Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

-51 F5 COE project

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 01:41 PM
  #1  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
-51 F5 COE project

Hello again from Finland.
I have been trying to work on my new project every chance (not too many) I got last winter. And I thought that I might share some of it. If someone has good ideas etc. Anyway this is what it looked like when I got it home from Michigan. I bought the car from Eaton Rapids, MI. If somenone knows anything about this cars history, I would be very happy. I bought this car from brothers, whose father bought this car as a project for himself. Father has passed away and the sons decided to sell the project.


First I had to figure out what kind of driveline I was going to use. The original flathead six was out of the question, cause gas is about 1.6 euros/litre ( about 8 bucks for gallon). That is why I decided to use a diesel. the next problem was to find a small potential diesel that would have some power, good torgue ang good mileage.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 02:14 PM
  #2  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
After several candidates I decided to use Mitsubishi`s 3.3TD from a light truck that has about the same total weight 14000lbs. The engine is quite small 4 cylinder turbodiesel, 117 horsepower and 279Nm torque (about 206ft/lbs I think) Smal numbers for V8 guys but this is a good choice I think, cause I would like to drive this truck with a reasonable cost all year. So I ended up byuing a whole truck that I had chop to get the parts I needed.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 02:25 PM
  #3  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland




Some of you might think that why not use the -88 Mitsubishi`s frame and driveline and just change the COE cab to it. That came to my mind but I did not like the idea that my title says -88 Mitsubishi. And one reason is finnish legislation, that would make it hard to use a 50`s cab in late 80`s vehicle. Safety issues etc. Other reason is that these Mitsu frames are often rusted badly, so they would need a lot of work. So I decided to go with the original frame and cab and change/ modify the following:
- Engine and transmission
- Front axle that has power steering
- Rear axle
- All the suspension
- All the brakes of course
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 02:36 PM
  #4  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
Taking things apart is allways fun and fast to do First came of the engine and then I took off the front axle.



 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 02:40 PM
  #5  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
Then I had to make some new attachments to join the new front axle to the COE frame:
The rear shackles come to these
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 02:49 PM
  #6  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
With these "modern" axles I can now use 16" wheels, that are much easier to get good tyres, I got rid off the 20" widowmakers, and the whole car came much closer to ground, which is important for the looks


 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 03:39 PM
  #7  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
Next job was to squeeze in the new engine and tranny. It was suppose to be a small engine but somehow there is newer enough room to just bolt it in there!!! No room for the turbo, generator, fuel filters, fan, and many other things. They all have to be relocated or modified. But of course when you use entirely different drivetrain, there is lot of modifying to do.




The whole middle floor has to be made a little bit higher, cause I wanted to leave some room for the suspension trave. I do not want to be hitting the oilpan with the front axle.



I will post some more pics when I get a change to sit on the computer again.

Sami
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 04:09 PM
  #8  
arctic y block's Avatar
arctic y block
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Wow!! Cool project. This will be fun to watch.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 04:26 PM
  #9  
48fordcoe's Avatar
48fordcoe
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 950
Likes: 3
Keep us posted your coe will be nice
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 11:11 PM
  #10  
tinman52's Avatar
tinman52
Welder User
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
Club FTE Silver Member

Great to see another COE project......have fun building!
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2012 | 12:23 AM
  #11  
52 Merc's Avatar
52 Merc
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,173
Likes: 4,780
From: Burbank, WA
Originally Posted by fordCOE
After several candidates I decided to use Mitsubishi`s 3.3TD from a light truck that has about the same total weight 14000lbs. The engine is quite small 4 cylinder turbodiesel, 117 horsepower and 279Nm torque (about 206ft/lbs I think) Smal numbers for V8 guys but this is a good choice I think,
That is a fantastic project and it looks like you are having a great time with it. Well done! I think your engine choice is a very good one, too. While you may think the power is low, it's far more than the stock 6 cylinder engine had, at 95 hp and 180 ft. lbs. torque. It'll be good for what you're going to be doing with it. And besides, you can always increase the turbo boost.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2012 | 12:51 AM
  #12  
Cody_1948's Avatar
Cody_1948
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Lansing Mi
Eaton rapids michigan, I live 10mins away from there, and the cole you have ive seen in person... Wow such a very small world....
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2012 | 07:12 AM
  #13  
raytasch's Avatar
raytasch
Believe Nothing
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,514
Likes: 398
From: W. Central FL.
Club FTE Silver Member

Following this one. Very interesting build, and engine choice. What body will the truck run? How will the truck be used?
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2012 | 06:21 PM
  #14  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
I have a vision that it is going to be a open bed car hauler with a tilting bed. I have a drawing somewhere that I could show...hot rod flatz rust brown and beige grill...and mostly I am going to use the truck for hauling my own stuff from a to b and to go to work etc. but the idea of a car hauler came from my friend who needed a transportation for this:

 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2012 | 06:35 PM
  #15  
fordCOE's Avatar
fordCOE
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 14
From: Panttila-Finland
After getting the front axle in place it was time to get rid off the rear axle and line the new rear leafs with the front. I bought a laser liner to help the job and I think I got it in a few millimetres accuracy. I think that it is important to get the rear axle lined up with the front kingpins as well as possible, and the rest is adjusted with the 4 wheel alignment.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:57 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE