owns this 1955 Ford COE
She is powered by a Chevrolet 454, TH350, with a transmission tail shaft extension mounted overdrive unit.
The chassis is from a late model one ton Chevrolet Dually.The trans is a T350 auto with a Gear-Vendors overdrive.
It works as a six speed. For manual overdrive shift, it is hooked to the old floor dimmer switch and
at 40mph it shifts and displays a light. It also works in auto or can be cycled up and down manually,
using the floor dimmer switch.
The brakes are stock Chevy with a hydra boost GM booster.
Custom radiator and bracket with an electric fan. NOTE:
As of this writing a manual switch on dash for electric fan, I will soon put a thermostatic switch
in the hot coolant line for the fan.
All the tires are new, and the wheels were from the late model donor truck.
There is a insulated doghouse inside the cab for access to the back of the big block.
In the middle of the wood bed, is a hinged trap door that reveals a fifth-wheel hitch.
Under the bed in the back is a 5 ton square drawbar type hitch.
She drives and handles really sweet, nothing like the old F6 I originally learned to drive in.
This one has all the handling comfort and convenience, like tilt wheel, and power steering and brakes.
The wiring is all 100% GM. This was done by using aftermarket instrument panel, then hooking up as if it were a GM cab.
Did the deal on eBay. I'm headed over to (try) and put it in a shipping container on Friday this week.
The truck was well known at the shows when I lived near Detroit Michigan.
The guy who built it used it to tow a fifth wheel trailer, that held three of his prized hot rods.
The 1955 Ford COE was shown annually at the Woodward Dream Cruise, in Detroit Michigan
He completed the restoration in 1987, and at that time put it on a 1987 Chevrolet dually chassis, that had a wrecked body.
I retired from GM Global Engineering in October 2008. It should be no surprise that I know GM stuff better than I know Ford.
My Ford lessons were learned on flat-head V8, and at about 90 horsepower, that didn't seem like what I wanted.
Under the pre-1989 regulations, this truck qualifies. It has been as is since 1987, when it was put on a 1987 Chevrolet chassis.
I'm told in this situation it grandfathers the current regulation, and that all that is required is proof it has been as it currently is before 1987, by auto show photos, or other evidence, which is no problem for this truck, since she loves classic automobile shows.
When I retired, I married here in Australia, and live here now.