Projects 1949 Dodge Pilothouse Build

My name is Jeremy, I came across this truck a year or so ago in a friends garage, I fell in and out of love with it over and over again. I had traded a 61 Cadillac for a built extremely lifted s10 with a SBC and he too was in love. After a few messages we had struck up a deal.

He really didn;t know much about the truck othere than it was a 49 Dodge with a SBC 350. He knew it ran and drove, so I was good. I knew it wasn't in perfect shape, but I was ok with that.

Attached pictures is the day he got it.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S_b-__mbQMaQ8RBJI-uGTNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eYT57zm8epI/UyG5C6ckt3I/AAAAAAAAPpI/bktVPzX-aNs/s400/IMG_27016343626785.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nZzE7D0QGoaQ2XC2EKbDXdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5kw7s5b8vRE/UyG5DUxcucI/AAAAAAAAPpU/_gXzrYteyng/s400/IMG_27024086331001.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

 

The first day, I was hard at it. I wanted to get the front metal off and get to work on what I thought would be a simple clean up of the engine compartment. You will soon see that I found the owner previous to my friend had gone for the "Joker Goon car" look from the 80's Batman movies. Here's a reference - http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunzerland/9178449941/

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/flLoRSMjjhSOHs5mXCRkLNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AhPlz6HUOiI/UyG4-4k2dAI/AAAAAAAAPoM/Tc4mqIULTjw/s400/DSC_0102.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Sy_def7Nta07KG-dAVQCUNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KXa_eTAtpTs/UyG41jVzyfI/AAAAAAAAPls/LU75eQISZX8/s640/1393716494365.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eqxN96dvVp6xhn-Xv6gWf9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NsO0RsBMSaI/UyG43Qb41iI/AAAAAAAAPmI/Gtcc-eW_Wis/s400/DSC_0068.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PJAXH6LnOM6EYlDHsdELyNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Mfm1xAkAFkI/UyG44Lt2BnI/AAAAAAAAPmk/ASUzpKfJEbI/s400/DSC_0082.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

 

Once I got the front metal off, i realized what I was in for. The PO had some mad welding skills as shown on the frame horns. Oh well, easy fix so far.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KQmXtolhvY7NC3NW8qBN5dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sm02j9fxhQA/UyG5D9qlgVI/AAAAAAAAPpY/GeS66AEDYt0/s400/FB_IMG_13937953220862715.jpg" /></a>

 

Because of what I found with tthe frame horns, I wanted to quickly get the bed off to see what hack job had been done back there.

I was suprised to find that all the welds looked good, and everything was looking good! (besides the ladder bar mounts) I am going with a 4 link, so this will all get replaced anyway.

On to getting the drivetrain out.....

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UJ5Nc1blH2j_nhFP-Q00AdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GgoWhRyecVI/UyG44pqXiFI/AAAAAAAAPmc/TobkmWVMnR0/s400/DSC_0090.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

 

Ok, time to get the SBC out for inspection.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/47zAnf-NfRn1pMBurstAS9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hi1lK_Hk5XQ/UyG4-2Y_LAI/AAAAAAAAPoI/BFKruCSJFjQ/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3RuYnlNfUBsV48LHNjrIYdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zI-vkeI3DMc/UyG4-5XRvSI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/mGDPOVVnW1E/s400/DSC_0124.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o1VNUoD-9S3AOjyjRR-8n9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2H8eKTbZcVk/UyG5AGcFQjI/AAAAAAAAPoY/oe1OAF9RP1A/s400/DSC_0125.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>


When I took the valve covers off, I was happy to see a roller setup, lets hope the rest of the motor looks this good!
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y7XWd8dKFgVN9bjGMvwy09MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CiBZiHCQCzE/UyG49ARg7EI/AAAAAAAAPn0/X3n_oczd6yA/s400/DSC_0100.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

 

Started cleaning the motor a bit and decided to research the motor a bit, so first with the heads. The casting number is "3973493" which returns as a 400 head... Hmm....

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EpONcc7amUxf___Qup2BPNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VHvcKSB_Ldo/UyG5CNSKaNI/AAAAAAAAPqg/X6ok9HdyGsM/s400/DSC_0133.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>


So on the the block casting number. The "TYC" indicates it is a 350. WTF??
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Svexh0r5pOU3EPpUz3TenNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kOkiQrT1te0/UyG5Aqvvv7I/AAAAAAAAPqk/qOAq_fO0Mj4/s400/DSC_0130.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111220852539119163151/1949DodgePilothouse?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">1949 Dodge Pilothouse</a></td></tr></table>

 

Perfect time to get rid of the SBC while its out and drop a Mopar in there, as it should be….

 

Exactly what I am planning. Going today to research a 1993 Dakota frame and running gear.

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

any progress?

Later

 

I seen this truck on Craigslist. I don't know if he sold it or not

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!