Thread: 1948 Chevy Stylemaster...(Large Dents) Fixable?

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My name is Zak, and I am working on getting a 1948 Chevy 4 Dr Stylemaster. I actually already "own" it. Its out at my grandpas place in a ditch. It has been sitting there for 40+ years. Although it has been exposed to the elements for so long, it actually is not in bad shape. Im going to describe it and I would like to get input on if everything can be fixed. (I want an old project, so time and manual labor hours are not an issue) Along with the usual dings and defects of being 61 years old, the biggest issue is that a tree fell down on the roof sometime in the last 4 decades and has put a rather large dent in it. When my dad was little, he thought it was fun, and he put several 9mm bullets down the drivers side. The drivers side does not have any rot, but the rear passenger panel behind the wheel is rusted through. I havent been out there to look at it in a long time so I dont remember all the small details. The interior is all there for the most part, but the motor is gone. I know most will see this and say its not worth it and I should just buy one in better shape, but remember Im only 18. And since I already know of one, I want to take advantage of it. My grandpa wants it out of that ditch, but said if I can get it cleared out around it (Someone dumped all sorts of stuff around it) he will pay for a wrecker to come pull it out, and he even said I could leave it out at his place. I hate seeing people let classic cars sit and rot. If and when I ever pull it out, I would like to put a 350 in and go with a hot rod look. Probably go with a different style interior, and definitely some nice American Racing wheels (Probably the Outlaws I have on my Camaro). I just want to have fun with it, and further my knowledge on cars. Hope you can help. Zak.

Post pictures of the dent(s).

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Post pictures of the dent(s).

I wont be able to get pictures anytime soon. He lives 2 hours away from me, but I plan on trying to go down there to mess with it soon. Sorry.

If the tree caved the roof in far enough to bend the door frame, it's gonna be a lot of work to fix it. It'll be a lot easier if you find a parts car and make one out of the two. We have a nice '48 four door that runs pretty good, all stock, they are good old boats! Have fun with yours, it will make a cool cruiser with a V8.

a new roof can make life ez for you cut and weld or you may think about a chop job dents are not to bad to pump up with a port a power try going to your local library and look for some very old body books there a art to pumping up roof and the old body men fixed more bent metal then now .you would be shock what you can fix .getting the metal to unlock is the trick i would build a place on the floor to push off of with wood blocks .its better to work in small steps i pump up more then one roof .but if a big tree the body and body mount could be crush in and the body if you look at it from the side look like this ( ) this can be fix to by pulling in the body with come a long or rachet chain fall then if door surroundes can be push and pulled by by putting a port a power in the door jam like this \ or / and can be suck in if needed with a come a long and some body clamps and lots of wood blocks help and you can make pull hooks or weld pull tabs on were you need to pull and cut off when done you can build hook s for the job just make sure there thick like 1/4 or 3/8 steel you do not want one busting and come loose and hitting you

Yeah, thanks guys. No, the door frame is not bent with it. It was not a large tree, and it only dented the metal on the top. Where the roof is curved in the middle, it just pushed that in. I think it would be a solid project, and like I said... Im 18 years old, I have worked countless hours on my 80 Trans Am, then my 85 Corvette, now on my 78 Camaro and my dads 70 VW Beetle Baja. I love working on cars. As long as I can do the majority of the work myself I am 110% willing to put in the time. I really just want to learn more and build a cool car at the same time. My grandpa used to work on cars in the 50's and 60's, and he said if I get it out of his ditch he would let me keep in his shed and I could come work on it and use his tools. He knows alot about these old cars, and even though he says he has lost interest in them, I think if I ask him to help me he might remember why he loved it when he was young. Plus, I could definitely use his experience. Anyway, I hope to go down and look at it and work on clearing the area around it to pull it out soon. Its not about the money, its not about the time, its not about whether or not its worth it to do this much work on this car. Its worth it to me. I have always wanted to work on and own an old classic. Heres my chance. I really regret it... Before we got my Trans Am for a project, my great grandfather offered me an old 60's chevy shortbed truck, and I regret not taking it. He used to fix up old trucks and then selling them. He died a year after he offered me that truck. I regret not taking his offer. His trucks are still sitting and rotting at my moms uncles house, and I everytime I see my great grandmother I want to ask her about them. (If I told her I wanted one, she would give it to me, she knows he wanted me to have one) I think I might ask her... I dont know. Zak...

Get the truck if you can-how cool would that be to be driving your great grand dads truck?

I think any project is doable if you have the drive and determination. People here have made everything from show cars to rat rods. Getting a free starter car is the least of your expenses though. Something that old will need brake upgrades for a hotrod 350, and new tranny, exhaust, Suspension, steering, wheels tires differential, wiring, wiper motors lights switches, floorpans, paint if you want to paint it, gauges, radiator....Believe me. I got a 48 Ford truck with a c6 and 429 already in it. Once you start down this slippery path the dollars will rack up.

At some point you'll ask yourself, if I'm putting all this time in it, and all this cash, do I really want to drop in an old motor with x miles, and a leaky transmission, or should I rebuild them. Next you think should I just primer it after all the body work and rust repair, only to have water absorbed under the primer and start the rust process again? It's these decissions I've faced over the last year and a half on my truck. My wife says, "what ever happened to what fun it would be to have an old truck. How much more is it going to cost?"
I think it will be very cool to do this car or your great granddads truck. I don't mean to discourage you at all. I restored a Mustang at 16 years of age, and a BMW at 20. If your a patient guy, you'll get them done! I just have to watch my "would'nt that be nice fixed up" voice in my head, because I'm right there with you!

sounds like the '48 would be cool and unique, but I think the truck would be easier/cheaper finding parts for and probably cooler to cruise around in as an 18 y/o. the original question though i guess was is the '48 repairable and from the description it sounds like the answer is yes. able to be done by you though is probably a more difficult question. it sounds like your grandfather would be willing to hang on to the '48 for you once you pull it out. maybe store the '48 for later on and save the truck now. i would say you can't go wrong tinkering with either one though whatever you decide...

Originally Posted by bigdude

Get the truck if you can-how cool would that be to be driving your great grand dads truck?

I know, especially now that he is gone... I really want to do that, to have something. Zak.

Originally Posted by stovens

I think any project is doable if you have the drive and determination. People here have made everything from show cars to rat rods. Getting a free starter car is the least of your expenses though. Something that old will need brake upgrades for a hotrod 350, and new tranny, exhaust, Suspension, steering, wheels tires differential, wiring, wiper motors lights switches, floorpans, paint if you want to paint it, gauges, radiator....Believe me. I got a 48 Ford truck with a c6 and 429 already in it. Once you start down this slippery path the dollars will rack up.

At some point you'll ask yourself, if I'm putting all this time in it, and all this cash, do I really want to drop in an old motor with x miles, and a leaky transmission, or should I rebuild them. Next you think should I just primer it after all the body work and rust repair, only to have water absorbed under the primer and start the rust process again? It's these decissions I've faced over the last year and a half on my truck. My wife says, "what ever happened to what fun it would be to have an old truck. How much more is it going to cost?"
I think it will be very cool to do this car or your great granddads truck. I don't mean to discourage you at all. I restored a Mustang at 16 years of age, and a BMW at 20. If your a patient guy, you'll get them done! I just have to watch my "would'nt that be nice fixed up" voice in my head, because I'm right there with you!

Haha. You must not know my car working on "history"...(the whole 6 years of it). I got an 80 Trans Am when I was 12, sold it when I turned 15. Bought an 85 Corvette, my parents and I dumped about $5k into it. And then breakdown after breakdown I decided to trade it. So, I was able to trade it for the 78 Camaro I currently drive now which has new motor, transmission, side pipe exhaust, and all auxilary mechanical parts. I feel like I stole it...lol. Anyway, I know the countless hours and endless money pit projects are. Thats what I want. Something to work towards. Zak.

Originally Posted by 35fordcoupe

sounds like the '48 would be cool and unique, but I think the truck would be easier/cheaper finding parts for and probably cooler to cruise around in as an 18 y/o. the original question though i guess was is the '48 repairable and from the description it sounds like the answer is yes. able to be done by you though is probably a more difficult question. it sounds like your grandfather would be willing to hang on to the '48 for you once you pull it out. maybe store the '48 for later on and save the truck now. i would say you can't go wrong tinkering with either one though whatever you decide...

Yes, my thoughts exactly. Pull the 48 out and store it, and then get the truck and start on it... Plus, all the trucks my great grandfather had out at my unlces house are complete. Wouldn't take just a whole lot to maybe get one driving. Whether I get the truck or not, it will have to sit at my grandpas house. (our garage is full right now because he got a 70 VW beetle baja project car, and my mom would die if i put it in our driveway) my grandpa lives out in the country, and he would be more than happy to let me keep it there. The only problem with that is he lives 2 hours away from me. I guess I could drive down there and work on it, and bring parts back to work on them. I dont know, it wouldnt be bad just to have an excuse to go see them every couple weeks. Zak.

Zak sounds like a win win. Spending some quality time with your Grandpa is well worth the two hour drive, and something you always cherise later in life. Sounds like you've got determination and skill so go forit. Like the others said get the car and work when you can on it, bring a truck home for a closer project. Those should keep yah busy!

Where you been, Zak?

Did you ever get your 216/235 dilemma sorted out?


Jim

Originally Posted by Big Tracks

Where you been, Zak?

Did you ever get your 216/235 dilemma sorted out?


Jim

Haha, sorry for being so ignorant. I want a 350 in it. For all the work it would take, I might as well make it something thats worth it. Lol. Zak.