Projects 1953 Dodge Pilothouse Build

lookin good, lookin good.

 

Thanks for all the kind words guys, it means alot. Over the weekend I got a chance to snag some more parts for what I consider a good price. Got some pretty good running boards, a bunch more steering parts, an extra speedo bezel, and a toploader trans for an old flathead 6.



Other than that I started sandblasting some of the smaller bits and pieces and painting them. I don't have any pics now but I'll get some by the weekend.

 

love the pilothouse pickups...have had three of them and a town panel...keep up the good work

 

Why the new "old" axle? Your's looks good!
I think NAPA has some of the steering stuff (drop arm or pitman arm I believe). For my '55, I found a replacement on Epay....

 

Well I just picked it up because we modified a few of the original frontend parts to accommodate the drop axle (bent, stretched, etc...). I'd rather have a spare than not be able to find what I need if something breaks! I'm sure we all know how that goes...

 

nice progress, good to see so many mopar trucks getting saved.

Later

 

Thanks skull, it's slowly coming together! Instead of repop bed strips, how about a twist? Just kidding its just flat steel bars. Nothing special, but I think it will look pretty good with some oak boards.



I'm working on cleaning up the bed sides. There is a quite a bit of tedious metal work to get them back into shape but hopefully they will look alright in the end.

I was also messing around with the headlights. I had some different headlight rings in my stash and this is what I came up with...



Not too shabby, it definitely beats stock in my opinion...

Thanks again everyone for the support!

 

neat headlight bezels l'm wondering, whatta they off of?

are yo going to have to notch the firewall like l did on mine to clear the distributor?

is that a 318?

Later

 

Thanks!

They are off some sort of Jeep from the 60's. I dont know anything about Jeeps but I remember it had a buick v6 in it. The engine is a 305 sbc from the best of my knowledge (I know I know its a chevy in a dodge!). The way it is mounted now, its tight but we didnt have to cut anything in order for it to fit.

 

Ford Mike driving a Dodge with a Chevy in it. All 3 brands in one truck. Good stuff.

Like the headlight rings too.

 

Hahaha! I was wondering how long I'd last before someone brought that up!

 

00PS, my thoughts got a head of my fingers, it was wendle that l was gonna ask if that is a 318

l knew the one in yours is a SBC.



l think by not sub-framing yours it makes a difference where the motor sits in relation to the firewall.

make sure you have enough room for the radiator if you moved the engine forward any.

l like the bed floor flat stock idea

Later

 

Who did your axle? I might be picking up a 52 panel.

 

Sid at http://www.droppedaxles.com/DODGE_AXLES.html. He even helps you out with questions while you're installing it. I have to say the axle I got was better than the one that was on the truck, worth every penny in my opinion.

 

I know these recent updates haven't been much to look at but I cant help myself! One of the bedsides is just about done, we replaced the rear stake pocket with another, welded in the bed strip, and filled up any unnecessary holes.



I tackled the front of the bed. It needed a little patching on the bottom. I hope to have it welded in tomorrow.



Not too shabby for an 18 year old kid! I have to say out of everything, I like the sheet metal work the most, good thing there is plenty of it!

 

those running boards are very hard to find...

 

Tell me about it! That's why I couldn't pass that other pair.

 

Patches! Finished up the work on the front of the bed. Also, my first attempt at TIG welding!



I don't know if it was good or bad, I thought it looked alright. After a little grinding down it looked a little better tho...



Now I'm starting to mess with the rear fenders. I have some ideas to make them look a little cooler... but I don't want to ruin the surprise!

 

''Now I'm starting to mess with the rear fenders. I have some ideas to make them look a little cooler... but I don't want to ruin the surprise!''

now your teasin' us!

Later

 

Hi.
Mine is a GM Holden 308. I didn't have to cut the firewall for the dizzy, but I did have to widen the factory notch up on the LH (passenger over here) side to clear the LH bank. This pic shows what was needed.



Ford mike, I'll be interested in seeing what you do for a a radiator if you haven't already made plans.
I had trouble finding a pressure type radiator (original rad isn't a pressure system) that would fit within the radiator support hoop. I ended up using a more modern rad mounted to the back of the hoop.
Space is tight, I originally had electric fans in there, but they didn't cut it as with the quasi-channel thing I have going on the grill openings don't line up with the radiator. Can't lower the radiator as the lower hose will get into the steering
Managed to fit a mechanical fan back in there but space is tight on both sides of it.

Those headlight rings look really, really good. Takes away the bug-eyed, coke-bottle glasses look

Sorry for the slight hijack, but it's all somewhat relevant I guess?

 

I have an alum. 57 chevy radiator in my 51 ,it's tight but i run a mech fan no cooling problems.

 

I'm glad to hear that the headlight rings are a hit! wendle we are planning to use the stock radiator with the cap off the van as if basically fit right onto the stock neck. The small block has a short water pump off a corvette on it so if gives more than enough room. As it stands now we also plan to use an electric fan, a mechanical fan could go in but there would be alot more modifications. As it stands right now even radiator hoses shouldnt be a problem.



Other than that the whole bed is together again with some pin holes needing to be patched on the sides.



The fenders are a different story...

 

And today a perfectly good front fender got cut up. But it was definitely worth it... I never was a fan of the larger fenders on these trucks until now... I'll take a few more pics from different angles. Anyone else feeling the new look???

 

I also threw a trim ring and a hubcap on for some pizazz.

 

interesting rear fender look

the fender has a square look and the fenderwell for the tire has the round look. they contradict each other and it don't flow.

any ideas on how to make flow better?


not sure l like it, but it's different.

Later

 

Well that was what I was going for. The larger fenders are square kinda like the nose. With the fenders the way they were it almost looked like you put a bed off another truck on it, so it didn't really flow then either. Atleast now the fender openings match

 

I think it will look good! Thats been something ive had in the back of my mind for a few years now....

 

''Well that was what I was going for. The larger fenders are square kinda like the nose. With the fenders the way they were it almost looked like you put a bed off another truck on it, so it didn't really flow then either. Atleast now the fender openings match.''


true, the fenders on the later years look like an after thought and the factory just thru them on to have fenders.

mine has the 1948-1951 rear round ones the look like something outta the 1930's.

maybe with the cab on it will look more symmetrical . l just am having a hard time seeing the whole picture without the cab.

l really like the truck and can't wait to see it goin' down the road.

be prepared to spend an extra hour or two almost everywhere ya go explaining why a dodge truck and lots people telling ya stories.

l love that when l take out my truck. l hope your'e truck brings happiness to you & others as mine has.


now hurry up and get it done

 

Hey just wanted to say thanks... I haven't started my project yet but yours has answered alot of questions I had. Looks great keep up the good work!

 

Thanks and glad I could be some help. If theres anything else I can help you with don't hesitate to shoot me a pm or ask on here!