Transforming a School Bus into a Vintage Ice Cream Truck (Episode 2)

We start the body swap of a 1958 Ford F series Truck onto the 2009 GMC Chassis.
Music:
Not Impossible - the 126ers
Land of My Fathers - the 126ers
Heads Up - the 126ers
Kurt - Cheel
Claifornia Wind - Bruno E.

[@bigospig]

Thanks for making a long video rather than breaking it up into multiple episodes. Also, the variety of your shots is great.

[@robgorman6672]

Awesome job man. Watching you figure out how to fabricate everything is what us car guys love. Can’t wait to follow this build!

[@bearddevil]

This was fantastic. You make it seem so straightforward, and I am totally impressed at how cleanly you did that cut, section and fill on the dash. Actually, all of the tin work is deeply impressive. You have definitely put in the hours to develop the skill to make it look easy, when I know for certain that it isn't.

[@gthomas3964]

Wow..That 59 f100 you have and done is a very cool old Ford pickup..A body style you rarely see anymore...

[@morgansword]

Obvious to me, not a first rodeo ride but to tell the truth, a darn good match so far. I really didn't see the amount of metal coming out at first and then was surprised that you saved anything as the two are just not even a close fifth cousin to match the two different family vehicles. Nice work so far... more of your lovely assistant for this old mans eye to catch on to.. just a small request. You are above average in talent when it comes to marrying two different rigs. I would of prefered to go all ford or all chevy if I were to even try this at home. I am a seventy three year old man who has done some fab work over the years making my living in southeast alaska on the islands as a mechanic/fab man. I shouldn't have to tell you how many old pieces of junk was resurrected to live on for a different purpose or even be possibly used again as the stuff wadded up in ditch or rolled over banks makes for some interesting saves. One thing was most was heavy equipment as log trucks or dump rigs so modifications came a bit easier for me. I have done restorations on old rigs, nothing but nothing comes apart as it was assembled. Gonna give a subb to this channel.... thanks for sharing your work

[@MissMoffet19]

this is my 3rd video on this channel and I'm stunned how perfect it is for me right now. Commentary is great so I know what is going on, sped up parts are great and I love cleaning parts. THis is great! I'm impressed by the work on the body because it's such a maze of geometry.

[@badsitt1]

So awesome! This is my dads old truck! Remember going camping when this truck had a camper on it!

[@AustinCoulson]

Dang, That's crazy. I wonder if that was your old newspaper?

[@badsitt1]

@@AustinCoulson no it was from the old people we purchased it from who had it since new. Does it still have the hand written instructions in the glove box of how to proper start the engine? The original owners were very meticulous! Lol glad to see that truck getting a new life though. I was originally going to rebuild it hence why the bed was ripped off.

[@AustinCoulson]

@@badsitt1Those instructions were still there. This would have been a fun restoration back to stock, but with the flatbed dually rear and all drum brakes it wouldn't have been very practical. I will be doing something fun with the 272 Y block motor and transmission after I finish the ice cream truck if you keep watching the channel

[@thepagan5432]

You are very competent and confident that are great attributes for an engineer.

[@cjhill726]

Awesome build. Can't wait to see more of it.

[@daveatman2989]

"Boring and monotonous" It's that skill and dedication that make your builds awesome

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

oh...I thought you were commenting on my videos. Then you mentioned skill; Skill? I don't use any skill in my videos?

[@CPhilliPS30]

I love your humble confidence and your common sense approach. It inspires me to not overthink it. Can’t wait for the next video. Thanks for sharing!

[@scottlambert9008]

If this project is anything like the music it's going to be Epic

[@philmccrackin1775]

Amazing workmanship

[@weshipitjamaica4354]

You Sir Coulson are a metal fabrication superman

[@philipbechtle2828]

The spooky jack stand handle rotation in the fast forward sequence was fantastic :-)

[@johnnance1414]

With that fender flared out like that, I can’t look at it without seeing an IHC from the 60s. Great work.

[@BlueXonar]

It is so unusual and refreshing seeing someone doing a body swap properly like this. Fab work! (geddit? cos its... fab... and... okay)

[@hoodfresh]

If i have a time machine to go back to write a paper for school on who my Hero is, i would go back and write about you!! Lol you sir are talented!!

[@pauljr.880]

Enjoy watching your builds. 👍

[@adrianmusquez3151]

I know a lot more planning goes into just cutting up a body like that, but you make it seem effortless and seem like you just jump right in and cut! I like it!

[@JerodMatlock]

This was a huge amount of work. Thanks for documenting it on video for us. I was impressed how you figured out how to make all of that sheet metal work look so good.

[@noahlomax1]

And here I was waiting on another video of yours to ease me out of watching your incredible Pizza truck build......you never cease to amaze. I can't wait for the 3rd installment of this series, good sir. Again, you're making miracles out of thin air happen within your shop and it's a wonder to see.

[@Iann128]

Glad to see you back to cool projects, now I just have to wait for part 3 😄Keep up the good work!

[@timwight9471]

You made all that sheet metal work look fast and easy. I'm going to do it now. Probably take me twice as long though. 82 minutes for sure. 👍

[@levidbateman5174]

Absolutely amazing, your work is so great!! The dash work to fit the cluster is amazing and I always like when your “twin” helps out with the second side of work…

[@keithspencersr.6806]

Outstanding work my friend

[@athikerguy4life]

Everything about this build is awesome.

[@tylerbarrett6652]

Sooo... you basically are exhibiting incredible proficiency in 2 areas... the incredible fabrication/modification skills/talents... and excellent video production/editing. I always love your uploads because they are SOOOO well done. Excellent use of the time lapse, your explanations are thorough and concise... with hardly any unnecessary repetition.... I could see this displayed on one of the car channels sort of like Power Nation and the like. Thanks for sharing all of this with us.

[@rodneyclements6190]

Super Clean Fabrication!! I'm subscribed 👍

[@lucsurmon2623]

Impressive skills and job 👍

[@garymccord4277]

Great work can hardly wait for next video. you do nice clean work I am very impressed having tried to do something almost like this with a Chevy cab and I fudged a lot of my work, I was ashamed for someone to see my cobbled up mess. . Glad you showed your nice clean work.

[@michaelgreen4838]

THIS GUY IS ALWAYS A CLASS ACT!!!

[@John-rf4sv]

This is a great build looking forward to it well done

[@alkatib5866]

Love the work you do ...keep up the good work

[@SchneiderClassics]

great work mate, looks awesome

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

My favorite part was the way you modified the dashboard. Completely new to me; haven't seen it done before. tHanks for the video

[@dustinkinser3797]

Now that looks cool!

[@chuckster6513]

I own a 58 F-100 short wide bed, small rear window that is stock except for later model chrome reversed wheels and a short rear shaft trans. The engine was rebuilt from a 292 to a 312. The body has four small rust spots which developed after moving to Kansas from Nevada where the truck first sold. I have owned the truck for more than 30 years. When you started cutting up your truck I cringed and felt like screaming at you. It was tough to watch, but I have cut up vintage cars to build hot rods so I know how it feels both ways. I am looking forward to seeing your build completed.

[@AustinCoulson]

I am screaming at myself inside my head whenever I start cutting into a classic. I just keep telling myself that this truck was sitting on the side of a house totally imobile getting rustier by the year and when I am done with it, it will be travelling around Chicago making people smile for the next 20 years.

[@upclass7179]

It's funny that you called your Truck Cledis, because my name is Cleodis. LOL

[@KevinHart87]

Nice work!

[@robertjohnson7728]

Just like mixing two different type's of ice cream together to make a new flavour.

[@melanisticmandalorian8909]

You are so damn creative.

[@raphaelporter4184]

I like this guy no BS

[@elesjuan]

Man that's one ambitious vehicle marriage. Good job! I realize you've got a TON of experience with sheet metal, but I'm still annoyed at how easy your time lapse reflected you making the new patch panel for the dash. Lol

[@jameslewry2950]

G,day cobba, you've hooked me, I'm a little confused, I'm in.hooroo mate 😉

[@darbaz1192]

Well done

[@gheice_modelism]

I like your channel a lot!

[@jesscneal]

I'm enjoying this build and your ingenuity but..... and take this with a grain of salt as I'm just a viewer a state over from you... it seems like you would have been way better off staring with a Silverado or another pickup. Axle centerline, motor placement etc.... I'm sure you already had a plan for the axle centerline and all that. I'm always impressed with your thought process. Just curious if after the fact you wished you would have used a pickup to fit under a pickup :) Great work and thank you for the longer episode 👍👍

[@AustinCoulson]

A pickup would have made the body swap a lot easier but the custom ice cream box more difficult. I needed a dually rear end and longer frame. I may have been able to make a crew cab long bed dually 3500 work, but finding those with low mileage and a clean service record is difficult

[@jesscneal]

@Austin Coulson Makes sense Austin. I figured you had some good reasons. Looking forward to the next episode for sure 👍👍

[@thepoolpoliceAZ]

Awesome 👏

[@Avboden]

What an interesting project. I gotta say the cab swap turned out way better than I thought it would! How's serviceability?

[@AustinCoulson]

Serviceability is even better than the 2009 GMC as there is easier access under the hood and it still has the open dog house inside. Plus, I am keeping all the emissions and OBD port for easy diagnostics

[@hollandduck79]

hello from the Netherlands . thanks for the video . Sincerely Hollandduck

[@danielmorskijr411]

I learned how to drive a stick In a 59 Ford grain truck. 352 V8, 4 SPDR. Had no power in 4th...and the under floor brake booster made a ton of noise every time i hit the brakes...

[@AustinCoulson]

I've driven a similar truck to that, and that must have been rough to start with. My Mom taught me how to drive in a 1984 Bronco with a 302 and a T18 with the granny low. Such a blessing to start with a manual transmission IMO

[@jeannechavez6512]

@@AustinCoulson Thx for the shout-out, but you taught yourself how to drive!

[@lostintime8651]

I really enjoyed watching this video. Very inspiring. Always wonder how you have so much energy. Any thoughts on diet? If so, how about a video about it.

[@AustinCoulson]

The secret is finishing off my kids Dino Chicken nuggets and half eaten hot dogs. I actually aim for a pretty simple diet of all natural foods and whenever I gain too much weight I intermittent fast until I shed it. Having a wife that's a great cook is key.

[@johnsmith3802]

This truck was too nice to take apart. It should have been saved.

[@AustinCoulson]

I don't disagree, but it was sitting for years and no one wanted it because it was a flatbed f350 dually and not a shortbed f100

[@johnsmith3802]

​@@AustinCoulson I agree. There is only a few of us that would have appreciated the truck in it's original form.

[@RoadratEddie]

Aah, a cliffhanger

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Not only that....Like back in the assembly line days; A Fender Hanger making a Cliffhanger.

[@ohrhameed3811]

Excellent vlog""" 'm proud of you.... I also like this vintage car, truck, bus very much...1958 Ford model body ok, then engine name? How many cc give. Servlet steering engraved ok, vehicle radiator capacity not told about this truck then price??

[@ohrhameed3811]

If you sell this truck now, how much would you pay?? My dear Austin dude😎👍💯

[@anomamos9095]

Probably too late now but you could move the HVAC to behind the seats where the fuel tank used to live.

[@AustinCoulson]

I didn't think of that, but that would certainly work as vintage air makes a trunk mount kit. I ended up ordering their gen 1 compact kit for this as there is enough room on the passenger side of the firewall

[@anomamos9095]

@@AustinCoulson . I made a custom hvac out of an existing one and put it under the floor.

[@melloyello89]

Austin, I'm sorry if you already said this and I missed it, but why did you not just fully remove the bus body including the firewall and front supports and create new mounts to the bus chassis for the truck cab? I do see how you were originally trying to keep the bus fire wall to keep the steering column and HVAC locations, but this all does seem like more work than mounting the bus components to the trucks original firewall, plus then you could have bypassed reshaping the fenders. I'm sure it's all part of your plan, and I'll say most times I've questioned your methods in the past I was pleasantly surprised at the end of it, just interested in your process.

[@AustinCoulson]

I considered doing it as you described, but it would have been more work in the end and moving the cab farther back would have shortened the length of the Ice Cream Box. Hopefully it will make more sense next episode

[@libertyauto]

I am not a welder. I was surprised that you primered after cleaning and then welded right through that primer. Why does that still work?

[@AustinCoulson]

Great question. I used a special spray paint called a Weld-Through Primer. I don't use it a ton, but it was perfect for that situation. Here is a link to it: amzn.to/3SOUDnf

[@libertyauto]

@@AustinCoulson Thanks, I understand now.

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Cabover front clip?

[@AustinCoulson]

Not quite, but I did think about it

[@Hustlerhotrod]

What brand is that combo shear/brake

[@AustinCoulson]

www.baileigh.com/shear-brake-roll-sbr-5216

[@dorkusmalorcus]

2CV startup video?

[@AustinCoulson]

Cold start please. I know you moved somewhere colder. Please. I need this

[@fyou4122]

Coulson that seems like a serious amount of work to sell some pizzas. You think a pizza eater realy cares. Could you just have cut the skins off the doors and grafted the ford skins on. And grafted the wings and hood to the old wings and hood. And yep understand these rigs cost 100.000 dollars. I've worked the festivals in my rigs. Thanks for the video. Great build. Good luck. 👍

[@robgorman6672]

Can you graft my ford skin 😂

[@fyou4122]

Up to you brother to beat your own ford skin in to shape. . 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣.

[@paulmburu5946]

dumb question here: why does he not simply do an engine swap?

[@AustinCoulson]

That's not dumb. Most builds like this will simply install a modern drivetrain for convenience sake. I wanted not only a modern engine and transmission, but also modern suspension, disc anti-lock brakes, and a stiffer chassis. I am trying to build a truck that will operate for 20 years with nothing more than simple preventative maintanence

[@MuffTuglick]

first to like n comment!!!!