Dodge COE

[6pakdakota]

Re: Dodge COE

looks like a mig weld to me

[AFFORDILLAC]

Re: Dodge COE

I actually prefer my tig welder for vertually everything but heavy frame...but 6pak is right it's mig.

[milner351]

Re: Dodge COE

Sweet imagination - nicely done!

Did you extend the tubing inside the subframe sections or terminate at the plate where they join the subs?

Very interesting to go RWD / FWD with something like this... sort of like the GMC FWD motorhomes that were 455 olds toronado powered as I recall.... certainly something different.

The "work bench sides" are a flippin sweet idea.

Problem would be at the track you'd be hard pressed to get any work done - every one would be bugging you about how you built the "service truck".

I agree with DF - I still wonder how you find the time - focus - you and Seth both have it - I have too many things going on at once!

[AFFORDILLAC]

Re: Dodge COE

Well, I haven't done much but lurk the board the last week. My wife left town a week ago Sunday to seek medical attention for her sister. Back yesterday and their starting chemo this week here in town. It's alittle different around here without her even though my kids are a big help around the house. Besides it's -5 today and I wouldn't really want to fire up the furnace out there anyway.

Before she left however, I did get the cab onto the frame. The Astro has a pretty wide track and setting the fender on the tire shows it. The problem I have is I dont like appearance of the fender on the Dodge cause it has no "tuck" of the tire...it's to shallow if you look at the pic. It would also require alot of metal work to shrink the fender lip tighter to the tire size, which I was always aware of. I'm waiting on a reply about adapters to bolt 5x5 to 8 lug dually wheels which would pull the track width in somewhat for more tire clearance and get the look I'm after.
All this waiting around and thinkin has me revisiting my chevy cab option. So much so that I went out today and grabbed a few peices and snapped some pics to reveiw indoors.
The 1/2 ton cab and fenders/COE hood and doors combo would be lower than the Dodge. I have freedom to widen the track alittle with the fenders and again I have all the parts layin around.
Gonna sit on it awhile....what do you guyz think/like???



This is about the profile...although I would still chop the top.



I would shorten the hood to meet the fender line.



The wheelwell is sized better, but I'd have to try to lessen the interior intrusion of the fender/door to get in the truck. Not sure which way the door would open, but looks kinda tricky to get in.



Sorry...it's -5 out...I must have shakin. The leading edge of the hood is 44" wide compared to the 1/2 ton 30". I can narrow up the fenders to tailor my width of the truck better than widening the Dodge fenders to fit and look right.





Here's a real COE fender...notice its narrow up front.



...and the big trucks have big fender wells.

[AFFORDILLAC]

Re: Dodge COE

Had to quick throw it together...

[STINEY]

Re: Dodge COE

That COE reminds me a lot of the FutureLiners.

Could you widen the cab and do the fenders more like this? Big deviation from your original plan, but that's what pops into my head.

[jays67]

Re: Dodge COE

the dodge cab with the chop and grill just looks right the wheel opening your right fit to tire sucks
you could do a suside door with the back edge of the fender atched to the door so it is out of your what when getting in and out {just brainstorming} i do dig the dodge nose and cab beter but the wheel opening kills it and ya metal finishing it would be a cock

[Darren N.]

Re: Dodge COE

Great project. I would have never thought to combine all the parts you did on this build, pretty damn innovative.

I like the look of the Dodge cab and grille as well but I don't think the fenders suit the lowered look. I had to take a look at an original Dodge COE first: they look good in proportion to a large diameter wheel. I think the Chevy fenders look better for a smaller wheel/tire combo. What about putting the Chevy fenders on the Dodge cab, how's that for blasphemy? :P

By the way, I like your "frame table". I want to build one of those when I get hackin' one day.

Keep up the awesome work!

[DanStokes]

Re: Dodge COE

Those Futureliners were WAY cool. There's some pics around of the interior somewhere and there's a stairway up to the driver's compartment. One sat at a Cadillac dealer in Redford MI for years, but I don't know what ever happened to it. Needed a restoration. For those not in the know - they were built for the GM Parade of Progress traveling road show. They would go from town to town showing the current new cars and also some GM show cars/futuristic cars. They had a string of pretty women and made quite a show of it.

Dan

[AFFORDILLAC]

Re: Dodge COE

Well my time has been comprimised as of late, but I have somewhat of an update.
I'm certain I'll alienate a few for this, but I'm convinced the Dodge cab is best slated for a long wanted rat truck project I can make rails for than this project....and the fact someone on the H.A.M.B. is makin one that looks jus like it anyway.
I grabbed an Orange Julius and pulled the Chevy cab out. The cab is rotted bad and would cost a fortune in time/money to save except for this application where all of the bad places need to be removed anyway!
Looks more like the rendering now too.

I've got alot more hackin to do, but this is what I have so far.







So I place the COE hood on for kicks...needs 8" removed from mid section.




Started slicin up a pair of disposable fenders to get the right cuts before hackin a good pair.



The doors need to be tacked on so I can remove the dog leg, cause the cab needs to be pushed forward another 4"/5". At that point I need to make the cab mounts so the it doesn't tip forward anymore. The rear of the fenders need to be sectioned 3 1/2" to meet up with the door bottom which looks like it will put the fender on the ground when the truck is airred down.





Set the junker in to see what the rear of the frame requires. Will be alot going on in a small amount of space with trans mount/exhaust/trailer hitch.



All for now...getting back to it after some VW time I'll post in another thread!!!

[Junk Whisperer]

Re: Dodge COE

Affordillac,you're a cut above the rest ;D! Damn cool stuff ya got going on there 8)!! ~J/W-006.

[yogreasygramma]

Re: Dodge COE

Damn, that's radical!! Can't wait to see the finished project.

[Mopar Ron]

Re: Dodge COE

VERY NICE WORK, i love the COE's
I really like how this truck is coming along.
please keep us posted on any more progress,
i like ODD,Different and unique projects. Ron....

[CM325]

Re: Dodge COE

Great work man,
though i will say i liked the the other (Dodge) more
But i understand that you gotta do what you gotta do.
Keep it up, I think your going to have a great truck there once complete.

I thought i saw the some pieces of a VW front suspension in one of those pics.
I believe it was leaning up against your garage door.
Anyway good luck man.
Chris

[AFFORDILLAC]

Re: Dodge COE

Got more done recently....been workin on the VW's lately. Will post an update soon.