Custom-Built Cab-Over Diesel Is One-Of-A-Kind
Retired professional auto restorer Doug Yoder used nearly a year of his precious time and experience to build perhaps the ultimate specialized cab-over-engine truck in the country. His rig consists of a 1948 GMC COE (Cab Over Engine) cab that rides on a GMC 2002 4-WD pickup chassis. It’s powered by a 20-year-old 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel engine. The one-of-a-kind vehicle has an Allison automatic transmission, 4-WD, disc brakes, power steering, power windows and as you might expect, a lot of custom equipment.
To create his masterpiece, Yoder cut away unnecessary parts of the frame, fabricated new mounts for the bed and cab, and completely rebuilt the engine. He made the floor and bedsides for the 11-ft. box out of 16 ga. sheet metal and replicated stake pockets to match the OEM originals. Crossmembers were made from 16-ga. steel and the box floor was built from composite decking that he secured with custom stainless steel strips. New steel running boards along with reproduction tailgate and front bed panels rounded out the box work.
Yoder says work on the 72-year-old cab was tedious and time consuming, especially since he had to re-make everything except the hood. The cab interior has a custom bucket seat, a tilt steering column and high-end Autometer gauges. Yoder says the power windows and a touchscreen stereo with a backup camera are options nobody who built the original cab could’ve even dreamed of. Electrical work required all new wiring harnesses and sorting countless wires that Yoder says was the hardest part of the whole rebuild.
The custom finish color is GMC Silver Ice Metallic topped with a sanded and buffed clear coat. Factory match decals and mouldings are complemented with ’80s vintage mirrors mounted to custom arms made of stainless tubing. Deep well custom wheels, a gooseneck hitch in the box, and a standard receiver hitch below the chrome bumper round out Yoder’s fantastic custom re-build. He says the vehicle drives real well and he hasn’t had any mechanical issues.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Doug Yoder passed away shortly after completing this project. The vehicle and trailer are now owned by the family and they respect privacy at this time.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Yoder Family, 515 Winterstown Rd., Red Lion, Penn. 17356.
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Custom-Built Cab-Over Diesel Is One-Of-A-Kind PICKUPS Miscellaneous Retired professional auto restorer Doug Yoder used nearly a year of his precious time and experience to build perhaps the ultimate specialized cab-over-engine truck in the country His rig consists of a 1948 GMC COE Cab Over Engine cab that rides on a GMC 2002 4-WD pickup chassis It’s powered by a 20-year-old 6 6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel engine The one-of-a-kind vehicle has an Allison automatic transmission 4-WD disc brakes power steering power windows and as you might expect a lot of custom equipment To create his masterpiece Yoder cut away unnecessary parts of the frame fabricated new mounts for the bed and cab and completely rebuilt the engine He made the floor and bedsides for the 11-ft box out of 16 ga sheet metal and replicated stake pockets to match the OEM originals Crossmembers were made from 16-ga steel and the box floor was built from composite decking that he secured with custom stainless steel strips New steel running boards along with reproduction tailgate and front bed panels rounded out the box work Yoder says work on the 72-year-old cab was tedious and time consuming especially since he had to re-make everything except the hood The cab interior has a custom bucket seat a tilt steering column and high-end Autometer gauges Yoder says the power windows and a touchscreen stereo with a backup camera are options nobody who built the original cab could’ve even dreamed of Electrical work required all new wiring harnesses and sorting countless wires that Yoder says was the hardest part of the whole rebuild The custom finish color is GMC Silver Ice Metallic topped with a sanded and buffed clear coat Factory match decals and mouldings are complemented with ’80s vintage mirrors mounted to custom arms made of stainless tubing Deep well custom wheels a gooseneck hitch in the box and a standard receiver hitch below the chrome bumper round out Yoder’s fantastic custom re-build He says the vehicle drives real well and he hasn’t had any mechanical issues EDITOR’S NOTE: Doug Yoder passed away shortly after completing this project The vehicle and trailer are now owned by the family and they respect privacy at this time Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Yoder Family 515 Winterstown Rd Red Lion Penn 17356
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