COE Well I've started, at last

Changed the rear axle for a two speeed ( electric). Lowered the whole truck by 4.1/2" which is as much as I want to go.
Cleaned the wheels and just prepared them.
Had my new tyres fitted, yesterday, and then could'nt wait to drop it on the floor to have a good look.
Now I am happy with that lot, I'll strip it all down and start on the drivetrain, and taking off the cab.
Its great, I love it.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=789981

 

What size tires?

 

Your truck has the back window cut out and enlarged like mine. I wonder why they did this. Do you know the history of your truck?

 

Nice.

 

Tyre size all round is 650 x 20"
Firestone wide whites and Mitas truck tyres.

 

Not quite sure, but I think the truck was something to do with telegragh pole installation.
They widened the rear windows and also had some sort of
periscope out of the roof for better vision.
Are you going to revert to the exisiting size window or leave wide?

 

My truck is exactly the same, periscope over the drivers head and all. Mine too was a pole setter truck #60 out of Pennsylvania. I'm going to close up the roof and go back to the smaller back window.

 

Yes,
I too am going to close the roof back up and as you said make the window original size.
I had contenplated installing an electric rear window to help ventilation in the warm weather. However its still just a thought.
Are you retaining the flat head or going to another unit?

 

look n good.
has mama jumped ya about letting the antifreeze run over there to the hedge?

 

I have put that down as a harsh winter
nothing to do with me!!

 

If it were me, I'd make the flattie run and leave it alone, no paint, no restoration...it is extremely neat just as it is!!!

 

Yes, all that you have said, has crossed my mind, and lots of friends have said to leave it as it is.
I am taking the flattie out and will have a look as to how bad it might be.

I have to decide soon

 

Because your truck is so complete, I would try to save as much of the originality as possible. My truck was too far gone and I was only able to bring the cab back home. It is going to take 3 or 4 donor trucks to bring my back to life.

 

Thanks very much for your comments guys, I do have a dilemma,I am in agreement with leaving the cab etc as it is, with a few repairs, but I have never used a flathead before and just wonder if I would be happy with it, also not sure if I could run it on LPG as a second fuel for economy.
Thanks again I am really getting into the COE it gives me such a buzz just looking at it, and working on it is the same.
Cheers

 

Any picture of the roof periscope and cut out back window?

 

Picturs of rear window opening and the scope

 

Thanks Al for the pictures. My back window looks about 3" taller than yours. But is the same exact style with the rubber boot/gasket/seal thing around the opening. The window bezel trim ring on yours looks like it was cut down in height and welded back up? Mine has no weld seam on the bezel.

My periscope is exactly like yours.



Here is my periscope. The p***enger side roof severely rusted away from the constant dripping off the boom

 

No problem Tony, it's interesting just to compare.

As you said, you have a little more work on the cab, shame about to other side to the scope. At least you have a good replacment insert for the rear window.
Keep in touch mate its good to talk.
I'll be posting pictures as I go in the COE album I've started.

 

FYI - the pickup and COE did not use the same size windows as the COE. The pickup back window is about 4" shorter in length. The door gl*** is interchangable.

 

If you look at Willy's Bill's web site. One of the guys runs a nice flathead with a rollback bed in his. He can tell you how well it pushes the truck down the road.

 

http://ozcoetrucks.freewebhosts.com.au/Index.6.html Mike Woodard's COE

 

Thanks for the info,
Lucky my rear window only requires bringing into the original size as the top and bottom roll part of the cab is still intact
I'll have a look on the site.
Cheers

 

I would really like to get in touch with Mike Woodard,
and have a chat with him, Looks real cool his truck.

Thanks for sharing that with me

 

since your talking about power Line trucks, here is mine. 53 Ford C600 Marmon Herrington, it also has the large mirror in the roof to see the workers out the back better.
this was how it was found before I got it,



and now its a parade truck/ grocery getter until I can find a better use for it. you can see the mirror on top better in this picture.




BTW I love those white wall tires, I had no idea you could get them in that size anymore.

 

JF,
Thanks for the pictures, its great to see how it was done.
Regarding the tryes, yes I found that Firestone did them, however they are not cheap, as you can imagine , but that's what I had allowed for, I was going to put them on the rear of the truck, but ohhh the cost.
Thanks again, its great to have all this info.

 

Now I have to know, Josh, if the back window was cut out and enlarged on your pole setter truck?

 

Any more progress on this Al?

 

Hi there
Well sort of progress.
I hae sold the flathead and I am picking up the 302 next week, already got the gearbox.

Have cleaned off the rear part of the ch***is and red leaded it for proection.
I have drawn up the pickup bed and decided how It is going to be.
I think I am settled to to leave the cab in its patina, which comes a a shock if I am not painting it. All my friends are saying leave it!!! so I am leaving part of it unpainted. New ground for me this.

I am starting to get cranked up now and getting on with it.
I'll try to get some up to date pictures.
Thanks for asking
Alan

 

Lifted the new engine and gearbox in today, to see how she fits and I am pleased with it, plenty of room for the headers etc. I'll start making the brackets and measuring up for other items now.

 

Looking good. I'm guessing, but it looks like your motor is a little lower in the cab than mine. The max I could lower mine would be 1" more if I cut up the front crossmember. Any lower, the front pulleys would be in the center drag link.

I know you don't have the pulleys installed yet, but will there be any clearance issues with the drag link on your stock frame setup?