VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1948 Fleetline

New member here and new owner of a 48 Fleetline Aerosedan. It's pretty much all original at 72K miles, with lots of options, and seems to be the product of an older restore. This is my first vintage car. I was told to use straight 30 weight oil. Should I also add some ZDD Plus or other additive to the oil and how often should it be changed? I was also told to use a lead additive in the gas, as the original bearings are still babbitt. I'm no mechanic but I'm learning as I go along. Any other useful tips for a new owner would be appreciated. I'll try to post a pic of the car as soon as I figure out how to do this...

Sorry if I'm asking questions that have been asked 100 times, but it seems I need to make several postings before I can use the search function.

Dave

Congratulations on your purchase of a 1948 Aerosedan.
Best oil to use is 10W-30, detergent, and no additives are necessary. There was NO zinc in the oil in 1948 and very little in detergensts. There is enough zinc in todays 10W-30 for the low cam to lifter lobe pressure in a straight six Chevrolet engine (they almost never wore out cam lobes).
If the engine is sludged up it is advisable to drop the pan and clean the oil pump screen as the tended to get plugged-up with the old oils.
In a nut sheel todays oils are 100 times better than the oils in 1948. I would change oil once a year (in Fall) or evey 100-1500 miles.

As far as the gas is concerned lead additives (which really don;t contain lead) are completely unnecessary. Lead was added years ago to raise the octane as the refining process was not as good as it is today. Lead is actually harmful to exhaust system, spark plugs and engine bearings. 87 octane gas today is of a higher octane than premimum was in 1950.
As a note all bearings have a babbitt lining, even in todays cars.

Thanks Chevygene - useful information.

Congrats and welcome aboard!!!There are no bad questions, bring them on...Try the 46-48 Forum in the future...We are here to help

Welcome to Chevy Chatter!!

Another '48'er!

Since you are new here, let me give you a heads-up. Anything answered by Chev Nut is usually 99.9% right on the money. Also, the Junkyard Dog will straighten him out if he should misspeak. Just look at the number of post those two have.

Oh, be prepared to be "ragged on" by a guy named Charlie.

The other head of the pack as far as '48 goes would be chef-chevy. He also has a well endowed Aero.

Great to see the 46-48 gang is alive and well........and now maybe growing!!

Welcome aboard Conwayde. You found a good bunch here.

Welcome aboard... We also like to see pictures!! If you've got'em, post them up!

Lets hope it has a Fulton visor

Hey Gene, Ive got a real Fulton windshield screen on my 48 2 door Sport Coupe
also. Do you think we will stir Charlie up any???

hoppy

Oh, oh - yes, it's got a Fulton visor. Hope that doesn't get me in trouble here, because I love mine... I'd like to post a pic but I'm still baffled as just how to do that - I don't have a website to link the picture to it...

I will get the pic posted just e-mail to

chef_fry@hotmail.com

We will be waiting impatiently

Fulton visors are cool!!

WOW DOG...thanks for the support!!!

hoppy, I have a picture of your '48 coupe and visor next to me.

David you have one beautiful car??Lots of accessories???The trunk latch may bring up some interest

Thanks Chef-Chevy. Here's what I know I do have as far as accessories go - deluxe radio, bumper guards, trunk guard, rear wiper, dash "ash-receiver" (not ashtray), 30 hr clock, deluxe steering wheel, directional signals, heater and under seat, glove, luggage and hood lamps, fog lamps, tissue dispenser, hat holder, wheel covers and gravel guards, and probably some others I missed or don't even know about. As far as I can tell, everything seems to be original, except, of course, the paint. The original paint code was Dove Gray and Lake Como Blue - maybe someday I'll be able to afford to put it back to its original colors. Speedo says 72K+ miles on the original engine.

That's an original registration holder on the steering column, which I thought was pretty neat. The one thing I'm missing, though, is the original jack and tire iron. It came with some type of vintage hydraulic jack, which I've never seen before - the top unscrews and you pump it to raise the lifting arm. Seems a little unwieldy and actually dangerous to put into use. I'd like to find an original jack for it, so if someone has a correct year extra one he wants to get rid of, please let me know...

jack If it is one like this, it is worth big $$$$. The old Chef will do most anything to get it.
Did the car come from the "deep south" I mean, mud flaps.

Yes, lots of goodies, nice!

This is the factory jack you would be looking for...

Russell would you post your restored accessory ratchet jack. Mine is not done yet and I love your zinc plating




Here is the accessory hydraulic jack...Dought you will ever find this




David while your at it could I see a pic of your turn signal switch...Engine bay would be a treat as well

When you have a little time, go on down to the '46-'48 and read the HUGE post about the hunt for a '48 original jack.

CONWAYDE: To your accessories list above you can add fender skirts since you have those on your car as well.

CONWAYDE........That is one gorgeous Aerosedan!!!

Stay with us here on Chat and I'm sure you will get all the help you need with it!!

Happy to see the Fulton on there too.

Hey guys, I may have to try and figure out how to put a Fulton on my "new" Chevelle

I saw that pic of the hydraulic jack on the 48Chevy website and it is very similar, but that's NOT it. Mine does not have the pump arm on the top - you just depress the top part to make it lift. An internet search for something similar came up with nothing. I'm not even sure it's a GM product, so I'll have to take another careful look at it, see if it has any markings and take a pic of it - maybe someone can identify it. I'll take some pics of the engine as well...

I'll take a look at the 48 original jack thread, which I guess means they're hard to come by...? Sigh...seems like the Chevy parts are as ellusive and as expensive to get as they are for my '38 Knucklehead....don't get me started on that...$2000+ for an toolbox...phooey!

Don't forget the pic of the turn signal switch,thanks

And grill guard and dual back-up lights