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when i lived in Ft. Myers, Fl. me and a few guys i worked with went to Gainesville Fl. for super chevy weekend in 1988. it was there i saw a 1955/56 chevy truck and said "I GOTTA HAVE ONE OF THOSE ONE DAY". FAST FORWARD TO 2002 (alot has happened. diaberes has left me with limited vision in my right eye and nothing in my left). i moved here to Dallas in 2002 to be with Noelle (high school sweetheart, long story). i found an add in the Dallas Morning News for a '55 chevy truck... on the 3rd visit i bought it after Noelle said "if you find you can't do it, someone will buy it from you. not to be one to give up, it turned out very well for me. I DID MOST ALL THE WORK MYSELF (purchased a built engine & transmission) but installed by me. i installed the rear diff. (1997 S-10), all the paint & body work, wiring, A/C, stereo & interior, it is still a straight axle but does have rack & pinion steering (a more recent add), it was a hand full to drive prior. the '55 got chosen to be the feature truck for DURACELL BATTERIES at super chevy in Enniss, Tx at the track (i think it was 2017) which also got me & the truck on "MENARDS SUPER CHEVY SHOW".

A basket case from Vernon Tx.- most of the truck was in the bed.

Power Windows, Power Brakes, Power Steering, Disk brakes at all four corners, Rack & Pinion steering, all Moser rearend.

Engine:
1. Original 6 cylinder ...ran bad
2. SBC ... donation by friend
3. SBC + WEIAND Supercharger
4. 434 SBC
5. 434 + 6-71 Supercharger
6. 454 (1998)
7. 454 + 8-71 Supercharger
8. 454 + 366 Similar Scrolls

Original plan ... keep all original
Engine ran bad
Tranny slipped.
Brakes would not stop/ keep up w traffic
Suspension wore out...could not keep truck in its lane.

First came across my 58 in the summer of 2004 in the north end of Fort Worth in a city called Sansom Park. The owner had it parked with a for sale on the front yard. In 2006 the 58 was still for sale and I had a little extra cash so I decided to go ahead with the purchase. I've been working over the years on it and looking forward to seeing it fully restored. I called her Blues because over the years the previous owner painted her different shades of blue. I also called her Blues because I have nostalgic memories from second series 55, 3100, truck a close family member had. His was yellow and it had a crate 327 with a 5 speed transmission.

I purchased the truck in Florida in 2014 for a few hundred bucks. It was a total rust bucket. As I started cleaning up the body the more I realized I made a bad purchase. I continued the pursuit of building the truck and sourcing parts, the plan was for a budget minded cruiser.

The truck was torn down to the frame and it was sent out for blasting. Frame was then converted to a Jag IFS and painted. A better cab was sourced for the build. LS engine and 4L60E was swapped in and hooked up. About the time the mechanicals were complete an entire truck showed up on FB Marketplace that had the perfect patina.

The two bodies were swapped from frame to frame at the shop I work at where there is access to lifts. The swap was completed in one weekend by myself. The old rusty body and old rusty frame were then sold and progress continued on the build. About a year after the body swap the truck was on the road and completed a hot rod power tour of 3200 miles in a week.

Returning from the power tour the 4L60E transmission failed, reverse went out in it. Phase 2 of the build then commenced A new T-56 Tremec Magnum with an SFI bellhousing with twin-disc clutch was installed. Swapped in an Explorer 8.8 posi rear axle. Lifted the vehicle off the ground with new springs in the front and taller shackles for the rear. Also during this refresh the windshield brow was cut out and rebuilt due to excessive rust. Tilt column was installed as well. Lastly small wheel tubs were cut out in the back in preparation for new wheels. 20x8's in the front and 20x10's in the rear. The wheels are Rocket Racing Attacks

was purchased for $1000.00 as a parts truck. Come to find out it was LS swapped already. Drove it home with no breaks. took a year to get it running ok. the front suspension was wore out. in the process of repairing that the brake system went out again. So i decided to swap the chassis. Placed a 86 Suburban frame under the body and reinstalled my power train and body on top of that. with the help from EasyChassisSwap.com. Now i am off the ground and rolling again.

I located her in Sierra Vista, Arizona a few miles from the Mexican border. She had spent the past several years towing her owner's fishing boat around. She was delivered to my home in Texas sporting a tired chevy 350 engine with a dull exterior. There was a "granny tranny" three speed on the floor with a "fireman's hand brake" to compliment her 4.11 gears. Going 65 mph announced she was designed for hard work! Her C-20 X-frame was from another era of American engineering.
I had owned numerous number matching classics that I always kept true to their factory settings. This Apache screamed she was a blank canvas! A lil Turtle Wax and some elbow grease brought the paint back to life. She now struts & rumbles with a 5.3 LS, Stage 4 cam, 3200 torque converter, 3.73 gears, Lokar 6 speed automatic on the floor, 18"x10" rear wheels matched with 18"x 8" on the front, custom headers and dual side exhaust. Just fun ride we love!

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