Tony_Urwin

Should I narrow the bed on this stakeside truck? I plan to keep the truck 6V and original for the most part. I bought an immaculate B1c116 with a stake bed completely dis-assembled for restoration. The PO had passed away before he could restore the bed. All the parts are there, just need surface rust removed before painting and re-assembly. The bedwood is gone and I plan to replace it with white oak. The stake is 83" wide by 90" long. I sticks out about 6" beyond the sides of the cab. I am considering narrowing the bed by 8' to 10" before I put it back together. It would be easier to use the truck around town if the bed were smaller. Here's a picture of the truck before the PO removed the bed.

You must have quite a Mopar collection, Reg. I've seen 4 or 5 photos of your trucks, and I seem to remember a few vintages cars, as well. I wish I had the real estate for my own car lot!

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/car/335220691.html

I ordered that book the day after I bought the truck. I already had his book "Dodge Pickups" and a hardcover one, "Dodge Trucks". Lots of pictures of different stake beds in the "Dodge Trucks" book, but I didn't see any stake beds like mine in the book.

Welcome to the club. I too just bought a Dodge classic, a B-1-C, I think. I all pumped up about it; my wife just yawns. Jeff, I think you probably have it backwards, and your truck is a B-1-b. (For reference see my earlier post about model designations)There some great pictures on this website. Also, check out: http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/

According to the sellers (the previous owner's son), the only parts missing are the bed wood. The PO was replacing the bed lumber and only saved the outer slats for templates. I believe that the bed wood came from the factory painted or stained black. I want to keep this vehicle as stock as possible. The PO went to a lot of trouble to restore or preserve it that way. I guess I could be forgiven for a varnished bed or radial tires, though. Stuff that can easily be changed back.

Zeke, I would very much appreciate any photos that you could take from above or below! I haven't seen any photos of a stakebed like this one yet either. You are certainly right that most stakebeds had much higher sides. Anyone else know of stakebeds with lower sides like this one? The PO had the metal stakes and stake pockets powder-coated, and some other parts chrome plated. I'd like to find out if it is historically correct or just prettied up for show.

Looks good doesn't it? However, the PO decided to remove the entire bed, for paint and fancier wood. He found some rust, and had some new crossmembers fabricated. I'll have to paint the framework, and figure out how it all goes back together.

First I need to find some highway gears to bring the rpms down...

This stakebed was completely dis-assembled for restoration when I bought the truck. Anyone have any photos or diagraams that would help me with re-assembly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This stakebed was completely dis-assembled for restoration when I bought the truck. Anyone have any photos or diagrams to help with re-assembly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Reg, I would love to trade for a 7 1/2 foot pickup bed. Drive on out to Ohio and we'll make the swap!

The previous owner was looking for a 100 point restoration, so he removed the stake bed and had new crossmembers fabricated, had the stakes powder-coated, and and made new wood bedsides and gate with inlaid wood. All very nice. However, before he put it back together, he went to bed one night and didn't wake back up. So I now own a spotlessly restored truck with the bed in a hundred pieces. It's a puzzle that I expect to complete years before the other projects are finished. I have just started a home inspection company as a second career, and may use the truck as a gimmick. Gives me an excuse to drive it, right? Just need to get the doors painted with some '40s lettering.

The previous owner of my new truck. His name was McKitrick, passed away last November. I bought this truck from his son today.

Thanks, guys. It seems that I just bought a 1948 B-1-C stake bed truck.

Can someone explain the different models of Dodge trucks for me? Like B-1-B and B-2-C? What do the different letters and names represent?