Thoughts on a purchase

[deemce11]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and have a question. I am currently looking at a '50 B2B Pilothouse. It appears in good shape from pictures ( have not seen it in person yet ). The description states that it is in good shape other than a needed brake bleed.

Any thoughts on a target price range? I have not been able to get a good feel from an internet search.

Thanks

[Young Ed]

Looks good but its missing the grill bars. If they aren't included you'll need to account for the price of replacing them. Unless the seller can show you receipts for recently purchased brake parts I would equate needing brakes bleed to needing new cylinders.

[Dave72dt]

Add to that, new lines and hoses. Brake lines rust from both sides of the steel and what may look good on the outside may be about ready to go through on the inside. Old hoses are old hoses. When in doubt or unknown, replace.

By the way, welcome

[HanksB3B]

Especially when it comes to brakes

Hank

[pflaming]

BRAKES!!!! I would not purchase a truck that did not have working brakes, or at best not offer much. To me working with the brakes is more difficult than overhauling the engine. Given the choice, I'll take the engine.

Nice truck but. . .

[Don Coatney]

Setting a price is hard to do by looking at 2 pictures. How much work does it need to become a driver? What are your plans if you do buy it? What is it worth to you? What is the asking price?

[Rocket-bob]

Brakes are easy enough to replace. Roberts sells about everything but the backing plates. Price for the truck will vary by location. These trucks are very rare in the Northeast because of the snow and salt that eats them and will be more expensive. They are cheaper in the Southwest.

Assuming the truck is complete but needs lots of TLC, I would say it is worth between $2500 and $4500.

My thoughts, which will likely be challenged by all of the greybeards.

[48Dodger]

Toys in the yard....hmmmm...young owner....possibly knows nothing about the truck....not original paint...no interior shots....no bed shots...who knows whats under the paint....no engine shot.....

I could never put a value on it with this little bit of info.

Please tell us more about it.

48D

[48Dodger]

My thoughts, which will likely be challenged by all of the greybeards.

lol....don't worry, everyone will challenge you, depending on what you say.

48D

[deemce11]

Toys in the yard....hmmmm...young owner....possibly knows nothing about the truck....not original paint...no interior shots....no bed shots...who knows whats under the paint....no engine shot.....

I could never put a value on it with this little bit of info.

Please tell us more about it.

48D

OK Guys... Thanks for the input.

48D... Here are the new pics the owner sent to me.

[deemce11]

More pics.......

[Merle Coggins]

Interesting color combo on the interior. Someone's been doing some work on it. Also, it looks like early to mid 30's style wheels and judging by the parking brake on the floor I suspect that it's a '48 or '49 B-1-B instead.

Regardless it's seems to be a solid truck, save for the little rust spot. If it runs well I'd probably offer $2500 to start.and would try to keep it under $4000.

Merle

[Dave72dt]

I think it's missing a couple panels between the running boards and cab floor onless a '50 doesn't have them. Have him lift the carpet out so you can see what the floor looks like. Also the back corners inside the cab. The pics are hinting at some rust issues. Runnning boards are going to need some work. One door for sure needs work. Check the bottoms of both doors. Rust is common there, not easily repaired.

From what I've seen so far, it's closer to the 2500 than the 4500 and that might be considered generous.

[Merle Coggins]

Good eye Dave, I missed that. Swiss cheese running boards and filler panels missing... The offer price keeps dropping. I second the notion of looking under the carpet. Especially up in the front corners.

Merle

[48Dodger]

if the brakes are bad, the engine frozen, the suspension worn, the steering loose, and the tranny hard to shift.....oh and the king pins loose, not to mention a whinny diff, you might still a have a good truck there. Its a 5 window deluxe....vents windows...low side bed....spotlight...radio...heater....tailgate....good stuff.

The wheels are wrong....no orignal hub caps....no grille bars (3 missing)...

If you look at it from a parting out standpoint...in other words 125 bucks a panel/ misc parts...you could get up to 2000.00 easy with what's there.

I would feel anything under/above that would be reasonable. If the suspension/engine deal is in great shape...well then I would see it going higher.

IMHO

48D

[Dan Babb]

Keep in mind that finding replacement panels means hunting for used parts...you cant just call a catalog company.

Id start at 1000 and pass if it gets close to 2000 unless he has receupts for a recent engine rebuild

[JBNeal]

the way I see it, figger on spending $1000 on getting the brakes & suspension road-worthy; another $1000 on the engine & fuel system; and $1000 on the electrical & cooling systems. The body has cancer in all the typical places & the truck is missing body parts, but if the cab floor is shot, well then I reckon it's "good luck to you, sir" time.

[deemce11]

Group,

Just got this in an email from the seller. ....

Ok - it was road worthy as I have driven it locally, including this past summer, but as I said the brakes probably need to bled to tighten them up. The engine runs strong but as with any 60 year old needs some TLC as it is original to my knowledge. The engine has only been tuned under my ownership. A prior owner did upgrade from 6 volt to 12 volt on the electrical. Frame is solid but it does need body work - rust holes in some spots and as you can see by the photos the paint job is marginal. The drivers side windshield is cracked and needs replacing and the electricals - gauges, wipers, radio etc need rewiring.

Thanks so far for all of the great advice. I am going to try to take a look at it later this week.

[townwagon]

Also note that the bed is a 51-53 low bed, so that has been swapped. The rear bumper is from a later panel or a 1954 and newer pickup.

This truck is obviously made up of a pile of parts, who knows what is original?

I would check it over very carefully before I laid any money down.

Plus be wary of an unknown engine, I had one that had been sitting for years, added gas and it fired right up. Ran like a top. I drove it less than a 1/4 mile and it tossed the timing chain! Once I replaced the chain (the gears were fine) it was the nicest running 230 I ever had, but it could have ended really badly (read expensive) which is why I paid less for the truck in the first place.

Anything that is not used regularly becomes suspect and worth less money. A tune up is cheap to do and says nothing about the overall health of the engine.

Eric

[Guest P15-D24]

WIth the rust issues it can get really expensive.

[Todd B]

I must be cheap, I think $2500 is way out of line. I have bought 8 pilot house trucks and the most I have ever paid was $500 for my semi tractor. I paid $200-$300 for the others and drove 3 of them home. I understand scrap price is worth close to $700 but I seem to find the trucks that people want them to be saved instead of scrapped. As far as the truck in the pictures, depending on what level of restoation you plan on doing, could turn into a money pit. For me its my "bad habit" and thats what I enjoy spending my money on. I also understand different areas prices will vary. But I certainly would not pay more than $1000.

My 2.5 cents.

[wallytoo]

Also, it looks like early to mid 30's style wheels and judging by the parking brake on the floor I suspect that it's a '48 or '49 B-1-B instead.

if it's a b-1-b, the doors aren't original, either. those are later doors.

[1949dakota]

i agree if you pay over $500, by the time your done spending on it you could have bought one in really nice shape.

BUT they are a lot of fun to work on.

[Merle Coggins]

Also note that the bed is a 51-53 low bed, so that has been swapped. The rear bumper is from a later panel or a 1954 and newer pickup.

Eric

What leads you to believe it's a B2 bed? The low sides were also available for B1's and 2's as I have read. I do agree on the rear bumper though.

if it's a b-1-b, the doors aren't original, either. those are later doors.

Look like B1/B2 doors to me. Other than the fact that they're white on the inside, what makes you believe they aren't original? Maybe the whole truck was white at one time.

Based on the note from the seller I would suspect that the brakes need adjustment, not bleeding. Brake systems don't just get air into the system unless it ran low on fluid, and if that's the case there's a leak somewhere. However, if the brakes are out of adjustment they can feel spongy. He states that the engine runs good but needs some TLC. I suspect that to mean it has some leaks, (common on flatties) or maybe smokes a little. To me that sounds like a runner. You can always do an engine rebuild later on if needed. It's been converted to 12v but electrical needs work? Probably still has original wiring. This would need to be addressed, but if you are handy with a wire cutter and terminal crimper it's not that bad. If not there are companies out there that offer complete replacement harnesses. And a new windshield isn't bad. It's just flat laminated glass that any good glass shop can cut to fit. You may need new rubber too. Probably about $300 for a complete replacement.

Sounds like a driver. Start low and work you way up on your offer. After you see it in person you'll know what your top price will be. Try to stay under that. Go for it.

Merle

[wallytoo]

Look like B1/B2 doors to me. Other than the fact that they're white on the inside, what makes you believe they aren't original? Maybe the whole truck was white at one time.

you're right, merle. i saw the door handle and window cranks, and thought the door was a later door. but, the outside crease goes all the way from front to back, so it's from that time.

it is missing the "panel" that covers the upper part of the door.