COE Chassis question

I'm struggling with deciding on the best (easiest) ch***is to use under my 51 GMC. For those of you that used a P20 / P30 did you use the stock front end or swap in a sub from something else? If there's a better option I'm open to suggestions. Having read the ch***is threads it seems like almost any truck ch***is can work, but since this is my first swap like this I want to keep it fairly simple.

 

Ch***is choice is based upon the bed design. If you are building a car hauler, then you really want a straight truck or RV type 1-ton dually ch***is. If a pickup, you want a lighter 1/2 ton ch***is and that will give you more wheel choices.

 

I am going to build it as a pickup, but I want at least 3/4 ton towing abilities. I would love to have a narrow dually rear, but I'm afraid the chances of that are slim.

 

I would look for a late 90's chevy or GMC 3500HD it will be more stout than a 3/4 ton but it should fit and look correct. You would have 19.5 wheels and a narrow dually rear. The rearof the frame on the 3500HD is 34" wide like the frame is currently under your truck. Too bad you are so far away....I have a 97 3500HD sitting in my yard with 52,000 miles on it. If you want me I can get some dimetions off it for you to help in your quest for a ch***is.

 

Thanks buggy, I may take you up on that. I wish I was closer too. I'd very much like to see big Bertha, as it is by far my favorite LCF. What are your plans for the 97 3500?

 

its where the 454 that is in Big Bertha came from. I am parting out the body and saving the ch***is...for what...who knows. My wife wants an 48-59 short school bus so it might be of use there. She is a school teacher and wants a bus.

 

I'm going to bump this one more time. I've been offered a P30 at a reasonable price so I'm even more curious about the use of the front suspension. When people swap COE's to P30's do they retain the stock front or replace it with the front from a 2500 or something else?

 

Take the p-30. You can change out the a-arms to 3/4 ton or 1/2 ton, as well as the rear end. you can move the rear spring hangers to whatever wheelbase you want. This ch***is is ideal. My 2 cents.

 

If you want a narrow rearend you need to get a cab and ch***is, they are a lot more narrow than the pickup.

 

I believe the track width on the P30 is going to be way too wide both front and rear. The late 90's 3500HD would be a much better choice.

 

Do some measuring.
It may not be too wide as the 50's COE's have much wider fenders than the early ones. I used a 80's 1 ton cab and ch***is and the front is too narrow for me, tires could set out another 3-4 inches easy. The van/RV ch***is would have worked much better for me. The cab/ch***is rear end is the narrowest though.

 

Anyone in the southwest US have a 1 ton dually ch***is available? I'd prefer Chevy/GMC from 1975 through roughly 2000. I'd also prefer it was a crew cab (four door) to achieve the long wheelbase. Let me know. I have a trailer and cash, would prefer within 400-500 miles of Las Vegas, Nevada. (I'm 100 miles northeast of Vegas.)

 

Thanks for the replies, it seems the opinion is yes, no, no, and maybe. You guys are certainly giving me food for thought. Measuring is a damn good idea, I just wish the P30 I've been offered wasn't 2.5 hours away.

 

Haha.......simple, just go down to your local bakery outlet with a creeper and a tape measure. Piece of cake.

 

Just wish it wasn't 2.5 hrs away,that's funny,my COE is still on the ship making it's way from Oregon to good old Melb down here in Oz,my new crissy present,lol, Gaz!

 

Gaz, that sorta puts it in perspective, doesn't it! For several years I've been caring for elderly parents and it is extremely rare that I find a chance to travel more than one hour away. For me, right now, 2.5 hours might as well be as far away as OZ. I also let the darned thing get away from me. Back to square one, looking fir the perfect ch***is.

 

Keep an eye on the govt surplus auctions (GSAauctions.gov), I see lots of step vans, etc sell pretty cheap on there. They are always too far away from me though...

 

Another option are old motorhomes. A little more work to get rid of the bodies but can be real cheap. I bought a 72 chev aqarius 1 ton with a 402 bbc (48k orig miles )for 500. Most of the older chevs have straight frames from front to back and already have compatable steering boxes.

 

Good suggestions, thanks! A local guy has a 92 Dodge 12v ***mins PU that I keep eyeballing. Any thoughts on this ch***is with the engine in the stock location? Is the ***mins too tall to fit under the cab without killing the interior space?

 

12v ***mins are pretty tall. I looked at awaping one ito big bertha and I would have to redo the floor and firewall to get it to fit.

 

I'm pretty sure this one has a ***mins up front
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluesbanditphoto/4674736410/in/pool-coetrucks/

 

Thanks buggy. I'd think Big Bertha would have a bit more room than my truck.

 

You can always modify the sump on a ***mins to make it sit lower. I did that in my F4 conventional cab. Also gave extra oil capacity.

 

I did the ***mins thing in my 54.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90901505@N04/sets/72157632203097752/

 

Vet, it looks like you moved it back. Is it under the seats?

Hot, did you build the sump yourself or is one commercially produced?

 

I made my sump work like that of a pro stock sump. Just cut off the base and made a box to suit. Like a winged keel you could say. Allowed the 6BT ***mins to sit lower in the ch***is rails and gave me extra oil capacity that is good for the turbo.

A link here to my photo that I hope gives you an idea as to what I did with the sump.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=42409&pictureid=494293

 

C.G, Transplanted the ***mins directly under the seats.

 

Wow, hot, you really did get it low. Looks great. Thanks vet, interesting idea.

 

Worked well and unless you crawl under the truck you would not see it.