"EXCEPT FOR CHEVETTES"

"OBEASTY"

1948 Dodge D-24 2dr Sedan

On November 29th 2007 "OBEASTY" received some, very much appreciated, positive recognition on the CarDomain Blog

UPDATE JUNE 7th 2009..."OBEASTY" went to the "All MOPAR Spring Roundup" and  came home with a really nice trophy.

...................................................Eastside Street Rods... Westport Rod Run .................................................

UPDATE >>> JULY 12th 2008... It's been 15 months since we started on "OBEASTYS' Phase Two Rebuild". Today we went for a 70 mile test drive and she didn't even hiccup, so... it appears that for now anyway...our mission has been accomplished...we've managed to make "OBEASTY" as mechanically and electrically reliable as we can. Now we can enjoy her while we pay a little attention to the interior and such. Maybe in a couple years we'll see about a new paint job...but for now it's time to have some fun with "OBEASTY" and to get back to work on my 79 Chevette..."BUTRNUT"

.............................................................................................................................................................................................. UPDATE>>> JULY 21 2008... Go to page #13 to see pictures of "OBEASTYs' " trip to the 2008 Eastside Streets Rods Westport Rod Run.

........................................................................................................................................................................................................ LATEST UPDATE>>> AUGUST 23rd 2009... To see pictures of "OBEASTYs""  adventures go to pages # 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 or go to the top of this page and click on >>  to see her very latest adventure on page 34.

Arlington Washinton

Graham Washington

Oak Harbor Washington

LaConner Washington

WESTPORT WA. 2009    

If you look at these pictures and feel like you missed out because you weren't there...you're right...you missed a really fun time . Lucky for you...we're gonna do it again next year, so if you'd like to join us in July 2010 just click on one of the EASTSIDE STREET RODS...WESTPORT ROD RUN links on this page for registration and motel information.

Silvana Washington

...................................................................................."OBEASTY"................................................................................... My 1948 Dodge 2dr, which we affectionately call "OBEASTY", has been a member of our family since the spring of 1985 when I traded a 1966 Chevelle Malibu for her title for title. At that time she still had a stock 6 cylinder flathead engine and "positive ground" 6 volt electrical system that were both on their last legs, but she did have a very straight and solid body and a very bright Corvette Specter Red paint job. After driving her all summer, in September of 1985, I drove her into my shop and took her apart with the intention of just dropping a small block chevy in her so that we could have something to drive while I built my 33 Chrysler four door sedan. Then one day my very good friend John Eastman, who now works at Maxwells Metal Works in Marysville Washington, dropped by to see what I was up to. He took a really good look and then suggested grafting a 70-81 Camaro front suspension to the 48 Dodge frame and then also suggested using the 440 that was I going to put in my 33 Chrysler. To make a long story short...by July of 1987... with an enormous amount of help from  John  "OBEASTY" was back on the road with a 77 Camaro front clip (see page #3), 79 Full size Chevy Stationwagon spindles and 11 3/4" disk brakes, a Trans Am steering box & 1 1/4" front sway bar, a 390HP 440 Engine, a 727 trans and an 8 3/4 3:23 rear axle (see page #5). We drove her for the next 8 years and had alot of fun, but for a number of reasons "OBEASTY" has been in dry storage since 1995. Now it's the spring of 2007 and my two Sons, Ben and Steve Jr, and I have decided it's time to get h"OBEASTY" back on the road, but not without a few major improvements first. We figure it will take us from April 2007 thru April 2008 for this "Phase Two Rebuild", mostly because we'll be paying for parts and things as we go. The idea this time around is to make "OBEASTY" as mechanically and electrically reliable as we possibly can, so we'll be saving  new paint and interior... except for a new dash.. for later.

This is what "OBEASTY" looked like in the summer of 1985. You can see how she comes apart on pages 3 and 27

The idea of using a 51 Ford dash in a custom car isn't really very new. People have been using them for many years, especially in "Shoe-Box" Fords, but this just might be the first time that one has been used in a 48 Dodge, don't know that for sure...but it might be. On page 2 you'll find more pictures of "OBEASTY's" new dash.

"OBEASTY" has a new 12volt Electric Windshield Wiper Motor and has a much needed new Rubber Seal around her new Windshield Glass. She also has been completely rewired from bumper to bumper with an American Autowire Highway 22 Wiring Kit and has had her brake system up-graded. You can see more about all of this on pages 7, 8 & 9.

In 1983 I parted out a 71 Dodge Polara Highway Patrol Captains Cruiser so I could get this 390HP 440 for my 33 Chrysler Royal Eight 4dr Sedan, but like I mentioned above...it ended up in "OBEASTY" instead...and served us very well untill it's valve guides went south. I think there's a very good chance that one day, when it is rebuilt, it will finally end up where I originally planned for it to go in the first place.

You can follow "OBEASTYS'" 440 heart transplant operation on pages 4, 11, & 12.

May 4th 2008...For the first time in a long while "OBEASTY" spent a day out in the sun. You can see the pics on page 6

 You can see "OBEASTYs'" current engine room configuration on page 8.

You're not seeing double..."OBEASTY" has four Megs Megaphones under her rear bumper...and they all contribute to her very unique sound. See more about this on page #5.

One thing that "OBEASTY" "isn't" is a "show car". If anything...she is a "low-buck" "home-built" "work in progress" "Street Rod" in, I believe, the purest form. The trophy in the above picture was the result of being the only pre-48 Street Rod to show up at the Mopars Unlimited Spring Round Up in 1988. They simply didn't have a Street Rod catagory at that time because most everybody in the hosting club showed up in a MOPAR Muscle Car. Happily that has changed over the years since 1988 and now lots of MOPAR Street Rods show up at the MOPAR SPRING ROUNDUP every year. I kind of like to think that maybe "OBEASTY" had a small part in making some people more aware that old MOPARs can be cool too..

Eastside Street Rods... Westport Rod Run  

Click here to see a Street Rodder Magazine Feature Car that was at Westport 2009