Ford COE Kustom

[Duke55]

Thought I better start a thread for the COE. I think I will use the chopped 55 f100 thread to show some of my misc projects, car shows and of course any work on the 55.

So to recap for some. I plan to build a 60's kustom COE. It will have a mid engine (flathead), 3 speed OD on the column, transverse leaf springs front and rear. And I plan to build the frame and bed from scratch.

I ended up getting 3 cabs as a partial trade when I painted a 4th COE.





Makings of a grille




Lower bar mount








Getting ready for chop


Before and after chop




Windshield frame chopped




Picked up an open drive Banjo rear end


Machined differential to accept 28 spline 9" side gears and axles




Picked up a rebuilt 59A flathead with chrome strombergs, offy intake, mallory distributor and 8ba crank, rods and pistons. One of my grandpa's old hot rod buddies built the motor and past away prior to putting it to use.



Have had some family medical issues that have kept me from working in the shop for the last 6 months but things are looking significantly better now. With any luck I should be able to start posting progress on a more regular basis.

Also since the post was getting quite long I left quite a few details out. More details can be seen in my Chopped 55 F100 thread that can be found by clicking the link in my signature.

 

[ADSR]

WOW! That's some fine work!!!

Great show!

 

[JonBoehman]

Gonna enjoy this build. Keep em coming.

 

[don long]

I think that i will stay tuned in here
I think that i will learn lots if I pay attention
So count me in

I like the look of the chop top

 

[HD FLHX]

Very Cool, love your keeping it flathead powered

 

[Jarhead0408]

Very nice. I'm looking forward to your progress.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Picked up a rebuilt 59A flathead with chrome strombergs, offy intake, mallory distributor and 8ba crank, rods and pistons. One of my grandpa's old hot rod buddies built the motor and past away prior to putting it to use.

That sure is one pretty flat head !

 

[Jawn]

Nice project. I'd love to build a vintage COE project someday. There's one on youtube about like what I'd want (Chev)... has a Detroit 4-53 with an air starter.

 

[mitusa]

What year is the COE???? '46-'47?

You've got a great start; interested to see it finished!

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Nice truck!

 

[emeraldcoupe]

awesome build. the chopped cab has a cool pissed off aggressive look

 

[kluckfab]

Holy **** man, that is nice

 

[wyo george]

I would have never chopped the top, but the work is fantastic and I'm loving that flattie!

 

[Zeke]

I would have never chopped the top, but the work is fantastic and I'm loving that flattie!

I wanted to say that but I didn't. Now that you have, I will agree. But, different strokes.... Yeah, the flathead is very pretty. Not a whole lot of power for a big truck but a great sound. All in all, this will be a bitchin' truck.

 

[Lone Star Blaze]

you had my attention at COE

looks good so far keep us in the know

 

[LXCam]

Soooo cool!.

 

[Kevin54]

Is there a reason that you leaned the back of the cab I towards the front instead of dropping in straight down when you chopped it?

That is not just and engine.....that is a work of art. If that doesn't grab peoples attention when they look at it, then they have a definite problem. Beautiful!!!!!

Two of the best looking engines ever made in my opinion are the Ford Flathead, and the Buick Nailhead. Dressed up, they both look fantastic.

Are you going to put the same paint scheme on this as the other pickup in your avatar? I know it's yours, but I would go for a big brother and put the same paint scheme on.

 

[Stooge]

Oh sh*t! You sir, have my attetion! Excellent work so far, looking forward to seeing this come together!

 

[xtremek]

I tuned in for the other thread, count me in on this one. I love your work.

 

[Duke55]

Thanks for all the great comments.

What year is the COE???? '46-'47?

Based on the original grille it would be a 40-47. I dont know exactly since two of the three cabs I got do not have VIN tags.

I would have never chopped the top, but the work is fantastic and I'm loving that flattie!

I wanted to say that but I didn't. Now that you have, I will agree. But, different strokes.... Yeah, the flathead is very pretty. Not a whole lot of power for a big truck but a great sound. All in all, this will be a bitchin' truck.

Originally I was not going to chop it since I thought the factory cab was wild enough. Then after one of the car shows I took my chopped 55 to that had a few none chopped 55's and a few traditional chopped 55's I realized that my truck would not be what it is without the one off chop job that my grandpa did. Shortly after I was cutting away and I have to say it is one of the mods that just felt right and even more right once I was done. The other two cabs should be getting nervous since I don't know that I could settle for a none chopped COE now.

This truck will not be a big truck when I am done with it. It will be running 1940 style ford car/truck suspension and have a similar wheel base. This thing will be a cruiser and not a car hauler.

Is there a reason that you leaned the back of the cab I towards the front instead of dropping in straight down when you chopped it?

Are you going to put the same paint scheme on this as the other pickup in your avatar? I know it's yours, but I would go for a big brother and put the same paint scheme on.

Reason for leaning the back of the cab forward...I will quote my grandpa here "Because it looks like it is going fast even when it is sitting still". I personally do not think there is a better look and couldn't be happier.

As for the motor the only changes I will likely be doing is adding a set of aluminum heads and repainting to go with my build. I feel very fortunate to have stumbled onto that motor when I did. And being an old car show crony of my grandpas was just icing on the cake.

This truck will not be a big brother. I am going with a 60's kustom cruiser theme that will be Pagan gold kandy and likely some white pearl mixed in somewhere. If I build another COE out of one of the other two cabs you can be assured it will be a big brother on steroids, but for now this will be something that I don't think has been seen before.

 

[Lone Star Blaze]

I just showed my 11 year old this thread his jaw dropped. He loves cab overs and panels as much as I do.


you now have 2 of us at this house excited

 

[rodster_67]

Very Cool, love your keeping it flathead powered

+1

Love it, subscribed.

 

[madoc1]

love the engine! I agree on the alum. heads also.. and the work on the grille is amazing. how did you set up cuts for the arced bar support?

jim

 

[HOTFR8]

That Flathead - Sidevalve V8 is a work of art.

 

[Duke55]

.... how did you set up cuts for the arced bar support?

jim

By luck I arched the bar just enough that I could mount the center high in my vise and clamp the two ends down to the table so all the cuts you see were done in one set up. After I bolted the bars on I realized I had to relieve the back side of the arched bar so bars would stay in plane. This took a handful of setups which was fine since the locating holes were already drilled in the original setup.

 

[TimeWarpF100]

Very nice! As always, watching with interest!

 

[madoc1]

I don't that was by luck!

jim

 

[4Nines]

Great work on the grille! Did you bend each slat at different degrees or does the mounting location of each slat at the top create the contoured look?

 

[Duke55]

Great work on the grille! Did you bend each slat at different degrees or does the mounting location of each slat at the top create the contoured look?

Each bar was rolled to the same profile. The upper bars follow the contour of the hood. The lower mounting arch is mounted at a downward angle so the center bar sticks out the furthest and the lowest. The bottom end of each bar was ground to match the angle needed to produce contour. Square nuts were then welded into the end of each bar for mounting.

 

[Duke55]

Modified the cart that the cab is sitting on so I can adjust the height of the cab off the ground in all four corners with all thread. After lower the cab to what I thought might be ride height, I cut a small section out of the back of the cab to start figuring out how far I am going to shove the flathead under the cab.



Moved the flathead into my basement to get it out of my way for awhile. Might have to paint the other one up that I have to put back in the basement once this one goes in the truck.



Picked up a set of Buick finned drums that should look pretty good after a bunch of work.

 

[CNGsaves]

All I can say . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . COE . . . is perfect amount of chop . . . . LOVE it !!
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . red Flathead . . . . . PURE **** !!!!

 

[don long]

Welcome back Duke.
I love seeing the progress on this truck.
what do you have in mind for the buick fins??

I like the looks of the flattie
I have a V12 that needs some attention

 

[4Nines]

Subscribed

 

[PCO6]

That chop-n-tilt gives it a great attitude.

 

[Duke55]

Thanks for the great comments.

Welcome back Duke.
I love seeing the progress on this truck.
what do you have in mind for the buick fins??

I like the looks of the flattie
I have a V12 that needs some attention

The buick fins will go on the front of the COE. I know where some more are that might end up on the rear.

Wish I had a V12 around to give some attention to.

 

[don long]

Thanks for the great comments.



The buick fins will go on the front of the COE. I know where some more are that might end up on the rear.

Wish I had a V12 around to give some attention to.

Check this one out. It is what I'm shooting for

 

[ATK305]

Wow!!! Very cool and unique build. The flathead is gorgeous. I will definitely keep checking in on the progress.

 

[vwracer]

What was the V12 flatty installed in when new? I have never seen one.

 

[Duke55]

Check this one out. It is what I'm shooting for

Don, I expect nothing less. Could possibly surpass with some forced induction if the room is available. After watching dyno pulls of blown flatheads, I am a believer

What was the V12 flatty installed in when new? I have never seen one.

V12 flathead came in Lincoln Zephyr's.

 

[HOTFR8]

V12 flathead came in Lincoln Zephyr's.

Remember the song Hot Rod Lincoln .