To the tune of 350 electronic fuel-injected cubes, the owner opted to fill the front framerails with reliable GM power. Louie dressed the '89 engine with several ball-milled, flame-engraved billet goodies and expelled the powerplant's fumes with Sanderson block hugger headers. Musso's Machine Shop supplied a 700-R4 trans they'd enhanced with a Walker trans cooler.
Throughout the undercarriage and powertrain renovation, Kevin Renzelman worked metal magic with various exterior panels from three '48s. He shaved the door handles, removed and smoothed the trim items, and welded and filled the hood. The owner pitched in with the construction of the bed from new sheetmetal. Kevin painted Louie's pickup in a custom mix of PPG Black and Orange. Once the paint had cured, Herb Bornschein installed smoked glass in the cab and a V-butt windshield. Musso's Machine Shop utilized an EZ Wire harness to wire the truck and install Auto Meter instruments in the filled dash.
After 13 months of hard work, the Chevy emerged from Frank's Upholstery in Pueblo. Louie literally spent the lion's share of his free time to get the project pickup completed so quickly. His fitting name for the '48-Sleepless Nights.
Hagen taillamps were installed...
Hagen taillamps were installed in the custom rear roll pan.
After the owner fabricated...
After the owner fabricated the bedsides and bedfloor, Frank's Upholstery trimmed the floor with an orange Bow Tie-emblazoned black carpet.
Like the taillights, the headlights...
Like the taillights, the headlights are Hagen items. We caught up with big Louie and little 9-year-old Louie at the '05 Goodguys Colorado Springs show held at Pikes Peak Raceway. The yellow decal on the headlamp indicates the CCT Top Ten Trucks prize. Louie Sr. also won a CUSTOM CLASSIC TRUCKS jacket and a Goodguys trophy. Well earned, Louies!
Custom leather-covered door...
Custom leather-covered door panels match the rest of the interior's professional look.
Many sleepless nights, 6.5...
Many sleepless nights, 6.5 months' worth, to be specific, went into the careful construction of the Chevy's orange powdercoated chassis. The owner and Tom Musso did the chassis work, while Kevin Renzelman performed the powdercoating. A 20-gallon Classic Performance Products aluminum fuel tank gives the truck ample cruising range.
Both the front 17x7-inch Colorado...
Both the front 17x7-inch Colorado Customs front wheels and the 17x8-inch Colorado Customs rear wheels wear Falken radial rubber, P215/45ZR17-inch in the front as shown and P255/ 45ZR17-inch in the rear. There's a 2.5-inch backspace for the front rolling stock and a 3.5-inch backspace in the rear.