Spring has sprung here in Minnesota, so in a few weeks I'll be able to haul my '94 to the shed to get working on it.  I posted WAY back when I first found this forum on my build plans.  I'll start here again to bring everyone back up to speed.   

 

First off, is this the right part of the forum to post a "build" thread?  If not please direct me to the correct location.  thanks

 

I restored a '51 Pilothouse B3D truck that was my great grandfathers truck.  I seem to have a disease now, lots of old truck parts in my house, garage and at friend's sheds.  I decided a few years back I was going to take a modern powertrain and graft on a Pilothouse cab/front clip as a daily driver.  This truck will be a stretched 3 door cab flat bed stake side hauler style truck.  I've got all the old Pilothouse cabs and doors to cut apart and re-weld up to the stretched cab.  As well as all the doors I could need to make the 3rd door and fill the space behind the passenger side door.

 

The '94 has a fresh rebuilt tranny and about 150K on the engine.  I've been thinking that since it will all be available to work on, going thru the engine and rear end would be a good idea right now.  Before I start to tear things off, any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Plans include air ride, saddle fuel tanks, rear duals and a tip up front end like a semi for engine work.  

 

thanks, I look forward to keeping this thread moving over the course of the spring/summer while things start under way.

Edited March 12, 201411 yr by PilotHouse2500

With the work I see you doing on your truck the company should never turned you loose. I think you'll be at a better job very soon.

Well, I'm back in business, a few wood projects to finish up I contracted for while between positions, but I started my new job 2 weeks ago.....at Cummins!  I'm in Power Gen systems (diesel gensets), but I'm now part of a great company, with cool products!  I hope to get back on the truck here in January.

some eye candy from my onboarding time at the mothership:

Thank some cool history for the D0001 truck.

I remember when those trucks first came out because it was the talk of the town and local loggers, contractors, farmers where buying them up. It took till 1996 when I bought my first one.... a 92 5 spd. I drove for over 20 years. Loved that old truck.

Edited November 27, 20177 yr by JAG1

I am liking all that history.

come January when I hope to pull the '94 in the shop to start the tear down, ALL parts not on the power train are available for the asking.  PM me if you are looking for any parts before they head to the landfill or scrapper.

Well, wood projects wrapping up for the winter.  After almost a year, I'm getting back to TODD.  Last night I cut all the bracing out I had in for the roof build.  Now I can weld in new bracing so I can cut the floor out.  Then I will weld in new sill beams (2 X 4 x .125 tubular steel you can see them laying in the cab) and some cross members.  Hopefully in Feb I will be pulling the 94 into the shop and start tear down so I can get the cab set this spring.  Sure opens the cab up inside!

 

 

Edited January 17, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500

Man I’m jealous, looking great!

I'm patiently waiting to see this thing fired up and rolling some day. 

11 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

I'm patiently waiting to see this thing fired up and rolling some day. 

 

So am I!  LOL

goal is 2020

Wow. Got lots to do... 

put in the bracing so I can cut the floor out this weekend

 Still enjoying the story.

sooo...as I lay in bed this morning, waiting to get up (stupid brain) I thought to myself:

 

1.  how spendy would a manual transmission be for this project to swap in?

2. how available are said transmissions?

3.  Would my old, almost fresh off of rebuild, be easy to sell and for how much?

First off I would like to say great job, going to be a very unique truck when your done. 

 

As as far as finding a manual should be pretty easy, and available in a reman, only thing you would probably have to pay  core charge if you don’t have one. Been looking got one myself, I like the nv4500 myself but others may tune in with different options, and $1000 core seems to be about the norm. Added to the cost of the reman.

NV4500 are very common fair priced. NV5600 are bit more expensive and bit more rare so the core prices are typically higher. Like from Six States in Boise the core on my NV4500 was nearly 3,000. So be aware rare part typically have high core prices. 

I found this site while looking at conversions a long time ago. Emailed back and forth a few times and they seemed fairly knowledgeable and friendly. Other then that, no personal experience.

 

https://high-impact.net/nv4500-conversion-kits/

sill/rocker beams in and seats out of the donor (and my helper)

 

 

 

On 1/26/2018 at 2:56 PM, Mopar1973Man said:

NV4500 are very common fair priced. NV5600 are bit more expensive and bit more rare so the core prices are typically higher. Like from Six States in Boise the core on my NV4500 was nearly 3,000. So be aware rare part typically have high core prices. 

 

From what I can see by looking at a few websites, the NV5600 was not an option in '94.  What would all be entailed going to this (assume transfercase, drive shaft)?  Altho, at almost double the cost of the NV4500...I don't know..

Edited January 30, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500