First off, welcome to the Stovebolt. Here's my opinion, take it or leave it, it's just an opinion. I've always pictured COE's as Big Bolt's and feel they should "look" the part even as a street rod. The "look" in my opinion would be dual wheels at least. So I wouldn't go any small that a 1 ton chassis with the dual wheel hubs and wheels. They have a lot of suspension goodies for the more modern tonners so that's the route I would take. The big sheetmetal on a small platform like a 1/2 ton wouldn't look symetrical,
Scott