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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 | Hi group,
thanks for the opportunity to share and brain pick. I've been toting this sheet metal around for years and am getting fired up about making something with it. I found a beautiful COE in northern CA a few years back, what I have to work with is a very sound complete body with no chassis. I make my living by painting artwork that mostly consists of derelict trucks that I have found in the landscape. I can see my personal ride as a rusty truck, streetable, dependable and safe and slammed in the weeds.
My interest at this point is in selecting a suitable chassis for a foundation that may become a mid engine or not. maybe a half ton p/u for starters. Has anyone here tackled this kind of project, I appreciate any thought, suggestions, experience that you can provide. I'm an old guy that wants to do a rod/art project in before another reason pops up to not do it.
Thanks in advance and thanks for including me in your community.
Pick | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | 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 | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | I've seen a couple COE's built on 1/2-ton pickups and I guess the look okay for what they are. My concern with those is what happens when someone wants to treat the truck like a real truck... the ones I can think of are all '47 to '54 cab and not the same as yours.
My first thought for one of these is a GM P30, which is a forward control chassis used under motorhomes and bread trucks and that kind of thing. The steering is already configured right and you are starting with a real truck.
I saw a '39 GMC at a car show yesterday that would be similar to what you describe. Mostly faded original paint, setting on a modern frame with a 454 and TH 400 mounted just behind the cab. I took some pictures but never caught up with the owner.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 37 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 37 | I saw a '39 GMC at a car show yesterday that would be similar to what you describe. Mostly faded original paint, setting on a modern frame with a 454 and TH 400 mounted just behind the cab. I took some pictures but never caught up with the owner. I sure would like to see those pics. Here is a link to the '39 I have. I've thought about doing something like that to mine. My truck | | |
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