Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Nice job on the spotlight Rian. I think the patina on it is great fits right with the truck.

Bret

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Thanks Bret. You are right, the patina is just right.

As Nicola reminded me too, this truck will always be a driver, as I do not have the funds to create a show truck.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Hint landed Buddy.......

Lump of wood made round.....

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps5c8dc718.jpg

High speed shaping.....

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps849cf5a6.jpg

Digging deeper......

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps9f230ad9.jpg

One large Cigar Ashtray with stubbing block ready for packing and posting.

Hope you like it.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psbd732a21.jpg

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Hey Grizz...Sweet spot light.....I don't know if you decided on ware to mount your Tach....but here is ware I mounted mine.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Grizz Rocks:metal::metal::metal:

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

I like blue dots. They look cool at night as the entire lamp glows purple. After years of being illegal, many States in America now have laws making them legal on older vehicles.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Thanks Don, as mentioned elsewhere , this pic was the inspiration for the ashtray.


http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps32ef5b99.jpg

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Merry Christmas everyone.

Nicola got me some plates, which includes a 1950 plate from a Russian tractor.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc60e8091.jpg

I got her a bunch of girly stuff and some pipes, a pipe rack and a decent reference book on smoking pipes for her collection.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps8af38249.jpg

After prezzie opening (the kids were here too) they carried on watching Disney movies, which they do every year.

I went down to the garage to sort out a few bits, refit the signs and plates on the shed that the storms took of the other night.

Then I mounted all the number plates and loads of others I have recently traded and collected etc.

I also checked the trucks oils, tyre pressure and lights, just a general check over as i may be using it tomorrow to go to Farningham to the yearly Boxing Day classic bike get together with some friends, including Woodsie and Martin.

Once that was done I needed to scratch another itch.

Last week a pickup truck lost its canopy spectacularly a couple of miles from here.

It ended up in pieces on the side of the road, and a few days later it was tossed over the Armco barrier into the bushes.

I have wanted to build a removable aluminium canopy for the rear of the truck that can be used for camping if mounted on a set of legs.

The rear sliding glass was the only bit that was not broken up, and I saw it as a perfect addition to the canopy, against the cab rear.

So armed with some leather gloves and a hacksaw and spare blade, I went to see if it was still there, and found it......

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf5b0b644.jpg

Cut out the glassfibre back frame and removed the glass before the council come to clear it away.

Now sitting in front of a fire, cheese and biscuits and a nice coffee......

Perfect end to a great day.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4aafb338.jpg

Looking forward to finding a cheap or free aluminium caravan to strip the ally sheeting from to cover the canopy in, using a pair of stainless portholes I got from the tip for this job some time ago..... and will still figure out the rear door and latch/catch.

Watch this space too.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Can't wait to see the canopy, I like the ideas you explained to me...:metal:

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

More curved up front with a sweeping mini wing design at the back, overlapping the door slightly.

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-co...-1-040-800.jpg


http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/...per1976077.jpg


http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-co...-1-038-800.jpg


I would love to get the curve of the teardrop trailer at least partly copied.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Seems it is time for PLAN B. Top Banana do not ship parts to England.
Grrrrrrrr!!!!

Guess that means finding somewhere in the USA to ship to and the having the parcel re-posted to me as a Gift or similar and paying the poster by Paypal for the postage costs.

They are at this address:

Top Banana Parts
22174 Timberlake Rd., Ste. C-2
Lynchburg, VA 24502

So now need to figure the most cost effective way to get the repair panels to me.

Nobody said it was easy, but I guess it is part of the adventure.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

what panels are you planning to get. i don't mind reboxing and sending to you . rusty

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Got your back Mate!!! :metal:

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Hi Rusty, thank you for the kind offer.

I did PM you earlier and will send another in a moment.

Thanks Don, I have just placed the order using your address for shipping.
Just need to get their invoice and pay them then it should be on its way to you.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Just in process of ordering the patch panels I will be needing for the repairs on the truck.

Last week Martin gave me a spare wheel for the truck, on an original rim, but the tyre is bigger than what I want as the truck runs on 225/75-15 at the moment, so I need to find a used tyre to fit to it and remove the tall one fitted.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc6cf7540.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps07c7a812.jpg

Tonight after work, Martin came around to measure up my relocated tank etc, as he wants to remove his cab mounted tank and have a relocated tank behind the diff between the chassis rails, and has found someone who is prepared to custom build him one for under £200.00

At the same time my buddy Scott (Jabbo) came around to pick up a vintage hotel laundry basket I had given him and to drop off four wheels and tyres from a set of 5 he recently bought for a project he is collecting parts for...... so I have wheels to roll the truck about on when I start the body work prep.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc9e5b0c2.jpg

I have also managed to get in touch with Top Banana in Lynchburg, Virginia to order my parts which will be shipped to Ta2Don who will then repack and post them to me, as TB do not ship to the UK.

Thanks to Rusty in Texas for offering to take delivery and ship to me as well.

Things are starting to move in the right direction now.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

I'm glad to see you got things squared away Rian. I would have been willing to help ship as well. Look forward to seeing your bodywork and new paint job.

Bret

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Hi Bret, thanks for the reply and offer to help.

Have decided to run with Ta2Don as he and I have been posting stuff back and forth for a while now. Freight to his address is a bit less than to Texas as well.

I am trying to be sensible with all costs of this truck build.

"Big Day" today.

I have ordered the restoration parts I need from Top Banana...... lets hope they deliver what everyone has said.... Best quality patch panels.

Cost so far $150.00 or £94.00

Delivery to Don in Arkansas and then forwarded to me as TB do not ship to the UK.

Then start working on the truck, ohhh, after figuring out why my welder is dead.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psa045e836.jpg


There you go, progress at last.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

:metal:

Hit me up on Skype when u can...

Praying for Nicola's Mum...

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Thanks Don, Mum still is not in a bed......10 hours later. :devil:
Nicola came home and her brother took over just after 7 tonight.

Will give you a shout a bit later.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Completely off thread, but it started out with a trip to the garage to check out the truck.

Not quite tip treasure, but absolutely FREE from Freecycle yesterday.

170 plus building blocks, 3 miles from home, collect and they were mine.

Mickey supplied the van, we worked together and brought them home.

Mickey needs a front and rear porch on his place, so along with the some FREE double glazed doors and windows from a local fitter who does a lot of complete replacements and is happy to let us have some, then some recycled timber for the roof etc and an almost free addition to his home.

I will be using some blocks to build some bits around the back of the garage.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps22532bc8.jpg


Nicola's mum has been at hospital since early today, and will be admitted when a bed comes available. As a result she was there all day as well.

This left me at a loose end, and ended up cleaning the stove/cooker, extractor hood, kitchen etc, then tried to watch a bit of recorded car programmes on telly while surfing the web forums as well.

Ended up going down to the garage instead and checking out the truck cab as I was under the impression that they used to come with a bottle jack fitted under the seat..... wrong. Have bought a 200mm tall 4 ton bottle jack now.

While down there I started to measure one of the 170 plus building blocks I got yesterday, as I want to make Nicola a Celtic cross as a "Secret Surprise" for her birthday..... she has always loved them and photographs them in graveyards etc.

Here is how far I got today, next up will be carving the front face, then designing the sides and other facets with various Celtic knots.

Hope you can see what I am trying to do.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps06fbcbd1.jpg

Drilled some holes.....

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc2dcb5da.jpg

Cut some wedges out

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps460cbe0d.jpg

RESULT !!!!!

So far without breaking or craking it.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psd518dc4a.jpg

First half designed

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psb18bb9a1.jpg

End of play for today.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps59eaf83e.jpg

Next up will be hammer, chisel etc.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Hammer and chisel?
Masonary bit in a drill or on a dremmel tool would have been my guess.

Looks completely awesome so far, you are so crafty my friend !!

By the way, thank you immensely for all the kind comments on the Garage Journal site.
That was quite a treat !! (or treatment, depending on how you look at it) :metal:

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Hi Michael, thanks for your comments and compliments.

I am the kind of guy, who, If I cannot say something good, would shut up.

However your ingenuity and attention to detail (I want a lit up grille too) makes me want to share and gush like a teenager.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Well, since buying the truck, I have wanted to replace the wheels on the Teardrop trailer with smoothies.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps970430ad.jpg

Of course this would mean finding just two, getting tyres, then having new adapter plates made up to get the trailer from 4 stud hubs to Chevy bolt pattern.

Yesterday I was at a loose end and getting bored as one does, ended up buying a pair of Wheel Vinteques Chrome Smoothies for reasonable money (that I should not have spent) off a nice member on a forum who drives a rather lush car that did not get on with the smoothies.

No chrome caps unfortunately, but hopefully I will find some somewhere.

Now I need to get my mate Julian to make up a pair of adapters and get two tyres from the existing rims as I cannot justify fitting a pair of thin whitewalls as well.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps9e7a13b1.jpg

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

Quick update as I need to get to bed.

Spent about 2.5hrs in the garage tonight working at the block.

Halfway done on the front, still need to complete it, and then design the rest of the sides and carve them.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4d65048e.jpg

Takes time, and I would hate to break it by being impatient or hard handed.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf6fc32e7.jpg

And this is how far I got tonight.
The rest of the front still needs to be carved around the rings.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps01d1f686.jpg

At this point I think Nicola will be happy with what I have created, and if she is happy.... I am happy.

Re: Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside BILLYBOB
 

When Mommas Happy, Everybody is Happy...:metal: