The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1950 COE on a half-ton chassis

has anybody ever done this and is it complicated? or maybe suggest what frame to use?

What's the goal?

Grigg

i would like to make a daily driver out of it,also it would be easier to garage for the winter.

I remember someone around here building something like that around here almost 50 years ago. He used a 3/4 ton frame with a 302 and a Clark 5th over and the 4.56 3/4 ton rear. He chose the 3/4 ton chassis because it more closely resembled the 350 GMC cab over chassis. I helped him find parts because I practically lived in salvage yards in those days, but I didn't help in the building. It didn't take very long, so it must not have been to complicated.

What model COE is it, and or what is the wheelbase?
The 1/2 ton frame is not very simple, it tapers from one end to the other. As crenwelge suggested a 3/4 would be a better start, and I'll suggest a 1 ton. They are both straight starting at about the seat (just like the COE frame), and would be simpler to bolt the COE cab riser to.

I think that the 1/2 ton stuff would be a little undersized, brakes included. Not that the COE cab is much if any heavier than a conventional, just I don't think it makes sense to go from something so substantial down to itty bitty parts.

Try to visualize the truck a little lower to the ground and with smaller tires on it, you may think its just fine, and if so then go for it.
I think because of the small tires and the large fenders you'll have to try pretty hard to make it look good.

Grigg

I think I know where you're heading with this, a hot rod type truck with a coe cab, but not necessarily a truck used for hauling and such. I've seen some done up using 1 ton duallie frams, but one of the neatest ones I've seen used a G series van chassis with a short stepside bed behind it. That might be an option to look at.

There is a guy named Koos Diedelson on the HAMB and on the COE truck lists who put a COE cab on a '71 or '72 GMC 1/2-ton frame.

If you google his name you'll come up with his photo site and some of his posts in various places. His photos show how he approaced the frame swap project.

Koos put the back far enough that I don't think he could have used a Chevy frame with the trailing arms. The GMC's of that period usually have rear leaf springs.

If you're thinking hot rod COE with limited load capacity his pictures are worth a look.

Just this Past Weekend I placed My 47 Chevy COE on to a 77 Chevy 3/4 ton Suburban Frame. (Not Fully Mounted) How I did it I printed Down a Photo of Koos Diedelson Coe as a Visual Placement of the Cab using the Vents between the door and fire wall the over the Wheels. The Motor at first look appears is going set Mostly Right where the inline 6 did but only about 1/2 the moter will show. My test Motor used in Mock up will be a LS1 Moter 350 and It also appears the Frame Will be possible shorten 1-3 foot to have the look I want. This Truck will be dropped using Drop spindle with a lug change from 8 to 5 bolt pattern with not this Tires. I do have a Photos of the Placement I will try tonight to place them on the site. For Every one Can Give their Input More Ideas the Better!

Like Koos truck I used a 1/2 chevy frame but I used a 72 4x4 1/2 ton frame and mounted the cab just high enough to permit the engine tunnel in the cab to take minimal space for the v-8 engine. The truck sits just 4 inches lower than the original frame. Koos moved his engine back and boxed the frame to strengthen it, so his engine did not get in the way of floor board.

My other COE is mounted on a 1991 chevy Dually standard long bed 1 ton truck and I mounted the engine behind the cab and have a 15 inch drive line. This truck will have the appearance of being a low rider without fooling around with the frame since the bed will be pulled down over the sides of the rail and the bottom of the bed will be about 8 inches deep with a cover over it. I am putting about 10 hours a weekend into it now so it is coming together fast. lots of welding and fabricating (the fun part). Both cabs are mounted on big rubber mounts to diminish vibration.

I have a '80's Chevy 1 tom motor home chassis that I could possibly be talked out of that would be good for this type of project. The frame is long but it could easily be shortened to the desired length. I have been told the motorhome chassis are better for COE trucks and that is what I was origionally going to use it for.