48Dodger

Get the frame level all the way around. If Its not able to get to level, It might be "twisted". This may indicated stress cracks etc in the frame itself. Frames from this era were designed to flex to handle road conditions (what we call rural roads now) but panel trucks may have faired better. Having owned many frames and built up a good number of them for friends and customers.....the cracks are hard to see. Front mounting points for the rear leaf springs are one area, the other being the rear cab mounting area. Once you decide your frame is straight, or curved, the next thing to decide is if you can live with its potential. My feeling is, in an original usage plan, the fix is small. Matching springs, good tires and boxing the weak areas if there are some, you're good to go. If you're racing your neighbor down the street at the local track, it will most definitely take more work. 48D

My eyesight is going too......I would have ended up parking there too after TRYING to hit the Ford....lol. 48D

Best Picture Ever.....those two guys were the best!! 48D

Me and Todd are on the same page. "Fire Good!!!" 48fireDome

I slept for dang near 24 hours since since I got home yesterday. I logged 4000 miles....over 43 hours, going to and from my home in California. I took naps equaling 8 hours. I took this trip out to Minnesota to get Mark the large truck parts he bought from a California Bay Area wrecking yard. It was an excellent trip!!! The whole deal ended with a BBQ fire pit party at Mark's. My good friends Jeremiah and Sarah, Merle and Michelle, Mark and Linda*, Ed and his family, Todd,and few of Mark's local buddies....they are all awesome! Todd drove 8 hours for the met up at Mark's and then 8 hours back late after the party started winding down. Merle and Michele drove 4 plus hours from Wisconsin in their 50' truck...spent the night and headed out after breakfast with us. I can't thank them enough for being there. I know I wasn't the only reason, but it added greatly to my trip! ED and his family are the greatest. His kids had me laughing and missing the fact that my kids are all grown up.....I called a few of my kids during the drive...my daughter laughed and asked me if I was ever gonna grow up.....I said "no". Had a gooood dinner at Jeremiah's on the way out.... Sarah and Jeremiah both cooked the dinner, great way to end the trip!! The best part was, with all the correspondence on the forum, its no wonder we all spoke as if we were longtime friends who were just trying to "catch up"! Thanks to everyone....it made my summer. *Linda wasn't actually there, but her presence was felt through her preparation and a phone call!

Having a blast......hard to believe I've communicated with Ed for at least 10 plus years and this is the first time we've met. The Internet is as incredible as it is werid....lol. Having a meet up tonight..... Can't wait!

On the road....started @930 pm in Clements Ca., now in Winnamucca, Nv.....it's 330 am 48D

Leaving this evening....should be there Friday afternoon....can't wait see ya all. Oh....and can't wait to see what kind of burnouts I can get FEF to do!! 48D

Hopefully I can see it in person this weekend....maybe even turn a bolt so I can say I worked on it ..lol. 48D

Pictures would help, but depending on the level of engine work and body rot.....seems the price is a bit high. I'll reserve my finally opinion after seeing some pictures 48D

What's a Parka??? ......I have sunglasses.... 48D

Guess I need to enter this here Livingston main street photo competition...lol Hopefully its daylight when I get there....:D 48D

No problems my friend. ? I'll post a bunch of pictures of the drive and get at least one good group picture at the fire pit 48D

I hate you Doug....lol.? 48D

Hey Pete, Thanks for the story. In 1985 I rode my bicycle 3500 miles across the country...Bay Area to Boston. I plan on stopping by a few places I rode thru on the way home from Minnesota. Nothing like taking a long road home and not being in to big of a hurry. 48D *Driving my 2012 Ram this time.

Stop by the Ranch and take a look at the 39-47's I have here and maybe get a better look at parts and etc..... With with almost 80 years of existence, never know what was changed, welded, funk-a-fied, or frank-a fied. 48D

Being a 20 plus year graveyard worker, I'll be leaving @4 pm and driving 10-12 hours the first leg of the trip. By the time I get to Minnesota, I should be on a daytime schedule. If anyone wants to share their experience driving across country, I'm listening. My route will be starting from the Greater Bay Area. north to Billings Montana, Fargo ND, and into Minneapolis area. When I head back, I'll take a more southern route through Rapid City SD and Sal Lake, City Utah. I love driving. Looking forward to the trip. 48D

Miss you Davin! Glad to hear from you and hear you're doing so well. WE'LL SEE YOU 2021 !!! You are a valued friend and hope everything continues to come up aces, brother! Tim aka 48Dodger

Note to self...."bring grass from California"......uh, wait.... 48D

Plan so far....... 9/11.......hitting the road : 30 hours to Oak Grove. 9/12.......still on the road 9/13.......show up 9/14........visit 9/15........visit some more, leave late afternoon or early 9/16 Gonna try and get Jeremiah on the phone and get his take on the drive.....he's done the route a few times. 48D

I'll be cruising through Minnesota around the weekend of September 14th. Hope I can see some of you guys out that way....those I've met before and some new faces. I'll post more info as it becomes available. 48D

Davin has been a bit busy lately, but I'll send him an email....let him know the Aussie crowd is growing! lol NICE TRUCK!!! 48D

The third character is the weight class. B-1-B : B = 1948-53 1= 1948/49 B = 1/2 ton (further example: B-2-B : B = 48-53 2 = 1950 B = 1/2 ton) 1/2 Tons are 108" wheelbase. The driver side door jam tag should tell you what you have (as long as its still readable) If any of the previous owners swap tags, or swapped frames OR added length to the frame...... You'll need to post some pictures of what you have, so we can tell what you really have. Paperwork is a pain, if it's not registered to the year it actually is. If you bought a 1950 in 51....it would be registered as 1951. 48D

I think I got it from you......lol. 48D

13th ANNUAL CLEMENTS TAILGATE BBQ APRIL 4TH 2020 SATURDAY 9AM TIL WHENEVER EARLY TOW-IN BEGINS NOW AND LATE TOW-OUT ENDED YESTERDAY Show up Thursday or Friday and Camp-Out til Sunday or Monday, always need the Help! "Lucky 13teen" Its the best day ever! Old trucks and old friends! The car guys are part of the whole deal too, but man, I love the trucks! Its the place where the largest number of Dodge Pilot-House Era Trucks meet in the whole WORLD !!! (at least no one's proven otherwise ..lol) The people I've met over the last 12 BBQ's has made my life so much better. This time of year is so awesome because finishing an old truck actually has meaning to the crowd you'll see here! Fenders and bumpers to hang on, hoods to lift, parts to swap, and stories to tell! I look forward to it all. Every year is special with returning long distant travelers and new ones that are finally able to make the trip! I always look forward to meeting you all! If you have an old frail beater truck that is weak on the road.....trailer it here early! I'll keep it here on the ranch til show day and you can pick it up when you can.....save your energy for the best weekend ever! ITS A BBQ, NOT A FOO FOO CAR SHOW!! *what is a "foo foo"?* If you have a "Real Bitchin" Shoebox, Shovelhead, Stovebolt, A-Bomb, Backhalf, Barn Find, Basket Case, Chopped Up, Belly Pan, Boat Tail, Nailhead, Pancaked, Resto Rod, ........well, Bring-It-On-Down, me and my friends got a few Dodge Trucks for you'all to see!!! I love Hot Rods and Muscle Cars too.....it is an awesome time to show off the hard work we all put into these old rigs and no need to fuss, Its all Good! ...no mini coopers please...., yea, go ahead and bring one, they're kinda cool. It really is my favorite time of the year. Happy 13teen guys. "The car crowd is growing and more than welcome to come. I could easily call it "The Tailgate/Trunk BBQ"!" "I can't tell you how much I look forward to this every year, its a blast and for some, lasts a few days. Campers show up on Thursday or Friday and leave on a Sunday morning.....all enjoying late night chat sessions around the fire pit." "I hope new and old members alike are inspired to make the trip and maybe even drive their trucks the distance....you know we have your back! " "So many good stories around the fire pit the nights before and after the event. I can't tell how cool it is to have forum members stay several days and just relax....." "Looking forward to a great party! Now build it, and bring it!!!" "It was around 2007 when Bob Koch, Jim Shepard, and myself (Tim Estrada), went to Reg Evans' place to check out his "yard". While we were eating hotdogs, drinking cold beverages, solving international and regional issues....we thought "lets have a BBQ". "Get the wheels on, and the tanks full....its time to finish up and git to the Q! It ain't no beauty pageant of trailer queens, its a truck show...so flex your rust as well as your shine!" Tim aka 48Dodger