Ford COE Kustom

[Duke55]

Didn't get much done since I had to run to Idaho to a funeral for the weekend but while I was up there I picked up a 49 merc 3 speed OD trans that will bolt right up to my motor and some Buick finned drums.

Here is the merc trans on the left compared to the later 54 ford 3 speed OD trans


Bolted on


After looking at the new Buick drums I picked up I noticed they were quick a bit different than the old drums I had. After further looking I found that the old drums I had were 11" and not 12". They have the same Buick bolt pattern.

Anyone know what they are off of?

Oddball on left

 

[MKE Mike]

Jumping into this thread late, but oh man... that flat-head is gorgeous! I also must say that you've done that cab a lot of favors by changing the proportion from the belt-line up via a beautiful chop. I'm not even really a period hot rod guy but this thing is going to be amazing! Keep up the good work!


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[Mongo68]

Damn thats cool! I saw a few on google that had more space on the back ( extra cab style?) I liked. And the motor is just bitchin! Wonder if the wife would mind one in the living room with glass on top?

 

[MKE Mike]

Damn thats cool! I saw a few on google that had more space on the back ( extra cab style?) I liked. And the motor is just bitchin! Wonder if the wife would mind one in the living room with glass on top?

That sounds like an awesome/expensive coffee table[emoji385][emoji385][emoji385][emoji383][emoji383][emoji383][emoji39]


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[ambenz]

Big car show nut here and I have seen my share of cool trucks.
This one is going to be one of those trucks, you don't see..."EVER!"
I drooling already and if I ever get a chance to see it in person, I promise to bring a towel...LOL!
Subscribed!

 

[WQ59B]

Nice work so far! Myself & my '40 are a-watchin'.

I drew this in the mid 1990s :

Pretty positive that finned drum isn't Buick's; even the first year's -on the '57 Roadmaster- look pretty close to the '59-64 style; nothing as 'prickly' as those. I own a B-59 also.

 

[MKE Mike]

Nice work so far! Myself & my '40 are a-watchin'.



I drew this in the mid 1990s :

I dig the illustration


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[Duke55]

Thanks for all the comments.

I figured out what the odd brake drums are from. They were optional equipment for ~62 Pontiac Catalina Super Duty's. Sounds like cop car versions had them. They are 11x3". Seem to be pretty rare but I think that will make them that much cooler on the rear of the COE.

 

[Duke55]

After sitting on the side lines for awhile the COE is seeing some progress again.

Cut the bottoms off both doors and made replacement panels.









Both doors have been welded and ground. Then I moved to the cab corner which was clear full of stuff like the bottom of the doors.





The other side did not need to be replaced but did take a couple of hours to get all the crud cleaned out.

 

[TimeWarpF100]

Nice updates, looking forward to seeing more progress.

 

[ADSR]

fantastic work!

 

[56vette461]

Duke, that is a beautiful project.

I love the flat head. It would make a great coffee table if it was enclosed in a glass box for protection. Call it a short term R&D furniture project.

 

[ford33]

This is a very interesting project. Please keep going. You do excellent work.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

cool project, i've always been a fan of coe's. i would really like to turn one into a car hauler, but i've got a '48 GMC 1.5t that will get the treatment first, it will be 453-t detroit powered with an rto6610.

love the chop job on this also, very nice lines!

 

[Duke55]

Hardly worth posting but I guess it is progress. Couple of small patch panels in the door jamb tonight. All welds on recent patches will be cleaned a little more once I get some more Roloc discs.

 

[djjsr]

Here's a little motivation for you. It was on Ebay a while back. My bid wasn't enough.

 

[Duke55]

Welded the nose piece on, ground and done a good amount of metal finish work on the nose and fenders.






Old door stops looked like this on both sides. Decided to weld shut and come up with something new.


Welding done on both sides including doors


Patched lower fender including replacing the inner structure




Also welded up about a hundred holes that held in the old headliner/back of cab board.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Cool COE, I love your metal work and the chop looks great.
I'd love to have one of my own, but I think I'd rather have a flat
bed. The photo of one from ebay looked nice except the overly deep
pickup bed didn't look right to me. Rather have a wood flat bed with
a cutout to show that beautiful flathead.
The chromed up V 12 is stunning, no telling what it would take to
find one of those.

My dream truck is a late 20s model T C cab truck that I could have
a sign painted do some goldleaf lettering on the side that says
"Atwater Kent Radio".
I've got an original photo showing one in the 20s sitting in front
of a radio store. It'd be great to take to our antique radio meets.

Found this cool COE with a flatbed while surfing google.

cheers

LLAP

.

 

[Duke55]

Cool COE, I love your metal work and the chop looks great.
I'd love to have one of my own, but I think I'd rather have a flat
bed. The photo of one from ebay looked nice except the overly deep
pickup bed didn't look right to me. Rather have a wood flat bed with
a cutout to show that beautiful flathead.
The chromed up V 12 is stunning, no telling what it would take to
find one of those.

My dream truck is a late 20s model T C cab truck that I could have
a sign painted do some goldleaf lettering on the side that says
"Atwater Kent Radio".
I've got an original photo showing one in the 20s sitting in front
of a radio store. It'd be great to take to our antique radio meets.

Found this cool COE with a flatbed while surfing google.

cheers

LLAP

.

Mine will have a flatbed top with custom fleetside sides. Will not be able to completely hide the flathead underneath so there will be a cut out for likely some of the induction to stick through. Going for a clean custom and not an industrial look (have a couple of surprises I wont give away yet). Considering putting a sign on the doors but have not settled on that yet.

I agree the bed on the ebay truck is way too deep (exaggerated further by a pretty significant chop). I want my bed to sit at the same height it would be if no motor was under it.

I do know a guy with several V12 flatheads (non that are all done up). I plan on getting one or two to set aside for something.

I seen that flatbed COE at a local show last year. It is good looking but not the look I will be going for.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I figured out what the odd brake drums are from. They were optional equipment for ~62 Pontiac Catalina Super Duty's. Sounds like cop car versions had them. They are 11x3". Seem to be pretty rare but I think that will make them that much cooler on the rear of the COE.

They were a heavy duty option for any full size Pontiac. Some SD cars had them but they were more common on commercial cars like ambulances or police cars. Having said that they are pretty desirable to Pontiac owners - if it were me I'd sell them for a profit.

 

[iajonesy]

Duke, that COE is sweet. I've always had a soft spot for them,but no room to build one. Keep up the good work.

Mike

 

[scrumpy]

Duke, any new work on the COE? Love this build, hope you are still continuing with it.

Thanks
Scrump

 

[torched]

I think you need to chop one of your extra cabs the exact same way and sell it to me. Best thread going, look forward to seeing more progress.

 

[Duke55]

Thanks for the comments and pointing out that I am slacking on the project. I haven't forgot about it. I think about it on a regular basis and have been rounding up hard to find parts for it. Likely the first die set I make for the nibbler will be to match the lower cab body line on the bed sides I plan to make.

Original plan was to jump on the COE once the 31 coupe was done. Now I stumbled onto another project that I couldn't pass up. More details on that to come.


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[motofool33]

Just found this thread, Love the Projects.

Wheres the updates =P

 

[Duke55]

This reflection of the Coe in the 32 sedan hood is the most action the Coe has gotten in a while.



Once I finish the 32 I will be receiving another personal project car that will be tough to decide which one to build first (never thought I would say that)

On the plus side my shop will be pretty full of personal projects so it will be hard to work on anything else.

That said the guy I built the COE and Coupe for has another one he really wants me to do, so I guess only time will tell.


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[MP&C]

I've always found (as I'm sure you have also) that working on someone else's car is much cheaper!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Looking good.

 

[motofool33]

Keep at it eventually you'll get to them all. I wish I had your auto body talents.

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[Duke55]

I've always found (as I'm sure you have also) that working on someone else's car is much cheaper!

Ha, I have found that to be true most of the time. This 32 project is crazy considering it is a 100% trade job (so it is a customer car that is getting expensive). Never thought I would do a trade of this value especially for a car in bare metal and boxes. You can bet my wife is real happy for this project[emoji1]


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[MP&C]

What is the "payment" car?

 

[jimmyfloyd]

COE looks great.

I saw you mentioned V12. I know it's a good deal away from you, but it is also 2 Flathead V12's and a complete car: http://rochester.craigslist.org/cto/5669510145.html

 

[Duke55]

What is the "payment" car?

Rust free 51 merc coupe with with 34,000 original miles. Parked in 64 when the original owner went into the Navy. This owner got it in the 80's and it his been in clean dry storage ever since. Comes with the original merc components and a pile of custom parts such as:

53 desoto 11 tooth and 54 Pontiac grilles, desoto bumpers, kaiser and Pontiac over riders, 54 Pontiac, 52 Buick, merc side trim and belt trim. 49-50 grille shell. T bird seat. 57 caddy bullet hub caps 54 merc tail lights and head light rings. Complete 401 nailhead with turbo 400 and a box full of new finned aluminum parts. Also this owner was good friends with **** Dean so he chopped the roof with ****'s help in 1990 and kept the 51 back window. At the same time the car was put on a Pontiac Lemans frame that had 67,000 original miles and a Pontiac 350 (this is what the guy I am getting it from was going to run in it). Most all the custom parts are in very good condition since the owner has had most of it in storage since the 80's. This owner was leaning toward building a mid night sensation clone and had gathered all the parts to do it.

I am sure I forgot some stuff. My wife thinks I am crazy but I think it will be one hell of an experience.

As for the V12 comment, the owner of this car is the guy that has several V12 flattys so I should probably remember to get one of those thrown in for a future project.

Picture from 1990 before it was put in storage.




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[Wanna Ride]

Can't wait to see how the cabover turns out!

 

[racer-john]

Always liked the COE's. Wanted one to build into a car hauler, but never found one.
Your are doing magnificent work with a great eye for design.
Will be watching for future developments.

 

[Duke55]

I plan to start making some progress soon. Still need to tool up a little for this one.

Looks like you are quite aways a way from me but thought I would tell you I know where at least a few more COE's are.


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[racer-john]

Bump up!

 

[Todd.Brock]

Thanks for bumping this! I forgot about this thread. love the COE !

 

[Duke55]

I haven't forgot about this project. I still actively watch for parts to finish this build. I was looking it over a couple of weeks ago and there are a couple of things I am going to redo/improve.

A COE has been on my dream build list for as long as I can remember. The merc build I had never even considered until I stumbled onto this one. Now I am pretty stoked for the merc also. Then there is the Corvair van. No idea what I was thinking but I am fully committed now. I'll finish the van this winter then go back to the merc and COE. Hopefully I learn from the van and dont take on anymore car projects until the merc and COE are done.


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[skrap metal]

that flatty is just beautiful