Frank's 49

Just picked up the June 2016 issue of "Vintage Truck" magazine. It has a nice article about a 1948/49 Dodge B-1-B 108 Woody wagon. Built by Cantrell Body Works. Bought by Bob Sanborn near Spokane, Washington, back in 1999 and subjected to a 12 year restoration. Bob is on the member list, but apparently not active. The truck has been put back in really good shape, and there are a couple of nice pictures. Just something to check out. Mike

Thanks for the link to Caparadiator. That looks like the unit on Ebay, but a little cheaper. If I can't get mine repaired, I will probably get one like yours. But then it is almost summer in Georgia, so I won't need it for a few months . Mike

Radiator shop here in Rome GA rebuilt the core for my 49 for $200. But now the fan motor has gone bad. Where did you find the 6 volt motor? I located one on ebay, for $79. It is supposedly "universal" and fits ford, buick, dodge, studebaker and chevy. But with out actually holding it, I can't be sure it will fit. Did you find a NOS, or get lucky and find something used?

chrysler 1941, that is even cheaper. I like that and it would be easy to hide in the glove box, or under the dash. The internet is just amazing! Bravo!

Cheap is my middle name. The battery pack is only $4.00. I actually thought about just using the 6 volt system and wiring a usb plug directly, but I have had occasion to look at the wire on a usb cable in the past, and they are hairlike thickness. This just seemed easier and it still allows me to unplug things and move the usb to another vehicle.

Since the speedometer in my truck quit working back in the early 1950's, and also just for navigation purposes, I wanted to have a GPS on board. I found a neat little power pack on ebay that is used for portable power for electronics. It holds 4 AA batteries, which generate 6 volts, but it contains some circuitry which yields a 5 volt output through a standard USB output jack. This allowed me to just plug in a standard gps and it works fine. Since this was going in the Dodge all I needed was 6 bolts to work with. I just opened the case and soldered leads to the battery connections, then connected to power and ground in the truck. Connect the leads to the two outboard terminals closest to the output jack end ( one spring (negative), and one flat (positive). You just have to make sure you get your + and - connected correctly to the + and - in the box. NOTE: You don't have to worry about the car/truck being positive or negative ground, the unit does not care, as long as you connect + to + and - to - it will work. The box itself is plastic and so won't be 'grounded' to the vehicle. I added a simple toggle switch so I can turn the power on/off, but you could just make it 'hot' and turn the gps on and off. Then you just plug in the electronics with a cable having a standard usb plug on one end and the correct plug for your unit on the other. The battery packs are on ebay here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-AA-Battery-Holder-Box-Case-1PCS-4-8-5-9V-DC-USB-OUTPUT-Switch-with-Buckle-/151381397091?hash=item233f08ce63:m:mDtSYooHEM_AOn3xCbzkNbA It works fine. Of course I picked up a new speedometer cable today, but the gps will still be handy. Mike

Just fyi. I found it on NAPA, but the shipping charge was $7.95!. Nearly the price of the cable. Called a local NAPA store (25 miles is 'local'.), and they said it will be there in the morning. $9.99 + tax. Going that way to buy supplies to make some wine, so I will pick it up at the store. Mike

Thanks. I guessed that was the part no. as it was the only one for around $10. Their search engine claims it does not fit. I tried B1B and B2B, but neither one 'scored'. I am going to just order one and if I lose $10 bucks, I can always save the cable and use it on something else someday. Might make a decent "snake", for cleaning the kitchen sink. I just hooked up an old GPS so I could use the display for a speedometer. Thanks again for the reply. Mike

I also need a cable. Do you know if this will fit a B1B 3 speed. Pretty sure they are the same transmission. I looked on NAPA site and found part No.BK 6151604. Is that the one you used. The web site does not specify length, or any thing else. And it says it will not fit a 1949 B1B. Can you check the part number on the one you bought. For 10 bucks I might just take a chance.

Thanks for the response. Mine is a three door, with no second door on the drivers side. The tank fills from the outside, about in the middle of the panel where the door would be. Under the seat is probably better. The fill line runs nearly horizontal for about 15 inches on mine, and it vents very poorly when filling the tank. It constantly backs up, and makes filling the tank a very slow process. The fuel gauge quit working many years ago and Dad always carried a spare gas can, partially because he was never sure if he had the tank really full, or if the flow was just backing up. The extra can came about after a 3 mile, midnight walk, caring gas in an two open quart oil cans, which is all the nearest station had to carry gas in. He said they got down right heavy after awhile! Mike Reeber

found these on e-bay as of Jan 8th, 2015. Might be what you want. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953-Dodge-Truck-Front-Bolts-washers-nuts-Original-/351620016591?hash=item51de2fa9cf:g:eEEAAOSw5dNWifMV&vxp=mtr price is $15

???? the original question asked about studs and nuts? Not on a Dodge.. they use bolts and threaded drums. If he has broken a bolt off in the drum, then he has more problems than just getting a new bolt.

Geeze! At least Dad never had to bail out!! Just coast to a stop, and there was a lot less traffic around in 1949.

This story relates to a problem my Dad, Frank Reeber, had shortly after he purchased Old Betsy, a 1949 Highlander Woody Wagon. Dad owned a paper route serving New Milford, Oradell, and Harworth, New Jersey (back in those days a newspaper "route" was a protected business territory and was owned, it could be bought and sold like any business). He had been using the truck for about 3 months when it starting a stalling problem. Operation would be normal, and then suddenly the engine would quit running. After a few moments, it could be restarted and all would be well.. until it stalled again. The time between stalls could be few minutes, hours, sometimes he would do the whole route with no problem. A return to the dealer led to suspicion of an electrical problem, because it was so random, and sudden in nature. In those days the actual warranty, was basically "we guarantee that you own the car", so only the fact that Dad was a friend caused the dealer to spend much time working on the problem. And work on it they did. Since the problem was random, the mechanic had to try a fix and wait for Dad to report success, or more stalling. They tried lots of things, coil wire, points, rotor, checking grounds, checking ignition switch/wiring for loose wires. Each of these involved taking the car and driving it.. until the next stall. No luck. Changed out the fuel pump. No luck. Swapped out the carb.. no luck. This went on for several weeks and Dad (and the mechanic) were getting pretty frustrated. Finally the mechanic said, "I'm going to remove the gas tank and check out. I have tried everything else and am basically stumped. i don't know what else to look at.". Lo and behold, the gas tank contained a half-handful of small pea-sized unripe grapes!! The grapes, when placed in a pan of gasoline, had neutral specific gravity, ie. they would just sort of slosh around, neither floating nor remaining on the bottom. When the car was running and being driven around, grapes would wander around until one drifted close enough to the outlet to be gripped by suction, and then would block the flow of gasoline to the fuel line. Presto. Stalled engine. Engine stalled, no suction on the gas line, so the grape is washed away, gas can flow, and the car starts and runs fine. Until the next grape is trapped. After the laughter stopped, Dad installed a locking gas cap, and it is still on the car. No more problems. If your car starts to have a stalling problem you will know what to do. Mike

OK, I have looked at all the pictures I can find of 4 door pilot house Woody wagons. I have a 2 door and the gas fill pipe is right in the center of the panel, behind the drivers door. On the four doors, this would be in the center of the rear door.. no good.., so it is not there. But where the heck is it? Not visible in any of the pictures I have seen. Did they hide it? Do these never run out of gas? If so I may add a door to mine . Does anyone know?

If you have/had a Dodge Woody post us a picture, with a brief description. Do you still own it, or has it changed hands? I would like to determine if I am seeing more trucks, or just pictures of the same one, maybe with a new owner. This is my Dad's truck, now mine. (for the time being at least. It is currently listed on ebay, and might changes hands.) This is another that I had never seen before. It is the one which was on CR recently.

I think I will start a topic showing pictures strictly of Dodge Woody Wagons. I have found lots of photos on the web, but it is hard to determine if I am seeing a lot of trucks, or just lots of pictures of the same vehicles. Or maybe the same truck, but before and after work being done on them, or a change of ownership.

These are the pictures from the CR listing, in case the link quits working.

Sent to me by another member. For information only as the auction is long over. I have not had any luck determining if the car sold and what the final price may have been. A starting price of 5K seems low to me, and even the estimated sale price looks low. The ad says it runs, so OK for that. The engine bay sure needs some clean up, and almost all of the paneling would need replacing. It looks like the top needs to be replaced also, and that makes me wonder about the roof wood. Also the driver may have to sit on a crate, as there is no seating visible in the pictures. The sheet metal looks good except the drivers side hood is damaged. And the tailgate/window is a little weird. Not like any other Dodge woodies I have seen. Not sure if the link will still work. I just tried it and it did, but may be removed sometime in the future.(?) http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ctd/5321745761.html I apologize if this does not belong in this forum, but I though members might find it of interest. I own one of these and am always on the lookout for information on others like it. It pains me to see this one so cheap, as I may be trying to sell mine soon. Always nice to see something you want to sell going at "Barrett-Jackson" prices. (Not so much when you are buying!! ) Mike Reeber said all that.

No fitting on mine. It is a 1948 b-1-b, but I believe the brakes are the same. The line just goes directly to the top wheel cylinder.

Seems to me that if you live near Robert's Motor Parts in MA, or Andy Bernbaum's. they would be considered "local". Actually each is a local business, they just happen to be willing to ship the parts where/when you need them. If you give them your business, they might still be there when you need them!

Neat! i like the way he did the hood conversion. And the diesel looks like it fits better then i would have expected.

Try the Pilot-House Truck Knowledge site ( http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/know.htm). Look at the bottom of the page "brochures" and fifth from the bottom of the list, shows 1953 trucks. Page 6 shows the cab dimensions, including the seat. Maybe the shop can figure it out from those. I don't know if your seat is stock, but they should be able to figure things from the drawing. Good Luck Mike

Not sure if you still want to sell, but just as information. In the great state of Georgia, a motor vehicle of any type, that is greater than 25 years old, does not require a title. It can be sold with just a Bill of Sale. Does not require any sort of witness or notary either. This can make things complicated if the vehicle is stolen, but it sure makes it easier for someone who is restoring an old car, and has to use pieces from more than one vehicle. So if you still want to sell, you might consider listing it with the stipulation that it comes without a title, just a Bill of Sale. There must be some other places where the new owner would not have a problem getting it registered. Or, you could say you are selling it as a "bunch of parts".

Might be a little late with this info, but .... Check out the site "dodgepilothouse.org" look at tab "pilothouse knowledge", then scroll down to the publication "Dodge Preview Booklet". It has some diagrams of all the trucks, including multiple dimensions. You just have to figure out which diagram you need. Mike