COE 54 ford COE ... Watch it happen

So.. I am starting a new project before I finish the other project I've been posting about on this site for the past 5 or 6 years. After all my handle is Low Coe what can I do..... I've had a couple of 38-47 Ford Coes that have slipped through my hands/gone to better places over the years. I kept trolling Craigslist for years which only could lead to trouble. Finally I pulled the trigger on this 54 ford. As luck would have it 54 f100 was my first vehicle... Still waiting in the wings for an overhaul. New project Ch***is is 97 E 350. Birds nest for wiring, engine pooching way to far up into the cab. Odometer reads 150k miles. So I decided it has to go. I'm shooting for a pickup vibe. I love the look of this black truck. Are those 24.5's? Any info on mounting wheels that large are appreciated!!

I have pulled the motor. I have a SBC engine laying around ( sorry) that I'm going to try on for size. My goal is to get this on the road. I've collected a 95 dually rear end, a short box bed. Plan is black on black, maybe Harley Davidson theme although I've never ridden one, dropped I beams (3inches). Channel cab 6 inches, bed 9 inches,to get ride height down to 6 or 7 inches... maybe rear trailing arm air suspension, maybe not.

I wouldn't have posted this on the main page but I think the vibe I'm getting here is that this is a safe place to post and share info on COE's .., If not shut me down now!

 

The inspiration. Don't know who to credit. Found on Google.

 

Few more pics.

 

What's better thumbnail or full image?

 

Full image.
That is going to be one fine truck. Good luck!

 

Full size , I'll be watching. Welcome, Blue .

 

Looks great!

 

Cool truck. So was the E350 ch***is already under there? Are you keeping the engine up front or behind the cab?

 

Welcome! I have a 2003 E-350 ch***is under mine ('56 coe). Plenty of room for a small block under there, (302) along with a C6. Just hooking up the steering now, before welding in the motor and trans mounts. I have pics posted somewhere here.
I'm not going for the lowered look, but you might want to reconsider the short box, it looks out of proportion to the ch***is and cab. I shortened my wheelbase to 130", and am planning on a 9' box. I mocked up a 10' and an 8', and they don't look right..
Wheels come after the engine & trans, and here are the dimensions I needed to fill the wheel wells.

Regards, Mark.

 

Thanks guys.. Yes I bought an abandoned project E350 ch***is and drivetrain under the 54 Cab. I'm just not smart enough to figure out all those electronics. Tonite I muscled the SBC into position. How many wires 5 or 6? It's going up front. If I didn't channel it probably wouldn't even have a doghouse at all but Low Coe has to channel. I'm not married to the short box, I'll play with the dimensions to try to hit the sweet spot.

 

Bad moon do you think the black truck is too stubby ??

 

I do. Mockup different size boxes out of luan so you can see exactly the proportions. There are plenty of short boxes on coe's, but they just don't look right to me. Others obviously disagree, but you need to do what makes you happy.

Regards, Mark.

 

Lowcoe , I like both beds but 8 or 9 foot looks best to me . That and a dollar and a half will get you a soda . Build what you want , it's yours and you need to be happy . My bed is 9 foot . Blue

 

Couple of things...

The wheels on the black truck look like 24.5" to me. Real common to mill them down to 24's and use sport truck low profile tires on them.

Also, I seem to recall that the F350 dropped I beams are different than the E350 I beams and don't interchange. Might want to make sure they're available before you start channeling as that may change how much you channel.

Also, @Cap'm is a member here but doesn't visit much. He's building a panel on a E350 to drag his Bonneville car around. He may be a good resource for you. This is his project as of a few days ago...

 

• Thanks Daddio. They are available at airbagit.com. Have seen mixed reviews on the company....
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So I've been all over the truck today. Cab on cab off. Engine up front, mid mount. Bed in position, moved forward, moved back. I settled on a more mid engine position. I z'd the front part of the frame so it has a hot rod rake. I will channel the cab 6 1/2 inches. Engine access will end up being under the seat... Not ideal but should work. Later I will drop the rear by flipping the axle.
I love the smell of burning metal!!

 

Cab Chanel is roughed in. I repositioned the front cab mounts upward 6.5 inches to match the drop I got at the rear of the cab by z'ing the frame. I used flathead motor mount biscuits as cab mounts.

 

Here's a picture of the back of the cab. I have the bed set up for 8 ft. Gonna do a plywood mock up to see if I like it. May need to shorten it.

 

Subscribing...

 

I tried an 8 foot bed.

 

Then the short box length of 80 inches. I like the short box because it draws your eye to the cab more. That is what makes COEs so unique after all.

 

I vote for the shorter box also.. It looks really right... It might even stand to be a C hair taller.. Not much...

 

Rounding the front fender is nice . What did the 8 foot bed look like with the fender change and hood down ? In the end it your choice ? Have fun took me almost a year to decide on bed , and I made it and now have to lay in it . Blue

 

I loved the short beds

 

Pressing on, I narrowed the frame to accomidate the 04 dually rear end I picked up. I was having second thoughts on the dually but I bought it so, damn dammit it was going in!

 

Joyflea. Here's the hood down and 8 ft bed. I hadn't realized the front wheel wasn't centered at this point. Changing the fender contour seemed like the easier fix rather than
Changing the cab mount

That ship has sailed though, when I narrowed the frame I also shortened it another 11.5 inches....

 

I like both bed lengths, but see them as two distinct paths.
-the short bed looks more proportionate to like what is sought and preferred in a regular cab short bed pickup
-the longer bed looks to me more like what would have been in the 50's. a bed sized proportionate to the potential workload. Form following function.
I'm a little bummed you're having to mod the front openings though. Those front fenders flowing back into the steps is probably my favorite line on these trucks.
JML

 

Nothing is set in stone just yet. I have to find the wheels I wanna run and see how they fit in there. Working on the rear axle flip , narrowed the rear portion of the frame a bit too much. Modifying the pieces of the flip kit to fit the dually axle..

The photoshop thread is always good motivation. Thanks again moose!

 

I got the 04 dually axle set up "flipped" sitting above the spring. I had to re widen the frame an inch on either side to line up the leaf springs properly. Pinion angle is too high so I'll have to correct that when I take it all apart for paint. Working on a crossmember for engine side mounts and transmission mount is the next order of business... I'll be reinforcing the frame in the spliced areas as well, probably by bolting and welding old cast off portions of frame on like fishplates.

Here's a picture because if there aren't any it didn't happen right?

 

I think the 8' bed looks better. The cabs are huge and having a bed and wheelbase that is too short ruins the proportions and makes it look too stubby. Just my $.02☺