Projects Here's one for the mopar fans---1950 Pilothouse build

thanks 52ram108, for starting this group for us

 

They look darn good Chopped and Dropped too.

Saw this one in NE Kansas years ago

 

I am with you on that - I have always liked the looks of the Pilot House, as well as the Chevy and Ford trucks. I often wonder if some of the "ugly" comments come from the "Piss on (insert name of vehicle)" window sticker people, or maybe they are confused with some of the 1960s models.

 

I had a 52 Road Runner sub frame 70s rear The dodges were the best looking of the early pick ups. Chevys were really ugly!

 

luv the old dodge pickups! this is mine,chopped,tilt frontend,etc. another future project

 

4950Ford,

Your truck looks great!!!

 

Thanks dude, I've got to credit you and your truck for a whole lot of inspiration, I'm glad you like it.

 

Love your truck, the lower bed sides definitely change the look completely.

Here is mine from the other side of the world.




And here is one style that you really don't see too often. This is parked up in the mountains near my home and really needs to be saved. Fargo slab-side ute.

 

Wendle, I read all about your truck on the web, it really turned out awesome, I like what you did with the fender swap to eliminate the running boards.

 

This is the one that got my juices flowing. After seeing this one a couple of years ago, I went and got one for myself. Wow, our own social group! I just joined!

 

Great build! Hmm maybe I should keep my 1990 Dakota away from the wreckers.


Sent from my iPhone using TJJ

 

Nice looking truck!

The low side beds are pretty cool, although they aren't super rare. Actually, from '51-'53 the low side beds were standard equipment. Dodge was the only one that offered the high side bed at the time though, so it was one of the big selling points and a lot of folks got them instead.

Here's a pic of my "new" '53, low-side bed with the larger '53 up fenders. This one's a De luxe cab, so while it only has the single back window it has wing vents. Custom cabs had the corner windows and wing vents.

 

good info moparmonkey, I love my truck with the low bed, I can't stand the tall bed. So I guess my cab is a custom since it isn't the 5 window cab?

 

Well, it would be better if I hadn't mixed up my Custom and De Luxe cab options . Fixed now, I had them reversed.

Actually, what you have a Standard cab. From 48-50, the cabs were equipped like this:

Standard- Driver's side sun visor, dual vacuum windshield wipers, cowl vent, "air-o-ride" seat

De Luxe- Standard + door vent wings and rear quarter windows

Custom- De Luxe + dome light, left door armrest, dual sun visors, airfoam rubber seat padding, deluxe seat back and dual electric windshield wipers.

In '51 the options changed a little, so from '51-'53 the De luxe cab lost the quarter windows but gained the dome light and electric windshield wipers, the Custom cab stayed the same.

All this info is from Don Bunn's book, "Dodge B-series Trucks, Restorer's & Collector's Guide and History". I HIGHLY recommend it if you're going to hang on to your pilothouse. Has all kinds of production info and options, as well as tons of pictures, history, etc. Even if you're not going to keep the truck stock it really comes in handy. They were like $200 because they were out of print, but Enthusiast Books just had another run of them printed a few months ago so you can get them new again for $50.

http://www.enthusiastbooks.com/si/10182.html

I ordered mine direct from Enthusiast using the link above, but you can also get it through Amazon if you prefer to deal with them...

http://www.amazon.com/Dodge-Trucks-Restorers-Collectors-Reference/dp/1583880879

Also, you should check out the Dodge Pilot House club website, especially this page

http://www.dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/know.htm

They have a ton of old manuals in PDF format, as well as some How to's and old ad's.

And then there's the P15-D24 site, which has a pilothouse forum...

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/index.php

 

They must have all been different outside of the US, I have no idea what spec cab my '49 was but it had:
Drivers side visor
Single electric wiper
Standard seat
Vent windows
Rear quarter windows
Cowl vent
No armrests
No heater/defroster (didn't even have the vet slots in the glazing frame or dash)

 

I'm sure that they were different outside the US, heck there were even DeSoto trucks made for the South American market! Just rebadged Dodge's for the most part, like the Fargo's for Canada. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if the options were all a little different.

Sounds like you probably have the equivalent of a De Luxe cab, the only thing that really sticks out as being different is the single electric windshield wiper. As far as heaters, they were an option, and weren't standard on anything over here either.

@4950- Just noticed that your wheels are further back in the rear fenders, I take it you didn't shorten the Dakota frame any? Without mods the Dakota frames have a longer wheelbase than the Pilothouses, 108" for the pilothouse vs. 111.9" for the Dakota.

 

Moparmonkey,
I actually have 109" wheelbase, I took and ground all the rivets off the front and rear hangers and moved the rearend forward 3" and welded the hangers back on. It was easier to do that than it would have been to cut the frame and shorten it. The back of the frame was about 4-5" to long and had to be cut off to get the bed to clear the end of the frame.

 

the trucks stance is sick, you definelty naied it!

 

Killer truck so far man!

 

I don't know if I missed it or not, but what engine and trans are you planning to run?

Nice project, BTW.

 

Hey Matt,
I put a sbc and 700R4 in it, It wasn't my first choice, I originally wanted to put a sbm in it with a torqueflight tranny but I couldn't find a good running one so I stumbled across this sbc cheap so It went in it for now,
I have a early 60"s 318 polly motor that I'm contemplating rebuilding and putting in it, if I do that it will be in the future.

 

Thanks moparob,

It's low dude, after I got the powerplant in it, it put the front valance at around 4".

 

Looks cool man, Ive also got a 53' dodge with a 50' front end. Doing a complete rebuild right now, Mine diffenetly getting chopped.

Justin

 

very nice - thsi tells me i need to get back on mine! damn 64 chevy is taking all my attn lately though

 

Justin, thanks for the kind words, but mine is nothing compared to the fabulos work your doing on yours, your frame is incredible. These dodge's are so cool, it's a shame that more people don't think they like them, but with more and more of us building them they may start getting the praise they deserve.

carl

 

Very cool truck

 

Thank means alot man, Im trying to do the best i can.

 

I saw Carl's truck in person at the hotel during LSR. That was in my top 5 favorite of the whole show. I kept going back and looking at it Its simple, different and very cool and the owner is a kool kat too

 

love those pilot houses

mine is a 1948 that me and my son started in the late 90's.
he passed away 8 years ago at age 16 and l was so grief stricken l did not touch it till 2010 . figured it was time to finish it or sell it to someone who would, so l choose to finish it.

l used all chevy power train, 300 hp 1967 327, 1981 2OOR, 1973 camaro 3:36 12 bolt posi, 1977 nova sub-frame, 5 window cab/no chop, 1966 chevelle manual steering box , 1972 chevelle tilt coloulm and a B&M shifter.

when l sub-framed it, the motor was hitting the firewall, we used a wheel barrow to recess the area for clearence around the back of the block . l also used 1966 chevelle motor mounts and this lowered the engine 2'' and moved it back 6''.

you nailed the stance. really like your'e truck,

Later

 

Why a frame swap as opposed to different suspension on the stock frame? I recently picked up a 48 and have been reading and researching these trucks and have read about the frame swaps. Is that easier than working with the stock frame?