JJs 1948

Sorry the metal bed strips did not work out for you. Got them back today. Here is how my bed turned out using cherry from a neighbor that runs a small sawmill on his farm. Restored the truck from the frame up so I decided to try and make the bed look nice. I don't know if this was the best way to finish the wood but I used Spar Polyurethane. Still hope to avoid being out in a rainstorm with the truck. My everyday vehicle is a pickup so I use that for work. I'll post some photos of my 48 truck on a thread soon when I can get some better shots. Good luck on your truck!!

Super sharp restoration job on your truck. Please post more photos and tell us how well she drives. Thanks for posting and let us know more details about your Fargo.

Congratulations Greybeard! Beautiful truck and I have to agree too that the original factory black box paint theme has become more appealing to me also. My truck is done for now so maybe another Pilot House someday. Would be nice to see a local newspaper article and photo with you and the grandkids standing with the restored truck. The story would be inspiring for others with similar health problems and anyone else for that matter. Diabetes runs in my family too and I realate to your health issues. Your articles on the forum are some of the most imformative that I find. I had a copy with me yesterday when I changed my rear Pinion Seal. Thanks for all your help. All the best to you and your family. Nice job!

Thanks guys but I feel its the least I could do. I hope to meet some of you at a truck show someday. Terrible feeling when you dissapoint people, especially with all the help I've got from the forum and archives. I finished my truck about two weeks ago and one of the goals was posting photos on the forum. Camera is still in the bag but I'll get some posted when I get this fender filler situation resolved for peace of mind. Jeff

Dean, I know this is a long shot but if you are in Michigan I can loan you the correct Mopar brake drum puller like Reg has. These pullers take the drum off easily. Let me know, Jeff

On an earlier post I made a bad mistake on a part number for a good rubber fender filler part for our 48-53 Dodge Trucks. The correct part from dennis-carpenter.com is Ford Trucks 48-52 fender filler. Look them up online. My mistake was posting the 53-56 Ford fender filler. This filler works extremly well and is $15 plus shipping. I have sent payment to one forum member for my mistake and anyone else I caused a problem for, please let me know. DO NOT ORDER THE 53-56 Ford fender filler. Thanks, Jeff

Do I dare recomend a rubber part again? I will but without the part number. clestersauto.com has 48-53 Dodge Truck weather stripping and offers one part I see a many trucks missing. The lower door seal. Look them up online and their site is very easy to use. The lower door seal was the only thing I ordered and can say was a quality and good fitting part. They also have other rubber parts for the Pilot House Trucks. Check them out.

I went to the body shop and have the correct number for the Fender Filler. My mistake was thinking the filler was from 53 to 56 Ford trucks, not so, this part is used in the 48 -52 Fords. Part number 7C-16068, cowl to fender seal. Go to www.dennis-carpenter.com and look it up. I am very sorry and will pay for anyones expenses due to my mistake with the catalog number. They should take the wrong part back and send the correct one to you andf I'll pay the shipping. Please let me do this. The filler is worth getting, especially when its the right one. Kick me for sure on this one!!

Sorry guys, I will get on this right away with the right catalog number. I worked on my truck at a friends body shop and he ordered the part for the truck. I will personally look at his catalogs and get the right part number. Again, I fell very bad about not getting this right. I do have it on my truck and the body shop ordered it about two months ago. Jeff

Reg, Please let me know about the exhaust manifold. Thanks

I havn't met the owners yet but hope to tomorrow at a local car show. At the shop was a tailgate in very poor shape so someone may have done some work years ago and didn't get around to fixing up the tailgate. I'll look at the truck bed closer again to see if the boards might be original and installed again after some earlier work. They do need an exaust manifold if anyone has one for sale or contribution. Has the original 218 motor. More photos soon of this truck.

I havn't seen another Pilot Era truck around here for twenty years and one showed up at the local Auto Repair Center. I believe this to be an original bed from the looks of the truck. It's a 1950 1/2 ton. Three speed on the column, fresh air option, both outside mirrors, and back on the road. The wood has some black paint left on it. The boards look to be ship-lapped with the metal bed strips on top of the boards. Just thought some folks may like to see this after reading earlier threads. Jeff

Thanks everyone for the help. My truck is 99% done and I am driving it. I'll post some photos soon. Thanks again. Jeff

Does anyone know the method for restoring dash knobs back to the original black with white lettering? I've tried several types of black paint and white for the lettering but everytime I try to wipe extra white paint off the knob face it either smears or doesn't evenly fill the lettering. Sometimes the black paint will come off at the same time. I've also let the black paint (enamel) cure for a week or more before trying to paint the lettering. Any help, please let me know or maybe a source for getting them repainted correctly. Thanks.

I am not an expert but this is what worked for me. I glued the filler on the fender and used masking tape to hold it in place overnite while it cured. Just a few pieces where needed. Installed the fender the next day. Off the subject but how did the fresh air duct hose seem to you?

Merle, Could you help me get the gas tank from him? Turns out my 48 tank leaks at a seam. If its going to be a hassle for you, don't worry about it. Thanks, Jeff

Sorry for the confusion on finding this part. Go to www.dennis-carpenter.com On the home page look on the right side for Ford Truck Parts 1953-56 and click on a symbol to download the catalog. It's 122 pages but only takes a minite on DSL. Click the right arrow page turner at the top of the page to page number 62. This is the Sheet Metal page and the part is called "Back to Front Fender to Cowl" 1953-56. Part # BAAA-16126. The friend that is helping me on my truck has restored a few Ford trucks and found this part for my 48 Dodge. On the Ford it ran from the cowl along the top of the fender, like the Dodge, and then down the fender side edge to the bottom of the fender so thats why each piece is about 2 feet long. Hope this helps.

The splash shield is pictured in my Dodge Truck B-1 Series 1948-9 Parts List Book. Issued July 1949, book #D-12762. The Fenders and Sheet Metal page #305. Part type code # 12-04-36, part # 1197577 right side & part # 1197578 for left side.

The cowl to hood cloth you mention came with the truck when I bought it years ago. The owner had purchased many new parts. I think this is what Roberts has now. Try them.

The part is from Dennis Carpenter parts company. The piece is a cowl to fender rubber part # BAAA-16126. The catalog is at my friends body shop but I am sure this is what he ordered, if not, I'll let you know. Attached are more photos. I threw the crap fender filler away from Roberts so I can't show a side by side comparison but it is substantial and a good product to use.

$15 plus shipping and enough to do two trucks.

This rubber is twice the size of Roberts and spongy feel to it. Works really nice. I'll try to get a cross section photo posted tomorrow.

I have no idea but that is the type in the Mopar parts book and what was on my parts truck but they were beyond repair. This type protects the floor board better and also covers the dimmer switch. The splash shield I did have was one piece and has a rubber strip riveted to the side that meets the floor board or toe kick.

I bought some fender filler from Roberts and was dissapointed. This type of filler is very close to the original I see in Reg's truck. This was used in Ford pickups early to mid 50's. I bought this from Carpenters Rubber Products. If I don't have the name correct I'll update my thread. The rubber is very high quality, soft, and forms well to the truck. They sent me enough for two trucks. Anyone want whats left?

Recently I asked about getting a pair of splash shields for my 48 B-1-B. Apparently there are two types that Dodge used on the Pilot House. I did find the corner style I was looking for and have some photos so others will understand what I was looking for. As always, I really appreciate this forum and will have my truck done soon. By the way, these splash shields came painted the green color of the cab. I painted mine black to match my inner fenders.