Creating a Custom and Clean ’48 Chevy
Text by Bob Ryder
Photos Courtesy of Ironworks Speed & Kustom and Rick Amado
Frank Lawrence of Bakersfield, California, had always thought of building a 1947-55 Chevy five-window pickup ever since he was in high school. The opportunity came when his wife Mary mentioned that a ‘48 Chevy pickup would be a cool daily driver. It was just a matter of time before Frank met Rodger Lee, who holds the keys to Ironworks Speed & Kustom, also located in Bakersfield. In fact, Frank’s business is right down the street from Frank and Mary’s home. The convenient location allowed Frank to be involved from day one of the ‘48 build.
Rodger and his crew started work attacking the numerous used body components Frank had accumulated: three cabs, eight doors and three hoods. Rodger located and contributed a set of cherry front and rear fenders that he and his crew sectioned at the bottom to better align with the cab. To achieve more attractive front wheel openings, the crew reshaped them to center and fit the front tire’s radius better. They also modified the front inner fenders to accommodate the engine’s custom air intake inlets. A pair of NOS running boards were shortened, tapered and tucked up under the cab. NOS long bed sides, a reproduction tailgate and a bed bulkhead completed the bed’s sheet metal components. To make Frank’s ’48 stand out, the cab was chopped 1.5 inches and stretched 3 inches for easy access, creature comfort and to for better proportion. The hood and cab were sectioned 1.75 inches, and three grilles were parted and pieced to get the proper 3-inch narrowed/tapered grille that continues the tapered hood line. The turn indicators were lifted from a ’57 Chevy pickup. The aero front bumper was a highly modified ‘69 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Out back, the rear bumper came from a ‘70 Chevy C-10 stepside pickup that had been narrowed for a more snug fit.
Frank’s ’48 received a total of 80-plus body mods during the build.
We will continue to follow along as Frank’s ‘48 is prepped for paint before it’s rolled into the booth to receive its color identity. Follow along as we captured the custom metal sculpting process of Frank’s ’48 Chevy body mods.
Source
Ironworks Speed & Kustom
2762 Unicorn Road
Bakersfield, CA 93308
661.399.8999
Iskhotrods@yahoo.com
The factory frame was shortened 6 inches, fully boxed, and modified by step-notching the rear frame rails to allow the lowered rear suspension more negative travel.
A rear cross member and tubular center section were fabricated, and then welded into place. The GM 12-bolt rearend was narrowed and fit with Currie 31-spline axles. The GM third member was stuffed with 4.10 gears and an Eaton limited-slip unit. A No Limit 4-link suspension anchors the rearend, while a panhard bar eliminates any lateral movement of the rearend.
The ’48 Chevy’s lid was lowered with a 1.5-inch chop, while the cab and doors were stretched 3 inches. The cab and doors were sectioned 2 inches and the hood and bed were sectioned 1.75 inches. The damaged lower rear cab corners and lower cowl sections were cut out and patched. The cab was placed on its frame and reinforcement bars were welded in to eliminate any cab shift.
An Ironworks IFS cross member was welded between the frame rails, and a set of custom Ironworks upper and lower tubular control arms sandwiches the 2.5-inch dropped spindles. Wilwood cross-drilled and ball-milled brake rotors squeezed by four-piston forged aluminum calipers with semi-metallic pads handles the stopping power.
An NOS long bed kit was constructed. The bed floor was raised 2.5 inches to accommodate the step-notched rear frame rails and No Limit 18-gallon fuel tank.
A remote-activated floor section was designed and fabricated to open and close on command.
After installing the Ironworks bed floor and stainless steel stringers, a pair of wheel tubs was located with Cleco fasteners.
Time to admire the bed and pre-stained floor.
A 1970 Chevy C-10 stepside rear bumper was narrowed and massaged for a more snug fit.
The hood was sectioned and pie cut 1.75 inches.
To obtain increased hood rigidity a custom inner structure was designed, fabricated and installed.
The original grille bars were tapered to continue the lines of the hood and front fenders. Overall the grille is 3 inches narrower than the original, which required adding sheet metal to the front fenders.
The sheet metal surfaces were hit with a Scotch-Brite pad.
The freshly skinned doors were hung and fit for proper alignment.
A 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia front bumper was modified for an aerodynamic leading edge—if there is such a thing on a ’48 Chevy pickup.
It’s all starting to take shape. There’s something about bare sheet metal.
Frank’s ’48 Chevy in the buff.
Text by Bob Ryder
Photos Courtesy of Ironworks Speed & Kustom and Rick Amado
Frank Lawrence of Bakersfield, California, had always thought of building a 1947-55 Chevy five-window pickup ever since he was in high school. The opportunity came when his wife Mary mentioned that a ‘48 Chevy pickup would be a cool daily driver. It was just a matter of time before Frank met Rodger Lee, who holds the keys to Ironworks Speed & Kustom, also located in Bakersfield. In fact, Frank’s business is right down the street from Frank and Mary’s home. The convenient location allowed Frank to be involved from day one of the ‘48 build.
Rodger and his crew started work attacking the numerous used body components Frank had accumulated: three cabs, eight doors and three hoods. Rodger located and contributed a set of cherry front and rear fenders that he and his crew sectioned at the bottom to better align with the cab. To achieve more attractive front wheel openings, the crew reshaped them to center and fit the front tire’s radius better. They also modified the front inner fenders to accommodate the engine’s custom air intake inlets. A pair of NOS running boards were shortened, tapered and tucked up under the cab. NOS long bed sides, a reproduction tailgate and a bed bulkhead completed the bed’s sheet metal components. To make Frank’s ’48 stand out, the cab was chopped 1.5 inches and stretched 3 inches for easy access, creature comfort and to for better proportion. The hood and cab were sectioned 1.75 inches, and three grilles were parted and pieced to get the proper 3-inch narrowed/tapered grille that continues the tapered hood line. The turn indicators were lifted from a ’57 Chevy pickup. The aero front bumper was a highly modified ‘69 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Out back, the rear bumper came from a ‘70 Chevy C-10 stepside pickup that had been narrowed for a more snug fit.
Frank’s ’48 received a total of 80-plus body mods during the build.
We will continue to follow along as Frank’s ‘48 is prepped for paint before it’s rolled into the booth to receive its color identity. Follow along as we captured the custom metal sculpting process of Frank’s ’48 Chevy body mods.
Source
Ironworks Speed & Kustom
2762 Unicorn Road
Bakersfield, CA 93308
661.399.8999
Iskhotrods@yahoo.com
The factory frame was shortened 6 inches, fully boxed, and modified by step-notching the rear frame rails to allow the lowered rear suspension more negative travel.
A rear cross member and tubular center section were fabricated, and then welded into place. The GM 12-bolt rearend was narrowed and fit with Currie 31-spline axles. The GM third member was stuffed with 4.10 gears and an Eaton limited-slip unit. A No Limit 4-link suspension anchors the rearend, while a panhard bar eliminates any lateral movement of the rearend.
The ’48 Chevy’s lid was lowered with a 1.5-inch chop, while the cab and doors were stretched 3 inches. The cab and doors were sectioned 2 inches and the hood and bed were sectioned 1.75 inches. The damaged lower rear cab corners and lower cowl sections were cut out and patched. The cab was placed on its frame and reinforcement bars were welded in to eliminate any cab shift.
An Ironworks IFS cross member was welded between the frame rails, and a set of custom Ironworks upper and lower tubular control arms sandwiches the 2.5-inch dropped spindles. Wilwood cross-drilled and ball-milled brake rotors squeezed by four-piston forged aluminum calipers with semi-metallic pads handles the stopping power.
An NOS long bed kit was constructed. The bed floor was raised 2.5 inches to accommodate the step-notched rear frame rails and No Limit 18-gallon fuel tank.
A remote-activated floor section was designed and fabricated to open and close on command.
After installing the Ironworks bed floor and stainless steel stringers, a pair of wheel tubs was located with Cleco fasteners.
Time to admire the bed and pre-stained floor.
A 1970 Chevy C-10 stepside rear bumper was narrowed and massaged for a more snug fit.
The hood was sectioned and pie cut 1.75 inches.
To obtain increased hood rigidity a custom inner structure was designed, fabricated and installed.
The original grille bars were tapered to continue the lines of the hood and front fenders. Overall the grille is 3 inches narrower than the original, which required adding sheet metal to the front fenders.
The sheet metal surfaces were hit with a Scotch-Brite pad.
The freshly skinned doors were hung and fit for proper alignment.
A 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia front bumper was modified for an aerodynamic leading edge—if there is such a thing on a ’48 Chevy pickup.
It’s all starting to take shape. There’s something about bare sheet metal.
Frank’s ’48 Chevy in the buff.
I just discovered your site and want to give you my thanks and encouragement. Your n58a light is gorgeous and I would definitely be interested in getting one when they enter production.
ReplyDeleteLone Mountain Truck Leasing
Very hard work nice pictures it just make our transportation very easy after hard work of many workers. We also made your journey very easy to and from any where in Michigan and Detroit by our Detroit airport taxi .
ReplyDeleteYou are helping others to grow their knowledge by sharing such a valuable information
ReplyDeleteSilicone boot
Turbo oil drain
Twin Turbo
5.9 steering