Hotrod projects are never really "done" but they do reach major milestones. And the '48 Fiasco just reached one. It rides, drives, and it's street legal. And it only took 34 years to get here.
Maybe it's not a fiasco anymore.
Here are some of the tasks that got it on the road:
- 4L60e transmission wiring fixed
- Pinion angle adjusted
- LED turn signals installed
- Front suspension lowering kit installed
- Front end alignment
- New tires
- Patina scrubbed with Comet and three coats of Zep floor polish applied
- Wheels painted, center caps and trim rings installed
- Main electric fan engaged
So, how does it drive? Better than expected for a 78 year-old truck.
- Straight-line stability is great
- Roll in corners is remarkably little considering I haven't installed a sway bar
- Ride quality is a bit truck-like because the front springs are from a Crown Vic Police Interceptor and have a higher spring rate. The truck probably weighs around 3,600 lbs. A Crown Vic is around 4,100 lbs. So our gravel driveway transmits some harshness but on the highway it's comfortably firm.
- In terms of cab comfort, the seat is from an OBS truck and is very comfortable. It's noisy because there's no sound deadening, floor mats, or door seals.
- It's acceleration is more than enough for its 81-year-old driver thanks to the 5.3L
And here’s something I didn’t expect. I checked the fuel consumption on a trip that had both highway and in-town stop-and-go segments. The highway segments were mostly at 70-75 MPH. Ready? 20 MPG. Probably helped by what I think is a 3.08 rear gear which yields about 1900 RPM at 70 MPH.
To-do list includes sound deadening, door seals and the Vintage Air system finished. Oh, and the speedo and fuel gauge need to be connected.
In the meantime, it’s a daily driver
Why did it take 34 years to get it on the road? Life. Different jobs. Starting a business. Other projects. Changing the project direction (It was originally going to be a modernized ¾ ton with an old-school SBC, not a ½ ton cruiser with an LS swap). Like I said at the end of the post titled “Chapter Two”, you eat an elephant one bite at a time. The elephant is significantly smaller now.
If you haven't heard about the beginning of this project, here is Chapter One of the '48 Chevy Fiasco.