Nick's 52 Chevy COE build

[nick50471]

I don't think that Chevy has a real frame. Same with the Dodge class C, only the Ford. You have to look toward a class A motorhome or the P chassis like the delivery. for a separate chassis.

The guy with the van got back to me. It has a SBC. Not what I'm looking for. I can wait to find a van, box truck or motorhome with a 454. I really need the goods with the 454. The motor I have has nothing since it came out of a drag car. I know I can find it all at a yard but I won't need to if I get the right donor rig.

 

[nick50471]

I don't think that Chevy has a real frame. Same with the Dodge class C, only the Ford. You have to look toward a class A motorhome or the P chassis like the delivery. for a separate chassis.

Why wouldn't it have a real frame? The other guy that recommended I use a van used a GMC Vandura 3500 on his COE

 

[MacGyver]

Chevy and GMC 3500 have a unibody frame. My Dad and I built a custom fifth wheeler hauler out of a 1988. The frame is welded to the floor pan.

 

[21willys]

I would suggest a old Winnebago also. The one I plan on using in my Coe was gave to me and has a running 440 in it. With a little tinkering we drove it home.

 

[nick50471]

I would suggest a old Winnebago also. The one I plan on using in my Coe was gave to me and has a running 440 in it. With a little tinkering we drove it home.

I've been knee deep in CL looking for Class A motorhomes in Southern Missouri, Arkansas and Eastern Kansas. I'm not buying some rusted out junk from up north where I live. Funny though that One of the Winnebago factories is about twenty miles from my house and the Home of Winnebago is forty miles.

 

[CORPO]

this is going to be cool!

 

[Bamamav]

Don't rule out a class C motorhome. They are basically a 1 ton van with the back of the cab cut away.

 

[nick50471]

Not sure if anyone here gets to go to PRI. This gem was my favorite.

 

[nick50471]

pics of my BBC. 12.95:1 compression. Will be interesting tuning it to run on E85.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Don't rule out a class C motorhome. They are basically a 1 ton van with the back of the cab cut away.

Class C Dodge and Chevys are unibody.

 

[Willowbilly3]

http://rapidcity.craigslist.org/cto/5336392759.html

 

[Bamamav]

Class C Dodge and Chevys are unibody.

All of them? I was thinking the 80's back had a frame. Have seen a lot of 70's and 80's class C Chevys and Dodges, so they had to have a frame.

 

[Willowbilly3]

No, they really don't. I spent a lot of time under those things trying to weld them back together. Any thing that resembled a frame ended at the rear spring hangers and a lot of them just buckled right there if they had too much rear overhang. The chassis were delivered to the coach maker with a floorpan because all the torque boxes are welded to it. I'm not sure on the newer stuff, this is 80s stuff I am familiar with.

 

[nick50471]

Been busy over the Holidays. We spent a week in San Diego on vacation. My youngest and I have been deer hunting as well. Just waiting for the big feller to get in range.

 

[nick50471]

Did score some 500 lb casters from Amazon. I'll start building a cab cart next week.

 

[Old Iron]

Did score some 500 lb casters from Amazon. I'll start building a cab cart next week.

[P [P [P

 

[NickFish]

San Diego is my neck of the woods, hope you had a good trip.

 

[nick50471]

San Diego is my neck of the woods, hope you had a good trip.

I lived in SD in the early 90's in the USN. Lots has changed. Still a very nice place.

 

[shakey56]

Cab cart.

Hey Nick.
You will be surprised how light the cab is. I was prepared for mine to be heavy but it wasn't. I lifted mine with my motor hoist.

I have a friend building a chevy cabover like yours. He is using a 1994 GMC cube van for a donor. It IS a unibody....NO FRAME! Thought you would want to know.

Lynn

 

[nick50471]

So I took a little break from work and designed up a quick cab cart.

Using 2"x2"x 1/4" angle and 2"x4"x 3/16" tube. 6' wide x 10' long. length and width will be adjusted once I get to measure the cab mounts.

Steel $102.20
Casters $94.67
Hardware $10.00