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

got the '94 pulled into the shop last night to thaw out...any parts you want off the body, speak up before they get scrapped!

 

Edited January 31, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500

I see a couple things. Do you deliver?

How are the cab lights , 

 

Let me know how much you want, and I will pay for shipping. You don’t have to deliver...,lol 

3 hours ago, 01cummins4ever said:

How are the cab lights , 

 

Let me know how much you want, and I will pay for shipping. You don’t have to deliver...,lol 

I knew somebody would take the fun out of it.

let's do this to keep the thread "cleaner".  If you see something you are interested in, drop me a PM and it will be FCFS.  I sell parts for 50's trucks all the time and tend to give good prices.  Only thing I'm keeping is the grill for the wall.  Tear down starts tomorrow after work!

and it begins...

Edited February 6, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500

Today's work:

 

on to the interior:

 

 

How do you take the knob off the 2WD/4WD selector?

 

Edited February 5, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500

So a couple questions. Are you planning on using the electric wipers or adapting a set to the pilot? Power door locks or windows?

 

For a manual transmission. G56. The gear split in the nv4500 is meh at best.

There is a 12V wiper kit out there for the B series truck that is a drop in replacement for the originals. 

 

Doors, windows and possibly cowl vent will all be power.

 

As for the tranny, the cost of the 6 speed itself is prohibitive, not to mention I have yet to find a drop in kit that has all the parts to hook to the '94 6bt.  If you know of one let me know, the cost difference is a side wood project or two and worth it if it's not reinventing the wheel to mate them up!

I would pull the interior harness for the 94 and use parts of it for the Pilot then. Interior fuse panel, column, multi-function switch and head lamp switch.

 

The only difference you may need is some of the early 94's had a thin adapter plate to bolt the transmission to the engine. Here is a link to a write up on cf. Give you an idea of what is needed in a 2nd gen. Not all of what is in here you will need to do being Tonys truck is 4wd.

 

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94-98-powertrain/1425954-so-you-think-you-wanna-g56-your-4wd-12v.html

1 hour ago, jlbayes said:

I would pull the interior harness for the 94 and use parts of it for the Pilot then. Interior fuse panel, column, multi-function switch and head lamp switch.

 

The only difference you may need is some of the early 94's had a thin adapter plate to bolt the transmission to the engine. Here is a link to a write up on cf. Give you an idea of what is needed in a 2nd gen. Not all of what is in here you will need to do being Tonys truck is 4wd.

 

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94-98-powertrain/1425954-so-you-think-you-wanna-g56-your-4wd-12v.html

 

Thanks!

 

So, how does one disconnect the harness at the BIG connector near the firewall?  I can see any flip/push tabs to release it from the part that comes thru the firewall.  I likely will NOT be using the 94's steering wheel (but have yet to rule that out), since I will basically be changing the vehicle enough to have to ignore the airbag and any controls on the wheel except MAYBE cruise and wiper and WON't be using the gear selector on the column.

 

FWIW, mine is 4X4 as well.

Oh shoot. For some reason I was thinking 2wd. Well at any rate that thread is what you need!

 

Iirc it has a bolt that holds the connectors together.

no pics, but last night got the bed popped free, and the rear cab mounts off.  Cab wiring harness clear of the cab (still connected to the steering column).  Fifth wheel mount removed.  A few night off here for beers with the boys and a hockey game with the wife, but I'm hoping by Sunday MAYBE Saturday be down to the rolling frame!

Edited February 12, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500

Well life likes to throw curveballs...a well intentioned neighbor/friend dropped me a Caraigslist add for a 96 that was being parted out thinking I'd look at the tranny for my swap.  Well, the tranny was gone, but the frame and axels were still around.  Now considering my 94 was used as a plow truck, the front end is RUSTY!  Coupla thru holes in the frame even.  Long and short of it it: I bought the rolling frame with factory paint on  it (at least the front half), rebuilt axles and suspension.  The front discs are a bit fancy and might have to get swapped out, but now I don't have to rebuild my axles and I can either sell 'em or keep for spare parts for "someday".  Looking to move forward earlier than planned on pulling the engine and setting it on the "new" frame this weekend.  So a few pics this week of that and hopefully Saturday of a cleaner frame in the shop.

 

Tell you one thing about these trucks...they like to keep you guessing on what will be an SAE faster or metric!

 

To top it all off for a great weekend of wrenching, a buddy came over and we were "just" going to put another wind on the pull start retract on my plow 4 wheeler...well found out the bendix is shot and I've now spent half a day so far trying to pull the flywheel (with no luck) so I can replace that!

Edited February 12, 20187 yr by PilotHouse2500

Nice.. you took the easy way..

 

26 minutes ago, PilotHouse2500 said:

 The front discs are a bit fancy and might have to get swapped out, 

 

 

 

 

I wouldn’t be to quick on scraping them, as long as your not Carrying much more than your own weight the ceramics should do fine, just when you start towing heavy and big hills they fade away.

4 hours ago, 01cummins4ever said:

Nice.. you took the easy way..

 

I wouldn’t be to quick on scraping them, as long as your not Carrying much more than your own weight the ceramics should do fine, just when you start towing heavy and big hills they fade away.

 

I plan on using this truck to tow a trailer for 4 wheelers and also for cabinetry work I do on the side.  The slotted and drilled disc will likely get swapped back for a more standard disc,

one step closer..

 

 

Well it was a busy night last night...I hope I didn't cut anything that can't be replaced as I had to cut a few things (throttle cable, fuel cut off cable and inter cooler lines)to finally free the beast!

 

 

ok boys....feast your eyes....