1949 Pilot house Chopped

[Lee Exline]

Found this while picking up an old Desoto Plymouth dealership sign!

[John Burke]

Oooohhhhh...I might just have to do that to my pilothouse...The top needs to come off anyway cause a tree fell on it......

[Lee Exline]

One more shot.

[bach4660]

I like it! the chop actually looks a lot better than I thought it would.

[Ken_Hart]

Looks like it had a healthy lowering also. maybe a subframe swap ??

[makkelsay]

man i really wanna do that to my truck now....thats right up my rat rod alley

[Lee Exline]

This is the first chopped Pilot house truck that I have seen.

With the corner windows it could not be easy? Do you cut down the window glass or just lower them into the cab?

If I remember right the Volare aspen front suspension assembly is an easy fit that gives you independant suspension, MoPar V-8 motor mounts, Power steering, V-8 motor mounts, and disc brakes all in one easy to install package. Since the volare front end uses transverse mounted torsion bars the ride height can be adjusted without loosing ride like chopping springs does. The bad part about them is that they can not be narrowed since the springs run side to side so if the track width is not correct do not even bother

Or you could use a Cordoba front suspension assembly that can be narrowed by removing a portion of the center of the K frame, rear tranny/torsion bar mount and center link. The Cordoba sspension also gets you the independant suspension, MoPar V-8 motor mounts disc brakes, power steering and adjustable ride height. The torsion bar adjustments are at the front of the torsion bars but I always wondered why you could not use rear mounted adjusters like the early Mopars did? Then instead of a bolt adjustment you could place a small hydraulic ram and with a very short stroke you could adjust the front suspension height by 6 inches or better. Slam it to the ground on the show feild or while cruzin the boulevard. pump it up for the ride home. And unlike other ydraulic setups you are not cutting down the springs and making it a very bumpy ride.

Thanks for listening to my wandering mind!

Sorry purists!!

[D25_Steve]

That chopped and dropped pilot house looks great.

[Tim Brown]

I like that look, can any one tell how much it has been chopped.

Another option for an IFS is from a (chevy) truck, didn't want to say that word to loud. From 1963 into the late 70's the front susp on these trucks unbolt from the frame and can be narrowed to fit on the pilot house frame. I haven't done mine yet but am leaning that direction.

Tim Brown

[Lee Exline]

I like that look, can any one tell how much it has been chopped.

Another option for an IFS is from a (chevy) truck, didn't want to say that word to loud. From 1963 into the late 70's the front susp on these trucks unbolt from the frame and can be narrowed to fit on the pilot house frame. I haven't done mine yet but am leaning that direction.

Tim Brown

The Chevy suspension sounds like the Cordoba suspension? it also just bolts on and can be narrowed.

The volare suspension package is a very nicely condensed bolt on package but can not be narrowed.

The Idea of hydraulicly actuating it intrigues me. Most hydraulic systems place the rams at the suspension point and minimal amount of spring is left behind. The torsion bar suspension that is normally set by adjusting bolts could be set with a realativly small pancake hydraulic ram?

I know that the 56 Packard used an electrically operated load leveling system that through electricaly driven screws motors mounted on the rear of the front torsion bars and the front of the rear tosion bars the ride height could be changed. I suppose you could also mount torsion spring to the rear using a ladder bar axle mount? then you would have a hell of a nice smooth ride and adjustable height. Of course you would probably want to use a fairly light 6 cylinder car torsion bar on the rear and the heavier bars under the V-8 up front.

[makkelsay]

ive decided that through my research project and then finally seeing this picture....im definately chopping the top of my truck

and if your thinking of doing this....get this book

HOW TO CHOP TOPS

by Tex Smith

[Bob_Koch]

If yor're going to go that route then you might want to rent this DVD on chopping:

http://smartflix.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1972

by the way, this play rents lots of good DVD's on auto repair.

[Brendan D25]

There is a late 40s Dodge here that has been chopped and instead of cutting in the center of the rear window and creating a mailslot back window he cut the section out below the window and kept the window the original size,which looks pretty good. The front suspension is from a Fifth Avenue. Too bad I don't have a picture.

[Young Ed]

That looks like what the maker of that pilot house truck did too. The rear windows all look like the standard size.

[Bob_Koch]

There's a nice looking chopped truck on the DPETCA website. He avoided the wing window problem by using the standard, not the deluxe doors. Thus no wing window to worry about. The back windows seem to be the regular size.

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/dodge/1950_pickup_chopped/imgcol/index.htm

BYW, there's lots of other modified trucks on the site as well:

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/dodge/dodge.htm

[thedahmer]

Is that a carry all in the rear of the truck or a binder?

[Reg Evans]

Kinda looks like maybe a 50's Chevy wagon.

[Lee Exline]

Very good REG

It is a 1956 Chevy wagon

The guy it working on an MG with a small block right now and these are progects waiting in the line

[Lee Exline]

I just noticed I am considered a Junior member!

what a shame since I was on the other sight so long.

How long will it take before I am no longer a Junior member? a year?

[Brendan D25]

Lee, I think after six more posts you will get a promotion.

[Lee Exline]

That means one more and you advance to the next level!

Minor member?

Feel free to respond and move up!

You got me one closer!

[Brendan D25]

Thanks Lee, btw I like your utes and I think I might have seen a 56 DeSoto in one your pictures a while back, I had one in my younger days.

[Lee Exline]

OOOOOH!

You are now a member!

I have a heck of a lot of Desoto pictures on my website.

Used to own a 57 Adventurer Convertable and a 57 Adventurer coupe.

My Desoto UTE is a 56 but completely different from American production 56s

[Guest ralph williams]

Hi, I bought a 1953 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup and found it to be an x-USAF Truck. Does anyone know if this raises the value of the truck? It is in very good condition and has a Low Sided Bed.

Info on the body tag is:

Nomenclature Truck. Express. 1/2 Ton 4x2

Supply Survice Maintaining Vehicle USAF

Model B3B 108

Contract Number DA-20-ORD-11124

Date of Delivery 11-15-52

P M S

Thanks for any help. RALPH

[blohmiller]

Does any one knw what thoses turn signals he used are\where there from?

Bryan