buds truck

You Done Yourself Proud. Nice Job. Bud

this is what I have left of the parts I do not need for my 53 dodge pilothouse half ton truck. I do have all frame crossmembers except the rear which is already sold. pm me if you are interested in any of the parts. Bud :D

I have been keeping a detailed pic account of how I am doing this swap, I used a 93 S10 frame with a 108 inch wheelbase although my truck was a 116 inch wheelbase. I will shorten the bed to make it fit. I took half inch conduit and made a jig that fits on the cab and core supt mounts on the old frame and that will give me the correct mounting areas for the S10. I will use some of the mounts off the 53 and may have to fabricate some too, I am not at taht point yet. my truck will be quite low to the ground. Some of the pics are too large to fit on this site, but if you pm me with your e mail address, I would be happy to send them to you. I also have an old thread from the hamb that deals with putting an early (48 thru 54) chev truck on an S10 frame which provided numerous good ideas for mine. I could send you that also. Bud :D

never mind, I porta powered it up into place so it was like the rest.

all the other 3 body mounts are at a 90 degree angle to the frame, the left front slopes downward from the inner edge to the outer tip by about an inch. is this normal or does it need to be straightened up? Bud

thought I would update you guys, I got this 53 less than 2 months ago and now it resides on a S10 frame with a chev V8 mocked up in it. long ways to go,, but it has come a long ways in a short time. Front fenders go on tomorrow for fitment. Bud

beautiful truck, I am in the process of getting ready to chop mine too. Where did you get those awesome taillights? are they stock? mine did not come with any taillights. Bud

the ones that didn't make the cut were a olds toronado dual snorkel and a 54 cadillac traditional hot rod air cleaner and the cal custom chrome one. Saw a flamed toilet seat on e bay and told my son it would make a great air cleaner.... he asked what kind of drugs I was taking!! I bought one at bed and bath, had a friend flame it and stuck it on with the olds air filter. it was just the look I was after (even if old woolie hates it, LOL). Bud Don, I really like the saw blades for air cleaners. they are a CUT ABOVE the usual. Bud

Nothing personal taken, old woolie, I love your sense of humor!! Door was left wide open and you were right in taking full advantage. Bud :D

I wouldn't have expected any less from YOU. Bud

thanks Wayne for the compliment, glad you got the motor home safely. It ws truly a pleasure to meet you. I figure on using the same air cleaner set up on the truck when it gets that far. Bud

YUP. MAKES A GOOD CONVERSATION PIECE. BUD

One Of The Members Said I Should Put This On The Forum For Fun. This Is On My 49 Plymouth, Can You Figure Out The Air Cleaner? BUD :D

WHILE BUILDING MY 49 PLYMOUTH, I PUT EVERY RECEIPT IN A DRAWER IN MY SHOP. AFTER 13 YEARS OF BUILDING IT I ACTUALLY DID ADD UP THE RECEIPTS, CAME IN AT JUST OVER 6 GRAND INCLUDING THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE CAR, BUT I BARTERED SO MANY THINGS (ENGINE PARTS, MACHINE WORK, ECT) FOR BODYWORK THAT IF I ADDED MY BARTERING LABOR INTO IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ASTRONOMICAL. SOME THINGS YA JUST CAN'T ADD UP. BUD

i looked online with a source i use, it did not register there either, but I will post the site so others can use it for their searches, it has helped me with numerous parts. Bud http://lightningjar.com/decoders/partnumbers/index.php

I HAVE IT AND IN GOOD SHAPE. BUD

While In Canada This Last Weekend, Tom Showed Me A Really Nifty Way To Remove And Install Pilothouse Cabs With A Cherry Picker And A Easily Made Jig. I Asked Him If I Could Share This With You Guys To Potentially Help Someone Out With This. I Came Home An Dmade The Jig In Less Than A Half Hour And Oroceeded To Remove My Cab. What An Easy Way To Get This Done. To Build The Jig, You Need A Piece Of 4x4 Or I Used A 2x6 With A 2x4 Brace, Screw On 2 12 Inch Side Braces To Fit Inside The Cab Door Openings, Drill A Half Inch Centering Hole And The Jig Is Made. Take Your Cherry Picker And Turn The Lifting Post Upside Down So The Slot Is Upwards, Take Off The Chain And Bolt, Put In A 3/8th Inch Bolt And Tighten The Nut To The Post. Slide The Cherry Picker Thru The Windshield Opening (take The Glass Out First), Put The Jig On The Bolt So The Hole And Bolt Slide Together And Start Lifting. Pics Attached To Get A Visual. Thanks To Kuster13 For Sharing This Idea. Bud

Does This Look Like The One You Need? It Measures Out Correct. Bud

I SHOULD HAVE IT, I HAVE A WHOLE FRAME THAT I DO NOT NEED. LET ME LOOK. BUD

in your first sentence you say that insurance guys are pessimistic... in your last paragraph, you say you are more pessimistic.... you must work in the insurance industry too. LOL, Bud :D

The Newer Cars Are Made With "crush Zones" In The Frame Rails, Hoods And Aprons In The Front And Rear Rails In The Back That Absorb A Certain Amount Of The Energy Of The Impact And Lessen The Damage To The Occupants. As An Insurance Adjuster And Former Bodyman, I Have Seen Numerous Heavy Front And Rear End Hits That Did Not Affect The "capsule Area", Which Is The Area That The Occupants Would Be Sitting. Amazingly Enough, All 4 Doors Would Still Open And Shut With Ease. A Full Framed Vehicle With Some Years On It Did Not Have These "crush Zones" And All The Energy That Was Made From The Impact Would Be Transferred Directly To The Occupants, Thus Adding To Their Injuries. Most Times The Doors Would Be Either Difficult To Open, Jammed Shut Or Popped Open. I Love My 49 Plymouth, But Would Not Expect To Fare As Well Thru A Similar Crash As With With A Newer Vehicle. I Accept That Risk. The Insurance Salesman Is Correct. (i Would Have Said That Before I Got Into That Industry). Bud

THANKS, RANDY, THAT MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD. BUD :D

The Idea Is Getting Both Sides Of The Story, After Reading This Set Of Posts I Must Say I Am Extremely Dissapointed In The "my Way Or The Highway" Attitudes Of Some. It Is A Good Thing To Have Both Sides Of The Story So The People On This Forum Can Make An Educated Decision. Kinda Disappointed In Some Of You.....

I'm glad to hear that you are going to do that, he owes ya. Bud

gpt back from Canada (2 1/2 hour wait at the border) with the roof, rear of cab and two doors, all given to me for nothing by one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleaseure to meet. Tom (kuster13) you are a gentleman and I truly enjoyed meeting you face to face. I owe you one, Bud :D