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

Watch David Gardner's video on hammer welding. Dudes an artist!

things have been slow as I sold my old house and moved to a new location, but I've gotten all my toys to my new place and got some decoratin' done!

 

 

 

some more shop pictures:

For now I'm putting my wood shop in the back of the vehicle shop.
 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8oivc81863ec3m1/AACTzqUpyf95jM0AmJs8-Ut_a?dl=0

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

Nice shop. Did you lay a new floor or did you paint where the red truck is parked?

The shop came "as is" from the previous owner.  He repaired exotica (he had a Ferrari) for his business he ran out of the shop.  The rear (where my wood shop lives right now) is bare concrete.  He used that area as vehicles storage.  I found out last night just how dusty wood working will be in there...need to get on better dust collection for my table saw (HUGE contributor to dust last night)!  Or every so often I will have to get the leaf blower out and blow the place out!  

Really like the project! 

I might have a problem...

not a diesel (yet)...but I acquired another truck...saved from the crusher....

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3hv86432yqhontx/AAD1qBzivRBGUq4-7F82BcAVa?dl=0

Just a minor distraction. 

got some work started again finally.  Closed up the lower rear cab gap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

Welding sheet metal is a royal pain in the  ... If you do it wrong the metal will bow and warp. 

10 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Welding sheet metal is a royal pain in the  ... If you do it wrong the metal will bow and warp. 

yes it is.  I think I may have gotten impatient in a few spots, I did end up with some warping that I'll have to deal with.  

Edited February 22, 20169 yr by PilotHouse2500

this weekend's work.  I took apart the window top part so I can keep the seam by rewelding it all back together in the order it was first assembled.  Please note the welding wasn't done when I took the last 2 pictures.

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

Loving this project thanks for the update. So you have some pretty cool looking clamps in the pics I haven't seen before. The small panel clamps and the "C" clamps, where did they come from?

On 3/8/2016 at 6:49 PM, Buzzinhalfdozen said:

Loving this project thanks for the update. So you have some pretty cool looking clamps in the pics I haven't seen before. The small panel clamps and the "C" clamps, where did they come from?

thanks!   I got the body panel clamps off Amazon (they are Harbor Freight parts) and the "C" clamps at the welding supply store (they sure are nice).

Edited March 9, 20169 yr by PilotHouse2500

Yes, thank you for the update. I can tell you are dedicated to doing it the right way. I would like to go see this truck sometime when finished

1 hour ago, JAG1 said:

Yes, thank you for the update. I can tell you are dedicated to doing it the right way. I would like to go see this truck sometime when finished

it will be a daily driver, so chances are when finihsed I'll drive to a few shows outside of MN where I only go now with my 50mph restoration.

this weekend's work:

 

 

Edited July 19, 20177 yr by PilotHouse2500

no I haven't died, no the project is not dead either....the project will start up again in January, life has just gotten in the way with job change, tractor repairs, 4 wheeler purchases, property maintenance and tree planting.

More as soon as I can!

Hope the job change was for the best.  Looking forward to more updates.

templates made for the roof section...hoping to have that finished off and pictures posted in Feb!