The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts New COE project

Well, the schedules have changed around again.
The 49 COE that I had talked about as a future project, arrived today. The tractor project was put on hold.
The client removed the grain body before shipping it down.
I was able to identify the engine as a 283 with the stock 4 speed w/PTO.
The big supprise was that the frame rails are twisted.
The rear 5 feet of the frame look like a toy truck that someone stepped on.
The truck had been so over loaded that rivets holding the rear cross member to the lower frame flange had sheared. With the springs mounted to the outside of the frame, the force twisted the bottom of the frame rails out. The spring mounts are no longer horizontal , but angle upwards.
In typical barnyard repair, instead of trying too straighten the rails, they just welded the ends of the cross member to the rails where they were so they wouldn't bend any more.
Just more work!

Post some pix, as I have a 39 COE that I have not started on yet, as you said it is a future project.

On further examination, the frame is worse than I originally estimated. It's not going to be practical to straighten it.
On to plan B.
There are a couple pics here, but I will start a new album for this project when it gets going.
http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/jsdesign2/library/

Moving ahead with the project, looks like we have another frame coming (long story, fill in details when I actually see it).
WHEELS, need all new ones. Truck has a mixture of 3 piece and 1 piece rims, 2 missing, some junk with ovaled out holes.
Because of the poor selection of 20" radial tires, client wants to change wheel size.
Looking for 22.5" (7.5?) so that 70/75 series tires will give me 36/37" diameter (original 8.25 were 38.5-39").
Know that nobody made rim that size with 4.75" center. Not a problem, can machine spacers.
Anyone know of a current source of New wheels, rather than searching junk yards?

As I go through the evaluation of the truck and make the parts needed list, I will post to the Wanted forum.
However since the COE is a Big Bolt only, and a small sub set at that, I will also mention them here as some of us don't visit there often.
Since the PO removed the seat and tack welded a bucket to the seat riser, I need seat bottom and back. Also the "floor hump" panel.
Thanks for the help in advance.

Finally got some pictures onto Photobucket (between the ads!)
Both trucks stripped down to the chassis. late '49 cab will go on the repowered '51 chassis. moving forward.

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/jsdesign2/library/51%20ceo

Gentleman in AZ had some made up with modern rims, $200. or $300. As I recall.

Ed

I think that may be Kent Zimmerman. (LightHolder's Dad)

Blue Chevy COE, in ATHS magazine, Prescott, AZ.

Ed

Thanks guys. Sorry, I tacked the pics onto the original thread.
Worked with the guys at Wheels Now, designed a custom rim that looks like the original in 22.5 and will take a 9.00-22.5, has a 38" diameter just like the old 8.25-20
Have been posting on other CEO threads on other issues with the truck.

Looks like the one used to belong to a John Deere dealer!

Worse! It has a couple big "Hot Wheels" decals on it.
That's the one that had the 283 V-8 in it.

Are the Wheels Now wheels Fe or Al?

Ed

welded steel.
The hope is that no one will know they aren't original without reading the tires.