1950 B-2-D

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Thought so. There is a Pilothouse transmission on C/L right now.....Azusa.

The thing is if you are patient there are some deals on it from time to time. It is how I found my truck. One thing I have noticed is how stuff seems to come in waves. There will be nothing or the some old stuff and then all of a sudden there will be a cluster of listings. Also don't just search year specific. I have seen early pilothouse trucks listed as late as 1956 as an example. Also I have had pretty fair luck using Ebay......got several nice items for fair money.

 

Once in a while there is a little bit of stuff at the Long Beach S/M and at Pomona. But you got to wade through a ton of Cheevy parts man. Then of course there is always the classifieds here. Guy's like Tim (48 Dodger) and Mark (GGdad) may be able to help with some of the stuff. The real key is being patient and keeping your ear to the ground. These trucks take a bit more owner persistence than some of the others.....but it is worth it.

 

Jeff

One thing I most definitely have learned is to be patient and persistent with these trucks. I'll have to check CL right now for that trans.

I noticed that wave of stuff as well. I see a ton of trucks now compared to a few months back. Ive been looking on ebay for parts and what not and have found some good stuff in the past and now. Have definitely been keeping an eye on the classifieds. That's usually the first place I look when I get on the forum.

I'll definitely keep my eyes and ears open for stuff.

[Jeff Balazs]

Mike;

Yep. And sometimes when you do find something you really need you gotta strike like a rattler. I have found out the hard way what happens when you hesitate. Won't make that mistake again. Depending on what you start off with as a basis for a project it can be a real challenge to do one of these trucks without buying the makings of 2 or 3 trucks. I managed to find a fairly complete truck and didn't have to go this route. But many of the project trucks I have seen on C/L as an example are far from complete and buying another truck for parts is almost a given with some of these.

 

Jeff

Edited December 17, 2014 by Jeff Balazs

[ggdad1951]

Mike;

Yep. And sometimes when you do find something you really need you gotta strike like a rattler. I have found out the hard way what happens when you hesitate. Won't make that mistake again. Depending on what you start off with as a basis for a project it can be a real challenge to do one of these trucks without buying the makings of 2 or 3 trucks. I managed to find a fairly complete truck and didn't have to go this route. But many of the project trucks I have seen on C/L as an example are far from complete and buying another truck for parts is almost a given with some of these.

 

Jeff

 

I have a ton of parts I struck fast to get...sadly you do that you get a bunch of parts that don't work for you either.

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Well I went and picked up the motor from the guy in San Diego. Clean oil in the pan and nice clear coolant came pouring out when my buddy and I were unloading the motor. Trying to figure out which motor I have. Numbers right under the the head above the freeze plug read T306*2I9I*. Numbers on block towards bellhousing read 132622938. Numbers by the distributor read A 2 19 50.

[1TonDirtyMopar]

I believe the T denotes that it is a truck motor.

[Larry Leibhart]

It is an engine out of a B3B or B4B 1951-1953 pickup.

[RodFru2u]

Great Score Mike!  Hope she's a runner.

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Great Score Mike!  Hope she's a runner.

Thanks Rod. I'll get some pics up soon.

[B1B Keven]

T306 218ci 23 inches Dodge Truck B-3-B, B-4-B 1951-1953

 

http://www.t137.com/registry/help/otherengines/otherengines.php

Edited December 20, 2014 by B1B Keven

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Oh wow. Thanks Keven. Going to bookmark that page! Oh and I still need to get back to you on those parts!

[B1B Keven]

You're welcome. Here's another page to bookmark:

 

http://www.t137.com/registry/help/decode.php

[1TonDirtyMopar]

[1TonDirtyMopar]

So since the transmission b is a column shift I need to remove the transmission and bellhousing. Got the transmission off but now the bellhousing doesnt slide right off. I'm assuming I need to unbolt the flywheel from the crank in order to get the clutch out. Im glad I snagged a set of crow's feet so I can get in there.

[Merle Coggins]

...I'm assuming I need to unbolt the flywheel from the crank in order to get the clutch out. Im glad I snagged a set of crow's feet so I can get in there.

 

You need to remove the clutch from the flywheel before removing the flywheel from the crank. However, in your case it appears to be a Fluid Drive bell housing. So you can easily remove the clutch from the clutch drive plate. You don't even need to crank over the engine to get at all of the bolts. Once the clutch is out then you can get up in there to remove the 8 nuts that hold the FD assembly to the crankshaft. I highly recommend marking the FD orientation to the crank flange as it only goes back on one way. It is a heavy unit so be ready once you get the nuts off. 

 

Merle

[Don Coatney]

I fully agree with marking the flywheel position to the crankshaft. I used a center punch and a paint stick. Makes re-assembly much easier.

 

[Merle Coggins]

Good point on the center punch. I was wishing I had used that. I just marked mine with a paint pen and when I was cleaning things up for reassembly I ended up washing off the paint marking. I had to study the hole pattern and remark things for reassembly.

 

If you look close here you can find the one stud that isn't spaced quite the same as the rest.

[Jeff Balazs]

Mike;

Congrats! that engine looks to be very complete. You may want to read up on fluid drives before you do much with this. There is a lot of information on them in the manuals and on this site. While not rare they are not that common in the trucks either. If you decide to incorporate it into your truck there are some specifics you will need to get a handle on. There are some FD specific parts you may need to acquire because this arrangement is longer than the standard set up.

I have one in my truck with the factory synchro 4 speed and I have to say it is a very nice feature to have.

 

Jeff

[1TonDirtyMopar]

You need to remove the clutch from the flywheel before removing the flywheel from the crank. However, in your case it appears to be a Fluid Drive bell housing. So you can easily remove the clutch from the clutch drive plate. You don't even need to crank over the engine to get at all of the bolts. Once the clutch is out then you can get up in there to remove the 8 nuts that hold the FD assembly to the crankshaft. I highly recommend marking the FD orientation to the crank flange as it only goes back on one way. It is a heavy unit so be ready once you get the nuts off. 

 

Merle

 

Whoops I got a little ahead of myself there.  What I meant to say was that I need to get the FD bellhousing off then that should expose the pressure plate and clutch.  I definitely will be marking those bolts.  THanks for that tip Merle.

 

I fully agree with marking the flywheel position to the crankshaft. I used a center punch and a paint stick. Makes re-assembly much easier.

 

Thanks Don,  I'm going to make sure I mark them before I pull them.

 

Mike;

Congrats! that engine looks to be very complete. You may want to read up on fluid drives before you do much with this. There is a lot of information on them in the manuals and on this site. While not rare they are not that common in the trucks either. If you decide to incorporate it into your truck there are some specifics you will need to get a handle on. There are some FD specific parts you may need to acquire because this arrangement is longer than the standard set up.

I have one in my truck with the factory synchro 4 speed and I have to say it is a very nice feature to have.

 

Jeff

Thanks Jeff!  I'm going to start doing some more research.  I didn't realize the type of transmission until i saw the big fill plug on the top right of the bellhousing.  I'll keep working on this.  I did notice a few little odds and ends that are on this set up over the set up on the 48.

 

When I purchased the motor the owner stated that he drove the truck in to the shop but the trans was stuck in reverse. So they pulled the top cover and saw that one of the shift forks was broken. Could I find a floorshift top cover for a fluid drive column shift? If not then I may just end up putting the trans from my 48 truck. But then that means the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and pressure plate are all different.

[Jeff Balazs]

Mike;

I am not an expert but the only FD trucks I know of are all floor shift 4 speeds. Perhaps the tranny you have is out of a car? I am sure someone more knowledgeable than I will comment on this.

That fan you got is certainly a later item.

 

Jeff

[Merle Coggins]

Fluid drive was an option, beginning in 1950, and would come with either the "standard" 3 speed (column shift) or with the "optional" 4 speed (floor shift)

 

As you have deduced the bell housing is different and you are correct that you would have to swap everything over if you go with a non-FD transmission. The transmission input shaft is much longer for use with a Fluid Drive coupling. However, the rest of the transmission is all the same. So you may just be able to replace the damaged shift fork and be good to go.

 

And once again, you Do Not need to remove the bell housing to remove the clutch. You can remove the pressure plate bolts easily as the whole clutch assembly can spin without turning the crankshaft. Once the bolts are out you can drop the clutch out the bottom. If you tried to remove the bell housing with the FD still attached to the crankshaft you will find it necessary to drive the dowel pins into the bell housing and then you will have adequate clearance to lift the bell housing up over the top of the FD assembly. It certainly isn't easy to do it that way. 

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Got it Merle.  Wish you were closer so you could school me on these trucks in person.  I will be removing the FD stuff and replacing it with a 3spd floorshift.  Maybe down the road i'll swap back to the fluid drive but i need to get more knowledge on the whole system and what it is that I have and don't have.  I would need to buy all of the column shift linkages and what not to get this one to work.  So for now I'll clean it all up and store it.

 

Jeff I should have swung by to see you this past weekend.  I was in Irvine picking up and dropping off my buddy.  Maybe this weekend if you're not busy I can get you and a few other locals to swing by and check out the trucks.

Edited December 22, 2014 by 1TonDirtyMopar

[Jeff Balazs]

Mike;

Timing is not good with the Holidays, etc...   but we will meet up one of these days.

Keep an eye on C/L because some FD stuff does come up from time to time. You just never know.....a while back a guy in the LA basin had an entire 1/2 ton frame with all the running gear for $200. He said the engine still had good compression. As I recall it was a standard floor shift. Like I said you just gotta be patient....good stuff does come up.

 

Jeff

Ps.....there is a Pilothouse transmission in Azusa right now for $100 under a heading of 1951 Dodge

Edited December 22, 2014 by Jeff Balazs

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Mike;

Timing is not good with the Holidays, etc...   but we will meet up one of these days.

Keep an eye on C/L because some FD stuff does come up from time to time. You just never know.....a while back a guy in the LA basin had an entire 1/2 ton frame with all the running gear for $200. He said the engine still had good compression. As I recall it was a standard floor shift. Like I said you just gotta be patient....good stuff does come up.

 

Jeff

Ps.....there is a Pilothouse transmission in Azusa right now for $100 under a heading of 1951 Dodge

 

No worries Jeff,  I figured it'd be a little hectic around this time.  I'm definitely on the look out for more parts.  Evilbay is always calling me though.

 

Yea that one is also a 3 speed column shift.

[1TonDirtyMopar]

Merry Christmas everyone!  Hope everyone had a blast spending time with their family and friends.

 

I started to pull some parts i had bought and stashed for the 48.  I pulled out this bad boy and these parts.  Is this the right model/style for this truck?

 

 

 

 

 

Either way it's going to get cleaned up, restored and installed.

 

This weekend I'll be pulling the rest of the transmission stuff from the 48 to get it onto this motor.  I'm certain i will need to purchase a new clutch and have the pressure plate checked out or replaced.

[ggdad1951]

yes that would be "correct".  Nice find on the knobs, they look to be in great shape!