Projects The rebirth of a 1952 pilot house dodge pickup

wow' i'm sorry to hear that brother =( its good your getting back to work on it tho, it will bring back many happy memories every time you put a wrench on it and drive it!
imma hop on over and check out your thread!

 

WHat happened bro!?!? You were movin right along, and then nothin? Hope everything's alright!

Just keep truckin on!

Evan

 

Dude, great build. Love the enthusiasm in your posts.... Its good to see somebody keepin that ole flathead 6 alive! Keep up the good work and can't wait to see more pics!

 

Nicky---this is an accountability check....... what's happening with THE truck?????

 

Anybody know what happened to Nik? He was movin right along, but no updates in three weeks now. Hope all is well!

 

ahhhhhhhh! sorry guys! i got pretty sick for a few weeks! had a nast lung and ear infection! been back in the garage this week! just stripped all the front body parts off and started cleaning all the dust back off. spun the engine to make sure it wasnt locked up again. been working on my center grill peice last few days. i found a way to make it look like brushed aluminum 9 i"ll post picks when its done. lookin good so far. my girl and i spent some time working on the truck yesterday. i"m hoping to have it running and driving by July. just gotta get two more head bolts, a thermostat,belts and all the break stuff, (master cyl,hoses etc) once i get all that done it should run and drive!

now for the pics!
Kellie popping out the spark plugs..


ok. heres the center of the grille with the first coat of silver paint. i found a way to make it looked like brushed aluminum, using Steele wool, very fine grit sand paper and a drimmel tool with a buff pad, ( I haven't started the process yet. i need about 3-4 more coats of silver paint before i start. I did a little experiment and it should ook awesome. i will post more pics this week of the process =) i plan on getting some of the stuff to get the engine running by next Tuesday. STOKED! sorry again for the lack of updates lately!

 

grill center looks great man, keep at it

 

Check out rusty hope.com if you want to put discs on the front

 

Nice! Glad you're feeling better and back at it!

 

Ditto.

 

Anyone know where I can get 2 headbolts for thee ol' 218 flathead ?

Big pic update coming soon!

 

some inspiration.

 

Try Vintage Power Wagons. He's got headbolts in his catalog, just make sure it's for the right engine.
http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com/pdf/parts/01engine.pdf

I believe the 218 was used up into the 70's, so if you can hunt down a part number, head bolts should be available at your local auto parts store. Try doing a search at the Pilothouse forum too

 

thats sweet! same colour my pilothouse is!

 

just got some head bolts today and installed them! thanks!

 

alright, small dilemma, i,m most likley thinking like a total TARD lol but, there is 4 bolts near my manifold that just thread into the head/block in between each port of the manifolds. i've been trying to figure out what the HECK are they for!? my buddy steve said he thinks that you put a washer on the bolt and they help hold the manifold on,

here is the middle two behind the carb ( i just got the bolts in to plug it up and keep stuff from getting in there.



here is all 4 ( two in the middle and and two on the sides



here is a close up of one of the end bolts.



i cant find a diagram anywhere in my shop manual at all! please help!

i<m gettin closer to getting the ol truck on the road!

 

go back to VPW and get a manifold stud kit. The studs will have course threads on one end & fine threads on the other end. The nuts are tapered and seat in brass washers...this combination keeps your manifold from cracking from heat expansion. P/N #01:NMHK335508, listed for $60.

 

Sounds like you already got them, and for 2 its not a big deal. But, for future reference, there's a Chevy head bolt that is the right length for the 218/230 engines. They can be bought in a box of 25 from Summit, the part number is PG-362-25. They're $24.99 for the box of 25, which will do an entire engine and leave a couple spares. Made by Pioneer Inc automotive products. A ton cheaper than other sources, and made in the USA.

 

worked on the pilothouse all day today. the dash needed to be repainted and the pitting filled. its still not completely done yet but here is some of the pics from today!

PRIMER


PAINT








ENJOY!

 

Looks good

What's the knob above the dash emblem for? Looks like there's a hole for another one too.

 

nice progress. I see you were askingfor running boards and inside visors. Inside sun visors are fairly rare to find in decent shape (they were not standard) and can be expensive. I need a set for mine also.

 

Nice work man!

Your thread is great motivation. Subscribed!

Mike

 

If you are looking for inside sun visors you might check out some from a Ford Ranger. I am going to use some of them in my 48 Ford COE. They are not too big and should work.....

 

I honestly do not know haha. i think its for a switch or knob that was added by one of the previous owners..

 

thanks guys! Anyone have a pic of a master cyl swap from a cherokee ? im thinking of swapping out the old one for a more modern one and the jeep master cyl seems to be the best rought to go but the Pilothouse forum wont let me see any of the pics! i have all the info on how to do it but I need to see a pic of it.

 

From the pilothouse forum

 

FYI I think Dodge used the flat head 6's into the 80's in fork trucks and stuff. My Dad used to work for Yale forklifts and a lot of these units had an industrial version of your engine.

 

finished up the center piece. used a little bit of clear coat,silver paint and a steel wool pad, just shot it with a few coats of silver paint, the took the steel wool and brushed the paint in one direction to make it look more like brushed aluminum .. also cleaned up and painted the steering column a nice gloss black and hopefully i"ll be installing it this week, gotta figure out that 90 Cherokee master cyl swap too! were on our way !



steel wool treatment..




finished product. looks a little more like aluminum now =)

 

got a new angle grinder today so i put it to use taking the rest of the old barn paint on the doors, haven't got to the driver side door yet, but i hopefully will tomorrow. lookin way better tho!

after the i romoved the paint..


Primer


driver door before paint removal.. hopefully tomorrow!