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

MNTom's buddy showed up Saturday to pull parts from the '94 cab, I hope to get the other cabs to my house early Nov to start the cab production process.  Going WAY slower than I wanted to.

Well, at least David showed up! I forgot all about this thread. I'm glad you are progressing even if it is slowly.....

got a few doors it seems I'll be using to make the rear cab door and windows!

 

 

I got one cab moved this weekend to my garage and will move the second this Friday.  So hopefully you'll see some more movement here finally!

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

Cabs all cleaned out of parts, bare cabs now.  Most of the dents pounded out as good as they need to be prior to cutting and welding (which will cause their own issues).  I hope to start cutting in Jan.

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

well as the site has been saved, I'll keep my progress here up to date.

 

Below is the prep work done to start cutting the front cab up.  Fingers crossed!

 

 

 

 

 

here is a pic of something similar that has been done cabwise at least.  This boy has had a TON of other mods done from the original 48-50 model area hood and fender sections and having the cab chopped, but you can see where I'm heading more clearly on the cab section.

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

spent the day cutting cabs up...now the parts go will go off for blasting prior to puzzling back together.  I toyed with the idea of making the rear doors 24" but it seems to stretch the cab too much so I think I'm gonna go with the original 18" size I had planned.  I split the cab down the back middle to widen the back to keep the sides of the back angling out as it goes back. The rear of the front cab half I cut the center out to do that.  Helping me today (and thru the cab build) is Bob my local paint guy, I'm paying him to help and teach me what to do, especially the cab roof rebuild as it is compound curves all over...I'll get to learn how to English wheel!

 

pictures of the cutting:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

a picture of all the parts:

 

 

and a picture of the final cab size:

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

I think it's fantastic and thank you for the update. It's the coolest.

Cab parts off to blasting yesterday...week or so to get them back and the puzzle begins.

Do you have the cab welded back together? Are you priming it once it gets back from being sand blasted? Not sure how humid it is up there, but here even during the winter in an enclosed shop if its not heated 24/7 bare metal will develop some surface rust if left exposed long enough.

once back from blasting it will start to go back together.  My local guy who does paint for me (NOT a paint guy myself) who is mentoring me on this project will get it cleaned back up and reprimed after it's back into one piece.  I'm hoping to get primer on it within one month of getting put back together.   And you have a very valid point, fresh blasted steel LIKES to rust.

 

meanwhile...something came yesterday for TODD (trucks name if you didn't know)...what do you guys think?

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

HA! That will do the trick!

What are your plans for on board air?

I'm gonna run air ride any way so I'll have a compressor for that, so maybe just oversize that a little or run a second one for the (normal) semi horns and this monstrosity.  I've lined up an old scuba tank for the train horn (good to 3000psi) and will work the kinks out on that set up next month with my buddy who is doing the same thing for his vintage firetruck.

cab parts back from blasting...a few spots I knew would be Swiss cheese, but some surprises.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

yesterday's progress:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

I like following this project.  Keep posting updates and pictures.

spent some time yesterday building and welding in the top of the door jambs.

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

I'm super curious on how that going to work out with expanding the body and get it all welded back together and paint ready.

Nice, I recommend watching the episode of "FULL CUSTOM GARAGE" where he sectioned a vw bus, lots of good tricks shown

I'm super curious on how that going to work out with expanding the body and get it all welded back together and paint ready.

lots of English wheel work and LOTS of tack welding the pieces back together so there is little heat deflection at the joint.