'50 B2B and a New Member

[GregRArnold]

Hello all from another New Guy.

I picked up a "backyard" find 1950 B2B in late September as the result of an interesting combination of peer pressure and ego. A friend bought a '50 1 ton Chevy from the same estate the same day and a contest was born!!

Short story.........Unknown history, last time it ran was 15+ years ago according to the tow yard I bought it from. Brush and prickers had grown through the bed and body at what should have been this old girls final resting place. Frame is remarkably solid, bed is good(except for deck), wings and running boards are salvageable, cab is rough, drive train was locked up. Truck came pretty complete with an extra set of doors and 4 extra wheels.

Fast forward several weeks; Set the points, rebuilt carb, new fuel pump, coil and plugs, added some fresh 87 octane. She fired up and purred almost immediately. I've done some eBay and Craigslist hunting and purchased a MINT pilot-house cab with 3 complete sets of stainless grill trims, a good radiator, 3 speed floor shift trans and a good working rear end complete with springs and shackles.

Currently I have the truck down to frame and motor. Getting ready to POR 15 the undercarriage, prep sheet metal for a fresh paint job. Original bench seat got dropped off today for new upholstery. Glass dropped off as template for new tinted safety glass.

I'd like to keep mostly original; maybe lower stance and add some creature comforts, but ultimately save this truck from the scrap yard.

I've been reading thru the archives on this forum and have found some very useful info. Hoping to lean on the members here for some help!!!!!

The truck is currently stripped at my companies warehouse with full car lift and a forklift to make life easy.

Greg Arnold

Franklin, CT

Edited November 26, 2011 by GregRArnold

[B1B Keven]

Welcome! Looks like your off to a good start. Glad to hear you're going to keep it mostly original.

[richardb]

I am glad you bought something great and are not like the rest of the poeple who buy Ford and Chevy products. There are so many Ford and Chevy products on the road that they are not very intersting. In my opinion you are heading down the right path.

[GregRArnold]

I am glad you bought something great and are not like the rest of the poeple who buy Ford and Chevy products. There are so many Ford and Chevy products on the road that they are not very intersting. In my opinion you are heading down the right path.

Let's get this out of the way early!!!! I'm a HUGE Ford guy by up-bringing. I currently have an '09 F-350 Power-Stroke as my daily driver and have owned Fords for my last 6 vehicles, 5 of which were pickups. Other than a miscellaneous Jeep, the Saab my wife currently drives, and an 80's Porsche that I recently sold I've had Fords since I started driving. Strangely this old Dodge spoke to me.....what started as a "let's see if I can get it running" project has quickly turned into a mild restoration. I'm not looking for any concours points, and would not hesitate to transplant a big block or a 5.9 diesel into this old truck, but I have taken a strong liking to my accidental acquisition and my kids have been calling it 'mater' since I trailered her home.

If I can find a way to put 3 point seat belts in it I have a feeling we'll be keeping this truck for a long time!

Greg

[Desotodav]

Welcome aboard Greg. Nice old truck. I am confident that you will find all the information you require for the rebuild at this location.

Desotodav

[Merle Coggins]

Nice find. Looks like you're well on your way through a great project. Seat belts are not difficult at all. I bought a set from Juliano's and they work well. http://www.julianos.com/3_point_belt_bench.html

Mounting the retractor mechinsm on the left side proved a bit challanging, with the fuel fill pipe in the way, but I make it work. Do a little searching on the subject it comes up here from time to time with several pictures. Actually here's one.http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=19822&highlight=Seat+Belts

Welcome to our family. Maybe we can start to convert you, Ford fan. (yea... my daily driver is an F150, but it's a company truck so it's not technically mine)

Merle

Edited November 26, 2011 by Merle Coggins

[ggdad1951]

welcome, glad you save her from the rust mites!

[greg g]

Be careful the MoPaR will get into your system. They are simple, and well engineered.

Brakes are a bit different than you may be used to, as they are lockheed not bendix. There is a good write up of them on the main page that supports this forum, take a look at that information. Enjoy your project.

[buds truck]

welcome from a pilothouse owner who just couldnt keep his stock......

[carls 49]

hi greg and welcome. good to have you here and nice intro. very cool truck, have fun with it.

[HanksB3B]

Welcome Greg,

Hank

[Dan Babb]

Nice find. Good luck with the project.

If you're going to put anything big in it, go with a Hemi. It's a ton of work, but the cool factor is worth it.

[GregRArnold]

Nice find. Good luck with the project.

If you're going to put anything big in it, go with a Hemi. It's a ton of work, but the cool factor is worth it.

At 1st I was convinced this truck needed a 12v 5.9 diesel and a 6 speed tranny.

Now that I found the 218cid is in running condition I'm leaning towards modernizing the safety features so my kids (ages 5 & 2) can enjoy it with me and keeping it original-ish. A 12 volt conversion and a hidden head unit with iPod dock is on the short list.

Spent some quality time wire-wheeling the frame, drivetrain from the rear bumper to the transmission and brushing on a few coats of POR15 over the weekend. Also got the tank removed and cleaned up. Going to try to get the frame finished up this week and get the PH cab and bed mocked up.

Going to be a slow project as winter sets in here in CT but with some help from the group on here that seem to have the answers I'm looking for and the parts list and repair manuals I've sourced I think it'll be fun.

Does a Dana 44 rear end and a disc brake conversion for the front ruin this truck? Chrysler owns Jeep don't they? I'd like to keep it in the family at least. Wouldn't mind having all 4-wheels right hand thread either.

Thanks for the welcome, happy to be here.

Any Connecticut folk here?

Thanks, Greg

[Dan Babb]

www.rustyhope.com for the front disc brake conversion kit

Lots of guys do the jeep rear end swap for better highway gears and better drums

With the wheels, nobody can see themzn so it doesn't ruin the truck at all.

[1952B3b23]

Hi Greg,

I am a relatively new member here as well, i have a '52 B3b and i live near Springfield, MA. I had similar thoughts on swapping in a Cummins, but im really starting to enjoy the old 218. It runs well and the three on the tree still drives well. So more than likely i'll pull the motor and give it a nice tune up and a fresh coat of paint and let her be. I really do love the diesels though, my other trucks an '03 Cummins with some mods done to that. Anyway welcome, this forum is the best so much helpful information and people.

-Chris

[GregRArnold]

www.rustyhope.com for the front disc brake conversion kit

Lots of guys do the jeep rear end swap for better highway gears and better drums

With the wheels, nobody can see themzn so it doesn't ruin the truck at all.

That's the idea. I'm not familiar with drum brakes at all......and these are even different from the typical drums that confuse me. My mountain bike runs disc brakes; it's only right that I treat this truck to the same technology.

Chris from Springfield: My office is in Bloomfield, CT about 25 min to Springfield. I'd love to check out your truck sometime. The diesel idea may get shelved but isn't dead. I want to drive this truck and make sure I love it before I drop 5-10K on a diesel conversion. Be a nice noise maker compared to my bone stock '08 powerstroke. Plus I already lied to my wife and told her this was an inexpensive project!

[dontknowitall]

Welcome Greg from Oz...1950 B2B Dodge Fargo ute here

[1952B3b23]

Thats not too far from me, i work down in Windsor CT. I've been slightly steered away from the diesel idea because of the cost, i dont have that kind of money right now. Also i want to be able to enjoy my truck and not be working on it forever and never get to drive it.

My buddy has an '08 Powerstroke and it sure is quiet, but it certainly makes good power for a stock truck.

I have a question, what side is left had thread? I've been trying to take my wheels off and its been a real pain.

Thanks

-Chris

[B1B Keven]

I have a question, what side is left had thread? I've been trying to take my wheels off and its been a real pain.

Thanks

-Chris

Drivers side.

[pflaming]

"Plus I already lied to my wife and told her this was an inexpensive project!"

Greg, it's called 'easing the pain'. I've learned that the cost of rebuilding an old truck is UNKNOWN!!!!

[GregRArnold]

"Plus I already lied to my wife and told her this was an inexpensive project!"

Greg, it's called 'easing the pain'. I've learned that the cost of rebuilding an old truck is UNKNOWN!!!!

I've learned that begging for forgiveness is always easier than asking for permission. She often reminds me of the quick trip she sent me on to go pick up a pizza that took almost 3 hours and resulted in a very cold pizza and a Buell in the bed of my truck.

She's also much wiser to my antics than I care to believe.......she claims one of us has to be cheap! Glad it's her!

[Dave72dt]

Considering you COULD have come home with a NEW TRUCK, and it's already paid for, and you'll be spending time with it instead of some other habits you could acquire. it's a real bargain!

[1952B3b23]

Thanks "B1B Keven".

[GregRArnold]

Thats not too far from me, i work down in Windsor CT. I've been slightly steered away from the diesel idea because of the cost, i dont have that kind of money right now. Also i want to be able to enjoy my truck and not be working on it forever and never get to drive it.

My buddy has an '08 Powerstroke and it sure is quiet, but it certainly makes good power for a stock truck.

I have a question, what side is left had thread? I've been trying to take my wheels off and its been a real pain.

Thanks

-Chris

KEVEN B1B beat me to it, tighten towards the front, loosen towards the rear.

Dropping that much money on a diesel conversion will have to be down the road if ever for me too. The $70.00 oil changes alone would annoy me. I can't speak to the "drive it" aspect just yet; though when I got her fired up I did let the clutch out and she rolled forward 8 or 9". And I did steer it off the trailer into my warehouse while getting towed by a fork lift. Small victories!

Greg

[1952B3b23]

It is all about the little victories, that's what makes it worth it and so much fun.

A diesel swap is certainly a ton of work and very expensive, thats what has basically deterred me lol.