The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 52 COE suspension upgrades/frame swap

So there's this (I think) 52 COE flatbed I've seen out in a field for years. Never really gave it much thought until last weekend when I started thinking what a great hauler that would make for the 53. You know how it gets...once the gears start turning...so thought I'd ask the experts. Are there any common suspension upgrades for these? Maybe a 70's or 80's 3/4 or 1 ton suspension, or even a frame swap? I've looked around but haven't found much, thanks for any ideas (including "go see a doctor, another project is the last thing you need")...

For an older working truck the best frame is the one it came with.
If you have a small truck and only want to use it as a car then perhaps an S10 is a good fit, but for real trucks I think a real frame is best.

If you plan to use it to haul one of your other trucks you don't need to do anything to it except get it running and stopping, the rest is built for the job.

If you would like better brakes, and the option of more rear gear choices check my picture link below.

The only upgrade I can think of that may help the actual suspension would be a sway bar. I will try to put one or two on my truck before I am done, but have not started that project yet. I do have a sway bar from a 94 Chevy TopKick 4500 that I think may work for the front, or for sure the rear. Whatever I end up using It will be from a full sized pickup or a medium duty truck. I'll keep y'all informed when I start on the sway bar.

Grigg

I've seen a number of them sitting on 1-ton dually frames and similar things. For my COE project I have a P30 frame rated at just over 12,000 GVWR.

If my finished truck ends up weighing half that, I could reasonably haul a 6,000 load. That's enough for a 1/2-ton pickup and could even handle my 5,800 pound 1-ton four-wheel-drive. (Except I'm not building a car hauler.)

But if you look at the flat bed tow trucks out there, they tend to be bigger trucks than the 1-ton or 30/3000 series trucks like what I have.

Look for a bigger truck as a frame suspension donor and then measure and think. You might end up agreeing with Grigg or like me you may decide on a frame swap.

Keep posting your ideas. You'll get some help and lots of opinions here!

Most of the big truck frames are straight rails 34" apart so you best bet is leave the frame and change the running gear, like Grigg did with his new F@rd. Your biggest stumbling block would be the front axle witch is narrow on our old trucks. I am not sure about getting as ambitious as Grigg in narrowing a front axle but if you are good he has proven it a viable option. I have been thinking about using a wider axle and having a good body man section my fenders if it can be done without changing the look of the truck. With my 56 I think the factory has widened the front of the heavier three axle trucks them selves. After studying pictures I have noticed the heaver three axle trucks to have a larger bulge to the front fenders. Anyway I think I can widen the front fenders and keep it very subtle and a wider front stance will be a plus in the handling department.

Thanks for the tips...I can see how getting the front axle the right width could be a bear. I like using existing frames so will have to see what the junkyard laying around. Best of luck to all of your projects...if I pick this up you know I'll be back to big bolt boulevard...