So here is my introduction and the start of my build thread. I just picked up a 3 Ton 1948 GMC COE that is in pretty good shape. But honestly until its sandblasted I won’t know for sure. But first impressions are good. I am hunting for any resources that you guys can point me to in order to get this project underway this winter. I ***ume this will be a multiyear project so don’t ***ume I’m going to tackle it all at once. Plus I ***ume with life happening there will be sprints of work and lots of it sitting on the backburner. I have a pretty decent shop to work in so the only issue will be getting some of the required metal tools to do it properly. I’m not new to metal work and body work but I’ve never tackled anything this big. I normally fabricate for fun or to build motorbike parts that I want. The Plan – So here is the plan and the part where you guys tell me I am crazy and help me decide what I should do and what I shouldn’t. The year and style of truck was chosen as a tribute to my father as that was when he was born, just a short drive from Dearborn, MI. He also likes the look of the Cab over “snub nose” or whatever you want to call it and is a diesel guy with a long trucking background. So outside of the sentimental attachment the cab it will be coming off of this thing and the work will start. For starters the cab will have a large extension added to turn it into a MEGA “Crew / extended” cab. This has been done lots of times by other guys so this isn’t unusual. I’m thinking something similar to what TC Rods in Anderson, SC built for Hogtails Bar & Grill but maybe even longer. This not going to be a “daily driver” it will become my towing rig for when I hit the road for hours and days at a time. I want space to do it comfort and style. The plan right now is to track down a couple more doors off a regular GMC cab. I think the 47-53 cab doors were all the same profile and should be flat across the bottom for a good set of rear doors. I’ll just chop the back of the truck off and side that back. Second, and here is where it gets crazy. I’d like to try and widen the cab of the truck and possibly raise the room line a couple inches. I’m 6’6” and my kids are creeping up on me so space is an issue. BUT I haven’t seen anyone try and widen a cab yet. Well except http://www.tommystrailers.com/bertha.htm but this isn’t the look I am going for. I am trying to figure out if I widen the cab a bit, narrow the fenders slightly and push the roof up a bit if the proportions will still look right. I’ve measured my current E350 and this new cab and the E350 is about 10” to 12” inches wider already. I need space to get three teenagers comfortably across the back.
You should go onto the social forum: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/coes-cab-over-engine.283/ It's a great bunch on guys on there.
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