COE Is this a good buy? Your thoughts please

infound this coe project and I am hoping to get your thoughts.

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/cto/6162698427.html

Any major red flags?

Is the price decent?

What questions should I be asking?

 

I wouldn't buy it, because I don't have any desire to own it.
Nothing personal, just my general feelings on the "Would you buy this" type of questions: I have never understood why people ask if others would buy a particular vehicle/project. To me it is like asking if I would marry your girlfriend, your needs and desires are way to personal and different from mine for me to be making that decision for you.

 

I would NOT buy it at ANY price !!
front tires in fender well correctly, is ALWAYS THE DEAL BREAKER FOR ME..

And I don't want to MARRY yer girl friend,, something un-fixable ugly here

 

You can do better !! looks like a money pit...
I thought you wanted a driver? One that you could drive and improve on..?
One like mine, with original paint, I am third owner

 

Exactly right, but not sure 25k is the number for me. I think I can do better for what I'm looking for.

 

I doubt it , but your call, probably cost $1000. just to get mine to your home.
keep taking your survey.

every body deserves happiness. !!!

 

Price is a little high for me and do you have another 15 to 20k and a couple of years to invest . It says it was a running truck but how much work was needed on it when th seller got it plus a lot of work left .

 

Price is high for what it is which is basically a mocked up first p***. Some people really like the 54 with the single windshield and unique grill. There is a ton of sheetmetal work to do on that one and it doesn't look like the body has been matched well to the frame. Looks like a long term project to me and Blue has the $$ about right

 

Thanks for the responses! If anyone sees a great buy out there please let me know

 

As a point of reference for you, a guy here in NH recently sold his 1949 Ford COE. SBC, auto, pristine shape. Unsure of ch***is.. Nicely built flatbed, again pristine... He had it listed for 29K. I don't know what he finally got for it, but something south of 29K for a perfect truck makes a 25K project seem kinda steep.

My mistake... Correction... I see the project is 7.5K, not 25K. Just a body will range in price from 1500 to 4-5000 depending.. How much is that donor ch***is worth would be my first question to myself. If I was ***** for that body style, I'd be thinking 4K, maybe...

 

Thanks! I really like the 40s body styles with the super flat nose now that I have done allot of research, but those seem to be even more rare.

 

Check this one out

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/6173204700.html

 

Lots of work .!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at th bottom of the drivers door . If your not a metal worker that would be expensive. That is a hard to find and expensive part .

 

The Atlanta one half ton

 

Yes !!! If your gonna get one that needs EVERYTHING, pay as little as you can at the start,
so you can put every dime in the world, you will ever see, into the project !!!!
FUN, FUN, FUN, !!!

See ya on the street, say in about 10-15 years. and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ later !!!

everybody deserves to be happy...

 

Tell me how you really feel @verde742 ! lol that's why I'm going back and forth. But I want something very specific, so that may be the only way to get there.

 

BTW the doors from a dodge conventional will fit the COE (1941-1947) without modification.
I'm willing to bet that when all is said and done, Verde's offer is a very good deal. I paid $980 plus a trip to Connecticut for what turned out to be a grille, nose sheetmetal, 2 door skins and 1/2 a roof. In 12 years I'm about 2/3 done with the project and have about $15000 in cash in the project and probably another $10 to $15 grand to go.
That mess on the right got tossed, some went to the salvage yard, the half rotten wood heated my shop for a day.

Took me a year and a half to build doors to fit the original skins. Yep, I'm old and slow, but my wife says I'm cute. (She's on some good drugs I guess)
Would I sell it for $25 large, hell no!

 

Yeah, someone asked me if I'd sell mine the other day...

 

Despite Verde's rant... the man has a valid point.. Can you go buy something finished for less $$ than it takes to build it? If you include the man hours, there is not much question the answer is yes. All of our beloved COEs have countless hours in them. Fortunately for me, I WORK CHEAP!

On the other hand, if you enjoy fabricating and wrenching as I do then building it is a pleasure not an expense. Without counting labor and using care purchasing parts, a COE can be done within a budget. I am still on track for and expect to be at under 10K when I'm done. But, I believe I've been fairly budget conscious. The LS1 in my truck was essentially free by purchasing my buddy's totaled Corvette, taking what I wanted and selling the remaining parts.

If I were to dispense one word of advice, it would be buy the best body you can afford. If I have the chance to do this again, I will look much harder at something from the Southwest over a New England Swiss Cheese model. The body work has been fun to learn but I still am not good at it and it takes forever.

 

RANT ? ! You can't handle MY RANT !!

Raised four girls !!! I can show you RANT !!!

 

Well the caveat is that I have every body working tool know to man, because my dad is a 30+ year body man. And I grew up around it and love doing it.

The counter to that is that my dad wanted me to have a better life so I became a lawyer . Now I have no time to wrench lol

But it's a hobby right? It would feel much better to drive something I built and can tell stories about

 

Better life? Your dad failed. You're a lawyer. BWAHHH!!
Seriously, is dad still with us? I don't think father-son projects have any age limits. How cool would that be?
I think you're on the right track.. It IS a hobby and if I don't get the sleeper floor installed this weekend cuz I'm going to a car show instead, it doesn't really matter. Making the backup lights work in reverse might be a good idea, however.

 

@wetskier2000 i have looked at your entire thread on your coe and I envy it! Any believe you brought that thing from the dead, but I did notice that it has taken you 5or 6 years. But hell, that's part of the fun.

Yea dad is still kicking, only problem now is he don't what to work on cars on the weekend because that's all he does during the week.

But on a serious note, how about the notion of just buying a nice body like the one for sale on here? What's the value of this?

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1952-ford-f6-coe.1062016/

 

if you really are an attorney,
have your secretary "proof read" your post...

 

@verde742 i saw that mistake after I posted it, luckily for you all, that one is free of charge

 

more than one !!!
If you want: just touch "edit" then make any changes,
then touch "save changes" e-z-- p-z

 

I've thoroughly enjoyed the build thus far and driving it! I have it with me today at the office.

That body does look nice, not sure it's 8 grand nice, but everything is negotiable, right? A cab that needs very little would certainly speed up a project. I think this fall is 6 years for me, although it might be 5 total as a YJ engine swap, TJ frame swap and DD stuff is mixed in there too. Oh and then her Mustang.. But I digress..

Looks like you are figuring out a plan.. Might be worth looking at the different body styles of COEs and thinking about which ones blow your skirt up more than others. In some thread here, I took a SWAG at availability for various makes, models and years....

 

Time is relative and most of mine aren't worth talking about .LOL
But yes you can buy cheaper than builld , unless you can stay on co**** and don't have A wandering mine like me . I've loved every minute except sanding . Blue