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Projects COE Factory Sleeper Cab conversion

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by spankster, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    I'm flirting with the idea of making a Factory Sleeper Cab out of my '52 GMC COE Wrecker project. sleepercab-5_zps4317125a.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2013
  2. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

  3. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Found this 1950 GMC conventional Sleeper Cab. Thought I could separate it at the points it is assembled at the Factory. Red lines denote this. 78120896173_sleepercab-1_zps23b4e4c3.jpg
     
  4. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Here's my COE. It's a 1952 470 series 3 1/2 ton. 89220896173_2013-04-27192816_zpsb01ac223.jpg
     

  5. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

  6. redlinetoys
    Joined: May 18, 2004
    Posts: 4,302

    redlinetoys
    Member
    from Midwest

    Oh yea! I like!!!!


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  7. C.G
    Joined: May 27, 2013
    Posts: 103

    C.G
    Member
    from AL.

    It's different enough to be really cool.
     
  8. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Side view of truck. long wheelbase. 2013-11-22111209_zpsf01e6c03.jpg
     
  9. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Here's the Vintage Holmes Wrecker unit. 2012-02-22_17_34_54.jpg
     
  10. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Once installed, there would be a 24"in gap, between the back of the cab, & the front of the Wrecker service body. I'm thinking this Sleeper, would look "Cool" filling this space. sleepercab-2_zps5191d8fe.jpg
     
  11. McGurk
    Joined: Jul 13, 2011
    Posts: 85

    McGurk
    Member
    from Mid West

    That's one of the GMC cannoball cabs. I would think twice before you go whackin' it up. The old truckers that build vintage rigs would snap that cab right up.

    Take a ride with this old double clutcher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QnBE-cKePOQ

    McGurk
     
  12. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    No this wasn't a "Fat Cab" "Cannonball" cab. It was a 470 series '50 model GMC conventional, which uses the same small cab as the 1/2 ton thru 3 1/2 ton trucks. My COE is also a 470 series 3 1/2 ton.
     
  13. If you look closely at the truck in the video, it has a totally different cab than the one Spanky is going to work on.
    I don't know Spanky personally, but have seen his knowledge at work on various forums over the last 10 years. He knows what he is doing when it comes to Chevys, GMCs and Holmes wreckers of that era.
     
  14. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,709

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    That old Detroit was talking! Too bad the driver never learned how to float the gears, would save him a lot of stress on the clutch leg!


    I think if you get this put together it will be sharp! What does your cabover have for power, old Detroit or is it gas?
     
  15. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    My COE has the original 302ci. straight 6 gas burner in it. The diesel wasn't available in the smaller cab 350, 450, or 470 series COE's. You had to purchase the larger "Fat Cab" "Cannonball GMC COE 520-980 series to get the diesel engine option.
     
  16. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Got the old West Coast mirrors repainted, & installed this week. Rubbed some oxidation off also. unnamed.jpg
     
  17. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

  18. I think grafting that sleeper cab on to yours is going to make a neat truck. As your red cut lines show, it will swap on to your COE cab. BTW, nice stock 52 GMC COE. Had a 51 GMC with 270 gasser (302 came out later in 52...) that was all stock and had to sell when I moved. It was about the same wheelbase as yours.

    Here it was:
    [​IMG]

    and a funny pic with it compared to my very modified 49 Ford COE:
    [​IMG]
     
  19. 1960fordf350
    Joined: Feb 6, 2011
    Posts: 67

    1960fordf350
    Member
    from ohio

    You could get a detroit in the small cab trucks. I've seen a couple restored. 4-53
     
  20. 53 series wasn't available until 1958.
     
  21. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    The only Diesel available in the small cab 450, & 470 series GMC Trucks of the '47-'54 era, was the 3-71 which became available in the conventional trucks only, in 1952. Hey 38Chevy454, I remember your truck. Wasn't it a 450 series? Do you know where it is now, & what was done to it ?
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2013
  22. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I seen a 3-71 equipped early 50s GMC on ebay a few years ago,heard they could have been outrun by a gasser.
     
  23. Baumi
    Joined: Jan 28, 2003
    Posts: 3,043

    Baumi
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That truck is cool as hell! I think I couldn´t bring myself to cut both nice bodys up, but if you can I´m sure the result will be awesome! Love COEs!
     
  24. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    Thanks for the compliment Baumi. I haven't fully committed myself to doing that just yet. Still haven't got the sleepercab here with my COE yet(it's still in Maryland). After getting it here, I might change my mind altogether. unnamed (3).jpg
     
  25. pshea64
    Joined: Oct 20, 2010
    Posts: 17

    pshea64
    Member
    from Spokane wa

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1393005036.986158.jpg
    Here is our attempt at a sleeper coe


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  26. b-bop
    Joined: May 19, 2008
    Posts: 987

    b-bop
    Member

     
  27. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    I'm leaning towards not doing this now. The cab may be available pretty soon. Kinda hard to convince myself to cut in half a complete running trucks cab.
     
  28. spankster
    Joined: Jan 12, 2007
    Posts: 296

    spankster
    Member

    For Sale, in the classified section.
     

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