Projects Here's one for the mopar fans---1950 Pilothouse build

Well I'm just getting started on my pilothouse build and wanted to share with you guys what I've done so far and see what ya think.

I started with a 1950 dodge pilothouse pickup with a marketside bed, pretty rare bed, most had the tall knox style bed, so this is a little different. It also helps to beautify an otherwise kinda ugly pickup, but I love her anyway.
I bought a 94 dodge dakota chassis and pulled the rearend out and stuffed a huge 12 bolt in it out of a 71 caddy, it has the exact same measurements as the original rearend had, and then to get around the 6 lug bolt pattern on the front, I bought front hubs from a 1988 dakota and was as simple as unbolting the old ones and bolting the 5 bolt rotors back on which got me back to a 5 on 4 1/2 ford bolt pattern. I then stripped the sheet metal off the original frame and mounted everything on the dakota chassis and have what you see today.

I'm ready to mount the motor and tranny in it and am trying like hell to get her to the Lone Star Roundup in April.

I will post more progress as I get further along.

 

That looks like fun! These guys can help you out too




http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=8ooks

 

looks good, I have a 53 on a 91 Dakota chassis. Hope to have it running in a few weeks and driving by spring. see avatar.

 

Moparman, I've gotten alot of good ideas from your build thread, yours is coming along nicely

 

to my idea this is not a pilot house as it does not have the corner windows. what do u guys think?

 

Here's my 51

 

I like how it sits. Cool truck.

 

dorf, in 1948 Dodge redesigned their pickups and both cabs were the pilothouse because of the increase in size not just in the amout of windows it has.

 

Pilothouse trucks could be had with a single back window or a 3 window version.

 

frankie beat me to it.

 

Normally i hate those Dodge trucks ,but i have to admit that bed looks pretty damn neat with the short sides.With the stance you have and it being the 3 window version ,it looks cool and different ...

 

oh...

 

thanks guys i am not a expert on dodges ,hell i am not an expert on anything just a life long love of wheels(my nickname). my buds building one, PAUL B i tooka picture of yours to show him . his wife says it is so ugly she hopes he never gets it done. yours shows there is hope. nice truck

 

NICE...drove a Dakota '89 short bed for 8 yrs & a '92 long bed for 3 and enjoyed purt'near every minute...non-vent windows on them Pilot House doors, I reckon you're gonna run AC for the 6 months of summer we have in these parts. Have ya seen those 12V headlights on eBay with integral turn signal LEDs?

 

thanks guys for the kind words, I worked on it again today and got all the framework done in the bed and relocated the rear shock crossmember and got the lower shock mounts welded on and the rearend degreed to 3 degrees up. Next, I need to pull the front clip back off to get the motor and trans mounted.

 

Your truck looks good I like the bed and stance.

 

got my parts truck on craigslist in eugene

 

5 window cab...better condition....just lost my job...gotta sell.....got a decent engine in it.....I like the low bed...don't see many around here.
I have another sweet engine too.....if 'yer lookin' to go stock.
I hope to keep my red one...tough choice....house....ride....house....ride....

 

LIKE IT! Hope to see you in austin,you can do it.

 

thanks 41 C28, it has 5" clearance at the front valance and 7" at the running boards, in the pictures it looks higher than it is, and I'm running 5.60x15 fronts and the rears are 7.00x15

 

Looks good...like the lower stance.

I'm working on one too...link below.

 

Love the stance. You make it sound easy. Did you have to modify the frame or mounts to get that stance?

 

Guess I'm weird...I love those trucks. I don't know were people get that they're ugly?

 

I had never seen one of these beds. This really changes the way i see these trucks. I like it alot.

 

I'm with 64Cyclone, I actually really like how they look. Guess it's another one to put on the list of "shit to build someday if I happen to find one for a good price because I can't spend a ton of money on something I'm going to redo absolutely everything on"

 

Hey frank,

It was almost like the dakota was made for this swap, I cut all the dakota cab mounts off, and used all of the original mounts off the 50 frame. When I got the cab and front clip centered up the original mounts for the rear just had to be welded on, no cutting at all and the front mounts had to be trimmed right at an inch and then I welded them on. I used the front radiator core support bracket off the 50 and welded it to my square tube frame and bolted the front clip to it, worked slick, and on the running boards, the front brackets on both sides had to be trimmed 1 1/2 inches and the middle brackets had to be trimmed 1/2" and the back brackets were perfect. I then cut all the strips out of the bed that held the old wood in place and slid the bed down until it was back in it's original location. I then welded in a square tube frame work for the new bed floor, the bed is 6" in depth now before the bedsides start their taper, so I can still haul the important stuff like an ice chest and cooker.

 

Mine is one of five low side trucks that guys i know here have. two are on the road and two should be on this year. mine is the only one chopped. The chop was my wifes idea.

 

Hey Paul, I like the chop, yours is the only other one I've seen chopped except for moparman's.
Your's is real suttle, which keeps the porportions in check.

 

someone needs to start a pilothouse group, other than me cause i'm not smart enough to do it on here, so all of us guys can share stories and info on these great little trucks.

 

Pilot House Truckers . . . it was just a matter of time I reckon...y'all have at it