all back together. Put a battery in it and see if the ignition system works well enough to crank it over...

    IMG_2950.jpg
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  6. #6
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    Need to change out the heater hoses and the radiator hoses too. They are dry cracked and any movement creates more cracks, so I'm just planning on them leaking. But I'll do that after I get it to the point of cranking it over and doing the compression test.
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  7. #7
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    That is a great truck, I would love to find a 55/56 in that condition.

  8. #8
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    Today i messed with the baterry and starter wiring (redid the pos and neg cables and added block to frame and block to body ground straps). Then stuck a battery i had laying around in it and cranked it. Plugs are still out but it turned over nicely via the starter. After 15 seconds of cranking the oil pressure gauge rolled up quickly. I could have pulled the distributor and spun the oil pump but i dont have the tool for that. So i fudged.

    Tomorrow im gonna do compression test if i can finish my work/job before dark.

    Slow progress.
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  9. #9
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    It runs!

    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  10. #10
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    And we now have new brakes and tires...

    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

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