Sleepless nights dreamin' about 'em and long nights workin' on 'em-we can all relate. There are many common threads that weave through these tales of vintage truck acquisition, build, and triumph.
A heating and air conditioning technician, Louie Fesmire worked 30 miles from his home in Pueblo, Colorado. Monday through Friday he'd drive by a few vintage Chevy pickups rusting away in fields or sitting in driveways collecting decay. Eventually, vintage truck temptation got the better of him. Hot rod hauler lust is too strong to be denied. He stopped at the house with the most presentable pickup. Louie was lucky; the owner had intended to build the straight-six '48 Chevy for the last 10 years, but never found the time or money. After paying $1,500, he and his good buddy Tom Musso, owner of Musso's Machine Shop, trailered the truck to Tom's shop in Pueblo to begin deconstruction. They found considerable mice evidence: droppings, eaten-through seats, and even some healthy critters lounging in the glove box. The pesky varmints vamoosed, Renzelman Powder Coating in Pueblo sandblasted the still-sturdy frame and body panels that came from three '48s. Friend Kevin Renzelman then went to work on the exterior while Louie and Tom re-created the '48's chassis.
By boxing the front framerails, a Heidt's Mustang IFS could safely replace the stock frontend. Louie and Tom took out the factory Chevy differential and installed a narrowed Ford 9-inch with 2-inch lowered leaf springs. A 20-gallon Classic Performance Products aluminum fuel tank was located behind the 9-inch and plumbed with stainless lines. The chassis' transformation may sound like it was a snap, but remember, Louie worked in the evenings and on weekends for 6 1/2 months. To receive an orange powdercoating at Renzelman's shop, the buddies took the frame apart one last time.
Kevin Renzelman expertly filled...
Kevin Renzelman expertly filled the firewall before spraying the Chevy's exterior with a custom mix of PPG Orange and Black.
Ever since the Chevy's swift...
Ever since the Chevy's swift 13-month re-creation, the owner drives the pickup on a daily basis.
Not too long after Kevin Renzelman...
Not too long after Kevin Renzelman filled the stock Chevy dashboard, So-Cal Speed Shop in Pueblo installed a Vintage Air HVAC system. Louie equipped the cab with a Kenwood stereo/4-CD/MP3 system with two 4x9-inch speakers in the rear and two 6.25-inch speakers under the dash.
Frank of Frank's Upholstery...
Frank of Frank's Upholstery trimmed the '97 Crown Victoria seats in orange and black leather with green piping. He blanketed the floor with black wool carpet.
The Chevy steers easy via...
The Chevy steers easy via an ididit column and a Colorado Customs polished aluminum wheel. Auto Meter gauges and Vintage Air registers and controls complete the custom equipment in the dash.
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.