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. Engine is undecided right now. I'd really like to use the 7.3L International I have but its got over 680k kms on it so it may be way cheaper to find another donor than to try and save this one. I'll have to find a place to post my pictures so that I can link to them.
You're crazy... and in the right place a**** other crazies! Not sure height will be an issue, there seems to be plenty of headroom in most COEs. You could get more rear seat width just widening the newly grafted rear seat area and leaving the front the original dimension.
welcome, you will find LOTS of great info here and people more than willing to offer great advice, and yes we are a little crazy
fresh meat! -er- welcome... with three boys, one a teen, I too have debated the cab widening challenge. probably more realistically, I will be considering the added width for the grandkids....
Welcome to the COE side of the HAMB. Pics, we love pics over here. post em if you have em. Need help, just ask.
Based on my vin plate my model is a FF453 IMG_2157 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2155 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2154 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2151 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2146 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2147 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2148 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2149 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM IMG_2159 by HOTRDD posted Sep 13, 2017 at 3:00 PM
The Jalopy Journal
