I’ve got another project/build in mind. I’ve found an early 50s COE, but the frame is cut off behind the cab. So I need another frame. I would like to upgrade to a newer frame etc. What year(s) of frames would the COE cab fit or be modified to fit?
I am in the process of putting my 1939 Chevy COE on a 1980 1 ton GMC step van chassis. It seems to have everything just were I need it. But I only have the chassis with everything from the dash forward. No rear end, no motor or trans. Now I half to hunt for the drive train. What ever you use, try to find a complete, running donner truck/car. life is so much simpler that way.
Darrell, W.L. 1939 Chevy COE tow truck/My Stubbed toe 1939 Chevy 2 door Sedan
Car chat means talks about Chevy's. All other car makers only build transportation. I don't work on my cars, I entertain my self in my garage, so my nabor tells me.
Ops!! Somehow the body of my post didn’t make.
I want to pull my 5th wheel trailer with it. Trailer weighs in abut 10K. I’ve looked at one ton trucks and they seem a bit light for this type of towing. I’d rather not work the truck at the top end of its rated towing capacity. Something in the medium duty class (4 or 5 or even a class 6 truck) should do the trick. A friend has ford f650 truck with a Cummins 5.9 mated to an Alison. The truck has full air suspension in the rear. It’s a nice ride. I’m thinking the COE cab sure would look nice set up with same capabilities as that F650.
I need a great foundation frame to build on. One that supports recent brakes engine, trans designs. Part availability (should a breakdown occur) is a high priority, along with freeway speeds in the mountains.
There is a '51 Chevy coe on e-bay right now for sale. It would give you something to look at. It is a nice looking ride but the wheelbase is probably longer than you want. Diesel and a dually. Take a look, It's silver and pricy.
If I were in your shoes I would give the Isuzu NRR a hard look. They are the same physical size as the common NPR trucks but with a GVW around 19.5k lbs, versus the NPR's GVW of around 10k. There is also a NQR that is somewhere in the middle. If you look long enough you can find a NRR with the 6cylinder diesel. The 4 cylinder has a reputation for being rather underpowered for even the NPR. The problem with a f650 size platform is that it will be exceedingly wide for what you want to do. The NRR will really be a little too wide, but much closer than a medium duty truck.
1947, 1950, & 1952 Chevrolet 1/2 ton 1952 GMC 450 series Cab Over Engine 1946 Chevrolet 2 Ton
I used an 2003 GMC w4500HD (same as isuzu) and have it set up to pull a 36' 5th wheel camper that is around 10K pounds. look for ones with 19.5 wheels. They are the HD models and the GVW is 15.5K with a CGVW of just over 20K. I used a gas model and it does good but is not a speed demon when towing. The width of the axles is good for thes old trucks and the frame is the standard 34" They also have the 6 on 8.75 bolt pattern so 22.5 wheels are available if you want them. Here is a link to my photo bucket album. http://s1356.beta.photobucket.com/u...amp;_suid=135289750051906278881402328205
A Freightliner or Oshkosh stepvan with the 6BT Cummins may also be a good start. Check the width of the front axle compared to your fenders. Either should come with 19.5" wheels and 22.5" are available.
Another option is swap the engine, trans, and axles you want into the old frame, there's really nothing wrong with the old ones. This is the method I've chosen and I'm pleased with it.
Check-out Eric Bureau's 1955 2nd-Series 6500,here in the gallery. This will give you a good picture of what Grigg is suggesting. I believe he needed to narrow the front-axle,and modify the firewall,but,I like the looks of the heightened frame,as well as the fuel-mileage,especially while towing some considerable weight. Hope this helps.
Old school Chevy, Thats it! I could not find it in the gallery. Just couldn;t remember where I saw it. I wanted to see the side and rear views. I think I could make one like it. Just having a hard time determining what I want for a bed. My frame is 12 ft. long. Would like a rollback but guess thats lots of $$$$ Thanks for finding it for me. Its a 2 1/2 ton so I could put anything I wanted, maybe even a concrete mixer !!! lol. Wayne.
57 GMC LCF 370 55 John Deere 40-W 59 John Deere 430-W 2000 GMC 4x4 56 John Deere 420-W Pix on Photobucket
I also used the original '37 GMC frame, added GM P3500 HD rear axle w/ my own air ride(two bags off Kenworth 4-bag axle), front axle and Saginaw power steering. Very easy to do, although GM mounts the front springs with a tapered planform, had to parallel modern springs-used longer Ford 2 leaf, moved shackle mount to rear of springs, front spring mount rigid(reverse of '37). Longer springs give softer ride. Wider front axle taken care of by moving front fenders out 1.5" each side with Al spacer blocks.
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
G'day Shane, Awesome truck mate!! I love what you have done with Big Bertha. I have also just completed the same conversion to my '50 COE over here in Sydney, Australia. I used a 1976 C30 chassis etc, power comes from a 500" Cadillac, 3speed TH400, 9" centre grafted into the C30 rear end. We used an Aussie built(GM Holden) truck body for the dual cab graft - suicided the rare doors and a mid 70's XC Falcon (Aussie built) station wagon roof section to fill out the roof area. I also grafted in a right hand drive '59 Chevy passenger car dash complete with Dakota Digital gauges and a Flaming River column. I originally brought the cab out from Calif some 9 years ago and its been an 8 year build. The ride from the C30 chassis is unreal. It hit the road 12 months ago and at the moment it's my daily driver. I waiting on a 1956 GMC 100 pickup to come in from Calif and I will use it for my daily driver if it checks out OK. I will use the COE on weekends and to tow the race car to the track. The truck took out a Top Ten spot out of 506 Hotrods and Customs at a Rock & Roll - Show & Shine Festival over this past weekend. It certainly generated a lot of interest as it is the only road going COE here - although there are a few coming in now and under construction. The COE's were never available in the Aussie market back in the 40's and 50's so to have one here is vary rare. I am from New Zealand originally but have lived in Oz now for the past 26 years- I'm 53 now, and ever since I was a teenager, I have loved everything American - especially old trucks. My first car in NZ was a 55 chevy 4 door sedan and then a 56 Chevy pickup. I have owned and brought out many American cars, restored them, hotrodded them and still own a fair number of them. You guys over there don't know how lucky you are to have all that material there at your fingertips. We would give our right arm and left testical to be in your shoes. We are mad about old US Iron and anything to do with the nostalgia scene. I have a link to my pics of my cars and toys - take a look and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed taking a look at your Big Bertha. Regards Harry
Harry, thats a really nice truck too. Looks like you have a good selection of toys too. I am putting a 454 in Big Bertha this weekend. I have a build thread over on another forum..... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557184 and I just found here on youtube from the world of wheels show in Pittsburgh at time 1:18
I have a 52 that I will be removing from the original frame. I am not using the original frame, motor or transmission, complete rolling chassis. email if interested. I am using my sub-frame for the new build.
Alot of guys are talking about box truck running gears.Every one that i have looked at is realywide as are alot of motorhomes.How does the axle width compeared to a old truck.
Axle width is a lot of inches wider than an AD truck on the front, the rear is just fine. For comparisons look at the sticky thread about disc brakes in this forum.
Buggy, How's the 468 working out.....was the transmission rebuild of the 4L80E?? Would've thought it tough enough for your application. Any idea why it roached?
Buggy, How's the 468 working out.....was the transmission rebuild of the 4L80E?? Would've thought it tough enough for your application. Any idea why it roached?
468 is working out pretty good.....likes lots of fuel. The tranny roached due to the clutch in the torque converter started blowing apart and the chunks plugs the cooler....
Hello new guy, I too have a GMC COE truck, I purchase a F350 rolling chassis from a ambulance, it was nice with air ride too, but I had to give it up, the steering gear box was lay down too far, once I mounted the cab on the frame I couldn't connect the steering shaft to the gear box. I am going to try the chevy ambulance frame, hopefully I do better with it. So check the angle of the gear box in elation to the steering shaft before you lay some money on that frame. There was a wise advise by another member to look into a Izuzo frame, I wich I had got that advise before I spend the money on the ford frame. Best of luck. Jesus
