Projects The rebirth of a 1952 pilot house dodge pickup

looks much better with a fresh coat of primer.

Are you going to use filler for the bottoms or are you patching?

 

I'M def going to patch it, the bottom of the doors are almost completly rotted out, and then maybe a little filler if needed to smoothe out any improfections, thats the only rust on the truck, everything else got patched before i got the pick up =)

 

gotta got a gasket for the fuel pump today so i can mount it up and some paint, gonna mount the fuel pump and work on finishing up the inside of the cab, thinking About getting some matrial for the seat, I will post pics!

 

The knob in the upper center is the wiper switch. Two holes between the switch and windshield are for the wiper motor mount.

 

the wipers actually still work too haha!

 

worked on the interior today, lookin way better! more pics soon!

 

Loving the truck man! Keep it coming!

Ummm.... and photos of Kellie! She's beautiful man! You are triple-blessed!!! A cool project, a beautiful girl, AND she helps you out in the garage!!!

 

THANKS MAN! I'm getting closer and closer to getting the truck running. A lot of guys don't want their girls helping them out but kellie actually carries a passion for the cars and hot-rod culture and the girl is pretty decent at body work! haha! so I'll take any help i can get! haha!

 

You don't know how lucky you are...I can't get anyone to help me out (wife or daughters). None of them have the bug for hotrodding.

 

I just began looking through this thread. I really like what you are doing with your truck. It is nice to see such dedication. Keep up the good work!

 

Every time that my wife is driving me nuts, I have to stop and remember that she pretty much lets me do whatever the hell that I want as far as buying and selling old cars as long as I don't get TOO crazy with the credit cards & cash. She'll occasionally help push them around the yard and will hold wrenches on the other side of a firewall or floor pan when I can't quite reach...
But honestly, I've found that it goes both ways. I dig holes so that she can plant all of the flowers and crap that she buys at the garden center, and I'll drive her to the big Christmas arts & crafts show that is about an hour and a half away from here... And yeah, I hold her purse while she tries on earrings or looks at some other dust collecting device for the bookshelves...

 

i"ll be getting married pretty soon, this already sounds like us hahaha!

 

anyone ever use this ROCKAUTO site? it seems awesome!

heres the link..

https://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,carcode,1437625,d,1952_DODGE_B-3_B_3.6L_218_cubic_inch_L6.html

 

Yup! & there's a discount code posted @ www.forwardlook.net

 

anyone know the gear ratio on the pilothouses? just curious? what about top speed, mines a 3 speed on the column =)

 

From what I've read, I think most of them in the 1/2 ton trucks were 4.10 rear ratios. A lot of guys do the rear end swaps to get a friendlier highway ratios...especially if you're not going to be hauling stuff with your truck.

I'm leaning toward using a Jeep Cherokee rear end with a 3.55 rear ratio...but would take a 3.73 if I can't get one.

I think top comfortable speeds with the stock rear & trans are in the 65-70 range...maybe a bit higher. I had mine at 60 on the highway and it was a handful. Certainly not a 'one hand on the wheel and enjoy the view' ride. Probably because the suspension needed a good lube though.

 

The 4.10 was the standard ratio, and a 4.78 was an option. Highway speeds back when these Pilot-Houses were new were pre-interstate highway system, and from what I've been told, that was a blistering 35mph...GOLLY!

I had a Dakota long bed with the 3.9L V6 that had a 3.23 rear axle. It got 22mpg, but had a little trouble carrying a full load, and I had to downshift if I wanted to pass anyone. I changed over to a 3.55 Sure-Grip, and it was a like I had a new truck. It got 20mpg, could pull anything I hooked onto it, and passing was never a chore. As I recall, the torque peak on that motor was about 3000 rpm. I'm not sure what the torque peak is on the hemi, but my guess is that it's about 3000 rpm as well. The 218/230 torque peak is about 1200 rpm, but the hp peak is about 3000 rpm, so I reckon the 3.55 or 3.73 would be a good setup for power & top speed.

Handling, wellsir that's a different story...I can tellya from personal experience that bias ply tires are not the way to go on these trucks. I've been driving my '48 on bias plies for 10,000 miles, and it is a chore to keep a straight line on lumpy roads over 30 mph. Braking is a li'l tricky in emergency situations, as I've had a few folks stop short and I thought I was gonna tattoo'm sumthin' fierce.

 

Think the '54 Imperial had 3.35s, with Crowns getting 3.55s, with the 2 sp auto.

 

thanks guys!

 

Had to drill out a broken bolt in the steering box yesterday. I'm hoping to have it back in soon. After I get back from florida the 8th or 9th of june i'm going to try to buy all the stuff to get the truck running and driving. I. Wanna have it on the road before goodguys and mopar..

 

Sorry everyone for not updating! After the 9th of june I will be getting it in gear and buying everything I. Need to get the truck running. Lots of work to do!

 

Heading back from florida! Gonna get cracking on the pickup soon!

 

OFF SUBJECT!!! But here is my new daily driver! picked it up cheap. trying to straighten out a idle issue with it, 1962 Ford Falcon with a 170 inline six. sought after Detroit build code! not a hotrod, but definatly a sweet little daily cruzer!



ok ok... I promise i will post pics of tyhe progress of the pickup next week!

 

cool
this is my truck

 

Nice!! I bet that cab lift is a life saver!!

 

I have a thread that shows you how to lift the cab off by yourself with a cherry picker. Just do a search and you will come up with it.

 

In Austria, interesting! Do an Intro b 4 the Forum Police get ya!

 

whew! its been a while! sorry guys i've been down with a nasty case of pneumonia! got the bolts drilled out of the steering box! installing soon! pics to come!

 

Hope your feeling better-now post some pictures-I am diggin this thread!

 

Hey man awesome project. I have a 53 B4 hot rod project of my own in the beginning stages. Pulled the original locked flattie and building a late 60's 307 chevy w/ a muncie 4 speed. Keep kicking ass, I'll keep following along.

Jon