VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1961 Chevy Apache assistance

I have a 1961 Chevy Apache truck that I am looking at doing some upgrades or fixes to. I am a jack of all trades for just about everything but mechanics, so I am looking for maybe a nudge or some assistance. I posted here a while ago, but had to put the project on hold due to some health issues. There are some restoration videos on Youtube, but none of them go in depth on some of these items and are very generalized.

The truck runs and is in great shape, but I know some items could really get changed or make it easier.

1.) Need to add seat belts.
2.) Currently it has drum brakes and I am almost certain they are in very bad shape. Should I keep drum brakes or switch to disc?
3.) It has an oil bath. Same as above do I swap it out, and how easy is that?
4.) It is very low geared which is expected with the type of truck. I have no idea where to start or ideas? I am in 4th gear by around 25/30 mph.

I want to keep it pretty original, but what upgrades would be recommend to keep it safe and easier to drive in general? Even if its a general list or starting point anyone can give me to shoot for that would help me a ton.

Thanks in advance!!

Seat belts are a good idea particularly if you are going to drive the truck. Make sure that the bolts have either large thick washers or reinforcing plates to spread the load and insure they don't get pulled through the floor.

Drum brakes work well if properly maintained and set up. Changing to disc requires a number of modifications that can be done without increasing safety dramatically. The parts to repair the brakes are available and not too expensive.

The oil bath air cleaner is effective if properly maintained. Though it is messy maintenance is not too difficult.

The engine to road speed is dependent on the tire size and rear end ratio not the transmission. All transmissions except with overdrive are 1:1. Most Chevrolets of that age will be in high gear by 25-30 mph.

Hey Chipper,

Thanks for the details.

I figured the Drum Brakes getting changed to disc would be a pretty big task so ill keep them Drum Brakes and just get new ones.

On the gears that is good to know. I thought it was weird to be geared that high at such a low mph

Thanks!!

I think you will be very pleased with the performance of a well operating drum brake system.

I recently added seat belts to my '37 coupe. Like Chipper says, make sure you have use large diameter thicker washers or some type of plate to spread out the load.

With respect to road speed and engine speed, that is a function of the rear axle ratio and tire rolling diameter (which is not the same as tire size). I expect that your 4-speed is what I call a "real" truck transmission. By that I mean that first gear is a really low creeper gear and typically is only used when starting with a heavy load. In normal driving you only use second, third, and fourth which is a direct or 1:1 ratio. Truck engines tend to have a lot of torque so it is easy to get into 4th gear at 30 mph especially with no load on the truck.

The key is to determine what rear axle ratio your have and what rpm the engine is turning at road speed such as 60 mph. There should be some tags on the rear axle to help identify it. Post those codes and hopefully we can help you confirm that ratio.

Thanks Rusy that is exactly correct. I never use first gear as its very very low and only if I need to pull something etc. My standard start is always in 2nd gear.

Ill see if I can find the tags, but may be hard haha!