Question about grills

[52b3b Joe]

Why is it that some of the pilothouse trucks have stainless grills (like mine) and others are simply painted? Was it an option or what?

[OLD DODGE]

It was an option. I will look up the price for you later.

[51 Fargo]

oh I love to have a stainless grill for my 51 fargo

[Merle Coggins]

As I understand it the stainless grill bars were standard on the B1 series of light trucks but may have been an option on the larger trucks where the paintes steel bars seemed to be standard. When they changed over to the B2 the painted steel became the standard on all trucks with stainless as an option. I heard it was due to the start of the Korean war and an effort to reduce the use of more precious metals.

Merle

[OLD DODGE]

I checked in a small format '52 B-3 options list and it did not show the stainless grill moldings but I did find it in a large format '51 B-3 listing. It retailed for $10. I think thats a bargain compared to what one would sell for today.

If your truck originally came with the stainless moldings it will be marked and punched on your truck's build card in the "extra equipment" column.

Kevin

[52b3b Joe]

Thanks for the info, I've been wondering about it since i bought mine and noticed that not too many of them seem to have it.

[OLD DODGE]

How about a picture of it so all of us guys with painted grills can be jealous?

[Jim Gaspard]

I have only seen a couple of B3's with the stainless grill whiskers (one here in central Texas), and in both cases they were on 1 ton cabs. They are quite rare, but still around. When I visit out-of-the-way bone yards, I am always keep my eye out for the holy grail 610-T radio and a stainless grill set.

[Jim Gaspard]

Coincidentally, I was looking on e-Bay (1952 Dodge truck) and there appears to be a Kansas B3C or D with stainless grill pieces (at least the lowers). Uppers look to be painted.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-52-Dodge-Pickup-5-WIN-PARTS-TRUCK-RAT-ROD-PROJECT-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e600698b2QQitemZ130460063922QQptZSalvageQ5fPartsQ5fCars

[52b3b Joe]

Here it is when I bought it 3 months ago...I'm doing a frame off. I have the frame done (sandblasted it and painted) and am starting to get it back together and the engine is rebuilt as well. Its going good but I'm a 20 year old college student so the money is super tight with it right now. I have to keep waiting to work on it as money comes, but it will get there sooner or later.

[Reg Evans]

Hey, It's a small world after all.

I use to own that truck out here in CA. I almost posted a photo of it a couple of days ago because of the chrome or stainless grill bars.

Here it is going away after I sold it on eBay.

Did you buy it on eBay from California ? Sold the Plymouth on the flatbed too.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Reg Evans

[52b3b Joe]

holy crap, yeah thats my truck...it is a small world!!!!! I bought it off my girlfriends great uncle who bought it from the guy who got it off you. My girlfriend uncle started on it cause of a howl in the rear end then just kinda let it set next to his barn until I got it. Did you have the engine rebuilt? Whats the story with it you are the last one to really drive it or do anything with it.

[dontknowitall]

Mate here in Oz bought one stainless grille from the USA, buaity but so expensive to ship! I will paint mine. Had a look in the Dodge book and some look really great painted.

[ggdad1951]

Here it is when I bought it 3 months ago...I'm doing a frame off. I have the frame done (sandblasted it and painted) and am starting to get it back together and the engine is rebuilt as well. Its going good but I'm a 20 year old college student so the money is super tight with it right now. I have to keep waiting to work on it as money comes, but it will get there sooner or later.

wow, and I thought I was going fast! Post pictures of your progress!

[Reg Evans]

holy crap, yeah thats my truck...it is a small world!!!!! I bought it off my girlfriends great uncle who bought it from the guy who got it off you. My girlfriend uncle started on it cause of a howl in the rear end then just kinda let it set next to his barn until I got it. Did you have the engine rebuilt? Whats the story with it you are the last one to really drive it or do anything with it.

I don't know any history on the truck. I bought it on eBay from a seller only about an hour away from me for only $150. No one else bid !!!!

For that price I didn't care if it ran but to my amazement I got it running with a little tinkering. I only drove it around in my yard some cause I think the brakes weren't working. If I remember correctly the valve train was very noisy (needed adjustment) but no smoke.

[52b3b Joe]

here are some progress pictures....

[Reg Evans]

Nice work !!! Glad to see the truck found a good home.

[52b3b Joe]

here are some more pictures...my mom and girlfriend helped lift the front clip off so i had them "show their muscles". I called a friend to help my dad, girlfriend and me lift the cab and i had the engine out and on the stand the next day. The day after that I had a bare frame.

[goatram-]

Good progress so far. Your inside the shop now and not wearing shorts I would think. Much better condition then the 4 in my yard.

Rust the cancer of cool trucks ans cars.

Did you rent the sand blaster and compressor? What size is the Compressor?

[52b3b Joe]

No, I didnt rent the equipment, I'm lucky enough that my girlfriends dad has all that equipment and I think his compresser is around 25-30 CFM so it didnt even really work too hard doing the job. And yeah, I'm in our heated garage due to the 20 degrees outside and thats with jeans and a sweatshirt no more shorts for a while...my dad and mom gave up their attached garage to put our 41' DeSoto and my 65' Corvair in for the winter so I got the entire back garage...lucky me!

Edited December 7, 2010 by 52b3b218

[Dave72dt]

my dad and mom gave up their attached garage to put our 41' DeSoto and my 65' Corvair in for the winter so I got the entire back garage...lucky me!

Tha means you have to work on it every day all winter long to show your appreciation. My wife will give up her half of the garage for a dayor two in the summer fairly easily but winter is different. She hates scraping windshields which is a morning ritual now when it's outside so she's not really very happy when her vehicle sits outside and when mama ain't happy.....

[52b3b Joe]

lol, yeah that would be my ideal world but im going to the university of toledo for civil engineering, so school is first right now, but all free time is on the truck. its almost winter break so my goal (we will see if it happens) is to get the steering and suspesion done and back on the truck and to start with the brakes, and maybe even get the engine finished. we will see though...wish me luck. the whole idea though is to have the cab and front sheet metal back on by spring, i think its do-able but time will tell.

Edited December 9, 2010 by 52b3b218