Thread: 1954 Chevy COE Hauler Build

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Well guys, I finally got my 54 COE home and now the ideas are flying. First some history on what's here. The truck was purchased by a farmer in Pella Iowa and used to haul livestock to the sale barn in Pella from 1954-1979. At this point the clutch was weak and began slipping. They replaced it with a new truck and sold this one to the local salvage yard. The new owner used it from 1979-1981 to haul cars and trucks until the clutch finally went out. Then he parked it out in the back 40 and it sat there until a few years ago until a friend of mine purchased it. Steve and his buddies had to cut out a 2.5' diameter tree from in between the frame rails to get the truck out of where it had been sitting. They then removed the cab from the chassis and left all that. Then Steve put the cab on a mid 80's P-30 chassis. He built the cab mounts, modified the van tilt and hooked up the steering, and also installed the newer brake pedal assembly and mounted the hydraboost from the camper. Steve had a 454/TH400 mounted behind the cab. I let him keep that as I have plans for 2 less cylinders. Here are some pics.

I'm really trying to only plan and locate parts for this until just winter. The plan is to have it running and maybe driving next spring. My brothers are wanting to help work on it so maybe we can make it possible. Here are my plans so far. I have a 5.9 Cummins 24v and an Allison 1000 series transmission I plan on mounting behind the cab. I'm hoping the radiator and intercooler will fit under the hood or I will put in front of the engine. I'm going to have to mount the engine and tranny, lengthen the frame, so I can scale it to determine where to put the rear axle. I may even have to add a tag axle so this unit isn't over weight on any axle. It currently has a 14 bolt full floater cab and chassis rear axle in it. My plan was to put in a meritor 2.5 ton rear axle. Those plans changed because that rear end is set up with 19.5 tires and wheels. My goal is to be able to set this truck up on air ride. I want to be able to dump the suspension, have the truck on the ground, and drive a car or truck on the bed. I plan on putting a wedge bed on the back of it. I'm also planning on boxing the frame or sleeving it yet. I can't decide what to do there yet. On semi's we always sleeved the frames after we lengthened them on hevy haulers to make them stronger. I was kind of concerned that boxing the frame will make it to rigid. But, my thoughts are after I make and weld all the bracing to the frame for the wedge bed, this will pretty much act as a roll cage per say and do the same as boxing a frame. So boxing the frame probably can't hurt.

I plan to leave the front suspension and ditch the coil springs and add air springs. 16" tires with maybe aluminum wheels. Cost will limit the shiny stuff. Rear suspension will be a 4 link or a set up similar to a heavy/medium duty truck. I'd like the bed to be about 23-25' long so I can haul an old tractor, a hot rod, or a crew cab long bed pick up.

The body.... The hood is excellent, the front fenders need work. I plan to cut the fenders and obtain some other front fenders and stretch them 2" or so to get the wheels away from the fenders when you dump the suspension. The grill has really grown on me and will be staying. It has some dents and rust, but i'll fix it. The windshield I really am thinking about changing to a split windshield using my donor cab. This is still up in the air at this point. The cab has rust in the lower cowl and needs work. The roof is dented pretty bad, and the back is rusted out below the rear window and along the belt line of the seem for the 2 panels. It is also rusted out at the bottom of the cab. We've already purchased a pick up cab to use the roof and back from. I really thought about making a crew length cab but decided to keep it simple stupid or the truck would never get done.

Do any of you guys have a neat site or calculator to figure axle weight per placement? I found one guide and I'll use it to model the set up after I have it weighed. This should be a cool ride when done.

Man I am sooo frigggggen jelious . Sounds like your going to have some fun this winter, but the parts search is always good fun. Keep us posted .

Your in for a mountain of fun right there... Loved mine until I needed some coin and sold it to a buddy. Figured I could get another some day and do it a bit different if I want. I bought a Dodge 3500 diesel and to be honest in my mind its earmarked for the next COE project. LOL

But I digress... Very cool project and well worth the effort in my mind. The body on that thing looks complete and in great shape... IMHO about 5" out of that roof, a visor, and a set of big flat black stacks towering over the cab is in order? The frame rails look really straight. That leaf pack on the back could move a house and if that isn't enough throw some bag for more muscle, all kinds of possibilities right there.



Hey on a greedy personal note: I'm always getting requests to build original style seats for different rides. If you ever remove those seat frames could I get some good pics and maybe a few measurements? Id be more than happy to pay you for your efforts? Thanks Bob

Very cool project. Will be neat to watch this one come back to life. I like the idea of the bed with the built in ramp, and a lowering suspension to drive aboard. Lots of character in that cab face!

Originally Posted by cffisher

Man I am sooo frigggggen jelious . Sounds like your going to have some fun this winter, but the parts search is always good fun. Keep us posted .

Parts for COE's are pretty rare. I didn't realize how bad it was until I started looking.

Originally Posted by M.T.

Your in for a mountain of fun right there... Loved mine until I needed some coin and sold it to a buddy. Figured I could get another some day and do it a bit different if I want. I bought a Dodge 3500 diesel and to be honest in my mind its earmarked for the next COE project. LOL

But I digrojeess... Very cool project and well worth the effort in my mind. The body on that thing looks complete and in great shape... IMHO about 5" out of that roof, a visor, and a set of big flat black stacks towering over the cab is in order? The frame rails look really straight. That leaf pack on the back could move a house and if that isn't enough throw some bag for more muscle, all kinds of possibilities right there.



Hey on a greedy personal note: I'm always getting requests to build original style seats for different rides. If you ever remove those seat frames could I get some good pics and maybe a few measurements? Id be more than happy to pay you for your efforts? Thanks Bob

Bob, thanks. I'm not sure on the chop just yet. I need to sit in it to see how much room there will be. Black stacks will be in order. We haven't decided on a color scheme for the truck yet. It might be hot rod flatz or something similar. On the seat, sure I can get some measurements and pics for you. How soon do you need them?

Originally Posted by stovens

Very cool project. Will be neat to watch this one come back to life. I like the idea of the bed with the built in ramp, and a lowering suspension to drive aboard. Lots of character in that cab face!

I agree with all.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

. On the seat, sure I can get some measurements and pics for you. How soon do you need them?

Next year or so... LOL

Originally Posted by M.T.

Next year or so... LOL

I should be able to handle that!

There's a couple of guys over on Stovebolt that have these big trucks & have done diesel swaps.
Ya might want to look over there for some helpful tips ..joe

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If you havent seen this thread yet spend a little time flipping through all 178 pages of COE's. Good for a lot of ideas.

Features - can we start a COE picture thread? | The H.A.M.B.

For some reason junkyards in Pueblo, Colorado have lots of old cab overs. Used to be a steel town so perhaps that is the driver. Anyway good place to look for sheet metal parts or cabs if you need some. Shop by phone first.

Nice project!

Should be a fun one to build and a really kewl toter when you're done with it, Ryan!!!