Finally back to work in the shop My C.O.E.
- Thread starter don long
- Start date
HOTFR8
Banned
Will you steel out the sleeper to make it stronger ?
MP&C
Well-known member
xXSanderXx
Active member
Where do you live? It's beautiful there!
fordsbyjay
Member
That's what the guy said when I bought my Factory Five roadster from him. It rained all 5 days I was there right up until the morning we left. Good thing as we drove 2200 miles home in our new purchase. lol
BigMike782
Well-known member
Very cool build!
Will the 429 have the oomph to push this bad boy down the road?
I am guessing by the looks that it is not stock.
Will the 429 have the oomph to push this bad boy down the road?
I am guessing by the looks that it is not stock.
MP&C
Well-known member
Don, don't know if you've found the source yet for the seal needed, here is one I ran across...
http://www.accordionboot.com/index.php
http://www.accordionboot.com/index.php
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Looking at the last pic, I keep forgetting that the cabover is just a regular pickup truck cab. For some reason I was envisioning it much wider with nothing in there. You wouldn't have much room to squeeze people between the seats to gt to the back if you wanted to. Side back doors are almost a necessity for people access.
Don....in looking at your cutout, and the aluminum sleeper and the steel cab, what would be the possibility of changing the metal on the front of the sleeper to steel, then mate the two together? Or do you think you will need some flex? I would think that it could be made rigid enough in the frame area to reduce flex.
Don....in looking at your cutout, and the aluminum sleeper and the steel cab, what would be the possibility of changing the metal on the front of the sleeper to steel, then mate the two together? Or do you think you will need some flex? I would think that it could be made rigid enough in the frame area to reduce flex.
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hippie2cams
Well-known member
That is going to be one Awsome build when it is finished. I am pleased to be able to witness such an endeavor, keep it up. thank you. I was going to mention to be sure to mount your mirrors a little wider that the sleeper but I see by the photos there is no problem in that area, they have to be wider so you can see the rear. 
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Don......The first part sounds like a good plan. As far as building steps inside of the sleeper, would it be easier to install electric/hydraulic steps that drop down when the door opens. If you extend the stock running boards back, they would sort of become a structural support for the sleeper. Then like a lot of RV's, when you open the door up, two steps drop down from underneath. That's just an idea tossed out there your way
I have a picture of the same COE from a show in Portland Oregon.
This next photo is a picture of 65 Ford crewcab that was my dads daily driver. It had a 429 in it and it pulled itself and many trailers down the road very good. My dad gathered up several 429's over the years. I built one for a 76 F100 I drove in high-school. There is a big boat mercury at my moms house that has a 429 under the hood, one in the back seat and two in the truck.
This truck has been painted and driven as a daily driver since 1995 (only driven 5-6 times in the last 3.5 yrs since he passed away).
This next photo is a picture of 65 Ford crewcab that was my dads daily driver. It had a 429 in it and it pulled itself and many trailers down the road very good. My dad gathered up several 429's over the years. I built one for a 76 F100 I drove in high-school. There is a big boat mercury at my moms house that has a 429 under the hood, one in the back seat and two in the truck.
This truck has been painted and driven as a daily driver since 1995 (only driven 5-6 times in the last 3.5 yrs since he passed away).
fordsbyjay
Member
Nice, I like Fords.
HOTFR8
Banned
The Tilt tray back is very common here as a Tow Truck. Great idea for the back of your COE if the chassis is long enough.
e-tek
Well-known member
I need to take a couple days for that myself!
Judging by what we see of your workbenches - I'll agree with that! LOL!
Not sure if that's a good way to start ownership of a supercar - or the worst!
Couldn't tell!
Looking forward to more Don!
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Very cool build!
Will the 429 have the oomph to push this bad boy down the road?
I am guessing by the looks that it is not stock.
BigMike I AM SO SORRY THAT I OVERLOOKED YOUR POST
THe 429 has been played with just a bit. About 450 hp. that should eat enough fuel to push this truck down the road no problem
That is going to be one Awsome build when it is finished. I am pleased to be able to witness such an endeavor, keep it up. thank you. I was going to mention to be sure to mount your mirrors a little wider that the sleeper but I see by the photos there is no problem in that area, they have to be wider so you can see the rear.
hippie2cams
I'm happy to hear that you will be checking back often.
I kind of like the single shaft mirror that look to be about 3 feet long
The left door has the original long mirror on it
Don......The first part sounds like a good plan. As far as building steps inside of the sleeper, would it be easier to install electric/hydraulic steps that drop down when the door opens. If you extend the stock running boards back, they would sort of become a structural support for the sleeper. Then like a lot of RV's, when you open the door up, two steps drop down from underneath. That's just an idea tossed out there your way
Kevin
Thanks for the input. I will cross that bridge a bit later. First I just want to attach the sleeper and get the truck driveable then I can worry about fixing up the sleeper and building the bed.
Duke55
I guess after building a truck like that you must get in and drive the wheels off of it.
The crew cab trucks weren't that popular back in the 60s or 70s Its great that you still have your dads truck.
fordsbyjay
I kind of like them too I have a few from 1956 and back.
Simon the truck chassis will be stretched 7 feet when I start working on the bed, then it will need air bags to drop in down lower as well
Should be able to make a little headway this week (3 days) I will be experimenting with my metal roller as I try to rebuild the sleeper front corners and reconstruct the front inner structure should be a fun week
Today I Started stripping out the sleeper
The doors came off, the front skins were drilled out (rivits)
The inner structure that will hold the lower skirts were figured
and templets made for them. then I went to the metal supplier
and picked up a sheet of 20 gage steel to remake the sleeper skins
longer to fit the skirts (all one piece corners)
The doors came off, the front skins were drilled out (rivits)
The inner structure that will hold the lower skirts were figured
and templets made for them. then I went to the metal supplier
and picked up a sheet of 20 gage steel to remake the sleeper skins
longer to fit the skirts (all one piece corners)
HOTFR8
Banned
You should be able to find the correct rivets to use on the sleeper as they have a head like a carriage bolt. If I recall you put them in place and then a seal from the inside.
I have also found photos of the rubber seal that goes between my sleeper and cab if that helps you.
I have also found photos of the rubber seal that goes between my sleeper and cab if that helps you.
HMCFab9
Well-known member
Very cool build! I just looked at this thread for the first time today.
We did a very similar truck where I worked & one suggestion I have: Make your motor mounts so that you can drop the whole engine / trans out the bottom. (If you are not too far along to do so)
We built it so that you can put the truck on the hoist, remove a couple bolts, then the whole engine & trans drops out onto a cart as the rest of it is raised on the lift. Makes engine maintenance much easier.
We did a very similar truck where I worked & one suggestion I have: Make your motor mounts so that you can drop the whole engine / trans out the bottom. (If you are not too far along to do so)
We built it so that you can put the truck on the hoist, remove a couple bolts, then the whole engine & trans drops out onto a cart as the rest of it is raised on the lift. Makes engine maintenance much easier.
HOTFR8
Banned
OK, if no rubber between the cab and the sleeper I am now curious to see how this will all join up. Most sleepers are solid mounted to the chassis and the cabs on rubber mounts so a rubber sock is used to join the to and avoid the movement between the two.
I have no doubt Don you have it all worked out so once again keen to follow your progress.
I have no doubt Don you have it all worked out so once again keen to follow your progress.
HOTFR8
Banned
justbummin1
Well-known member
hotfr8 you need to relax and enjoy the ride! Lets just see what Don does cause from what I have seen it is going to be awesome!!! Everybody has their own vision and there isn't any rules of thumb on how to build a full blown custom so lets let him do what he is envisioning not what you are.
Rob
Rob
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Don.....are you going to have to modify the frame to beef it up in the area that the sleeper will mount? I know that a lot of the truck frames don't have the adequate support and will flex quite a bit. You can see on anything from a pickup to a large truck. I figure you will have to do something in that area to reduce flex. I do imagine though that when you get the hauler portion on that it will in itself strengthen the frame from the making of it.
simon
The mounts are left over from the elcamino build that I haven't gotten to yet
justbummin1
Thanks for that vote of confidence.
Kevin
The rear of the sleeper is sitting on top of a x member and will be bolted directly to it.
I want to thank everyone for checking in and following the build. It keeps me going out to the garage every morning.
So I guess I'll go out now
The mounts are left over from the elcamino build that I haven't gotten to yet
justbummin1
Thanks for that vote of confidence.
Kevin
The rear of the sleeper is sitting on top of a x member and will be bolted directly to it.
I want to thank everyone for checking in and following the build. It keeps me going out to the garage every morning.
So I guess I'll go out now
HOTFR8
Banned
Oh I am. Don has so many different ideas and it is always interesting to see another persons perspective and build with such a project. OK, Like a chassis mount rubber ?
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Sorry no pic's tonite
had visitors come over to tour the garage so that ate up most of my day
I did start fitting up the fenders, cut the mount brackets for the running boards and fit the left running board to the fender.
I also went to a junk yard yesterday and selected captain chairs out of a late model excursion and went back today and picked them up.
tonite I am searching for a way to get curved glass into the corners of the sleeper for the passengers to look thru from the rear seats.
I'm thinking of the cab corner windows in 48 - 53 chev 5 window p/u and how I might graft them into my corners
had visitors come over to tour the garage so that ate up most of my day
I did start fitting up the fenders, cut the mount brackets for the running boards and fit the left running board to the fender.
I also went to a junk yard yesterday and selected captain chairs out of a late model excursion and went back today and picked them up.
tonite I am searching for a way to get curved glass into the corners of the sleeper for the passengers to look thru from the rear seats.
I'm thinking of the cab corner windows in 48 - 53 chev 5 window p/u and how I might graft them into my corners
HOTFR8
Banned
Those seats sound comfortable.
Lippyp
Well-known member
Another source of curved glass like that might be a pair of alpine windows from the roof of an old series landrover or a LR Discovery if you can find them. Like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-SKY-LIGHT-GLASS-ALPINE-LIGHTS-/150537618081
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-SKY-LIGHT-GLASS-ALPINE-LIGHTS-/150537618081
Simon
The other day while driving in my ford truck the thought came to me how comfortable I was in my truck. That's when I decided on what seats to put in the COE so I started looking around for those seats when I found the crashed excursion with the same material as my truck The price was right so I took them.
Thanks Lippyp
I like those windows much better They are a bit longer and would look better in the corners of the sleeper Now I'm on the hunt. I will need to find the land rover and cut the metal opening out so as to have the lip needed to hold the window rubber in place then I can graft it into the steel pieces that need to be formed for the corners of the sleeper
HOTFR8
Banned
I did the same thing with seats in my F4, only thing I did that was different was buying them new. A supplier at the time showed me samples and I was hooked.
I worked on the running boards and back splash panels today
after shortening the mount brackets I had to figure out where to mount them.
I had to take down the back splash panel to gain access to the frame for drilling the holes. I drilled holes in the frame and the patch panel on the fender and set the running board for height, now I know how long to make the corners of the sleeper.
The right side of the truck is a little different. The battery sat on the running board and extended thru the splash panel, so I had to rebuild that panel.
Because the battery sat on the running board the running board is in need of rust replacement. It needs to be sand blasted and holes filled and ribs rebuilt on it and a new nose fabed in So I started on the splash panel this afternoon
The running board needs a little help
after shortening the mount brackets I had to figure out where to mount them.
I had to take down the back splash panel to gain access to the frame for drilling the holes. I drilled holes in the frame and the patch panel on the fender and set the running board for height, now I know how long to make the corners of the sleeper.
The right side of the truck is a little different. The battery sat on the running board and extended thru the splash panel, so I had to rebuild that panel.
Because the battery sat on the running board the running board is in need of rust replacement. It needs to be sand blasted and holes filled and ribs rebuilt on it and a new nose fabed in So I started on the splash panel this afternoon
The running board needs a little help
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HOTFR8
Banned
Looking good Don.
80WTI_55_CHEV
Well-known member
Just stopping in to see how the COE is going Don, you aren't mucking around i see. Keep up the good work mate, just think of all the road trips you will be able to do with it and all the new vehicles you will be able to drag home, you might have to build a new garage for all the new vehicles you get. Lee
Firestarter Fred
Well-known member
After reading through your thread over the last 2 weeks, I have nothing but admiration for you. Thank you for sharing your build with all of us. Your work looks very nice, and I am sure when it is all finished you will have so much fun in it.
Fred.
Fred.
thanks guys for sharing those nice thoughts.
today I got a little time in the garage.
I sand blasted the rt side step plate (running board)
then I cut out all the rusted out tie down holes for the battery and
welded new flat metal in and cleaned off the front end of the plate and formed a new front piece and welded it onto the step plate.
Started with this
First hole
and another
what it looks like tonite
today I got a little time in the garage.
I sand blasted the rt side step plate (running board)
then I cut out all the rusted out tie down holes for the battery and
welded new flat metal in and cleaned off the front end of the plate and formed a new front piece and welded it onto the step plate.
Started with this
First hole
and another
what it looks like tonite