I Finished My 1949 Dodge B1FA!

[Guest philedmonds]

I've finished up the truck and wanted to thank everyone who posted answers to my questions over the past year. I appreciate the help. I kept the drive train and controls stock, but took some liberties with the exterior. the upholstery is vinyl over cardboard, but done in the way it originally was. I did redesign the wiring and used modern fuse blocks and fuses, but kept it 6 volts. It was originally a fire truck, but I decided to scrap that and had a friend make a custom flatbed and stake sides. The color is an original green but not the original color of this vehicle. It has a 2-speed rear axle but I keep it in high range. Everything works on the truck. Of course I had the brake booster, fuel gauge and a few other things rebuilt. This was a fun project - actually more fun than the street rods and classic car and tractor restorations I have done. If I can just learn to shift this double-clutching beauty without grinding the gears, I'll be home free! If anyone has questions or wants the sources I've used, please don'y hesitate to contact me.

[Tony_Urwin]

Looks great! I like the interior. It looks like you padded the cardboard before you attached the vinyl. Got any more pictures?

[Guest philedmonds]

Thanks. The cardboard wasn't padded before it was covered - it may just look that way because of the heat here in Vegas. I do have more pictures and will try to post them later.

[Merle Coggins]

Lookin' good, Phil. Attaboy :)

[Thunder II]

Its a beaut! I was just in 'Vegas. I wish that I knew about your project. I would have contacted you for a visit. Its good to see another "Medium Duty" classic. Not many of us out there. BTW. Be careful with parking it in high range. The vaccum can bleed off, causing the rear end to jump out of gear. Then away she goes! Not from experience! I've just heard that. SUPER CLEAN engine area and wiring...... WOW. You even used the governor!

[48WingNut]

Great JOB Phil! Looks awesome. Now get your pic's in the photo gallery and in your profile.

[Guest philedmonds]

I had to crop each pictrue to get it below the Yahoo! size restriction. Here are the rest of them. Thanks for the comments.

I don't have a clue on how to get them in the Gallery or in my profile....

[Guest philedmonds]

Here are more...

[Guest philedmonds]

Here are the last 2....

[Bob_Koch]

You're an inspiration to the rest of us still working on our trucks

[PatS....]

Beautiful job on that one. I like the deck especially...well done.

I wonder how the guys back then drove with those tiny little mirrors??

[greg g]

Very nice!!! What is the gizmo between the carb and the intake manifold???

[Thunder II]

Thats the governor that I mentioned. I trashed mine. Didnt want ANYTHING to slow me down or hold me back. Thats why I was impressed with Phils level of detail.... Great job....

[Guest philedmonds]

I left the governor on for a couple of reasons. the first is that the tranny had a power-take-off to run the firetruck water pump and when I started I figured that would keep the motor from overrevving if the pump was on at full throttle. The other reason was to kep me from overrevving the motor. It has to be wound up to move and I don't have a tach. The governor is pretty simple and I just cleaned it up. I have not adjusted it.

[Guest philedmonds]

I posted a bunch of pictures on the DPETCA Gallery. I also posted a very brief writeup on the restoration. The album is under my name - Phil Edmonds.

[Todd B]

very, very nice job.

Todd B

[Allen I.]

Congratulations on the truck.

Downshifting to 2nd is a killer for me

[Rich Gengo]

Very nice job!

[wallytoo]

phil,

what's the wheelbase on your truck? around 140?

wally

[Big50Dodge]

Phil,

Looks great !! How long is the bed..? I have a 152" wheel base, - it looks like yours is same..? There was a short 126, then the 152, and a long 170" (I think).

What made you choose the green/white combo over the green/black ? I think I might have left the headlight rings black, but that might have looked strange against the white bed/wheels.

Have you "worked" it yet..? I'm curious to know what the payload really is with safe drivability (front wheels still touching the ground and reasonable stopping). I'm thinking with a GVW of 14,500 #'s or so, these trucks gotta be able to hold close to 5 ton safely.

Awesome job - post any before pictures for a comparison.

[Guest philedmonds]

The wheelbase of this truck is 152". I believe the "F" in the "B1FA" model number signifies the 152 " wheelbase. the truck was originally red as a fire truck. I decided to use an original color, but not red. I settled on the green and used a two-part single stage PPg enamel (DCC). I wanted the vehicle to be more striking than the stock black, so took some liberties and used flat white! a friend will soon paint a new sign on the doors. It will be period-correct in color and in font. I'll update the DPETCA Gallery when it is done. We have a big car show here n Henderson the end of September and that will probably be the first time I show the truck.

[Dodgeb4ya]

"F" means 1-1/2 ton. "A" means 2 speed rear axle, according to the Dodge shop book. 152" is the WB. Truck looks Great!

Bob

[Fernando Mendes]

According the D-14966 manual 1949 B1-FA was equiped with T-148(236 c.i) engine(25 inches) and the following type of wheelbase:128,152,170 and 192 inches.Regards.

[PatS....]

Great job Phil!!! Some inspiration to get at my Fargo!!!

[wallytoo]

Have you "worked" it yet..? I'm curious to know what the payload really is with safe drivability (front wheels still touching the ground and reasonable stopping). I'm thinking with a GVW of 14,500 #'s or so, these trucks gotta be able to hold close to 5 ton safely.

i know this is an old post, but i can shed some light here.

i've been using my '48 FA to haul cordwood. the dump body is 12'x7.75'x3', and holds just over two cords of wood. i've only been hauling about 1 3/4 cords, though. this is all non-seasoned northern hardwood, so it weighs in at close to 2.8 tons/cd. doing the math, i've been hauling appx. 4.9 tons per load. that amount doesn't even get it to sit on the helpers (springs), and handling is fine, and with the booster, it stops reliably. it goes slow on the uphills, for sure, but on long flats, i can get it up to 45mph in high-range 4th.

wally