COE 54 ford COE ... Watch it happen

After more hackin and whackin I have settled on the regular bed that I had laying around.... I will be widening it 6 inches. The motor has been mounted under the cab. Gonna need a little bubble under the seat for the air cleaner but otherwise there should be plenty of legroom.. I know everyone voted for a longer bed but I like the stubby look.

 

Rear view

 

Still plugging away at the bed mods. Not much to look at. For the life of me I can't locate dually rims that fit 8x 170. I keep on trawling though... Once I finish the bed I plan on painting the frame and squaring away the running gear. Then it's up to the cab for mods. I keep dreaming about seeing one color but I have a long way to go before that happens.

 

Still plugging. Found some rims. 3 inch tub and 5 inch fender extensions in the works. Playing with the nibbler. Coulda done the same thing wit an 8 ft brake in minutes the fender extensions were an all day deal.

 

I've been thinking about extending my front fenders.. I was thinking I'd make a channel on the brake then shrink both "sides" to get the curve. Is there an easier way?

 

Find the flattest spot on the fender and slice . Then weld in a strip the width you need . Look at doughboy site , good luck.

 

Blue, I have enough trouble welding metal.. I think fibergl*** will be impossible.. I get what you mean about the flattest spot however.. I was thinking just add a piece between the body and the FG fender like Lowcoe did above...

 

My flange is 1 3/4 for stifness wet skier. I tried my Lancaster shrinker and tuck shrinking the 18 gauge steel even cheating a bit using oxy acetylene to soften up the tucks. Unfortunately I have resulted to "farmer cuts" as Gene Winfield would call them. Relief cuts followed by gas welding back together.

 

I think I'll cut the flange down to 1/2 inch in the areas that need shrinking. After I get the shape I'm after I'll replace the area I removed with a curved patch.

 

Not sure what's up with pictures. Maybe it's my I phone.

 

Above is try #2. This one I cut the flange down to 3/4 inch so the Lancaster shrinker would work. Turned out good cept it's rubbing the wheels. Gonna have to go back for try #3 and 4. Just have to make it an inch wider.

 

Amazing how much faster things go the second time around! I mean 3rd and 4th times. No farmer cuts.

 

Pretty happy with the weekends progress. Clean fender extensions that are 90%. Ends need to be capped. Little more straightening on the bed and it will be ready for epoxy primer. I like the wheels but the tires are a little too low pro. I just needed some rollers for the rear so there they are. Final size should be halfway between the front and the back....

 

I shoulda been born in Texas....

 

Why Texas , your in the hot rod cap of the world ? Love the tg .

 

Dually's just seem like they belong in Texas. C notched the frame. Mounted the front sheet metal on the eco online frame. Used a radiator support I picked up at the swap meet to triangulate everything. I think the guy said it was from a 57 Belair. One last try to mount the engine up front while I'm blowing everything apart to paint the frame. Lots of finnish welding and dressing to do before the paint gets here.

 

I think it would be best to place da engine under the cab, better center of gravity, more leg room.

 

Been trawling Craigslist, couldn't shake the feeling that the 283 that I pirated from my 36 coupe project just wouldn't be powerful enough. I was dreaming of a Cadillac 500 or a 454. Instead this 350 popped up. Fresh rebuild price was right so I jumped. Here's hoping.... My frame paint is here .. Been thinking real hard about little details that need taking care of before paint. Every time you take it apart you scratch the paint right? I figure I better take it apart at least 5 more times before i open that can of paint....

 

I trust my welds, but a few strategically placed grade 8 bolts can't hurt, right?

 

Decided to try to fit the inner fenders while also figuring out the rear shock mounts, can you say A.D.D.???

 

Painted the rear end and rear half of the frame. Progress is progress... Got inner front fenders sorted out too...

 

Agreed
Progress is progress

OT, what is used for that checkerboard drive, dekblocks?
JML

 

It's a Home Depot paver product that can be back filled with gravel or seeded and have gr*** grow through it.

 

Ok so I’m dusting off this project after reading the thread “where did all the COE builds go?” I have been busy on my F 100 project (which is mostly in primer and most body mods done ) ( the 5.8L efi engine has been fired up a couple of times)

I go back and forth now. While the body filler is drying on the F-100 I go and weld up the trailer mirror holes in the doors on the COE.

Standby for little fits of progress.

 

lowcoe your build has convinced me to stick to my initial instincts for my C.O.E. a 47 101 --- Sticking to the stubby look! I like this. Looking great.

 

Thanks Spago, I definitely think ya gotta go either super short or super long if your doing a COE pickup. I had a car hauler version, and while quite cool it sure did take up a lot of garage space!

Today I got my reworked F 100 rear fenders in primer and while I was at it I finished welding up the 10 holes on the driver side hood where the emblem went. Primered the driver side door which had all the 8 mirror holes filled, primered one rear fender extension. That plus a few other misc jobs including throwing the ball for the crazy Lab for an hour.

Plus the day ain’t over!