COE 40 ford coe build

i am building a rolling ch***is for a friend who owns a towing company, he wants a non functional tow truck, with a beat up, old appearance.
he also wanted it on a chevy van ch***is with a v6 engine, i tried and tried to talk hi m into a v8, but he won, so here are a few pics...
it all started with a late 80's chevy van...


and a decent ford cab, i bought a couple of them last year at an auction, he towed them to my house and decided that one would have to be his...


the cab was fit to the van ch***is...


and a box and boom were built...




i am going to build the running boards today, i'll post some pics when they are done

 

Looks bad *** already!
I really like the vintage COE tow truck look.

 

i never thought i would be into tow trucks, but im diggin the vintage stuff. upon researching tow trucks i have found a ton of interest in them, who knew?

 

It looks cool. What did you use for adapters to the dually wheels on the front?

 

i got the adapters on ebay...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wheel-Adapt...081&pid=100011&prg=1005&rk=1&sd=370668519997&

 

What size tires did you use on the front
What size spring coils and did you use a drop spindle
This looks sweet

 

the rims are 17" on the front, the set of 16" i had wouldn't fit over the calipers. the coils and spindles are stock, the body is channelled to achieve the lowered look

 

i rolled it outside yesterday...

 

I like it a lot. The bed box patina is starting to match the cab. Is it outside for this reason?

 

its outside because i needed to put my superduty on the hoist, its back inside now

 

So other than the adapters on the front wheels there are no frame or suspension mods ... the cab drops on and the front wheels turn without hitting inner fenders? What about the steering ... how's the column to box alignment!

I've got a '41 cab (same as this one) and am looking for the ideal frame. This just may be it!

 

BTW ... what's all that white **** on the ground ?!?!?

 

So is it a wrecking guys cruiser or does he plan to try using it? Looks like fun - I'm ***uming with the v6 it's a runabout.

 

Cool build, what rear axle did you use?

 

the rear leaf springs were removed and replaced with a ladder bay, coil spring setup, i did that so i could shorte the body up, i wanted the tires right at the back.

that white **** all melted , the forcast is for flurries tonight, so, it will be back

its not a functional tow truck, it will be his cruiser.

the rear axle is the stock 10 bolt gm axle

 

What did you do to fit the 8 lug wheels to the van's 5 lug axles?
What V6 motor are you using?
Are you using the cargo area floor from the van as the bed floor?

 

Not a 40. there were no badges on the vent doors just the oval ones like the 38-39's as well as the wing on top of the grill with the oval grill.

 

Hey love the truck....anymore progress??? Do you know off hand if the adapters narrowed the track width of the front? Found the adapters on ebay and really would like to own them. Where did you get 17" wheels?

edit: found the wheels for stock dodge.

 

Any more progress on this build?