Projects New Hauler for the Strange Bird gasser! 1950 Chevrolet COE!

Just bought the Strange Bird a new buddy to carry it around! It's a 1950 Chevy 5400 COE! Picked it up from Reno. Body is as clean as they get! It has a PTO drive Tilt bed and would make a cool car carrier. I'm not sure If I'm going to keep the tilt, or build a lowboy car hauler deck. Time will tell. I do know that I am going to paint it white, and keep it as original as possible. Anybody wanna photoshop it up painted white?

Can't wait to start!

 

ahh man you hit gold with this thing!

 

Nice find man!! I just came across a Ford COE last week and i am seriously considering blowin the tax return on it!!! Good luck with it man!!!

 

Cool find! If you have a full shot of the truck with no ends cut off I may be able to come up with something Photoshopwise. Preferably a little clearer if possible. This oughta be fun. Are you going to lower it any?

 

It will either get the original 235 rebuilt, or be powered by a fresh 364 Nailhead. I already have the bellhousing adapter for the swap....hmmmmm.....

 

I'm fairly certain the only appropriate engine is the nailhead.

 

Very cool old truck

 

Come on man!! It has to get the 364

 

Nice hauler score... be cool to see the falcon on it!

 

I'm pretty sure this will happen.

"Chevy Makes it Buick Shakes It" hahahah!

 

Very cool! It'll look great with that Falcon 'perched' up on the back!

Oh, and a third vote for the nailhead!

 

I cast my vote for a 292 6cyl. with dual carbs and split manifold. Mucho torque!!

 

Nice find there. I would consider the nailhead as the 235 will be underpowered for real hauling. Stock gearing in the rearend is very low, top speed as it is will be around 45-50 mph range. Think about swapping to an OD trans at minimum with the the engine swap for more power.

You might consider a while frame swap, to get modern suspension and wheels/tires. Unless you want the orig stuff, swapping frame is very common. My 49 Ford COE is on a 74 GM 1-ton chassis. Look up the COE group on here.

 

Fresh meat! It will make the perfect hauler especially with the Nailhead!

 

Nice find! You've gotta keep the tilt bed though! Just for that cool factor. The Nailhead would help too...

 

Why is there even any question? That tow pig needs torque. Put a nailhead in it!

 

I vote Nailhead...a rig like that needs the torque a nailhead has. I really love this series of Chevy COE. I also like the 1939 Ford COE. I'm Jealous.

 

Nice truck, but I think it's actually a 1950.

 

I would do a remount on a later 1 ton as already mentioned. I would install a short 10 - 12 foot box and make it a walk through from the cab and make a small lounge. I would make large storage boxes - cabinets under the box, then I would make a short pickup like bed on the rear with a tailgate. I would use a drop receiver hitch and pull a trailer with the Falcon on it. Nail head power with a modern 5 speed manual trans.

 

As cool as a nailhead would be in the truck, I think you'll be better off with a turbo diesel, a vintage 2 stroke diesel would sound awesome.

 

Borrow the Duramax out of your other truck and put a Hodges bed on it ! Nice truck , I want one bad .

 

Nice COE Maybe something like the picture below???
except rounded edges on the box,kind of like 38chevy454's sweet bed????
And a GMC 302? or 270?

 

What 38zephyr said

 

great find

 

x4 on the chassis swap. Chevy c-30 or bread van. I thought the bird was going to Europe?

 

That's a really nice find.It'll make a great car hauler.Nailhead power also gets my vote.

 

my $.02, if its hauling a vintage drag car...it should have the original chassis. Period engine and trans upgrades will bring it to life. Chassis swaps are cool right now, but leaf spring technology hasn't changed much in the last 60 years.

 

x 3 what 38 Zephyr said on the Duramax. Hell, drop that 51 cab on the Duramax chassis, you'll have plenty of comfort and power.

 

thats a sweet rig alomost looks some what like jeepers creepers lol