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Expert
Posts: 1886
   
| Bought this COE. Goal is to make it a hauler for the 53 dodge postal truck. It will be 2 years till I get to it, but couldn't turn down the opportunity to get it!
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 508
Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | CONGRATULATIONS! ………………………….everybody needs just one more project.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1886
| My current thought is to put in a motor with significantly more power, along with transmission. Rebuild the back end and maybe see if I can have a front end unit made for modern front suspension and brakes. Fat man chassis is down the road from us. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7810
 
Location: Williams California | That will make a cool hauler, Mike!
---John |
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Expert
Posts: 2120
Location: atlanta | Nice, how about a Dodge Cummings motor and trans? |
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Expert
Posts: 1886
| Going to do something we never do, outsource. I have a friend that owns a restoration shop in Florida. He has experience in this type of build. Going to make it a flatbed hauler. Will use a 5.7 hemi for power, likely a 727 behind it. Our goal is to maintain as much of a stock aspect as we can and keep the hauler safe. Timeline is not short, will be 12-18 months till completion which I'm fine with. The goal is to make a hauler that can drive 55-60mph safely on the interstate with a car on it. Excited to do research and get this thing done! |
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Expert
Posts: 2524
Location: Houston | OK...does anyone really drive 55-60MPH? lol
I'd use a Cummins, too.
I doubt Fatman sells a suspension for that kind of ride do they? |
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Expert
Posts: 1886
| Nobody drives 55-60, but the faster I go the more stuff I'll need to modernize to make it safe! While I would love to use a cummins, I already have a new 5.7 sitting as well as the transmission to fit. This thing will be used for long trips maybe 2x a year. Other than that, less than 50 miles more than likely. We've never done work on a diesel. I don't want to bas***d fit the body to an old truck frame. Maybe if I do another one after this. To control expenses, doing it this way is MUCH cheaper. Outside of providing the motor and trans, I won't be involved in this restoration. We have 4 cars we plan to finish up over the next 18 months, no way to work on this as well. On top of that, thing is 8' tall, I can't fit in our garage anyway haha. |
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Expert
Posts: 2788
Location: USA - KY | 
That is WAY cool, Mike!
It will be an awesome hauler for any of your great cars.
Is that silver paint or bare metal I see on the cab?
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Expert
Posts: 1886
| Bare metal, but it has all been coated now |
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My 53 Dodge COE project showed up today
