It Took a Decade to Build This Modern Dream Machine

MARC ANDROSKY IS ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF HIS LABOR. Nearly 12 year ago, Marc began transforming a black-primered ’48 Chevy beater pickup into a high-tech street rod with modern amenities, completing the majority of the work in half of his two-car garage. Between the project’s start and finish, he got married and became the father to two boys.

“Each life change delayed the project a little more; I, however, never lost faith,” Marc says. “With builds, people tend to either have time or money, rarely both. I had more time than money.”

MARC ORIGINALLY WANTED TO PAINT THE TRUCK MAROON AND HAVE A TAN INTERIOR, BUT DECIDED THE TRUCK NEEDED A MORE OUTRAGEOUS LOOK.”

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Marc refused to use family funds to “support my truck habit,” instead taking on most of the build himself. The self-taught builder, who cut his teeth working on S-10 pickups, would do odd jobs, swap parts or whatever else it took to keep the project going.

“I took on more and more aspects for this build in an effort to save money and keep the build as affordable as possible,” he says. “Along the way I developed the skills necessary to pull off a build like this.”

Marc wanted a modern powertrain for his ’48 pickup and went with a 1995 Chevy Corvette LT1 engine and 4L60E transmission. He kept both mostly stock, though he did opt to install a new wiring harness and have computer flash performed by Howell Engine Development.

The wiring proved the most challenging aspect of the build. Electrical isn’t Marc’s strong suit, but he increased his skill set as he installed the fuel-injected engine, digital gauges from Dakota Digital and power windows, door actuators and a cowl vent to give his truck all of the modern touches.

The ride was improved with Monroe shocks and RideTech ’bags. The spindles, control arms and front brakes are stock G-body. Cadillac calipers with integrated parking brakes were used in the rear. A 1999 Camaro four-wheel disc setup was used for the booster and master cylinder. US Mags U203 wheels with a black satin wheel face and polished billet hoops were matched to Yokohama Parada Spec-X tires.

Marc custom-built the sleek interior, his first attempt at a full-blown custom interior. He recovered Nissan Altima seats in vinyl, installed wool square-weave charcoal carpeting, created the fiberglass headliner and wrapped it in vinyl and carpeting, and installed a Billet Specialties steering wheel. Fine-line pinstriping gives the dash a bit of hot-rod cool. Marc also custom- built the console, speaker pods and enclosures, and installed a Sony head unit, Rockford Fosgate speakers and amplifiers, and Alpine subwoofers.

When he needed a hand with the body and paint work, Marc turned to family friend Jim Wise of Wise Motors, who helped give the truck its low, lean and mean look. The hood, front bumper, door handles and gutters were shaved. The running boards were smoothed and notched for exhaust tips. A louvered radiator cowl panel with hidden latch was also installed.

Marc originally wanted to paint the truck maroon and have a tan interior, but decided the truck needed a more outrageous look. A Kawasaki motorcycle at Wise’s shop led him to green. The motorcycle was painted in a tri-coat color that was not budget- friendly, so Wise did some experimenting and a custom PPG mix was created for the truck.

Marc gave the bed a factory-original look after raising it 3 inches and decking it out with new bed wood and aluminum runners.

With the ’48 Chevy build complete, Marc has turned his attention to a ’53 Suburban that the whole family can cruise in. For now, they’re happy to take turns going for rides in the pickup.

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TECH SPECS

OWNER

Marc Androsky
1948 Chevy Truck
Scotts, MI

ENGINE:

• Chevy Corvette LT1
• 4L60E transmission
• Chevy 10-bolt with 3.23:1 gears and posi
• Flowmaster 50 Series stainless mufflers
• Howell Engine Development wiring
• Street and Performance pulleys and air cleaner
• Champion radiator
• Cooling Components electric fans
• Patriot short D-port ceramic-coated headers
• Performed By: Marc Androsky

SUSPENSION/CHASSIS:

• 4-link rear suspension with RideTech ’bags
• G-body front suspension with RideTech ’bags
• Monroe front and rear shocks
• Stock G-body front disc brakes
• Cadillac caliper rear brakes with integrated parking brake
• 1999 Camaro four-wheel disc setup master cylinder and booster
• Performed By: Marc Androsky

WHEELS AND TIRES:

• 20 x 8.5 and 20 x 10 US Mags U203 wheels with a black satin face and polished billet hoops
• 245/45R20 and 275/45R20 Yokohama Parada Spec-X tires

BODY & PAINT:

• Hood shaved of seam
• Shaved stainless front bumper
• Louvered radiator cowl with hidden latches
• Stock chrome grille with turn signals removed
• Halogen headlights with turn signals
• Smooth running boards with notches for exhaust
• Shaved door handles and gutters
• Power actuated air vent
• Custom rear roll pan
• 1955 Chevy LED taillights
• Wood bed floor raised 3 inches, polished strips and aluminum runners installed
• Custom PPG Green and Black paint with tinted Dark Green stripe
• Jim Harrow fine-line pinstriping
• Performed By: Wise Motors and Marc Androsky

INTERIOR/STEREO:

• Charcoal wool square-weave carpet
• Recovered Nissan Altima seats
• Custom fiberglass headboard covered in vinyl and carpet
• Custom-built center console
• Dakota Digital gauges
• Billet Specialties steering wheel
• Vintage Air air conditioning
• Sony XAV-622 AV center head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 6.5 speakers
• Alpine 10-inch subwoofers
• Rockford Fosgate 1,200-watt amplifiers
• Custom speaker pods and rear cab enclosure
• Optima battery
• Dynamat sound deadener
• Performed By: Marc Androsky

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: I would like to give thanks to my lovely wife Nicole and two great sons Cooper and Austin for allowing me to pursue my passion of building old trucks. Also, a special thanks to Jim Wise for finessing the body and laying down the color as well as always opening up his shop for me to work in.

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