Well this happened…. Bought it from a fellow HAMBer. Super great guy. I’ve always wanted a COE. How could I resist a Fargo? I believe it’s a ‘59. Did I mention it has a Hemi in it?
I couldn’t say no since it’s the same front as my 57 1/2 to . Plans are for more modern drive axle and about three feet lower!
I saw a 57 Dodge CEO in a junk yard in WI many years ago. It was really rusty, and only the cab forward (on the frame, no drive train) was present. I wanted it so bad, but at that time, it was way past my abilities. Amazingly, that old junk yard is still going (lots of changes over the years), every once and a while, I wonder if that old CEO is still there. I'd be pretty surprised if it was, its probably been over 20 years since I've been there. It sure looked pretty cool to me.
Considering how few actual CEO trucks Dodge probably sold during that time frame, them not changing the front sheet metal isn't all that surprising. The 57 nose fit the era well, and the 60 was a completely new truck, with different sheet metal.
If I remember correctly those are the dangerous rims, but I always dug the mag wheel image they have. If there is a way to keep them, it would be great to see.
In my opinion dropping the body will detract from the COE cool factor. You could put the cab on a Super Duty frame if you wanted it low. I would consider going a different route depending on your final goal. I would use a drum box or sleeper behind the cab and channel it so it ties into the original cab height. The sides of the channeled sleeper would hide the fuel tank and allow storage space under the floor giving it that lowered look. If you wanted to pull with it, you could extend the frame and put duals on it with either a true truck hitch or a goose neck hitch on it to tow s trailer. Or keep the single rear and turn it into something like a toter home.
I would wait until you see what i'm doing before telling me how I should build it. I am keeping the frame, currently looking for a dana 80 or 110, it will get lowered to a reasonable height with a deck and a fifth wheel to pull my trailers, no where did i say anything about lowering the cab or extending the frame, a sleeper is awfully hard to do with the big back window.
Wasn't trying to tell you how to build it. I expressed my opinion. It's yours build it how you want. What I think has sorta been done before but not exactly how I would do it.. Your engine choice in my opinion is spot on. I would throw super singles on the back to give it a more modern appeal. Again, what I would do, not what you have to do. I could even see the sleeper concept allowing you to use a more traditional bed like your pickup has. I like seeing projects and thinking about what I would do. Then sit back and see what they do. The only thing I would ask you to do is keep on impressing us with your workmanship.
Nice. The 12 valve is a reliable pulling beast. That will be a great combo. Many years ago a guy had a 48 work dodge truck running a 24 Valve Cummins at the show, flat bed with a 69 Hemi Charger on the bed. The Charger barely received a glance, but the well built truck had a crowd all day long. Enjoy the build.
I’ve had a few 12 valve pickups, this one is a ‘96 so the easy to turn up p pump. My goal is to use this truck to pull my trailers, it’ll have a fifth wheel on it
I'm excited, I'm not sure how much I will get done this year. I have to make some progress on the T-Bird project for my wife. I am mostly focused on collecting parts for the COE at this point.
No interior pictures? No engine pictures? What engine is in it? Will it crank? Can you get it running? You should know by now we need more.
The Jalopy Journal
