Charles Furman

Ok, after months and months of planning I have taken the first step in upgrading my 1949 Dodge B1B108 Woodie (picture attached). I placed the order today for a new 5.7L Hemi motor with a Mopar 5-Speed automatic transmission. I will start the demo work next week and the reassembly work is scheduled to start about mid-November. Based on our collective experience, this project will take 3 times as long as I planned and cost, at least, twice as much. Oh well. The entire upgrade will include; 5.7L Hemi (345 h.p.) 5-Speed automatic transmission Rack & Pinion Steering Vintage Air AC with heater and defroster 12 volt conversion Power disk brakes on all 4 wheels New fuel tank 9" rear end New radiator Rear sway bar Dual exhaust system (very quiet) New 7" wide wheel hoops on stock 16" wheel centers New sound system I am using a steering column from a 1950 Pilothouse truck to get the 3 on the tree to run the automatic transmission and I am using an under dash e-brake from a 1950 PH to eliminate the floor mounted brake handle. I will calibrate and retain all the original guages. I plan to do all the work in a way the retains all of the original outward appearance of the stock vehicle. The ride height will remain the same. Hopefully, the only thing that will give it away will be the dual exhaust. The components I will be removing have less than 7,000 miles on them since they were brand new, NOS, or totally rebuilt during the original restoration that I completed around 2006 or 2007. The components coming out include: 218 c.i. engine 3-speed manual transmission Triple core radiator Complete Y&Z wiring harness set up for fog lights and turn signals Fuel tank Complete rear-end (3.73 gears) Complete front axle hub to hub with drag link Front disk brake conversion (also have all original drum brake parts) and more I am hopeful that I can find someone who is starting on a B1B restoration with a blown motor and tranny who may want to save themselves a lot of money and make a deal for all or most of this stuff. It all runs great. I plan to post progress pictures throughout the process. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be the best way to document and share this project? Thanks, Charles Furman

Driver's side visor is in my truck. Sorry

Keven, I said I have a driver's side. I thought you were bidding on a passsenger's side. I only meant I wouldn't bid against you.

In the event of a leak in your heater core, just remove one of the heater hoses completely and loop the other one back to the block or water pump. This by-passes the heater all together and you're on your way. All you need is a screw driver or clamp tool depending on how you have them attached. Besides, to fix the leaky heater core you will have to do this any way.

i forgot who had them made. I know a bunch of us bought them. I just found mine all wrapped up just like when I received it. i haven't bought a P15 or D24 yet.

Anybody out there remember these? Someone had made up about 10 years ago. They have a yellow background with the P15, D24, and Owners Club in red (see photo)

Kevin, I have a driver's side visor that matches it perfectly too, but you can have this one. My guess is that anyone who has an original driver's side visor has a match for this one. Charles

Vehicle is a 1950 Chrysler and I thnk the transmission is an M6, but I'm not sure of that.

I backed one of my Mopar cars with a "Fluid Drive" transmission up a fairly steep incline for about 50 yards, then continued back for about another 60 yards on flat ground. I put the car in the forward low range and pulled forward. I then when I tried to put it back in reverse, I could not to it. Every time I move the shift lever to the reverse position I am still in a forward gear. I appears that I can shift from high range to low range and I can go to neutral just when I go to what should be reverse it remains in a forward gear. Anyone have any ideas or experience with this kind of problem?

Have any of you heard of of someone who converts a stock pilothouse speedometer in a tachometer that resds for 0-8000 rpm using the stock 0-80 face plate?

I didn't pre-order any, but I just bought a set to help the cause. I may get bigger tires some day.

This is (was, I just sold it) my 1948 Dodge 4x4 Pilothouse woodie with all Dodge Powerwagon running gear. It was delivered to the original owner just like it sits. If they could put 4x4 running gear in a Pilothouse in 1948, I'm sure you can do it.

ggdad1951 .... as these 6V parts become available I will be letting interested people know. If you want me to notify you, send me an email at charlesfurman@att.net. I am going to have the Sun Tach, 6V wiper set up, 602 and 802 radios, etc.

Anyone who would like to be kept informed as some of the parts off of my truck become available can email me at charlesfurman@att.net and I will be sure you hear about them, I don't come to this forum regularly enough to guarantee timely notification here. Charles

I'll tell him about the group. Hopefully he will join us.

I am going to be replace my stock 218 engine and 3 speed transmission in my 1949 B1B Woodie with a new Hemi & 727. The stock engine and transmission were professionally rebuilt and currently have 7524 miles on them. The engine runs very strong and the transmissions performs as expected. I have attached a picture of the engine and I can provide video of it running and driving to any potential buyer. This engine and transmission will be crated for shipping. Any idea what this pair might be worth and what might be the best way to get it in front of the right buyer? As time goes on I will have many more parts off my woodie to offer up including a 6V positive ground vintage Sun Tach with a 0-4000 rpm scale. Thanks for your help. Charles

The guy who bought my Dodge B1B108 4x4 woodie is a true Dodge truck guy who said he bought it because it was a very rare original woodie and he plans to keep it that way. It made me feel really good to hear that. Less than an hour after the woodie was sold I got an email from a guy who said he was just sick that he didn't see the auction until after it was sold. He said he was willing to pay much more than $70,000 and asked me if I would sell it to him. I told him, "sorry, a deal is a deal". I even told the guy who bought it that he could flip it and make some easy money and he said he would rather have the woodie. Now I am moving on to upgrade my other Dodge B1B108 Woodie starting with a 5.7L Hemi and 727 transmission. I'll post more about this project on another thread.

I just listed my 1948 Dodge Pilothouse 4x4 Woodie on EBay. It will be interesting to see the level of interest, especially in this economy. I imagine I will mostly see tire kickers and people wanting a fire sale. Fortunately, I don't have to sell it.

Don .... What a great idea. I have been watching your posts for many years dating back to the "Blue Skies" rivalry days, and it would be great to meet you in person. If there is any way I can swing down your way, I will do it.

Dan ... thanks for posting more pictures. What a great set up. I like that it allows you to keep the firewall cleaner. And, yes I will have more questions as time goes on.

Dan... I must be computer illiterate, but I didn't see anything about your brake solution on that link. I like what you are suggesting and I would like to learn more about it. Charles

48D ... thanks for your assessment. I agree it is important for me to stay focused on my primary reason for doing this conversion which is to create a very dependable, fun, easy to drive truck that looks stock and can be driven by me or my wife for many years to come. The whole notion of a 426 street hemi is more for show than function which really doesn't make a lot of sense at my age. I really just want to get out on the open road and enjoy driving. My 5 year plan includes shipping the woodie to New England and then leisurely driving back to San Diego. That's a long drive in a stock 1949 Dodge Pilothouse truck.

It's too early to have worked out all of the brake details as I am still kicking around ideas with the bigger components. For example, some of my Mopar friends love the vintage 60's 426 Hemi idea, but others are pushing me to consider a 5.7L or 6.1L Hemi from a 2003 or later Dodge because they will run more trouble free. Once I figure out the engine, transmission, and rear-end components, I think the rest will fall into place. I want to invest some serious time up front planning, followed by gathering all of the components, then removing all the existing parts, and finally installing all the new stuff. I think this could easily be a two year project. The only thing that has kept me from taking this on earlier is that when I did the restoration I installed everything new, NOS, or completely rebuilt. That means I have a 218 engine, bell housing w/ clutch, 3-speed transmission w/ floor mounted shifter, floor mounted e-brake mechanism, drive shaft, rear axle, front axle with disk brakes, drive shaft, 5 16x4.5 wheels with Cooper tires all of which only have about 5,000 miles on them. Until now I just planned to wait until this stuff started to break, but now I realize that I will die before most of these parts die, so I'm going forward. Maybe I can find someone with a good frame and body who wants to buy all this stuff. I look forward to more help and advice from all of you as this adventure continues.

I am about 98% convinced that I am going to do a complete upgrade to my 49 Dodge Pilothouse Woodie (the red one). By complete upgrade, I mean: 60's 426 Hemi engine Automatic transmission New front suspension Four wheel disk brakes Vintage air conditioning Sway bars (rear for sure, maybe front too) 12 volts conversion (obviously) Killer sound system with mp3/iPod capability I want to retain the original look, so I will be shifting the transmission via a stock "three on the tree" column shifter out of a 50 Dodge Pilothouse truck and I will be adapting the stock Dodge steering shaft to run the new rack and pinion set up. I will also use a stock under dash e-brake handle to activate the e-brake. The only thing I want to give away the modifications is the 50's Sun Tach that goes higher than the 4000 rpm of my current one, and the sound from the dual exhaust system. OK, I am open for thoughts, comments, criticism, encouragement. Bring it on. Charles