Loadmaster '47 COE

[47 Fasttoys]

Stripped the inside of the cab and started painting. The dash turned out like crap the first go around, I did not allow enough flash time between coats, sanded it back down and resprayed it, got it right the second time. Keep in mind this is being built as a daily driver and work truck. I want it to be clean and dry on the inside but not a show truck. I will be spending the money on the drive train and mods to make it serviceable.




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[mknittle]

Looks great! Too bad about the re do on the dash. Oh well that's life

[Daze57]

lookin good

[47 Fasttoys]

Thanks guys, on to the door again. Got the glass and window channel in, still new to paint the inside molding. Red or black? I think I'm gonna regret going with stock door latches. I have only redone 1 door at this time so I may regroup and put in the bear claw while it's still semi apart.



Rob

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work you're doing here! Are those aftermarket head liner and door panels or stuff you've made? It looks nice! Also, what kind of paint did you use? It is looking great!

[Dieselwrencher]

Also, the visor on this cab, are they the same as a regular pick up? I need to find one for our 54.

[47 Fasttoys]

So far all my interior pieces have come from Classicparts.com, prices are fair and quality has been good for the most part. For the sun visors and mounts they are the same as the regular pick-up, as a matter of fact..the whole cab is the same only the lower part of the doors and the flooring was changed for the COE, and of course everything forward of the fire wall. The paint is Red Krylon in a can.
Oh, one more thing if you need a windshield and you have the 2 piece style, order 1 and not 2. I now have an extra windshield.
Rob

[_Ogre]

new stock latches are a lot nicer than the old worn out latches
get new latches and striker plates and go with it.
yeah bearclaws are nice but also a lot of work to look finished

[OrrieG]

Just looked at this thread, nice project. If you need a passenger side latch and it is the same as standard truck pm me. I got two passengers sides in a pair I ordered and did not look carefully 7 years ago.

[47 Fasttoys]

Got most of the dash put together, still lack gauges. Rebuilt both the upper and side vents and added new seals. Windshields are in and wipers are finished.

Just a note on the seals for the vents, the molded rubber seals are a bit hard and the springs holding the vents closed are not up to the task. I may end up changing to the foam style later.



Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

Thanks for the offer Orrie. My passenger side is in good shape, I did have to buy a new one for the drivers side and I got a new pair of strikers. My hinges seem to be in good shape. I'll get all that stuff mounted on my next trip.
Rob

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good! My truck is a 54 which is the first year for one piece windshields. I hope that doesn't affect the price of them.

[99 to Life]

This truck is bad as hell, I friggin luv it. Dieslewrencher if your referring to the windshield itself literally, the cost for that is 4 to 5 times the split windshield, so say 4-500 bucks. Other than that price isn't dictated up or down because of 54 and 55.1 series AD's IMO.

[47 Fasttoys]

Thanks all for the compliments,

All right last update for a bit. These are the final things I got completed on my last home trip. All previous shots where completed in 19 days while on vacation, actually it made for a good stress releasing vacation as living and working in Shenyang China can be a chore at times. Anyway still planning on next trips work.
OK, so got as far as I could on the interior, spray bombed the firewall and stuffed it all back in the corner.




Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

OK, just so my project doesn't fall into complete never never land. I have made some minor progress. I bought a donor: 2003 Silverado ext. cab, 4.8/auto. 146XXX miles. Actually it's a really good truck with no damage and runs good. I think I can make at least 1/2 my money (5K for the truck) back on parts after I get what I need.

This gives you an idea of where I'm trying to go with this project.

Rob

[chevyboy73]

looks awesome! id just leave it a reg cab, saves a ton of work and keeps the patina! lookin forward for more

[47 Fasttoys]

Yeah, I agree on the regular cab thing. I was just playing around with paint to see what I could do. Also the stacks will probably not happen. With the 4.8 I should be OK for a small 5th wheel. More often then not it would be a car trailer as I race the FFR.
Rob

[ghettoluxury]

Here is some inspiration for you Rob.

[47 Fasttoys]

Yep, that's the look I'm after. Got any contacts on the owner? I would like some details and pictures of engine placement etc.
Rob

[99 to Life]

will be sick man. I can't you how bad I want to do a COE and a suburban. I have a dodge camper with dually rear end that I think would would work for a COE. I gotta measure track width, but I was thinking about making it a flatbed. Seen an amazing 54' GMC COE on CL for like 5k, see pics. This would be an awesome build.

[99 to Life]

rob, no doubt man. That GMC looks like a driver. I can't get over how nice it looks and that grille is off the hook. Endless possibilities with these. what are you plans with your donor truck? you using frame and driveline or do you have another frame in mind? Sorry if I missed it.

[47 Fasttoys]

Yep, plans are to use the chassis complete, but move the engine and tranny back a couple of feet to make it a mid-engine. I will try to use as much of the donor parts as I can and sell off the body, interior, bumpers etc. It has the dirve by wire throttle and cable shifted tranny so those things will help for going to mid-engine. It also has R&P steering which should make steering hook up a little easier. Right now it's just planning and stocking up on parts as I'm working in China until late next year.
Rob

[99 to Life]

dang, I couldn't handle being away that long. Especially with fam and awesome projects waiting. The drive by wire is a good feature and score no doubt. Have you found some other guys using these frames? Couple feet back, sounds rather large of move. dunno though, don't have one in front of me to measure off of.

[68GMCCustom]

subscribed.....been thinking about one of these for a couple of years now.

[47 Fasttoys]

Yes, a move to China is not something to be taken lightly, luckily my wife was able to join me and has found a job teaching at an international school. I have been here 2 1/2 years now and have about 1 year left. I do get 1 or 2 home trips per year so it's doable. On the plus side the money is great.
Now back to the important stuff, no I haven't found details on anyone using this chassis but the track is right and a few other details of the donor seem to fit well into the final goal of the truck. As far as the engine setback, the goal is the front of the engine under the rear of the cab with the intake flipped 180 degrees so the TB will be at tranny side. This should allow the front of the intake to sit behind the seat. I will fab up a low mount alternator set up so everything forward of the valve covers will be under the seat. This should leave me with a drive shaft around 20 to 24 inches. That sounds short until you see my FFR Cobra drive shaft, it's 8 inches center to center of of the "U" joints. Anyway, I've got lots of details worked out on paper and have used a tape measure once or twice. I've also done a few EFI swaps and some chassis stuff in the past. If there a major roadblock to this project I haven't found it yet.
Rob