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Chapter Two - '48 Fiasco Turns into 48 Fun

This 1948 Chevy pickup project is almost on the home stretch!

Wayne Powell |

Years ago, a mentor of mine told me there are three steps to success in business: 

  1. Do what has to be done
  2. Do first things first
  3. Take in more money than you pay out

How does that relate to a hot rod project? Numbers one and two help us figure out the order of operations. Building an automotive project has lots of inter-connected systems and often you can't finish one part until you finish something else first. So, make a list of everything that needs to be done and then figure out "first things first."

An example: The hood on a 1948 Chevy truck looks fairly wide but the inner fenders are very narrow. So, to make the front engine accessories fit, we're using a Kwik Performance Street Rod serpentine system which places the alternator and Ac compressor up high and tucks the power steering pump in tight. 

Next problem: We're using the stock Chevy 5.3L truck intake manifold and we need to find a place for an air filter. Since we're running a Terminator X with speed density tuning we don't have to worry about a MAF sensor in the intake but would like to have a so-called "cold air" intake. Those choices are limited in a 1948 Chevy truck. One possible source would be to run a tube down the front of the engine and pull air from just under the radiator. 

But wait, we don't have our electric fan in place yet. Sure enough, a quick mock-up shows a fan and an air intake tube can't share the space and the fan wins. 

Maybe we can point the air intake toward one of the inner fenders. But wait, we're going to have our AC and heater hoses running somewhere along the passenger's side inner fender so we better get that mocked up first. And that means installing the Vintage Air AC evaporator unit under the dash so we know where the hoses will be coming out of the firewall. Nope, AC and heater hoses win. 

OK, how about pointing the intake tube toward the driver's side? Nope, that would route the tube directly over the top of the Kwik Performance power steering reservoir making the cap impossible to remove to check or add fluid. Power steering reservoir wins, air intake loses. 

So, right now the air filter is connected directly to the throttle body and will be sucking hot air from the radiator. Not ideal but this is just a cruiser-style pickup. And besides, for years our carbureted hot rods especially since the electronic fuel injection can adjust the fuel/air ratio and timing to match the temperature.

A couple of months later and lethargy is overtaken by renewed enthusiasm. The goal is to do at least one small thing every day, even if it's just connecting a wire or tightening a bolt. Yep, that's how we eat the elephant. One bite at a time. 

Stay tuned for Chapter three!