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My "new" truck


austinsailor

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Finally bought a Pilothouse last night. Contrary to first impression, no serious dents, doors fit, open and close very nice, front end is like new, no rust through. After going through the brakes and fuel system, it should run as is. 5 window with a 4 speed in it.

Gene G.

Central Mo.

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Edited by austinsailor
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I found that under "surface rust" there remains a lot of good color. Seems rust rises through the pores of the paint then spreads like 'cauliflower'. When you sand with very, very light sand paper the rust comes off and the color appears. You may have a very nice red truck under that rust. Good luck, neat truck.

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My plan is to make it run and show up just as it is.

I lived for a time in a small upscale town in Texas where they harassed you over everything. I had a stack of warnings and summonses for lots of things, like leaving your garbage can out overnight, putting a for sale sign in the window of a truck, not leaving my porch light on, leaving a boat in my drive overnight when I washed it - it goes on and on. Very high and mighty. I think I'll haul it down and visit a friend and we'll spend a lot of time time touring the town. I think I'll visit city hall a number of times and slowly check out the mayor's house. (He was very happy when we moved)

I can see lots of fun with this truck!

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Somewhere I read a post that mentioned reference material to figure out the year of these trucks. I can't find it. Can someone direct me to it?

My model number is B1. On the tag, after a space in the model box it follows with B10. In other words, the model box says "B1 B10" I haven't been able to read the SN yet, but in the next day or two I'll get it.

Anyone know the year? Or how to find the reference material here? I'd like to get the info right when I apply for a title.

Thanks for any help.

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Somewhere I read a post that mentioned reference material to figure out the year of these trucks. I can't find it. Can someone direct me to it?

My model number is B1. On the tag, after a space in the model box it follows with B10. In other words, the model box says "B1 B10" I haven't been able to read the SN yet, but in the next day or two I'll get it.

Anyone know the year? Or how to find the reference material here? I'd like to get the info right when I apply for a title.

Thanks for any help.

Gene,

Very nice truck. Your tag should read B-1-B-108. The B1s were made in '48 and '49. You will need the serial number to figure what year.

How is the road tractor progressing? I love that truck and you've done a great job on it.

Kevin

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As said, your B 1 B 108 is a '48 or '49 model.

B = B series trucks, which were produced from '48 - '53

1 = First generation of the B series made in '48 and '49

B = 1/2 ton capacity truck (C = 3/4 ton, D = 1 ton, etc)

108 = Wheel base in inches

To get more detail plug your serial number in here. http://www.t137.com/registry/help/decode.php

Merle

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Looks pretty solid on the outside, but you need to go get some ham to go with the swiss cheese on the floor. ;) Wow, that won't be much fun to repair.

Were's the hose going to thats attached to the top of the engine oil fill pipe? Is it part of a PCV system? I can't tell if the draft tube is there or not.

Merle

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From what I understand, the hose on the oil fill pipe is usually there to take the blow-by exhaust gas down and away from the engine. Most instances were to get rid of the fumes or smoke so it didn't get into the cab. Smoke coming out of the oil fill pipe in volume enough to dirty the engine probably means a rebuild is eventually needed but people would buy a vent cap and vent the fumes down and out to prolong doing any major engine work.

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Welcome austinsailor, I see you have the "Fresh Air System" on your truck. That is a nice option to have. Your going to have some fun with your truck. I think the floor pan from my parts truck might work for you. I do have an extra trans cover also. I can cut it out and ship it if you are interested. Let me know. Just have to pay shipping cost. Jeff

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That is a wonderful offer. I guess what goes around does come around. Just Monday I mailed a fuel tank filler pipe for a 39-47 Dodge truck to a guy in California for the cost of the postage.

I'll send you a pm with more info.

Again, thanks for the offer

As to the tube on the breather, it's just as someone said - it goes under the floor and is just open there.

I'd noticed I had the fresh air duct to the heater - minus the tube, of course. First one I'd seen on one of these old vehicles. I wonder how common they were?

Gene G.

Central Mo.

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I got a few minutes to go out and look at it just now, after dark.

Odometer shows 65,XXX miles, looks to be original. Lined up perfectly, doesn't appear to be messed with. All front end parts are tight as new. Gas tank looks to be fine from first glance, but it'll take a closer inspection to know for sure. I'll most likely pull it off and clean it out.

The attached picture is interesting. In Missouri it used to be required that all trucks, any size, had the owners name, town and weight it was licensed for marked on both sides. They haven't enforced this in years, and I haven't heard of a 10,000 license since I started driving and owning trucks in the mid 60's. But - it's been even longer since I saw a telephone number like the one on this truck. Most trucks like this would have had farm or local tags and written on the side. Farm were cheaper and allowed you to use it for agricultural things, usually they'd make sure there was a bale of hay or something from the farm in it in case they were stopped. Local, which would also have to be written on the side, was cheaper than beyond local, but only let you go 25 miles from your location. They did enforce these things. This one had BL, which stands for beyond local, which means it could go anywhere, but cost quite a bit more than the other two.

Enough Missouri history lessons.

I expect I'll just clean up the old markings and leave them as is for effect. None of this matters today.

I'm hoping to get it in the shop next week and start going through the brakes and fuel system. First, I have to put my wife's 75 Vette back together. I guess I now have motivation.

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Edited by austinsailor
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Probably the more experienced folks will have the correct answer about the oil filler cap's vent tube. I've seen them on vehicles and one Pilot-House owner told me he prefered that type of cap to help keep fumes away from the engine and cab. I do have one that came with extra parts for my truck but stayed with what was originally on the engine.

Just let me know if you want the floor before mid November. After that, the winter weather may cause the floor removal to wait for spring. Also, no problem if you don't want the floor.

I've read in Don Bunn's Pilot-House book that Fresh Air Systems are fairly rare but have no idea what percentage of truck owners here on the forum have what options. Might be an interesting survey idea.

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No question, I'll take the floor. Nothing under the seat is rusted through, but the floor in front of the seat and the two (I think there are two) bolt in pieces are pretty bad. I'll take as many of those pieces as you are willing to part with. You can email me at austin.sailor at yahoo.com. I figured I'd be fabricating the main floor and spending a lot of epay time looking for the others.

I had to fix the floor on my 47, here is that fun:

http://www.geocities.com/rainbow_chaser.geo/47_dodge/page8.html

Thanks very much.

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