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

I enjoy seeing the progress myself. I just hope you can get your pants back without to many burn holes in them.

Edited February 5, 20205 yr by dripley

Boy I wish I could weld/fabricate like that!

1 hour ago, Blueox01 said:

Boy I wish I could weld/fabricate like that!

You and me both. I can build most anything out of wood but metal I have 0 experience. I figure to take a welding class or 2 after I retire just because I can. 

the pants already have holes in them, that's why I'm using them!

 

as for the metal aspect, I'm learning, my neighbor is teaching me, and I've been around sheet metal for 30 years as an engineer, so it's just learning to look at it different than the wood projects I can do in my sleep.  As a friend asked me "are you a grinder or a welder?"  My reply was a grinder learning to be a welder.  Most of welding is time, and LOTS of beads being put down.  I'm still learning my welder after having it for 7 years.  

 

I've been a wood worker for 40+ years, I do many projects each year, lots of kitchen remodels andmudroom lockers, but my heart is in furniture.

3 hours ago, PilotHouse2500 said:

the pants already have holes in them, that's why I'm using them!

 

as for the metal aspect, I'm learning, my neighbor is teaching me, and I've been around sheet metal for 30 years as an engineer, so it's just learning to look at it different than the wood projects I can do in my sleep.  As a friend asked me "are you a grinder or a welder?"  My reply was a grinder learning to be a welder.  Most of welding is time, and LOTS of beads being put down.  I'm still learning my welder after having it for 7 years.  

 

I've been a wood worker for 40+ years, I do many projects each year, lots of kitchen remodels andmudroom lockers, but my heart is in furniture.

That is very nice. Most of what projects I get do are that involved. Beings I am on the road constantly that would take me 3 or 4 years to build even using Kregg joints for joinery. 

Absolutely beautiful.

thanks for the compliments on both types of projects!  Sadly (?) I mostly end up doing kitchens...involves install and all that crap vs/ just dropping off a chine hu tch.  Few examples below.

Very nice work.

My latest creation on a much smaller scale.

I wanted to put a door pull on it but the wife insisted on the drawer pull. Now all I need is new counter top.

What kinda top are you gonna do? Better let her pick it out or you'll be up the creek for a very long time.

27 minutes ago, JAG1 said:

What kinda top are you gonna do? Better let her pick it out or you'll be up the creek for a very long time.

I am crazy but not stupid. She picked the one thats on there from the cabinet install. Thought she was crazy when picked it but looked great after I installed it. 

 

I would really like to try and do a concrete counter top. Lot of kits out there to do them. But that will require retirement for the time needed. Fair amount of labor involved.

I saw black walnut tree trunks milled flat and fit together every which way for counters. It was the coolest ever. The guy didn't get particular just fit every which way to make it work with each piece. Then he varnished it about 4 coats. Man that was nice to see. I wouldn't want the concrete cause it might crack making the lip or overhang on the edge. Too heavy, too boss. and having to deal with wire and rebar. I vote walnut for the wife. Boy is this thread ever hijacked. Sorry PilotHouse2500 

They are actually no heavier the stone counter tops. Stone can crack too. I also like the idea of wood counter tops too.  We will just have to see what happens.

 

I like to think we are providing interesting filler material between shoots of the Pilothouse. Keep the pictures coming please.

Do you need to throw your pants on the floor when you install a concrete counter?

I don't mind a little hijacking...means people actually are reading about my insanity!  I moderate a classic Dodge website so I see plenty of it.  Meanwhile my most recent install below w/ butcher block tops and the funky corner cabinet I built, floating shelves to be installed after the tile goes in. 

 

I don't like the concrete tops as stated they are a PITA and time consuming and almost 100% will crack someplace over it's life.  Our kitchen (cherry one above) we did the quartz tops...wife likes it so I like it!

 

 

Never seen corner drawers like that..... cool as a pool. We just did floating shelves two weeks ago.

 

Edited February 7, 20205 yr by JAG1

9 minutes ago, JAG1 said:

Never seen corner drawers like that..... cool as a pool. We just did floating shelves two weeks ago. 

 

 

 

I'm a little lost on this comment Dave110.... Do you mean Drawers pulled out and set on the floor? Lol!

 

I think he means the jeans I have laying over the NV4500 to keep it from getting marked up from weld spatter.

I'd avoid concrete counters because concrete always shrinks with time as it cures and then cracks seem to appear later. I had a client that bought a home with a new sunroom added on. It had a concrete floor, but a tile floor was set over the concrete and over time the tile lifted like a bubble in the middle and when the new owner stepped out the tile sounded like a gun going off when it shattered. I had never seen anything like that when he showed me and we were all baffled as to why it happened, cause mid floor had lifted tile. not the perimeter. We had no other explanation except that the concrete had to shrink with time.

 

Add that I have to guarantee work I do and you can see why I avoid concrete countertops. 

Edited February 7, 20205 yr by JAG1

Concrete does shrink a bit in the first 28 days. And it is subjet to contraction and expansion with heat and cold variations. Even in a sun room that is climate controlled I would assume is going get sunlight. This will cause expansion and contraction in the tile and the slab. They dont always do this equally. They make expansion/contraction joints for tile that takes place of a grout joint just for this purpose. We used to do alot of tiled sidewalks when I used to build Burger Kings and used them liberaly for that very reason. Without those joints the tile will buckle and heave.

20 hours ago, dave110 said:

Do you need to throw your pants on the floor when you install a concrete counter?

Sorry for the confusion. I'll stop now 

53 minutes ago, dave110 said:

Sorry for the confusion. I'll stop now 

Soon as his head pops up I'll get 'em 

well, with the virus causing potential financial issues to all in the country, my plans for this spring and summer are now on hold:

1. rebuild the engine

2. buy the rad and rad box made

3. get the frame bagged

4. get the frame stripped and repainted

5. seats

6. steering wheel

 

I'm now back to basics that I can afford without dropping thousands:

1. finish the cab welding

2. front clip repair

3. design and build the front clip frame and hinge for tip up clip

4 doors?

 

Just hoping to to hold onto my job after all of this (like 95% of the rest of the country).

Edited March 23, 20205 yr by PilotHouse2500