49 Dodge B1b108 Woodie upgrde

[Charles Furman]

I am about 98% convinced that I am going to do a complete upgrade to my 49 Dodge Pilothouse Woodie (the red one). By complete upgrade, I mean:

60's 426 Hemi engine

Automatic transmission

New front suspension

Four wheel disk brakes

Vintage air conditioning

Sway bars (rear for sure, maybe front too)

12 volts conversion (obviously)

Killer sound system with mp3/iPod capability

I want to retain the original look, so I will be shifting the transmission via a stock "three on the tree" column shifter out of a 50 Dodge Pilothouse truck and I will be adapting the stock Dodge steering shaft to run the new rack and pinion set up. I will also use a stock under dash e-brake handle to activate the e-brake. The only thing I want to give away the modifications is the 50's Sun Tach that goes higher than the 4000 rpm of my current one, and the sound from the dual exhaust system.

OK, I am open for thoughts, comments, criticism, encouragement. Bring it on.

Charles

[Merle Coggins]

Sounds like it would be a blast to cruise in.

I had the opportunity to drive Denise Tripp's B-2-C with a Dakota drive train. Whoever built it for her used a shift lever that looked like a normal floor shift 4 speed, but the center of the button pressed in to unlock the lever so it could shift the automatic trans. Basically a floor shift auto, but with a really long shift lever. At a quick glance you'd just think it was a 4 speed truck.

Merle

[Jim Roach]

Go for it all Charles. Keep all the original parts for the future. Enjoy the comfort and catch a wave for me, missing it out here on the east coast.

Jim Roach

[1952B3b23]

Sounds like an awesome idea Charles! That 426 should do a bit better than the old flatty lol

[John-T-53]

Ah, so that's what the 3-spd column is for!

Glad to see it going to good use!

With the disc brakes, do you plan on installing a firewall-mounted booster/master cylinder (as your current brake pedal setup will go bye-bye with the auto tranny)?

[Charles Furman]

It's too early to have worked out all of the brake details as I am still kicking around ideas with the bigger components.

For example, some of my Mopar friends love the vintage 60's 426 Hemi idea, but others are pushing me to consider a 5.7L or 6.1L Hemi from a 2003 or later Dodge because they will run more trouble free.

Once I figure out the engine, transmission, and rear-end components, I think the rest will fall into place.

I want to invest some serious time up front planning, followed by gathering all of the components, then removing all the existing parts, and finally installing all the new stuff. I think this could easily be a two year project.

The only thing that has kept me from taking this on earlier is that when I did the restoration I installed everything new, NOS, or completely rebuilt. That means I have a 218 engine, bell housing w/ clutch, 3-speed transmission w/ floor mounted shifter, floor mounted e-brake mechanism, drive shaft, rear axle, front axle with disk brakes, drive shaft, 5 16x4.5 wheels with Cooper tires all of which only have about 5,000 miles on them. Until now I just planned to wait until this stuff started to break, but now I realize that I will die before most of these parts die, so I'm going forward. Maybe I can find someone with a good frame and body who wants to buy all this stuff.

I look forward to more help and advice from all of you as this adventure continues.

[48Dodger]

IMO a 426 Street Hemi (Gen 2) is to much motor for a Woodie. If it has to be a Hemi I would go with a 2006 or newer (Gen 3). The older Hemi's are fine (Gen 1), made for crusiers and the sort (and fun for our trucks, no doubt). But the Street Hemis are pure brute force and would require a complete redesign of your frame. If you detuned a Street Hemi for comfort, my question would, "why???"....making the modifiction to make it fit, balance the frame and suspension to make it safe.....just to say its a Street Hemi???? I would go with the modern Hemi because of the balance of power. In 2006 the upgrades to the firing system, etc....make for a cleaner set up. The fuel injection will give you the better off idle, vs. the "in your face" carb'd big block. Not to mention the smoother transition through the power band. If you don't want to pull a junk yard Gen 3 Hemi, you can buy them after market with "hot rod" wiring ready to go. You can get them with aluminum blocks, heads etc, as well. Gen 3's are 350 ci (5.7L) and can be had all the way up to 440ci (7.2L).

48D

http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/P4510593.asp

[Charles Furman]

48D ... thanks for your assessment. I agree it is important for me to stay focused on my primary reason for doing this conversion which is to create a very dependable, fun, easy to drive truck that looks stock and can be driven by me or my wife for many years to come.

The whole notion of a 426 street hemi is more for show than function which really doesn't make a lot of sense at my age. I really just want to get out on the open road and enjoy driving. My 5 year plan includes shipping the woodie to New England and then leisurely driving back to San Diego. That's a long drive in a stock 1949 Dodge Pilothouse truck.

[Dan Babb]

You can modify a chevy truck under cab brake setup tp work on our trucks. That would keep the firewall clean. I have some pictures in my hemi swap post.

Picture here on page 5

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=20635&highlight=Brake&page=5

Edited November 20, 2012 by Dan Babb

[Charles Furman]

Dan... I must be computer illiterate, but I didn't see anything about your brake solution on that link. I like what you are suggesting and I would like to learn more about it.

Charles

[Dan Babb]

Here's a few pictures.

I bought the setup from American Classic Truck Parts. I got the one with a booster...but really don't need the booster (and you'd save some room if you just get the manual setup).

I used a piece of angle iron on top and flat stock on the bottom so it would mount up to the Dodge frame. I bolted the pieces together, but welding the extra pieces would be a nice option.

The brake pedal is a bit lower than the stock one, so you have to modify the floor pieces a bit, but no big deal.

Make sure you trial mount your engine first to make sure that you'll have room for this setup. On my truck, I wound up using a GM TH350 trans (used an adapter for the hemi) so the starter would be on the passenger side. I don't think I would have had the room for the starter on the driver side because of the steering box. If you're changing yours to a rack & pinion setup, then you might not have that problem.

I can get more pictures if you find anything in my build thread that would help you.

[Charles Furman]

Dan ... thanks for posting more pictures. What a great set up. I like that it allows you to keep the firewall cleaner. And, yes I will have more questions as time goes on.

[Don Coatney]

My 5 year plan includes shipping the woodie to New England and then leisurely driving back to San Diego. That's a long drive in a stock 1949 Dodge Pilothouse truck.

Charles;

I applaud your research before diving into this project as I know you will be successful. I do hope you will stop by Tennessee on your return trip so I can see this truck up close and personal.

[Charles Furman]

Don .... What a great idea. I have been watching your posts for many years dating back to the "Blue Skies" rivalry days, and it would be great to meet you in person. If there is any way I can swing down your way, I will do it.

[Young Ed]

Don .... What a great idea. I have been watching your posts for many years dating back to the "Blue Skies" rivalry days, and it would be great to meet you in person. If there is any way I can swing down your way, I will do it.

Forget about trucking it out to the east coast. Drive it there and back with a southern and northern route

[John-T-53]

I like that brake booster idea....I wonder if there's a way to adapt it to work with the stock brake pedal mounted on the stock clutch shaft?

Figuring out a booster setup is the only thing preventing me from switching to discs.

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this woodie upgrade project!

[Don Coatney]

Don .... What a great idea. I have been watching your posts for many years dating back to the "Blue Skies" rivalry days, and it would be great to meet you in person. If there is any way I can swing down your way, I will do it.

Charles;

It has been many years. If I recall you sent me the full flow decal for my oil filter.

[48Dodger]

Nothing like crossing this great country in low speed vehicles.....I'm all for it:)

This is me in 1985....SF to Boston.

48D

[HanksB3B]

I'm more than impressed!

Hank