Hello, I have a '50 coe with a V8 conversion, luckily they didn't cut anything up. The V8 (Pontiac 455) is frozen and my attempts to free it have failed. Miraculously, I found a 1952 Chevy coe engine AND chassis (complete with working dump bed). I was wanting to do a cab swap to the "new" chassis. I was hoping someone would tell me it's a simple and easy process to make the swap and everything will fit just fine. Any thoughts, suggestions or guidance are greatly appreciated.
Scott, To my knowledge (based only on the fact I own a 50 Chevy COE and a 51 Chevy 3100) that should be fine. I believe the cab mounts are the same and other than door handles/latches and ventipanes for the doors being different between the years, I think things are the same. I don't have any experience with a 52 COE and maybe someone else can chime in.
The steps and front fenders could be wider if the COE is the larger size. Not sure about the Chevy designations but GMC had the 350 and the 450. The frame is the same but the fenders and steps are specific to each size.
"I always win." Working mainly alone I do not let my trucks win a war. Maybe a battle here and there but never the war.
Thanks Spanky. Did you disconnect the steering box and lift the steering column with the cab or remove the steering wheel (which would require higher lifting)? I also assume you remove doors and fenders to make it lighter? Also, do you know approximately how much a complete cab weighs? Thanks again.
I was looking at my cab and how it is mounted, looks like less that a dozen fasteners, but they are rivets. What is suggested as a good replacement bolt, one that won't sheer off? Thanks.
Well, I got the donner engine running today. Had to rebuild the Carter BB-1 updraft carb (filthy - rust, scale, corrosion and silt. Lots of silt). Never been inside one of those, pretty interesting. I reused all the original parts, including the gaskets. After cleaning with just WD-40 and rags and small wire for the tight spots. Then hit them with carb cleaner. Next I boiled the carb in lemon/water solution for 30 minutes (25% lemon juice - 75% water) on my wood burning stove I have set up outside. Rinsed them with water and hit them again with aerosol carb cleaner. Although the carb was in really dirty condition, inside and out - I had success.
Next up brakes and then move the cab onto this chassis.
An update on my project. I built a hoist between the roof of my chicken coop and some scaffolding and lifted the cab off my existing chassis (it was a mid-engine V8 conversion with an automatic transmission - engine was stuck) and pushed the chassis out of the way underneath, then I set the cab on the flatbed truck and pulled it out of the way, then drove the cab+chassis into a alignment and backed the flatbed back under the hoist, picked it up, drove the flatbed out (while pulling the "new" chassis with running engine into place), lowered the cab and bolted it up. That was yesterday. Today I was able to finish the linkage and took it for some short drives. SO MUCH FUN! Got a list of tweeks for tomorrow, but running great.
