COE What chassis are you using under your COE's

I have a '93 E-350 long wheelbase Cargo van that I bought new and used for contracting expedited freight. I used it for two years and retired it to occasional personal use after it hit 200K+. It was originally slated to go to an ambulance conversion company but their deal fell through and I got a good deal on it from the dealer that was stuck with three of them. It's a 7.3L IDI diesel and it still runs great at the age of 19 yrs. However, I don't use it much and the body is starting to have some rust issues that I really don't want to deal with fixing. I love the old normally asperated 7.3 with it's old style injection system as it needs no computer and will run with no electrical system if you tie back the shut down solenoid. It's pretty darn bullet proof and easy to work on. I have always liked the look of the old COEs and it recently occurred to me to put one on my van ch***is. I'm looking for a '53 to '55 Ford cab as it would be a close match for my other '53s. As second choice I would go for an older Ford COE cab or an International mid fifties and back. I may be dreaming but I'd like to find something for around $500.00 I am watching for one that would not be too hard to go for and bring home. I live in SE Ohio and I make occasional trips to the Atlanta, GA area.

Later Folks...

Dave

 

I am using a 85 Chevy van ch***is. When I placed the cab on it I made a pick up bed that ended up 10' 6" long.

It looked out of place so I added a tandem axel to fill up the empty space. Check My album.

 

Mine is a '69 3/4 ton shortened to 100" ,pickup style ,still gives me an 8' box. engine is going under the cab, back and down. Lottery engine,Duramax/Allison, Reality engine 350/700R4.

 

I also have used the Astro front end and mated an Eldo front frame to the rear. This is a rendering of the truck, but real life brings its own challenges when working from a drawing.

 

Hood sectioned. fenders raised? or making out of a pick up, I can't tell. Looking good 'tho

-Donn-

 

very talented. bout the only thing i can draw is flies.

 

How are your doors going to open?

 

Its a half ton cab with a COE hood sectioned 8" and 1/2 ton fenders. The doors I havent defined for sure yet. The lower hinge pocket/embossing fit directly below top one and Im not sure its best there. Getting ready to weld doors on for alignment while I finish floor/firewall and then once removed check to see if it works out.

 

Mine will be on an '82 econoline van ch***is. Still working on popping this one off the original frame. But I already bought the van for cheap, so there's no turning back now lol.

 

Cheap is always good, what engine trans combo, stock from the van or other??

just seen your intro and commented there.

Cheers
Josh

 

the stock 302/c6 that's already in the van. Just less headache that way.

 

s'funny but there doesn't appear to be anyone who's used a Ford p/u ch***is !!

 

Ford used the twin I beam font end from '65 till mid '90s and they are not the best fit for a COE. Not impossible though. Too bad....I'm a Ford guy and I wish my Ford COE had a Ford ch***is under it...

 

My '47 Ford coe is a few down on my build list, but I've already fit it to a 1965 F350 dually ch***is(solid front axle). Got to swing the steering box forward about 2 pittman arm lengths to make it work, but got lots of clearance for motor and trans. Ford on a Ford!!

 

"Ford used the twin I beam font end from '65 till mid '90s and they are not the best fit for a COE. Not impossible though. Too bad....I'm a Ford guy and I wish my Ford COE had a Ford ch***is under it..."

Well I'm not really a "Ford guy" but I'm one of those who thinks the brand of body should be mated with the same brand of drivetrain. Of all the COEs the '40 - '47 Ford is my favorite and I latched onto a fantastic one and am exploring my options. I'd like to keep it Ford and it doesn't have to be extremely heavy duty as it'll be more like a pickup than a car hauler. The important thing to me is something with a track that allows the wheels to fit properly within the fenders and isn't going to take a whole lot of mods to get the steering to work. Econoline van is sounding pretty good!

 

A cool brake setup I saw had a firewall mounted pedal, a pivot on the firewall with a rod straight down, then another pivot at the bottom with the master and booster mounted low. It did not interfere with the radiator or grill.

 

HEY LUXLX...how are you going to run that eldorado engine on biofuel? HA!

 

Just got a '81 Chevy cl*** C Motorhome ch***is for my GMC COE. It is mechanically sound, runs and drives good. 350/350... Hope it's an easy swap... We'll see...

 

haven't switched cabs yet, but my 40 ford coe is going on an Isuzu 4 cylinder diesel box truck frame...(as soon as I get caught up...yeah).

 

The suspension on my COE is a '73 heavy half rear section grafted to the COE frame. And the '73 front suspension crossmember unbolted from the '73 frame and bolted/welded to the COE frame. This kept all the cab mount super structure in place. Got the idea from a '40 COE done exactly the same in a Street Rodder magazine Sept '89 issue back then.

eBay always has copies of that issue:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...er&_nkwusc=streetrodder+1989+september&_rdc=1


Today I would seriously consider making a low car hauler with the same ch***is the Decoliner used...

http://www.randygrubb.com/the-decoliner/

 

I hear peolpe talk of using a dakota ch***is. Does the steering work with this frame or is it changed as well ?

I am just starting a 41 dodge Coe project and am running with the pickup theme and will not be using as a hauler/flatbed.

 

Geo metro frame with Yugo steering.


NOT

 

My latest will be on the stock frame....or at least that is the plan for now. It already has factory power steering.....what else could you ask for...

 

Tapered roller bearings and disc brakes are always nice.

I'm using a 1987 R20 suburban ch***is with a 1992 G20 steering box and linkage, and then the rear axle was swapped to a 1982 C30 dually setup.





The simple steering setup

 

Some good info here. I am looking for info from anyone that has done a build more specific to what I am planning. I have a '41 GMC COE that I want to build into a crew cab with a normal 8 foot truck bed on it, not a car hauler or tilt bed. Does anyone have info on a specific frame or an overall frame length that I would need? I was kind of looking for a 2 wheel drive 80's Suburban with a diesel, but I really don't know if it would be long enough. I want it low to the ground with plenty of power to tow.

Thanks for the help!!

AkBillyBow

 

Lots of extended cab long bed 3/4 and 1 ton trucks in that era, and they'd be a LOT longer than the Suburban.

 

I used an 1987 suburban ch***is. Wheel base was 129.5". This was way to long for my 1938 ford coe with an 8' bed. I cut it down to 101" wheel base. This seems ideal to me for an 8' bed.

If your crew cab is going to add more the 28.5", then the suburban ch***is may be too short for you.

 

My wheel base on a '53 with a 6' box is 91".

 

I'm building a 42 gmc coe . I used a 1975 gmc 1 ton . I am going to put a 36" sleeper over a 502 and have a 9 foot bed . The frame was small cab with 8 foot bed and I added 20" to frame . If I can help pm me . Check out my photo albums .