1950 Chevy COE trouble...

[gotnitro?]

I've run into builders block! The project I'm working on is converting AMT 1950 Chevy truck into a COE. Sounded easy enough...purchased a resin cab and started building. The first snag was the required frame chop to remove the 3/4 inch space between cab and bed, and get the wheels centered in the wheel wells. That issue was easy enough, but here's the real head banger.

I need some ideas for the engine bay..the kit parts don't help here. I thought of opening up the frame below the engine so the wheel wells fit , but that would throw the grill/ bumper area into chaos.

thanks for any input..I hate to shelve this project this far into it

Jeff

[pharoah]

Many years ago,i bought a Ron Cash resin 50 Chevy COE. Not totally accurate,but close enough.

I was going to make a car transporter with a trailer,but never finished it. I scratch built a frame using plastruct,mainly a straight frame from front to back. Cabovers have a hump in the floor almost like vans do to make room for the engine. The aircleaner ahs a mounting tube with 2 bends in it to move it forward to get it out of the way. Does this help?

I'll see if I can get some pics.

[pharoah]

Here's a few pictures.

The tube I was talking about.

Here's the cab floor.

The GMC version I was working on.

And the Ron Cash cab.

[gotnitro?]

Thanks for the pics and suggestions. My biggest surprise was how little the kit parts actually fit to the cab. The need for a doghouse alluded me, and notice from your pics the firewall will require filler.

Thank you

[greymack]

Hi there just adding my 2 cents here but sometimes its a lot less grief to just modifie the original kit over buying something resin do to fit issues.

[pharoah]

You're right George. That's what I was doing on the GMC cab. The Ron Cash cab was OK,but not really correct. One thing I couldn't figure out is why he molded in the windshield frame to the cab..And the bigger Chevy trucks had another grille bar which he didn't add. His parts were still pretty nice though.

[gotnitro?]

Pharoah- I did have to add the grill bar as mentioned. I haven't decided if wheel wells should be added, just finished the frame chop.

Good heads up on the glass..mine doesn't fit.

[gotnitro?]

Gray mack- I wished I'd started by modifying a kit part! I'm used to building resin conversions in armor builds..seem much better engineered