Red Barn Garage

Moving onto the engine bay, all under hood components are removed for later restoration/replacement as needed. The engine has all of its external parts and accessories removed in preparation for removing the engine and trans which I'll do after I take the entire front sheet metal clip off for easier access. Note some of the original light blue paint showing through on the firewall.

Things are not always as they appear. A previous owner hid structural rust in the door step-downs and lower hinge brackets by cutting up old road signs and using zip screws & silicone to effect the repairs. Whoever did it spent a lot of time forming them, bead rolling and polishing the aluminum backsides of the signs to make them look custom. Unfortunately they do nothing to fix the structural problems of the rust through. I also found broken hinge bolts and even a couple of hinge bolts that they welded to the pillars (ugh!). All of this will get cut out and new repair panels will be welded in place like the factory.

Part of the fun (?) of restoring old vehicles is what you find during tear down. On the Apache there were the usual dead mice, mud daubers and even a live wasp nest behind the RH headlight bucket! (Thank goodness I had some wasp spray close by). Also is the wonderful 2 year old gas that turned to varnish in the tank. If only you had smell-a-vision. Yuck!

Tear down of the 58 Apache is underway. Exterior trim & lights, all glass and most of the interior including the bench seat, gauges and controls and in-cab gas tank are removed. I've ordered a set of specialty clutch head screwdrivers and driver bits needed to remove screws for some of the remaining items. Back in the 50's Chevrolet used clutch head or "figure-eight" fasteners in certain applications that require a special bit to remove/install. In the meantime I'll start tearing down the underhood components.

Please read below and enjoy the video of the Roadrunner we restored.

Here's RBG's next project. A 1958 Chevy Apache pick-up that I'll be resto-modding for Denise Stark and her Hubby. She's a little rough right now (aren't they all at the start!). Plans include full custom paint and bodywork, complete overhaul of suspension and driveline, rebuilding of the straight 6 engine, retaining the stock "3 on the tree transmission", changing the rear-end gearing for lower RPM's at highway speeds, some interior work, new bed-wood kit and wheels & tires. Modifications will include adding a dual carb set-up and split exhaust manifolds with dual exhaust, custom paint on most of the trim, grill and bumpers, interior paint & upholstery and addition of a sound system. Overall goal is an school hot rod with a more modern, sinister look.