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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: OBEASTY

Location: Marysville, Washington

Vehicle Info

1948 Dodge Custom

Bragging Rights

  • HP250
  • Weight3500 lbs

Major Upgrades

  • engine swap

Ratings

    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.

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Last updated: May 13, 2008

Hits: 10,955

Steve’s Dodge Custom:
“OBEASTY”

  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
25 guestbook comments

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

...................................................Eastside Street Rods...2008 Westport Rod Run................................................. .................................Spring of 2008.................................................................... Summer of 1995.......................... ...................................................................................."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 friend John Eastman 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 my good friend John Eastman who now works at Maxwells Metal Works in Marysville Washington, "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. 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 it's time to get her back on the road, but not without a few improvements first. We figure it will take us from April 2007 thru April 2008 for this overhaul, 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 a new paint job for later.
This is what "OBEASTY" looked like in the summer of 1985. You can see how she comes apart on page 3 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 it was supposed 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 6You'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 SPRING ROUND UP 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...2008 Westport Rod Run...................................................



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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: OBEASTY

Location: Marysville, Washington