First time posting on the forum but I have been a long time reader. I just finished my grandpas/dads chopped 55 F100 build that had the 50's custom look with some modern touches. The project really gave me a p***ion for traditional customs. I recently acquired a few 38-47 Ford COE cabs on a trade. I painted a fourth COE for the owner and he gave me these three cabs as a partial payment. I plan to build a fairly wild (traditional) custom with a mid-engine flathead V8. It will be very low to the ground and very short wheel base. I have started with a custom fab'd grille and am currently finishing up a non-traditional chop. I plan to fab the frame and bed from scratch. I will use a dropped solid front axle and thinking about a Banjo rear end. What it looked like when I got it Rolling 3/4" square tubing on a roller I built a couple or years ago. Half the tubes one night after work Bottom bar I fab'd to bolt each of the tubes to. It is mounted at a downward angle so the center bar protrudes out from the truck the furthest and is the lowest to the ground. Grille in truck Before and after chop shots Pulling flathead out of frame I have pulled the motor apart and the bottom end looked very good and the top end had a healthy ring ledge but I has never been bored.
I know we cant all be perfect but if you stay tuned to the build there might still be hope for you I wish I had a surplus of parts, if I had an extra door I would offer it up. One of the cabs came missing the drivers door. One of the p***enger fenders is well beyond my capabilities and the other one would be a chore to say the least. I figured I would watch for a door off a std 38 ford truck (I ***ume they are the same except the lower section) and modify but those doors are not much easier to find. I did make a little progress over the weekend even though the in-laws came to visit. Finished welding up the doors. Had to banana peel the back corner of the doors inside and out Made a piece to lengthen the top ~1/4" Welded up
Duke 55, the cab over is looking great. Nice work. I see you really think things out. The work on the doors looks great. I have to admit that these cab overs are truly *****in when customized right. When I looked at the pic of the grill you started making I got excited as I thought the curved end was going to end up being installed as a water fall grill splashing out from under the hood. Not a pick at what you built because it looks too cool. Your workmanship is way beyond mine for sure. Don't make it too short,, set that baby up with a 5th wheel , that would be cool. I'm looking forward to my next trip to SLC to check it out. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The plan for this COE is not to be a puller but a cruiser with a mid-Flathead. Odds are good that the next COE I will do will be a crewcab diesel puller. But for now I am set on a traditional custom cruiser unlike any I have seen. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Its going to be a very cool truck for sure. I'm looking forward to my next trip to SLC for sure. Probably Christmas. If I had more room I would be looking for a late 30's early 40's Diamond T or Reo and drop a ***mins in.
For anyone interested in following, I moved the thread to the Garage Journal http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4539307