I am using the brake pedal, but modified. It cleared my LS7/LS9 exhaust manifolds. Moving over a bit and shortening the stroke. We'll see. If I had headers I could see a real problem developing.
Do you have pics?

No pics but it is close to where the exhaust is on my LS mock-up block. Putting the cab back on the frame tomorrow to finalize the firewall mods. I have some Z28 LS7 manifolds. Thanks for the idea, I will test fit them tomorrow.

Don

Here is where the brake pedal came from Progressive. Clears the exhaust manifold, but moves it over where the column is. Hmm. I am using a Wizard Fabrication Steer Clear and have my column way up high on the inside of the cab because of my 59 Impala dash, so this does not cause a problem for me. I am still changing the pedal so it is closer to the factory location. I mounted my truck low on the frame. I moved my mounts on the frame lower. It's still rubber mounted and clears everything by about 1/2"

Don: Where does your brake pedal want to hit the firewall?

Todd

Thanks for the pics. I think your pedal is 2-3 inches further over than mine.

Don

Here we go. Bob(Progressive) sent me some matching 2"x6" frame rail so I could extend the chassis. Today we built the inner sleeves to make sure that the extension will probably be the strongest part of the frame. Tomorrow we should have this completed, then torque tube comes out to get lengthened at Gamel Street Rods.

Frame extended, Torque tube off to Gamel Street Rods. So I though we would tackle the firewall. We went a little tighter on the driver side for gas pedal room...

Some more updates today. Still have metal work to do on firewall, but we are getting it things closer. Waiting for the torque tube to make it's way back from Gamel to make sure the engine is in the exact spot before finishing firewall.

Any updates?

Don

Sorry for the hiatis...
Finally back on things. Chassis was off a little bit so we had to take the cab mounts off the pass side and zero in the cab and front end assembled before welding back on the mounts.
Well, cab mounts and the core support mounts are tacked on too. Everything is lining up nice now and centered...
Here are current pics.

Looking good. I'd love to do an old truck with a vette swap one of these days.

Nice build !

Here are some updates. Slowly coming together. I bought the corvette wheels and wanted to stick with the Corvette Z06 factory wheel size and offset. I have to split the rear fenders and add about 1-3/8".
Here is the Mar-K bed coming together. raising the floor about 4-1/4" too.

More progress today:

Looking good. I want to build a C10 like it someday with a lot of carbon to match my Camaro.

I have built a few Corvettes over the years and love the cove(bullet) on the side. I want to keep this truck 50's with the 59 Impala dash and decided to see what the Corvette cove would look like on the side.
I didn't like it so I thought I would see what it looked like with just the Spears behind the front tire and the same color as the body. I like it.
I changed my mind on the color combo too...
Thoughts?

Me personally, I like it with just the spears on the side without the "cove." I never knew that was called a "cove" until now. :goofy::goofy:

I like the spears. I'm not sure I like the recess area they're in. It looks stuck on and doesn't flow. Might try having four spears more evenly spaced along the fender line with the original flat fender.

Here we go. Getting busy on this project again. Bed mounted and fenders widened. Step is a little work. Also, Got my hands on a 51-52 Cadillac front bumper. Going to work that in.

Fantastic work. I really dig this build. Glad you're making progress on it. Good luck!

Doesn't stick out too much. Here is a pic looking back with the rear wheel wells just peeking out.

Getting bed floor situated. Need a 4" floor lift and decided to have a tilt up floor.
I had my old tailgate and thought the script would look good on the back of the floor lift.

Nice little touch with the Chevy script on the bed floor when you let the tailgate down. I like it...

Agreed. The script is a great idea. What's the purpose behind a tilt up floor? Having storage underneath?

I wanted a tilt up bed floor to access the transmission(it's in the rear). Also, I need to remove the top shock mount to take the rear tires off. I might as well have the fuel fill under the bed(still undecided). But the battery will be under the tilt bed for sure. All in all, just for easy access to everything. It does make changing the tire cake.

Pretty nice built

I'm setting the floor up on my patina 64swb in a similar fashion (center wood between the tubs will be hinged). Easier access to the exhaust, batt, shock mounts, gas tank components, & differential if needed.
I know on mine, rear tire changes are still going to be a fuss....

Bed floor coming together.

Looks great.

Don

Tilt bed framing done and working. I have several rubber adjusters in several places that keep all squeeks away.

Nice work on the bed! Will you keep it as a wood bed?

Yep. Working on the wood next. Mar-K has nice stainless strips that hide the hardware between the boards.

Do you mind confirming what your source was for the pivoting hinges?

Keep the updates coming, I'm loving this build and all the attention to detail in this.

ScotI: The hinges are trunk hinges off a 2010-2015 Camaro. I tried Bilt-Rite scissor hinges from Sachse Rod Shop and then some Honda hinges I heard about, but the Camaro hinges were the ticket. Much beefier than the other hinges I tried and the factory gas shocks(on the hinges) help a lot. They are 90lbs gas assist from the factory. I just bought 186 lbs gas assist to replace them. Hoping to avoid a long intrusive gas assist shock. If it lifts with a finger with the new shocks, I may just use a prop rod to hold it partway open for showing off or filling gas. I like lifting the bed floor all the way up to work on the truck(makes things very accessible).

Yes sir.... I'm very familiar w/the Sachse Rod Shop hinges. I've been a friend of that family since the 80's. Actually used to swap out labor for labor w/them in the 90's.

Their hinges (while nice) allow too much side shift. I've been mocking mine up w/some gate hinges from Lowes ( :lol: ) to see how I want to accomplish things. Seeing your set-up had me thinking of pirating some under-hood items but all I've looked @ so far was G-body stuff (another weakness of mine).

Funny, my last build was an LSA with 56mm twins 86 Grand National. Love Gbodys!

Envious of a drivetrain in that realm....

My stuff is more blue-collar budget so sbc 406/200-4r; GN 3.42 8.5; 600# coils; Ridetech adj shocks; tall lower/upper BJ's w/SPC upper arms/Speed-Tech lowers; 1Le front 36mm bar; Currie-Trac rear C4L bars in a 50k mile survivor Malibu. I'm engineering/building taller height front tubs on a jig specifically for that 'Bu which is where the hinges came into mind. I had to research gas struts so I could eliminate the coiled-spring hinge set-up & that's when I learned GN's & others came factory w/the gas struts (I learn something new every day regarding g-bodys!).

Anyway, your Apache is turning out extremely nice.

tdishon, love it! classic truck with a brutal engine!

Bed floor dialed in and done. Ready for wood. Added 60lb gas struts to lift and keep from lifting all the way up. Quick disconnects make lifting all the way up easy. I kept the gas helpers on the hinge, they keep it straight up when I remove the long struts. I added in tunnel clearance on crossmember for the torque tube(drive shaft).

Really nice!! Who's chassis is that you're using?