John Asmus' 1948 Chevy 3100

24 January 2007
# 1791

From John :

           Hello! I've been lurking around The Stovebolt Page for years and figured I may as well send a picture of my '48 3100 truck.

           I bought the truck in late 1990 for $750. I rode my bike to the owner's house and asked him if it was for sale (I was 12 years old at the time). It was a dry year here then and his well had gone dry. So he agreed to sell it to put the money towards a deeper well. I had the money from selling a 1981 C-20 that my Father had given me when he bought a new C-1500 in 1989.

           The guy I bought it from purchased the truck from a farm in town that bought it new. He got it running well enough to drive for the summer of 1982.

           The story goes that it was purchased at the local Chevy dealer here in town, but the purchaser did not have a driver's license. So the dealer drove it to the farm for him when the deal was closed. So, it was used mostly for farm use.

           When I bought it in 1990, it only had 22,000 miles on it but it was getting rough. Mechanically, it was not tooo bad, except for a blown head gasket in its 216 engine.

           With tons of help, time, encouragement, and money from my Father, it came back together again. Front and rear fenders are from different trucks, as well are the bedsides. The cab needed new floors, toeboard, and inner/outer cowl panels. Needless to say, it was a body off restoration. The glass is original. It has a heater and a original grille guard.

           I did the truck the way I wanted, complete with a CD player (yes, I hacked the dash) and '60's hubcaps, etc. My girlfriend (now my wife) made the headliner and doorpanels for it. The drivetrain is stock, except I added a 4 speed from a 1-ton to get the extra creeper gear.

           I use the truck as a truck and tow my 18' camper with it. The rear tires are 33 x 9.50 x 15 BFG's. I wanted the tallest tire possible because I sometimes drive the truck 45 miles a day at 55 MPH, and they slow the engine down about 500 RPMs at that speed.

           Don't let ANYBODY tell you a 216 won't hold up in modern circumstances. I started driving this truck when I was 17 and it has been driven daily in the summer ever since. It now is pushing 60,000 miles. Many times when hauling load or towing, you have to hold it to the floor and pray on a hill, but it always gets you there. Remember two things:

1. Just let the guy in the new Powerstroke pass you - don't feel bad - he's jealous of the old Chevy
2. Don't over rev the 216

           The lower end has never been apart. I use 20-50 oil, change it every 3000 miles, and forget about it. Keep the points changed, normal maintenance, and keep the brakes happy, and these trucks make dependable vehicles. This has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. If you're young, on limited funds, and lust for a small block, keep the six until the rest of the truck is done. You may change you mind by then ... I did.

           Thanks to all that run The Stovebolt Page!!

John Asmus
Akron, New York