Hello, My name is Mark and im 19 yrs old. I have built three previouse classic cars but they were not for me (another story), But i have finally bought my own truck. Its a 1961 chevy apache 10 pickup. I have had it for three months now, already done a frame off resto, rebuild the original high torque 235 and painted it. It has been all reassembly and i have driving it. Now my problem is that it has a 63 hood, i want the original oval 61 hood. Any one have one for sale?, Also i would love to lower my truck but the front has torsion bars, i have no idea how to do that. Any suggestions? Also i have a 350 i want to put in it with a 700r4 trans, what do i need to drop that in? and my final question i heard you can use a 97 camaro's brake system (4 disc brakes) and put it on my truck, is this true and how do i do it? Thank you for reading this really long message and any help is appreciated.
RE: I'm New here and with these tru several companies sell 2.5" dropspindles for your truck that have built in disc brake brackets.
RE: I'm New here and with these tru Mark, The original hoods are extremly difficult to come by, but keep an eye on E-Bay, one turns up there every now and then. Fiberglass repops are available, but cost as much as what you probably paid for the whole truck. Lowering the front suspension, is actually easier/cheaper on the torsion bar trucks,(60-62) than those with coils, as there are no parts to buy, or replace. It is a function of tightening the large nuts on the crossmember under the tranny that the rear of the torsion bars attach to. Remember that your torsion bar chassis(60-62) does NOT swap very many front end parts with the later 63 and up coil spring trucks, so be careful about which spindles you buy. Be prepared for a little shock if you need to replace ball joints as well. Good luck with it. Tony
RE: Front end swap Hello, Just wanted to add one thing to the list of choices you have with the front suspension. Unless you are interrested in keeping the truck stock, you can swap the whole front suspension out of a 71 or 72 chevy 1/2 ton. You'll get disc brakes, coil springs and five lugs instead of six along with easier to find parts. Swap out the power steerrng box and all the steering linkage while you're at it. Also, lowering kits for the coil set up is cheaper and readily available. Good luck with your truck! GOOD THINGS, BRANT.
RE: Front end swap you can turn the bolts at the end of the tosion bar to lower the truck as long as you do not let the rubber bumpers hit the suspension. but this will throw off the alingment.
RE: I'm New here and with these tru Let me know where you live. I am in the process of buying a donor truck and would not need the hood. Send me an Email at ACartwright@kc.rr.com or leave something here.
RE: I'm New here and with these tru [updated:LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-04 AT 03:21 PM (CST)]Others have commented on the hood thing, and the torson bar lowering Good advice. As for disk brakes from cars ,, on trucks ?? Don't do it ! Use truck disks on trucks. The 10 inch car rotors will not help your braking over a set of well maintained drum brakes. Using the twelve inch truck rotors will yield a 30% increase in braking. When looking at disk brak conversion kits, study their features carefully. Call the vendor and ask questions. A few use the 10 inch rotors, a few use the 12 inch but require a change in tie-rod ends. ALL will require the spindles to be changed. DVal
