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1955 COE Project

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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 11:57 AM
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1955 COE Project

I have just joined the forum and wanted to take a quick moment for an introduction. I live in Kingsville MO and like building the older Ford trucks. I currently have a 1961 Econoline pickup and a 1966 F-100 short bed pick up. I just purchased a 1955 C-600 COE, and plan to build a pickup out of it. Can anyone tell me if a crown vic front end would work as a front axle for this build. I hope to end up with a daily driver out of this. Any suggestions on this build would be helpful.
Thanks
 
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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 01:47 PM
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Welcome to the forum......but we need some pics of your COE! LOL

The CV front would probably work. What frame do you plan to use? The Coe frame is very heavy duty. Engine up front or behind the cab? Lots of planning to do before you dive in!
 
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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 02:39 PM
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1955 COE

I plan to place the engine up front. I had hoped to use the original frame rails and update the running gear. What do you think? Wanted to use a small v8 like a 302, with a c6 tranny and a era correct step side short bed.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 06:31 PM
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Coe wheel base

What is the wheel base of your coe now? Mine has a 110 wheelbase with a 8 ft bed.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Kawadawg
I plan to place the engine up front. I had hoped to use the original frame rails and update the running gear. What do you think? Wanted to use a small v8 like a 302, with a c6 tranny and a era correct step side short bed.
Using the original frame will work fine, just chop some length off the back end. I only asked because many people swap frames to gain shorter WB and get a modern drivetrain. Using the OE frame would be much simpler than a frame swap, even though it is pretty heavy. A small block should fit up front no problem.
Since COE's are a bit wider than regular trucks, the crown vic front may work too.
Do some research and measuring, then make a plan.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 08:42 PM
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Welcome! As mentioned above we like pictures...

Out of curiosity, have you considered a 292 Y block for power? You may not want to use one depending on what transmission you decide to run, but they run decently and sure look at home in a 55.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2014 | 09:01 PM
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Welcome to FTE! I'm a little east of you. I've been to Holden a couple of times.

We would love to see pictures.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2014 | 01:03 PM
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1955 COE Ready To Take Home



Getting ready to take the COE home.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2014 | 02:11 PM
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Welcome to FTE

Lookin Good where's the frontend?
 
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Old Nov 20, 2014 | 03:12 PM
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I plan to use a short box step side, 53-72.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2014 | 03:13 PM
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Believe it or not, all of the sheet metal is inside the Trailblazer. It was a noisy ride home.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2014 | 03:30 PM
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Gonna be a great project. Especially with most of the parts. I'd love to make one into a car hauler.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2015 | 06:25 PM
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diesel conversion

Has anyone done an International 6 cylinder DT466 diesel install on a 1955 C600??
 
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Old Nov 21, 2015 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by mytoolman
Has anyone done an International 6 cylinder DT466 diesel install on a 1955 C600??
Haven't yet I'm in the same process with a 48 I am turning into a car hauler but looking into a 7.3 or 6bt. Does anyone know what the load capacity of the stock frame is from the f5 box truck Coe.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2015 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Kawadawg
I have just joined the forum and wanted to take a quick moment for an introduction. I live in Kingsville MO and like building the older Ford trucks. I currently have a 1961 Econoline pickup and a 1966 F-100 short bed pick up. I just purchased a 1955 C-600 COE, and plan to build a pickup out of it. Can anyone tell me if a crown vic front end would work as a front axle for this build. I hope to end up with a daily driver out of this. Any suggestions on this build would be helpful.
Thanks


Break out the welder and make it fit.


I put the crown vic suspension in my f100 crew cab project. It was pretty easy just remember to measure.... measure... measure.....


The only rear issue is see with the crown vic setup is your wheel choice. You have some rather large fenders to fill with a small car lug pattern. On my F100 I went with some 20" mustang FRR wheels. In order to get the crown vic suspension to fit you will need to modify the height of the cab on the stock chassis in order to make the wheels fit the opening as well as closing up the wheel opening a bit.


My Coe project is another story... Yeah one huge project wasn't enough....


I ended up finding a 1998 E350 with a 7.3 diesel and swapped the 56 COE cab onto the E350 chassis. The COE will end up with 22.5 semi wheels via some 8-10 lug adapters.


Good luck and keep the progress moving.
 
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