Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[Palf70Step]

Finally figured out what the Facebook picture was. You got a wee bit opf scrubbing to do on her, but she looks pretty good.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Finally figured out what the Facebook picture was. You got a wee bit opf scrubbing to do on her, but she looks pretty good.

Facebook pic is a bit of a challenge for people.

Glad you figured it.

I loved it.



Few more pics from Mrs S

Our official trip photographer

Tonight the Rezin Rockit sleeps here.



Pretty place





Dinner in the go.



No, this is not all there is.



Chef. Photographer. Co-driver, Tired. And a big part of the trip as Fils sidekick.



Observers have commented that the registration implies Grin factor

Lets hope so.



Support from all over too.



I am grinning in anticipation here.

[aggie91]

Cool landscape in that part of the world. It is amazing what can grow on a vehicle if it is left alone long enough!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Cool landscape in that part of the world. It is amazing what can grow on a vehicle if it is left alone long enough!

Absolutely.


Copy and paste of Fil’s report tonight from where they have struck camp.

Originally Posted by sparkplug

...and to keep the real time theme as far as possible...

Bill and Gordon were waiting for us as we arrived to pick the Rezin Rocket up. The Rocket itself had already been moved out of the yard and was prepped and ready to load.

With the trailer lined up and ready I went in to the cab to get my gloves and fetch the straps and by the time I got out Bill & Gordon had already got the ramp tilted and the winch hooked up. They've obviously done this before.

It became obvious right away that any attempt at me helping would only slow them down so I kept out of the way and left them to it. Nicer people you couldn't wish to meet.

Bill made sure that the trailer wheel nuts were tight as it was clearly a concern to him and the Rezin Rocket then got strapped down. If we'd used any more straps it would have ended up looking like an Egyptian mummy.

With gifts exchanged and apologies from me to Bill for stealing the road trip which he revealed he was hoping to do it was time for us to head back south.

You'll see the loading pics from the official tour photographer later but here's the snaps I got of the new view from the trailer cams





The second cam was almost an afterthought and was a really cheap and nasty one from eBay. I specifically ordered the version without the parking stripes as I just wanted something that pointed backwards rather than down as it can give you a better idea of how tall a kerb is, for example. As you can see, they sent me the wrong one but return postage would have cost about the same as the camera so I didn't bother.

I had originally thought it might also double up as a rear view mirror, but being mounted on the rear step it's so close to the ground that it makes you feel nauseous as the tarmac appears to be shooting past at 300 mph!

It does what it needs to do.

A couple of hours on some stunning roads with the sun beating down gloriously on us and we're back at Haggs Bank.



A quick inspection showed that my replacement number plate had stayed on this time. I was nothing short of amazed at the speed and organisation of getting that made - especially as Bill was working a night shift and met me straight afterwards.

It just shows that with the right will, connections and organisation anything is possible.

Today's massive drama which I'm struggling to find a way of blowing out of all proportion in a sensationalist tabloid way is that the stereo which was mounted on the jeep wasn't there any more.

The mounting frame was so rotten that the whole thing had fallen down. Fortunately it landed in the jeep.



And with that I'll sign off for today. Off for a warm shower and a bacon roll I think.



Tune in for tomorrow's exciting episode - "the final leg"

[The Rocknrod]

I had to look that up - yep.

[Palf70Step]

Glad you could find one. I am kinda shock that a trailer like that uses such a tiny tire. Guess I am use to all our King Kong type trailers here.

On the slightly good side, you'll get to finish your training before he gets to your place.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you could find one. I am kinda shock that a trailer like that uses such a tiny tire. Guess I am use to all our King Kong type trailers here.

On the slightly good side, you'll get to finish your training before he gets to your place.

Totally agree Bill, the UK has trailers, usually residential stuff on the motorway with 10” tyres, looking like a wheelbarrow.


Training done.


ETA 6.30 but it is now traffic time and the M25 awaits, including Queen Elizabeth bridge

[realvc]

"The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends" when you are involved in old cars/trucks and bringing them home for rebuilding and or restoring or upgrading.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

"The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends" when you are involved in old cars/trucks and bringing them home for rebuilding and or restoring or upgrading.

Perfectly said Vince.


And no regrets.



So......



Because commercial tyre needed.



Up she goes.



Removed dead one



Fitted new one



Back on the trailer.





And 3.5 hours later.


And


£162.00 or $210.00 or ZA R3510.00 For the pleasure later.



Straight into the afternoon traffic and a delay.



Next will be the afternoon M25 tango in the slow lane.







My debt to Fil and Nikki continues to grow exponentially it seems.



I signed up for this, so I will play the game out.


.

[aggie91]

Cool idea for the logo!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Cool idea for the logo!

Stolen from the internet.


But I do like it

[Grizz1963]

At last, 26 hrs late.

Sorry team.

So the last pic from the road, before they rolled up to my place was this......



So I set up with phone on video to capture the arrival.

And photos for the story.



By the time had done faffing with[hotels for you guys, Fil who had had a long, stressful day, was already at it.





I was pleased with what I saw of course.



Once unloaded, we pushed it through to the back of the kitchen.

This thing is incredibly light too, I was surprised.



After unloading, I hooked the Galaxy up and took the trailer up to the farm where the owner lives.



They did not hear me, or the dogs knocking, and it took me 20 minutes to get Nick to answer the door.

A quick chat and road report, had me telling him the one tyre had let go on the motorway, but been replaced en-route.
Mainly to make sure he checked the others as usually if one goes, the rest are shortly to follow.

Here is where the story changes direction for the good, in fact, for the great......

He asked in surprise how much it had been ( Do remember that I had already paid for it and was happy to take responsibility) old rule of borrowing: “You bend it, You mend it” so not a problem.
I had told Fil when it happened to just do whatever needed to be done.

So he insisted that he reimburse me for the cost, I declined, he insisted, I declined again, he walked away to the house, and I started to drive to the gat, and he came out with cash in hand, saying it was his trailer and would have been his cost in any case in 800 miles had I not used it.

After once more declining the money, he said that it would displease him if I did not take the money, I had also offered to go half and half with him.

I guess for a guy with a 4 week old Tesla, an Audi R8 , Bentley and Range Rover plus a few very nice motorbikes on his drive, who still does his own bodywork and is currently restoring an older Jeep CJ for his wife, this is not a biggie.

To me, the cash was already spent when Fil had the blow out, however, this once again reiterated the nature of this hobby and the people who inhabit this space.

So, result.



After getting back and parking the Galaxy, we decided Fish nd Chips we’re in order, rather than me making dinner.



We sat chatting till quite late, after which Fil and Nikki Headed for the camper, as they declined the indoors.

My night sucked as usual, but I woke to a real nice lazy sunrise.




Looking out the bedroom window my eye was instantly drawn to the Rezin Rockit.





For now, it is early days and like a toddler it will take time to find its feet.





Becoming a Teenager later, though still not quite knowing its ultimate destiny or even having a real identity.





My day was filled with a load of small unrelated jobs and I did not get to touch it till about 3.30 this afternoon.


More later.

[Palf70Step]

Way big improvement on it. Waiting to see what you are going to do with it. You figured out a drive train yet?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Way big improvement on it. Waiting to see what you are going to do with it. You figured out a drive train yet?

Hi Bill, thank you, I am pleased so far.

There is a full build and info thread here:

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...ockit-cleaning

I have been given an 1800cc 140bhp Mazda Miata/MX5 motor and transmission for free, hope it is still free when I go collect it.

So that’s the plan.

Original plan was to buy a complete car that had failed its MOT test and use it as donor, but free appeals more.

[Palf70Step]

Kool. I like the idea of the Mazda over the Ferd stuff. Different, but good!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Kool. I like the idea of the Mazda over the Ferd stuff. Different, but good!

Nice thing is that you can use a Turbo to go from 140bhp to 200bhp without threat to the engine.

That appeals to me.


So......

Bleach city.

Big brush, generous application



Once All done, leave it to stand for a few minutes.

Then pressure cleaner again.

Resulting in this.

Dulled right now, but I am sure that there will be some polish to bring a bit of a chime back.



The only damage on the whole car, not too bad for a driven car from 1992





I also took off the centre bars between the roll bar and front screen.



After all of this, I also added the rear lens that I got from @spacekaddett To the back end.



Front end view.

Happy



After this, I rounded Sally up to come help me with the next job.


She really is a good person to abuse.

[Palf70Step]

I am partial to the white, with the wheels you already have, regardless of the wheel color.

[bigmoe]

How about some nice chrome hood latches?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I am partial to the white, with the wheels you already have, regardless of the wheel color.

Dominant white, yes.

Originally Posted by bigmoe

How about some nice chrome hood latches?

If I found some, they would be on.

If it was decent quality chrome.


QUOTE=sparkplug;5817207]again, just a rough illustration to give an idea.

[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by sparkplug

Different wheels, lower



Any particular wheels you'd like to see on it?

Just silly?

[Palf70Step]

The green strip looks out of place. Still like the wheels you have the best. Maybe do the green somewhat like the race car over the nose.

I really suck at photoshop coloring so, I am not much help probably.

For sure bring the body down.

[Palf70Step]

Once the 4-link is fixed, Id say easiest way for the rear is cut or shorter coils (and shocks). I'd like to say mount your front cradle assembly closer to the frame, but that looks like a whole bunch of re-figuring, so maybe cut/shorted coils and shocks. Do you know what the front end is from that was used on it?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Once the 4-link is fixed, Id say easiest way for the rear is cut or shorter coils (and shocks). I'd like to say mount your front cradle assembly closer to the frame, but that looks like a whole bunch of re-figuring, so maybe cut/shorted coils and shocks. Do you know what the front end is from that was used on it?

Morning Bill,

As always, thanks for the reply, and thought pu in, I love a bit or a lot of shared, joined up thinking

You are right about relocation, raising etc.

This car’s whole suspension (custom chassis) setup is from an 80’s or earlier Ford Cortina.
Loads of upgrade bits out there, mainly due to clubmans racing and rally car development.

Some cheap, some not.


Saw this, and in love.

[aggie91]

My first thought was "dang, Rian does the sketchy wood block on jack thing too!"

Rear suspension looks easy enough to lower, the challenge does look like the front. Some of the rust looks really bad...I would think about using a Mustang II front suspension from an aftermarket source and just replace the whole front cradle, mount it up higher to get it lower...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

My first thought was "dang, Rian does the sketchy wood block on jack thing too!"

Rear suspension looks easy enough to lower, the challenge does look like the front. Some of the rust looks really bad...I would think about using a Mustang II front suspension from an aftermarket source and just replace the whole front cradle, mount it up higher to get it lower...

Hi mate,


This is England......

No Mustang etc bits readily available.

At best, you will add MX5/Miata front and rear subframes.

But that then adds the cost of buying a car to use as donor.

I get a kick out of returning stuff from the grave (where they belong) to functional use, or even improving to where people do stop you to take a photo.

We will see once I start messing with it, when I have title in my name etc.

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...rockit-chassis


In the original build thread, linked above, go to about page 23 where the UK guys started To talk about the suspension and shifting it to lower the car.

It seems do-able

[aggie91]

I was thinking something off of ebay that you could get in the UK or at least shipped to the UK...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1941-1948....c100008.m2219