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

You'll be amazed how much fun those are, and how often they get used!

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

Thanks Clem, same for you and yours.

Maybe Martin will show you what took 5 hrs of our time later in his thread, along with picking up my pipes.

NO DOUBT MARK !!

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

Been a bit chilly down at the garage lately, yesterday was -1'C when I left home at 09.00

Sorry about all the rubbish quality mobile phone pics, no idea why they are so bad.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0232e4fb.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps2048b3f8.jpg

Today being the first day of my holiday where I could actually do just what I wanted, I de-stickered the inside and also the rear window. Did not realize the BBW was so large.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps350fa8d9.jpg

Managed to relocate most of the stickers to the toolbox.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps380f1ef8.jpg

Once done with all the stickers etc, I decided to take the truck for its last run of 2014...... just a gentle run as the roads are cold, gritted and a bit slippery where we live.

Before leaving, I called Clem in Fayetteville, Arkansas and we chatted for over an hour about trucks and life in general.
Really looking forward to the trip to the USA in October.

I also ran into a friends dad who drives a 14 year old F150 and lives next to the HA retreat a couple of miles from where we live.
So after a nice chat, and some final photos of the truck on the road, I carried on down Ropers lane and back up around a roundabout.......

This is typically where things go wrong just when you do not need or want them to.

I passed some multi-wheeled truck, only to hear a very loud "WHACK!!"

SHEEETT!!!!! What broke?

Then looking ahead, I realized, the truck that passed had thrown a stone and hit the windscreen almost where my chin would be......BURGERR!!

That means that it will fail its next MOT next year as its cracked in the line of vision.

Also means I will now have to waste money on paying the excess and any top-up needed for a new windscreen.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4affc5db.jpg

Pics taken before the "WHACK"

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psd10c01ff.jpg

Came home, after putting some fuel in the tank as it was very low (no idea why I felt the need to add 9 litres to a truck going off the road for a while)

Reversed the truck down to the garage, went up to put the other cars onto the drive that get moved when the truck comes out the garage..... found this on the drive.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps77b2c545.jpg

Well, perfect timing again.....I have been planning to replace the exhaust system as part of this resto as well.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psbfb2e51d.jpg

Then shortly after I got home, I got a text from Paul Y who I had given the trims from the truck to, and he offered to come help me build my own exhaust system for the truck, in exchange for buckets of tea and chocolate biscuits.

Have I mentioned Life is Good ??

After this I started the tear down. Sounds a lot more impressive than it is.

Nicola came home early from work, so I shut shop and came up to the house to spend time with her and to see out this year.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc8f3bd2b.jpg


So, in closing out 2014....

Thank you each and every one for friendships, help and advice on here, and in our personal lives.

May 2015 bring us all what we need, and some of what we want.

This is how I left the garage tonight.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps30c2aef9.jpg


See you all in the new year.

Watch this space, and thanks for checking in.

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

Thanks for taking us on that last ride of 2014 and sorry to hear about the windshield and I think you got your moneys worth out of that exhaust system .Im looking forward to seeing what you accomplish next year .
Happy New Year
John

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

:metal:...welll except for the windshield thing. Looking forward to next year's updates!

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

Thanks guys. 00.45 here, should be sleeping. BUT.....

Door checks, as my doors are creased.

http://persh.org/Pickup/DoorChecks.htm

And

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+Cherokee+door


Very useful info and guidance.

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

2015… CHEERS MATE!!! :ennyd::hot:

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

BONDO/BOG/FILLER/PLOD is the friend of every good body worker ehhh??

Took the door parts off today, including the door panels..... first surprise was not being able to unscrew one of the screws on the drivers side, followed by another 5 on the passenger side. Lubricated them, not progress, then went and had a coffee with Martin when he pitched, after which he tried various bodyshop techniques, followed by me and Mr Drill, so I have a repair job ahead before I can get the panels back on.

The lower door kick panels were covered with some thick gauge plastic, covering the 6x9 holes which I had planned on welding up, but then realized they have a swage/ridge which I am not sure I want to repair, unless I make up some panels and weld them in..... more welding.

Inside the door was surprise number one, indicating that a lot more pain awaits me......

Can you tell what it is yet?

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6f709c2a.jpg

Ohhh, and the red you see in the pic, is high density foam flooring, or a camping mat that some clever idiot glued a bunch of inside the doorskin as sound deadening.....

So then between Martin and I we continued to laugh, curse and be amazed at all the cockups as we unbolted bits, with bolts missing from the tailgate, some cross threaded bolts etc....

Rear lights out, tailgate gone and bumper removed.

I STILL WOULD LOVE TO FIND THE SAME BUMPER AGAIN.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps9b512720.jpg

Then more coffee and left over Christmas mince pies Nicola had put out for us before returning to start the front end.

This was the moment I have feared the last 18 months, but at least I was in control.

The biggest lump of Plod on my truck that I know of, clearly there will be more surprises forthcoming.

From the drivers fender.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf8be1c78.jpg

After we had undone a zillion nuts and bolts Martin made me remove the first fender, just to torture me.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse92bc7b6.jpg

While I was at the second fender, Martin was grunting, groaning and sounding like a walrus mating on a rocky beach..... "Where's your bloody rattle gun?" he grunted from below my feet, under the fender.

The bottom fender bolt was not letting up, a bit like some of the others we had already encountered.

Fetched the rattle gun and got on with what I was doing, heard ZZZZZRRT..!! Had Martin's head pop up, kinda like a ground hog.... Burger me !!! This thing works well.

Note the offending items deterioration.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3a223d0a.jpg

This point saw us get some sandwiches, tea and a catch up on various other tasks, like ordering bits off Ebay and Amazon.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...pscfcdd268.jpg

Martin is upgrading the rear of his truck with park/indicator lights so made up a template using pencil, masking tape, which is then transferred to cardboard so he can mark out the rear of his truck before cutting the steel to fit the new lights.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps9dfc208f.jpg

SURPRISE !!!

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps26f4b074.jpg


As you know the truck is being fitted with a 67-72 rear bumper as I have not been able to find out where the bumper fitted originated from.

Any suggestions and help still appreciated if you know or recognize where it is from.

I would still fit one.

It was chromed all the way around.

At this point I will be throwing a 9" angle grinder at it, and removing the fitting brackets, to use to make fitting brackets for the new bumper.


http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps57c3863d.jpg

Different angle.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps70d3e29b.jpg

We also removed the load body bolts, and I undid the fuel filler and overflow pipe Jubilee clips in preparation to remove the whole thing one my trolley comes back from under Martins engine and gearbox.

We called it a day quite early as we both had more stuff to do that had nothing to do with trucks.

End of a great day.

Now the work starts.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps2ec2578b.jpg

Thanks for checking in, as always, help and advice appreciated.

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

Its a shame you are way over across the pond as I have a nice rust free fender for one of those trucks ,the last part of one of those years I have left but it does make a nice wall hanging .

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

Solid days work...:metal:

Will be on those bumper bolts for you mate...:uhmk:

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

Thanks for the offer Flashed.

You will be surprised, because we have so very little resources here for our truck and due to the cost of getting stuff imported, we normally just have to swallow the bitter pill of inflated costs.
The cost of importing a Short Fleet to the UK from lets say Houston Texas will be around £2200.00 or $3375.00 on top of the purchase price.

Thanks Don.

I will be needing the two rubbers that fit in behind the fenders and a full set of the door panel screws to replace mine. Most were mangled when I got the truck.

Will chat again.

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

Another one of those days where I was busy most of the day, but did very little.

Started off with collecting Hannah, Nicola's daughter, guess my step daughter at the station, then over to Maidstone to buy a 1997 Ford Fiesta 1250cc Zetec from friend Woodsie for her, at the price of a cheap bicycle, 42k miles and an elderly owner makes it a perfect cheap car to run for her job as radiographer with a lot of on call work.

Then home on my own, had a coffee, then down to the garage to play for a bit, and take a few pics.

Firstly, some weird but predictable rust on the inner wings.
Usually they rust through to the supporting plate below, taking that away as well, but mine are both great, with only the top metal rotten.

I need some advice on how others have approached this repair.

I have about one and a half inner wings, inherited from Martin as he got a good pair in Florida last year.
So I suspect I will need to cut some pieces out of the donors and make them fit (hopefully)
Is it going to be possible to harvest sections for the tips that narrow down, from hogher up the fenders?

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...pseeab8f1c.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps7109af09.jpg

These are my donor pieces from which I need to harvest replacement pieces for the rusty sections.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse4f18445.jpg


BACK TO OUR SCHEDULED TRANSMISSION.

There are three sets of these holes down the bed sides, I would assume they point toward some part of its history as a real working truck in California ( I so wish I could find out more about it early history) I wonder if there was a metal carrying rack, like a plumber could have used back in the day.

The repair technique leaves much to be desired, why stick some mesh over the holes and then fill from the outside ???

I will be grinding all this rubbish back and welding the holes up before resealing the inside in underseal and repainting the outside, as the underseal works well for a working truck.


http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps21e06d33.jpg

The next small job was to use my almost new Rattle Gun to undo the second fender bolt that was completely rusted away and seized to the flat nut that ha kept it all together. This Impact wrench is a huge help and for the money, despite using it three times so far, and absolute must have for this sort of job.

The bolt was never going to release, so the torque tore it off after about three tries, using a huge spanner to hold the spinning rust lump.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps2016b5a3.jpg


My next little time waster was to remove the mounting plates from my dearly departed rear bumper.

Two angle grinders made it easy going.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psb13a718a.jpg

Unfortunately, the 9" grinder just did not cut it, but I then attacked from the other side which meant cutting around the welds.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps86427033.jpg

The plan is to use them and some more 1/4 inch angle iron or wide flat bar to make the mounting irons for the new bumper to fit to, and then to also create a new towbar mount with a removable tow ball.

A few minutes with a flap wheel and most of the chrome on it came back with years worth of crud flying off.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psb401b2ef.jpg

Right, time for dinner.

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

Rian

Those can inner fenders can be repaired easily just strip them down. Cutout the rotten clean in out spray with rust inhibitor and weld new pieces in. I did both of mine have pics I can send you

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

Cool stuff.

Did you post it in your build thread?

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

Did mine too...:uhmk:
with pieces donated by DaBearsda1
:metal::metal:

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

yep, me too. a replacement piece is available to weld in there but whos got time to wait on the slow boat. cut what you need out of the donor and weld it up.

that fender is another story... hope you got a replacement brace cause that one is toast.

you got a bunch done today... even with the distractions. maybe i need some of your coffee.:metal: today for me was slow at best... lousy weather.

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

Rian,

Here are some pics of my repair. If I was great with metal work I could have pulled this off with no bodywork. But I'm not.

Rot cutout. Rust inhibitor sprayed on metal beneath. The underside of mine was still solid. And this rusted right where the brace underneath traps all the dirt and crap. I am going to seal this up with seam sealer when I get ready to paint it.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8600/...dfefee4c_b.jpgDSCN8193 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/...bdcc897a_b.jpgDSCN8194 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

New pieces welded in

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/...f0394dc9_b.jpgDSCN8197 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Cleaned up. Not the best.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7498/...711e59ed_b.jpgDSCN8201 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

A little bodywork to fix that mess. I used some bondo I had on hand. I may end up grinding it all of and using some of the new Evercoat. I got. Hope these pictures help you.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8595/...ecee002c_b.jpgDSCN8209 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

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

No donors here, except for Martin who is replacing a lot of his truck.

So I will use bits to recreate the rusted out sections.


LOL. Yes Clem, thankfully I knew that both sides needed replacing when I bought the truck, so I bought the plates a long time ago.

Looking forward to "getting it right"

I think as long as I let the truck dictate the pace, it should stay fun.

Today was another such a day.

Thanks for the post Bret.

Looks like I am going to go the same route as you. The bottom brackets are good.

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

Was awake at stupid-o-clock this morning, texted Martin to see what he was up to today, as he was a bit, (Very) under the weather yesterday when we had planned to retrieve the trolley I had bought in June from the scrap yard so that I can get it under the loadbed.
It was under Martin's engine and gearbox, right at the rear of his garage.....


http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf88ac9ce.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psfc9ca859.jpg
I was home and cleaned up by 11.30 after which Nicola and I went to town.

So today, no progress, but I am ready to remove the load bed.

Back to work tomorrow after two weeks, less progress than I had planned, but a lot more than it would have been had I been drinking Pinã Colada's on a sunny beach somewhere.

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

Man that door looks ugly inside, it may look like the front fender when stripped of the filler. The screen inside looks like a 1960's repair when the truck would have been new, but was probably done much later. Some Bondo brand products even provided a small piece of plastic screen. It looked just like metal window bug screen, and was intended to bridge small holes and give the filler something to stick to.

Many kids in high school kids (including me) used it to eliminate mounting holes when “dechroming” the hood and trunk emblems. Here’s my 54 Chevy in 1966 after removing the emblems:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/537/p4PaBY.jpg

And here it is two years later in the hands of the new owner, still wearing the Bondo patched hood and trunk:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/p7Cy24.jpg

It held up well if applied to clean metal. The downside was any clown thinking it would be funny, could push the filler/patch into the trunk by applying stiff thumb pressure over the repair! I’ve just never seen so much of it used to cover a large defect. It’s really a benefit you know how to weld and do correct repairs. As for the small 2 hole patch in the door, that might have been a lower attaching bracket for a different set of “West Coast” mirrors at some point in history (depending on where the holes were on the door).

Sure nice to see you moving along at a nice pace. I’ll do some research on that “original” rear bumper. I’m thinking it might be an aftermarket accessory bumper for a much newer truck. I’ve seen them around many times, just never paid much attention to what they were on.

Also my care package arrived yesterday. Thanks so much! I got to keep the magazine and decal, but Ruthann immediately claimed the wall hanging, already having a spot for it! The magazine is fantastic. It’s much like what was commonly available here in the States back in the 1970’s. Not much gets published here anymore that isn’t a high dollar investment at one of the publication friendly shops.

Keep up the good work!

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

There are loads of fillered holes in the doors where mirrors were before, the pic of the two holes meshed are actually from the load bed sides.

Thanks a lot, I am still fascinated by the rear bumper my truck came with.

Glad you liked the magazine, and that Ruthann got in there fast.

It is often a problem for me, what to add in for the girls, as we generally do not know the other halves.

Thanks for the PM as well.

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

Came home from work tonight and decided it was a good time to strip out some of the interior.

Interesting.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc0bc90cd.jpg

Some of the replacement panels Martin had sourced for me last year.

looking at the hole where the radio had been fitted, presumably chewed in by an angry badger.

I am still in two minds as to whether I should weld it up, and fit the modern radio out of sight, I had also thought of fitting an 8 Track player at one point.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psbed40443.jpg

Removed the speakers that were fitted behind my head in the cab sides.

Starting to understand why animals in the wild eat their young......

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps26d44e64.jpg

While I was at it I removed what has to be one of my favourite features on the truck, the roof lining.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps5f342bd0.jpg

Original roof, weird colour under the red ??

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps06f7e72e.jpg

The plan is to paint the dash Satin Black, and also to repaint the interior of the cab, preparing some of it for the white roof I am going to do.

Tonight Mickey next door came around to drop off the SAS20 that I had ordered off Amazon at a lot cheaper than anywhere else if you buy volume.

I had bought a couple of cans for £1.00 each at a bootfair last year and it has proven to work really well on the nuts and bolts so far.

So now I am ready for the next bunch of challenges, though the drivers side mirror cannot be released, despite me trying to motivate it with some serious tools.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps85ca6e94.jpg

Tomorrow evening the speedo will be dismantled from behind, I ran out of "truck time" tonight at 7.30 which is the time I close shop, so that the truck does not become and issue to Nicola and I.

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

I will be over tomorrow to help you get your broken front screen and rear window out and of course I will remove the instrument cluster ready for the complete re wire

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

try heat. get a bottle of MAPP gas and a torch head and heat the screws up a lot. then whack em as they cool.

and the best rust penetrator is a mix of acetone and auto tranny fluid. keep shaking in between applications with a trigger spray bottle. I got this tip on here.

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

Have used that magic potion before.

Still have some ATF and will get the Acetone from mrs Grizz as I gave her most of a litre recently.

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

Ashtray front looking like this...... How do you do that? Step on it?

Another bit of fun for the future.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc6e27005.jpg

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

Put out a request last week on Freecycle for any old Imperial spanners or sockets as one can often see them thrown out at the council tip.

The day after the post I got a PM on Retro Rides from Luke (Smurf) to offer me a set of Imperial spanners he has had for years but never used, he saw my request on Freecycle and responded.

I popped around this morning on the way to work to collect them, and offered to pay for them, however he refused payment.

I was more interested in his new toy........ Mitsubishi Delica

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3cacb29c.jpg

After using Martin's articulated ratchet Imperial spanners he picked up in a pawnshop in Florida, I needed a set as well, Pronto !!

Found a set on Ebay for £29.00 delivered, and they were delivered to Nicola's work today, so double joy on the spanner front.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psbf6452e6.jpg

Tonight after work the first thing I did was to put two oil heaters in the trucks cab at maximum heat, to heat it up, and soften the rubber around the broken front, but perfectly intact rear windows, as they were both coming out tonight so that I can carry on with the body work, and changing the dash colour.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psa3487889.jpg

So after about three hours the cab was toasty, both inside and out.

Having worked in a body shop for many years, Martin knew his way around and was quick to pull the rear screen out.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps07d7a221.jpg

Unfortunately I did not get a photograph of his laying curled up on his back like a stranded dung beetle when the front screen came hurtling toward me.

It looked great from where I stood to catch it on the bonnet and the cushion I had put there.......

He pushed it out in one long hard push with his huge safety boots planted firmly in each corner, breaking it a bit more than it already was..... thankfully the damage was already done at the end of last years last ride out.

He was laughing like a mad man as he said he had always wanted to "kick a windscreen out"

The whole of the top steel ridge is rusted, but recoverable, and there was quite a bit of silicone where leaks were obviously treated before, I have never had a problem when it rained or when I washed the truck, so I suppose the sealing treatments worked.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps803a882f.jpg

Last thing was to remove the instrument cluster from the dash.

This turned into a major ball ache as the ignition switch unit, including the barrel could not be removed, so it meant getting in from behind with a 1/4 inch spanner (yes, I do have one) and a 1/4 inch socket to undo the large cluster bezel from the actual instruments rear.

Can anyone please explain to me why I could not get the part that holds the key undone, the bezel does not fit over it, and these two little holes did not react to the panel pins I pushed in there, though the one hole felt like there was a spring in it.

In the end removing the instrument cluster's large bezel released it so that we could get it out in two parts, with much of the front glass falling out, as I knew it would because it was damaged when I got the truck.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps12a07380.jpg

All bits removed, next up for removal will be the seat and old carpet, which is in remarkably good nick, despite having some colour changes.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4a8be3b8.jpg


Last thing I guess is again proof of the great vibe in this hobby and community of ours.

WhippinSaw in Illinois offered to sell me a replacement section for my dash where the radio fits, so I agreed to buy it from him, and will be welding it in when it gets here after cutting the Badgers Revenge out.

Catfood was not included in the deal.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4e896b5b.jpg


Thanks again for checking in.

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

It's a lot quicker taking out the front screen when it's already broken,and you are not worried about cracking it on removal. No problem with helping that's what mates are for

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

Would've liked to see a video of Martin and the windscreen...:lol:
Great score on the spanners...:mm:
…and also scoring the radio plate...:metal:

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

I love that Mitsubishi Delica ,never seen anything like it . Nice tools you scored too .

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

Your face and that mad grin was priceless.

Martin started out looking like he was very constipated and ended up looking like porn star towards the end, I was kinda expecting him to shout Yes Yes Yes YESSSS!!!
I think at $15.00 plus post for the plus shipping for the plate I could not make another or pick one here in the UK, so glad for the opportunity to get a decent repair plate.

There are some Amazing Delica's out there.
This is a newer Mk2 but Mk1's are possibly more popular.

They are seriously capable off roaders....

Search YouTube for Mitsubishi Delica's off-road. I think it is basically a Pajero/Shogun under the skin

THIS IS A GREAT CLIP SHOWING SOME OF ITS ABILITIES AND THE VERSATILE INTERIOR.



And in Australia




Spanners I scored are great and the ones I got off EBay are amazing, having used them before on the truck I wonder how one does without them.

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

I would have loved to see Martin's face. I know when I took the windshield out of my truck it was the point of no return in it coming off the road as my windshield had to many cracks to count. I set it out back behind the garage in my junk pile and the Texas sun got to it and it imploded on itself and melted. I was saving it just in case. I ended up folding it up like a box and putting it in the dumpster.

Over in the general section a guy has just posted a really cool way to fix a radio that has been eaten by an angry badger. It consist of a pretty cool face plate you can buy. If I hadn't already welded mine up and fixed it I would go that route.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=655585

Love those ratcheting spanners you got. They save a lot of time and fit into places the ratchet and socket can't.

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

Thanks for the teply Bret.

I saw that radio face repair and sighed as I have already commited to going the hard way.


Regarding the ignition switch unit, I posted the question on Garage Journal and got the following replies and advice. Makes sense and will try it out tonight.

THREAD: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=275730

Rian, I believe if its like the 67 ignition switch thats theres a little hole in the barrel you need to push a paperclip or something similar into to release a catch, then you can take it apart. There's loads of threads on this over on the 67-72 Chevy truck board.


And also:

It looks as if you unscrewed the bezel and it may be jammed against the cylinder (if it is you won't be able to get it out). First thread the bezel clockwise until it's tight. Insert the key. Turn the key as far as you can to the left (counter-clockwise), then insert a paper clip and push against the spring pressure, and turn to the left again - after a few degrees of additional movement, the tumbler will come out. Sometimes a little back and forth movement with the key is helpful.

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

Just a bit of encouragement Mate!!! Keep posting as much and often and wherever you choose, please don't let the opinion of one unhappy "Registered User" affect your time on here… Just like other areas out here in Cyberspace, there's always one idiot who didn't learn to keep his trap shut when he doesn't have anything helpful or nice to say…

Cheers Mate, and I look forward to reading about your adventures on that side of the pond...:mm: …not to mention the thought of the adventures the upcoming October trip will author...:metal:

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

Thank you Don.

I was both amazed, humbled and actually pleased to see the guys come to my "rescue" when that member had a pop at me.

I just know for myself, that I always enjoy the side postings people make, also that there are members whose posts I do not enjoy, and just scroll past on so e forums. Usually I just ignore trolls.

In other good news, Pimpston65 has sent me a very good ashtray front FOC for the truck. Looking at his, it seems they came with a little handle up front that was also the mounting piece to the inside of the ashtray.

He posted that out yesterday.

THANK YOU PIMPSTON65

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps9e83b69a.jpg



Thanks to MJH1965 for sending me this one.

Now I know where the break line will be for my black dash top.


[URL=http://s294.photobucket.com/user/niknakpix/media/niknakpix128/imagejpg1_zps25557ea3.jpg.html]http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps25557ea3.jpg[/

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

I saw you asked about paint around the grill here is a pic of my trucks chevy and GMC. The chevy has white paint and both GMC do not.
Attachment 1347278

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

Thanks for posting up James. Thats great to know.

My truck is far from standard so I can kinda do whatever I want. Including paint. I like the white lip behind the grille but hope to have a chrome grille and it contrasts best with red. So in two minds. Bit its a mod one can do later as well.

Just sitting in McD's for a treat with Nicola and she just suggested that I take a small ring and open spanner and gas weld two fixing bolts for the ashtray to it as a handle.

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

After some great advice from Garage Journal members who clearly know a lot more than me, the ignition on my truck was identified and possibly from a post '66 Chevy.

So with the advice to use a paperclip in the hole and some anti-clockwise wriggling getting ramped up to a small screwdriver and some WD40 into the barrel, I got it undone.

Now the bezel can be addressed properly in its restoration.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps45154a2a.jpg

Inbetween, I did a load of little jobs between the house and garage, according to Nicola it has scored me another day and a half "free garage and truck time"
Also preparing some stuff to shove onto Ebay tomorrow to generate "truck funds from scrap" as mostly it would go to the charity shop we support.

I did also remove the scuttle cover so that I can do the prep better around the windscreen.

I did notice the little wheel like unit the wiper fits to, i different sized between driver and passenger side...... Is this correct? My passenger wiper does not sit securely and can be lifted off by hand.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps19742d59.jpg

Removed the fender emblems as well, I want to weld up the holes and if I refit them, it will be automotive double sided tape.
They look good for their age but need cleaning up.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0e8decda.jpg

Also started to look at the exhaust pipes as I want to fit the 3" QTP cutouts, as well as running 2.5" pipes and silencers to go with them out the rear, exiting in front of the rear wheels, with some sexy rectangular stainless or chrome tips like what you get on large luxury SUV's

Also want them to exit a lot closer to the body.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0699bc72.jpg

I fitted one of the Cutout pipes approximately where it needs to go, along with the valve to get an idea what needs to be brought together.

Made a clip to illustrate.


http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psa83920ca.jpg


Looking forward to building this system at home with the help, guidance and mentorship, not to forget, labor of Paul Y.

Lastly, I may have mentioned before that my wife will not mix white and cream laundry, let alone red and black etc..... BUT, she will quite happily tell me to bring engine parts in and shove them into the dish washer.

Tonight she did a similar Samaritan like action..... telling me to bring the rear glass from the cab into the kitchen, putting a bedsheet on the table, and then once done, she helped me wrap it in a mortuary shroud blanket, then stored it on top of the spare room wardrobe. So I got all the sticker glue, and gunge off with some industrial acetone which I previously mixed with ATF to make penetrating oil.

Nice girl ehhh??

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3cdfbf99.jpg

Tomorrow will be a weldathon with some grinding thrown in at Martin's place when we try to get control of his cab.

Looking forward to test driving his carport for insulation now the gates are fitted and closed up.

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

I know you wanted some pictures of the colour break between the red and white

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...pscf057ce8.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ps0925eef3.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ps0a5f25d1.jpg

Hope this helps

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

Grizz,

Apologies for today, Wind + tree + Stihl = Firewood...

Looked at your clip and would be worried about ground clearance. Dependant on the size (narf narf) of your new mufflers I would be inclined to run the pipe inside the chassis, up tight to the bed floor and then make the turn out under the chassis by the rear axle. 3" pipes are big and by getting the turn out as far back as possible you will give yourself more room in case of large speed bumps etc. I know that your headers are the lowest part at this time so all this might be a moot point!

Have some other ideas that can be discussed over tea and biscuits.

P. :D