COE So... I accidentally bought a cabover yesterday.

The advantage with being registered as a 1941 is that the safety and emissions requirements are also for a 1941. If I used the 2002 chassis VIN, I'd be subjected to 2002 standards. In most areas, I'd probably be pretty close to passing since I have cats, shoulder belts, etc but when they plug in OBDII to my 2002 DodgeFord and find a 1999 Chevy Corvette, that might take some 'splainin. There are funny rules about "late model" motor swaps, but I don't know the details as I've only done swaps into pre-OBDII vehicles.

Obviously, this is all NH. YMMV.

 

BTW: One guy here thought there might be serial numbers on the glove box door and I see you actually have yours.

 

Do you have the Ford COE****le ? If so use the part of the framewith the # welded into your new frame of choice . Mid 70s up to somewhere in the 80s 3/4&1 ton frames work great and you can spring them the way you want .

 

Wet- Here in the Wild West, we don't have emissions or safety inspections so it's kinda whatever. The chassis is there and when I get the truck I'll look in the glovebox for sure. If I can do it as a '41 it'll be better.
Joy- It's currently a free agent, but if needed I will go the towyard route to get a paper. Problem is if I do that, then it'll get inspected before it can come back on the road.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.

At this time, I'm leaning to the 86 3/4 van. Down and dirty I'll move the 351 behind the cab and be running. Longer term, I'll be looking for an LS like Wetskier- not nessasarily corvette but I'd like the efficient/reliablilty factor and not messing with points and carbs is good for a working rig. Van has 3.54 rear gears and should be able to trundle along without winding out, plus an od would be a nifty bonus. Another week and a half and I'll pick it up and not have to guess about so many things..

 

There's an e 350 chassis under my 54 project. I zd the frame ( more like stacked the back half on top of the front half) and it seems to work real well. Problem is I got sidetracked with my first truck an F 100 I've been keeping for 30 years. I hope to finish that soon ( in years) so I can get back to the coe Pickup.

 

Lowcoe - I did a search and found your 54. Very cool, nice job. Eager to see it make it's way to the top of the pile. And thanks for the E-van chassis pics, looks pretty straight so should be good for cutting to length.

 

I have a 41 Ford coe I will eventually get to. I also have a minty 73-87 GM chassis that I was going to use but the steering is the biggest hurdle on a coe. The plan after looking at units in wrecking yards is a late '90's GM van chassis with a straight up steering box. The chassis "might" need to be narrowed a couple inches but that's a breeze compared to what I've seen guys go through to get steering to work.

 

Gkent- word is that Gm van don’t have a chassis, but are unibody style construction. I see others say the chassis you have + van steering box is the way to go.

 

I remember several people talking about fiberglass grills that'll fit, the oval 39/40? style instead of the semi jailbar style-- but I don't see them anywhere for sale. Anyone know if they're still available?
I looked at wescott, the heading says "grill, hood, fenders and running board" but only lists fender, running board and under grill apron. The verticle grille is growing on me, but I've always liked the barrel nose Fords and last year sold my 39 pickup. If they're around I'd probably have both and be able to switch.

 

fourspeed, A fellow here in S. Alberta, Lethbridge I believe, has a mold for a 39 grille; he used to make them. He offered to sell it to me a couple of years ago (I have experience as a former fiberglass tech). I will search through some binders to see if I kept his number, but if I do not get back to you try posting a query on the Kijiji Classic Car Alberta and also specifically Lethbridge sites. He may have sold it to someone else. If you do go this route and contact him and make an agreement feel free to contact me and I will help with viewing and shipping as best I can.

And if it pops into my head, he had a unique knickname, I'll talk to some local car clubs to see if they know him.

Not much, but a little help?

 

Very cool, appreciate your help. Greg


Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.

 

I can't speak for ALL Chevy vans, but the one I had(70's) did not have a full frame. Maybe newer ones do. I have an extra vertical Chevy van power steering box if anyone needs one.

 

Anyone know the differences between the different years of these?
All kinds of little things well docomented for the 1/2 ton pickups, or cars etc. I don't see anything in the usual spots that detail what differentiates a 41 from a 40 or 42 for example (I know the grill-- anything else?) Just trying to do some research here to keep my mind on it while I wait for Tuesday when I pick it up.

 

The 40 to 41 changes that I know of are the grille, round gauges to square, oval vent door badges to square. Sorry, that's all I got other than the rumor that SS trim on the grill was 1941 only.

 

Still leafing through my scrap pages for my own project, but they aren't all organized; thought I wrote the contact info down for the fellow with the mold. I may run a regional Kijiji ad with a query aimed at him myself.

 

I used a 92 Ford E350 (ambulance) chassis and running gear. It is a conventional frame shortened 24", to 110" wheelbase, engine and trans were centered in frame to line up with existing engine opening in cab. The power steering box remained in the stock location and is connected with a single Borgeson universal joint. If you center the engine make sure your steering arm doesn't hit the pan. The engine is a 351 Windsor, C-6 auto, Gear Vendor od and a Dana 60 single rear wheel rear end. I moved rear spring perches up on the frame and pulled some leaves from the spring pack to smooth out the ride. I installed E 150 coils up front to smooth that end out (same dimensions for 150, 250, 350 rockauto.com) with sway bars at both ends. Over all length is 17', handles and rides very well. But, as we all know it's like stuffing 10 lbs in a 5 lb bag.

 

My original vin tag is on the firewall, it's still a 48

 

Thanks Metal- How much bed length did that give you? Proportion looks good from your avatar. feel free to put another picture or two in here! Looks like I will be using the E250 (I bought just now it, but it was cheap so not much ventured).

 

The bed is 8' long, 7' wide, the corners are rounded rather than square. The gas filler was put in the side of the bed frame, I'd rethink that though, slow filling.

 

Nice truck ! Good work on engine cover . Blue

 

Thank you, but Brian Mackey and his crew, in Huntington Beach are responsible for the cover and the lipstick

 

3 more days, tick, tick, tick....
Bought the E250 last night. I need to skim the threads for the specifics now. Did you guys that moved the engine just go to a hydraulic shop and have really long power steering hoses made?

 

yes. The local "real" parts store made them up or me.

 

Here’s a rendition that member themoose did over on the photoshop thread.
“Studebaker pickup box”
Those P/S guys clean everything up so nice— mine wouldn’t be nearly as tidy but it’s an interesting look with those molded fenders.

 

Raise (stretch) the top edge of the box so it is right under the cab style line and it'll be perfect.

 

My power steering pump is mounted low on the driver side, I bought stock hoses from Rock Auto. Mounted my AC compressor above the steering pump and my alternator on the passenger side. I run a single serpentine belt, all the pulleys turn clock wise.

 

Off the road since ‘54? I’m dragging it bag to the hotel— I’ll post some pics of the guys other rust shortly

 

Here’s a few others he had in the yard with my green sweetheart in the middle there.
He took a SWAG at the year but was off. Serial number on the front crossmember shows it to be a 47 1.5 ton with 100hp v8. Still has the 59ab in place

 

*SWAG — Scientific Wild**** Guess