mikeinkc Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 hey folks, my name is mike and i go by mikeinkc. i am new to the world of old dodge trucks but not new to mopars. been a mopar guy since i was 14. i am about to purchase a 49 dodge pickup with a 5 window cab. what model is this? is $500.00 a good price? it has an inkine 6 and the owner thinks it is a 4 speed, with a floor mounted shifter. can you give me an overall from the photo? owner says the engine will fire, but will not quite get its act together. i want it to just putt around town for a while until i can get a newer truck later in the year. i have seen a truck on ebay that says it had a "hydro-matic"? described as being able to pull up to a light and with your foot on brake only, stay running without the clutch being pressed in. is this true? and how do i tell if this truck has this feature? also owner says that to start, you turn the key and depress a button on the floor. true? if i do purchase this truck i will need a rear bumper, passenger side windshiled, both passenger door glass pieces, and tailights. are these common items easily found here in the forums? thanks a bunch, mike in k.c. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 $500.00 doesn't sound too bad to me. The windshield and door glass is all flat and you should be able to get that at any glass shop if you provide them a pattern. Repro dodge taillights are available I believe from Roberts and you can always get some cheapy ones from Napa. That's what i have on my 46. There are no hydro matic trucks thats a GM thing. There are fluid drive equiped trucks that act like you described. You would see fluid drive badges on the hood. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 Welcome aboard Mike, Looks like a B1C. As in "B" Series Dodge Truck, "1" indicates '48 & '49 model years, and the ""C" means 3/4 ton. I am speculating on the 3/4 ton, but from the photo, the length of running board between the back of the cab and the rear fenders appears to match the 3/4 ton trucks. To confirm this there are 2 easy ways to tell, besides the vehicle ID tag. 1/2 ton trucks have 108" wheel base and 16" wheels, and the 3/4 ton trucks have 116" wheel base with 15" wheels. As for your Hydro-matic question, as Ed says, that's a GM thing. In '53 Dodge introduced the "Truck-o-matic" which was the truck version of the "semi-automatic" transmission used in Mopar cars of the age. In '50 they introduced the "Fluid Drive". This is a fluid coupling between the crankshaft and the clutch. It will allow the driver to hold the truck at a stop with his foot on the brake and the clutch engaged in gear. It works similar to the torque converter in an auto trans. If it is a '49 model year, it wouldn't have that option. If the trans shifter is on the floor, it probably is the 4 speed. Otherwise it would probably have a column shift 3 speed. $500 would be a great price if you can get it running without major work. Engine parts are available from many sources, so if it turns over freely, and has a fair amount of compression, it should run. The lower grill bar is missing, as are the trim rings around the lights up front, but otherwise it looks like a quick "DuPont Overhaul" would make it presentable again. Also looks like the hood may not be fully attached. Something looks off there. Go for it, and enjoy. Merle Quote
mikeinkc Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Posted March 13, 2007 good info. i am seriously considering the truck. the 3/4 ton thing kinda bums me out though. i was kinda hopin' to do a mild street rod thing to it once i obtained my newer truck later in the year. i did take a look at steelerubber.com and roberts parts. they seem to have everything one would need to bring one of these back to life. i'll post some more pics to try and shed some light on what tonnage the truck may be. thanks guys, mike in k.c. i uploaded a few more pics to give a look at the bed fore and aft of the wheels to maybe give a better idea of the tonnage. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 Street rodding a 3/4 ton wouldn't be that much different from a 1/2 ton. You'd just have 4 exta inches. Hmm actually Merle says 108 vs 116. So it might be 8. Strangly the 39-47 series the 1/2 ton is 116 and the 3/4 is 120 inches. Quote
mikeinkc Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Posted March 13, 2007 i checked out the official pilothouse era truck club gallery and confirmed that this is a 3/4 ton. the bed is a little longer. Quote
DAVE KNOXX TENN Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 Get The Truck!!!!!!!!!!! The Details Will Become Obvious Soon.After All You Are A Mopar Fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.One More Smile One More Mile!!!!!! Quote
Merle Coggins Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 Mike, don't fret the 3/4 ton thing. Pretty much everything is the same between them except for the 8" length difference and slightly stiffer springs. They share the same drivetrain components, cab, engine, etc. The only real difference is the length of the bed. If you're going to rod it, you may be changing the rear axle anyway, so you can adjust the spring package as needed for a smother ride. Good luck, Merle Quote
Reg Evans Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 Another difference I discovered the hard way is the lug bolt pattern. The 3/4 ton has a larger bolt pattern. Something like 5 on 5 instead of 5 on 4.5. Quote
Guest Dave Claussen Posted March 13, 2007 Report Posted March 13, 2007 Mike, first, welcome to the forum. Always good to have another truck lover out there. Just a side note that may or may not be obvious in regards to the wheels and lugs. One side has LEFT HAND THREADS on the studs. They are marked on the end of the stud with an "L" for the left handers and "R" for the right handers. I learned that one the hard way, just thought I'd save you the trouble of learning it the hard way too. I have a 3/4 ton '52 (B3C) and am doing a mild street rod on it. The one you're looking at seems like a nice solid truck with a lot of potential. And the price is not bad either. A good book with if you're looking for info is Don Bunns' book entitled "Dodge B-Series Trucks" Restorer's and Collector's Guide and History. I got my copy at Barnes and Noble Book Store. Worth every penny just for all the pictures. Dave Quote
Young Ed Posted March 14, 2007 Report Posted March 14, 2007 Pay special attention to the markings. I was well aware of the L and R threads but some previous owner through a curve ball for me and had the back drums on the wrong sides! Quote
Jim Shepard Posted March 14, 2007 Report Posted March 14, 2007 The original driver's side mirror bracket is worth darn near $500! Quote
mikeinkc Posted March 14, 2007 Author Report Posted March 14, 2007 i have run into the left and right hand thread on my old chargers, and my current basement project a 58 plymouth plaza 2 door sedan. i didn't know that ole ma mopar messed with the buying public like that way back then though!!! are the mirror brackets really rare? are there some hard numbers on the production totals of this era trucks? thanks, mike in k.c. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted March 14, 2007 Report Posted March 14, 2007 The original driver's side mirror bracket is worth darn near $500! WOW!!! I could sell mine and help fund my project. But then again, what would I hang my mirror on when I get done? Merle Quote
bach4660 Posted March 14, 2007 Report Posted March 14, 2007 nah don't buy it, its way too far gone. By the way whereabouts is this truck? Quote
48WingNut Posted March 14, 2007 Report Posted March 14, 2007 Wow...what's it worth with a mirror hanging on it? Lol. 48WN Quote
48WingNut Posted March 14, 2007 Report Posted March 14, 2007 Hmmmmmm........I guess it looks great right where it's at then! Quote
mikeinkc Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Posted March 30, 2007 this beautiful 49 B1C is going to be in the garage tonite! the tow operator should be here within an hour. i am pumped! more pics to follow, mike in k.c. Quote
Guest Dave Claussen Posted March 30, 2007 Report Posted March 30, 2007 Now the fun really starts!! One suggestion: TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES! One picture is worth a thousand words! Quote
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