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

Some major surgury on the truck.  After much consideration I decided I needed to move the body forward about 1.5".  This entailed cutting off the tip front and rewelding the hinge to a new point.  Modification of the tip front frame also was done to allow for the height of the RAD. It also meant moving the cab mounts forward as well.  I also cut out a bit on the front of the frame cross member and put in a 2" angle piece to get some more room.  This SHOULD give me enough room to fit the RAD and CAC all up front where they belong.  I will have to trim the grill bars a bit as well to get things to fit.  As a side benefit, it should also center the wheel better in the fender if my math is right.  

Edited December 13, 20213 yr by PilotHouse2500

I know that sucks to have to tear down so much just to make a adjustment to fit parts. I've seen this on a few other builds I've helped with. You know that the adjustment has to be done to make things right. 

picture proof I got it all stuffed in there...

Started work on the windows as I'm waiting till April to get my RAD delivered.

So the Quad doors are going to be roll down windows right? Or electric?

The longer this takes to finish the more money I'll have saved to buy it

3 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

So the Quad doors are going to be roll down windows right? Or electric?

Power windows for all the doors and a power cowl vent as well.

 

51 minutes ago, JAG1 said:

The longer this takes to finish the more money I'll have saved to buy it

 

You'll be waiting a LONG time my friend....I plan on driving this till either they take my license, diesel fuel isn't available or the rapture...whichever comes first. 

Edited January 24, 20223 yr by PilotHouse2500

2 hours ago, PilotHouse2500 said:

You'll be waiting a LONG time my friend....I plan on driving this till either they take my license, diesel fuel isn't available or the rapture...whichever comes first. 

 

That kind of like asking me if I'll sell "The Beast"... Same answer would be given.

8 hours ago, PilotHouse2500 said:

Power windows for all the doors and a power cowl vent as well.

 

 

You'll be waiting a LONG time my friend....I plan on driving this till either they take my license, diesel fuel isn't available or the rapture...whichever comes first. 

When those times finally get here I'll have to carry it in a dump truck and empty it on your driveway. Maybe, just maybe it might be enough by then....

It now goes up and down with POWER!

 

It always fascinates me when someone is able to figure out and build something like this, and it actually works. Well done 👍👍👍

 Faster second time!

preppping the front doors toward completion with adding more parts of doors to get to the final thickness.

 

Such beautiful work being done on my future truck.

and driver door...

 

 

Cut out the B1/B2 inside door window sill details and replaces with bit from the B3/B4 donor doors for the project (little bumpy bits visilble in previous pics).  I am especially proud of the driver side.  No warp or heat deflection!  Passenger side I got a little over zealous with the hammer and dolly in 2 spots prior to grinding the welds down.

passenger power window in

 

3 hours ago, PilotHouse2500 said:

passenger power window in

 

What?! No limo tint glass in that bad boy? 

 

I've gotta ask what did it cost for glass to be cut and tempered for the windows?

And drivers side.  Oddly the second time takes 1/8 the time!  And seats placed in the cab for effect.

 

 

20 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

What?! No limo tint glass in that bad boy? 

 

I've gotta ask what did it cost for glass to be cut and tempered for the windows?

 

The glass I'm using for mock up is old glass I got from another guy for use as templates.  It's not temered it's lam glass.

 

Final glass WILL have a tint.  But gotta stay legal below 30% here...

Edited February 22, 20223 yr by PilotHouse2500

got some candy Friday, but won't install for quite a while....