58 Apache 1 ton Dually - project underway!

[58Apache]

I had a couple friends come over today and we tore into the 58 Apache 1 ton Dually and did a lot of dissasembly.

I have a 1972 3/4 ton frame I am going to transfer everything over to including the dually rear end. That will give me power steering, power disc brakes, independent front suspension and make it easier to get some parts.

I was thinking about splicing the frames but I think it's much easier to transfer over the entire rear end assembly over to the 72 frame?

[phat rat]

Why not keep your eye out for a newer dually rear? For the same reason you stated about the rest of the driveline being newer

[OldSub]

Is the '72 leaf or coils in the rear?  They came both ways.

The rear under the '72 is either an Eaton or a Dana.  If its an Eaton you might want to look at just swapping the hubs and brakes because the 1-ton has 5.14 gears and the 3/4-ton is likely to have 4.57 gears.

I'm putting a '54 GMC on a '72 1-ton dually frame, but plan to use a little later GM 14-bolt to get a little friendlier gear ratio.

[58Apache]

The 72 frame has coils so the leaf springs on the dually would be able to handle a load better if I understand it right. The 72 has an Eaton I think we figured out?

I am not too worried about going fast, but yeah I imagine the 4.57 would be a little more "freeway friendly".

The only reason I don't try to go with a newer dually rear is just budget.I am trying to work with what I have as much as possible.

[OldSub]

Those pictures are of an Eaton.  I would not be in a hurry to swap to leaf springs.  That trailing arm coil spring suspension works pretty well.

The '72 front disk are the same on both a 3/4- and 1-ton (single wheel type).  The rear brakes are much larger on the 1-ton and my one concern with staying with the 3/4-ton rear is the loss of braking power.

[phat rat]

I've found dually rears from the 80's for under $200 on Craigslist. These were the Dana 70's. OldSub as far as the trailing arm suspension around the areas of the country that use salt on the roads in the winter good trailing arms are hard to find

[OldSub]

good trailing arms are hard to find

Actually they are available aftermarket and don't seem to be real expensive.

My point was that its a good design that works well and should not be dismissed just because the OEMs don't use it anymore.

[phat rat]

good trailing arms are hard to find

Actually they are available aftermarket and don't seem to be real expensive.

My point was that its a good design that works well and should not be dismissed just because the OEMs don't use it anymore.

I agree that they are a good design. I was forgetting that they were available new although I can't remember how much.

[58Apache]

I've found dually rears from the 80's for under $200 on Craigslist. These were the Dana 70's. OldSub as far as the trailing arm suspension around the areas of the country that use salt on the roads in the winter good trailing arms are hard to find

Didn't they get narrower after 1972?

[phat rat]

I've found dually rears from the 80's for under $200 on Craigslist. These were the Dana 70's. OldSub as far as the trailing arm suspension around the areas of the country that use salt on the roads in the winter good trailing arms are hard to find

Didn't they get narrower after 1972?

I don't know. Is there a junkyard near you that might have one you can measure?

[enjenjo]

I've found dually rears from the 80's for under $200 on Craigslist. These were the Dana 70's. OldSub as far as the trailing arm suspension around the areas of the country that use salt on the roads in the winter good trailing arms are hard to find

Didn't they get narrower after 1972?

It depends. Dually pickup rears actually got wider. Ford and Dodge dually rears were narrower than GM.

[OldSub]

Pickup dually rears can be very wide.  Look for a cab and chassis dually to find a narrower rear.

[348tripower]

I love them W motors!!!!!!!!!

[junkyardjeff]

Back in 81 I bought a 67 C20 with bad arms and they could still be bought from the dealer for about 70 dollars each,I was cheap and bought a good set of used arms for about 40 dollars then changed it to leaf springs 3 years later.

[58Apache]

I love them W motors!!!!!!!!!

Me too!  I think this one is in for a rebuild though...not looking forward to the machine shop bill.