GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project~”

[Grizz1963]

Just about up to date with the update and this build.



Few more pics and a actions.



So.....

WINDOW TINTING.

Make sure you select the right shade.

I went for 35% and should have gone to 70%

Too late now, as it’s done.

Under £10.00




Going to try keep it short.

Mate Kevin came over from Maidstone in his absolutely envy provoking chipped, lowered and pimped out VW Van.




Cut the tinting film to size on the outside of the glass, keeping in mind, there is a sticky, or outside, side.



Once trimmed to size, move to the inside of the vehicle, spray the glass wet, as well as the tint film once you remove the backing sheet.
Slide into position, squeegee all the water out while getting it smooth.



Many hands, octopus and all that.



Repeat prep.



I also used a heat gun to help remove and smoothe any kinks out.



While we were at it, Nicola’s dad popped in for a chat and to check up on the new car, he has always loved cars, especially V8’s



Result






And out in the street after Kevin and I did a 10 mile test drive, where we found the front wheel beauty rings popped off after 5 miles.

So it’s back to looking for trim rings that work.


Final pic of the tinting, here you can see it, not dark enough, but nice.




End of the weekend and another job jobbed.

Few more pics tomorrow, bed now.

[Grizz1963]

So for those who have been patiently following this thread.

Here is a short clip of the Blazer coming out to play.

Enjoy.


https://youtu.be/XX83qJc8UpQ



After Kevin left, Joy, who has been incredibly tollerant and patient with the work that’s been going into the Blazer and her dog Wyzz, came over for a walk down to the Thames River at Allhallows.

Once back, I needed to open the side gate to reverse the truck down to the garage and Joy moved her car over a bit.

Came back and found this.......




Random pics.



Along the way, some waterways.





Tide was out on the Thames and the wind was cold and biting.

Essex over the other side and French canal to the right.




And looking up river, toward London, with more of Essex on the other side.



Have a good week, mine will be hectic.

[Grizz1963]

Thought I would add an oldie but GOODY tonight.


Most of us know KC as a painter.


Slight change of occupation here.

Enjoy.


https://youtu.be/2m7F7jMIE9k



And then we have this idea.

I have had it in the back of my mind since Oblertone sent me two pairs of stirrups.


Background.

THE TSURIKAWA STORY

Sushi, sumo and samurais... Japan in a nut shell right? Well, the country of the rising sun is a bit more than that! And tsurikawas are without a doubt a part of our rich culture…
Stolen in trains by our local young gangsters, also known as bosozokus, the tsurikawas were originally attached inside cars so passengers could slide their wrist inside the ring and safely hang their body outside the window.
They quickly became the symbol of a reckless youth and bosozokus started to attach them outside heavily modified bikes and cars to show rebellion and disrespect to authority.
Nowadays, hardcore Japanese car enthusiasts are still flaunting them to express their freedom.




Went down to the garage after work tonight, raining.

Found a stirrup, old leather belt and pulled my hoody over my head...

And got Photobombed, remember it’s wet, cold and windy out there, but madam wants to be down there .




Better pic.



Expecting,much hate.

Remember , it’s just an idea.

[Grizz1963]

Well.....

What does $80.00 buy you??

Dinner at Harry J’s.

Half a trolley of burgers n fries at Walmart.

Or 36 gallons of Fossil fuel for the Blazer in St Louis, Missouri this week.




Or if you are Dennis Jones in St Louis, then postage to the U.K. for some shackles for the Blazer.



Unpacked and a quick Catscan......

Approved.



Also included were some Disabled plates for my collection from Dennis and some of @CraigRK ‘s Coke purchases that were delivered after we departed the USA in September.



So what have we got for the Blazer this week?




Just a trim, bit off the sides and then a two inch drop in the rear.

Lovely pieces of kit.

Grinder and wrenches at the ready.




Hard to see on some pics, but here the same rake on both pics, and pic no 1shows the real state of the nation.



So trust me, the 2 inches will be just right, thanks to @PaulY





More when the sparks have flown.

Roll on weekend.

[Grizz1963]

.




I guess something to add in at this point for those of you in the USA who build and restore trucks is a bit of perspective.


The two lowering shackles above will cost you $75.00 in the USA from LMC including shipping

Not too bad I hear you say.


But if you are in the U.K. the price of a build changes dramatically.


Add in the $80.00 in shipping or postage that you saw above and the cost has now doubled.



However, if you ship over parts, you have to add in a Customs declaration to value the items. (Thankfully these were used parts)

Once the parcel lands in England, the Post Office then charges a $10.00 handling fee, and the Revenue service add in Import duty that is raised against the cost of the item, the shipping and the taxes you paid on them before.......

So you could look at trebling the outset cost of an item.

So a $100.00 item shipped can end up costing an easy $300.00


And yet we keep doing this stuff.


Which is why we carry parts when we visit America in stead of clothes, why I have left two pairs of shoes at Dennis in St Louis and clothes etc.

Looking forward to working on the Blazer tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

Real life example.

My mate Martin is restoring a 65 C10 Truck.

He needed a inner floor sill for his cab.


Easy, cheap part........

Cost in English Pounds.

Part: £31.20
International Shipping £130.17
U.K. VAT £32.28
Final landed costin the U.K. £193.65

So in American Dollar Part cost $40.00 final price $250.00

Crazy?

Maybe.

[Grizz1963]

Of course there is the matter of the long weekend in America



Last night after 10pm my one neighbour brought a parcel around.

From Ernie “PedalcarJoe” it had me laughing again, that is twice this week.

Basically for the Blazer as it seems to have a bit of a bruiser look about it, and in all white looks a bit like the Stormtroopers from Star Trek.

Harley of course has to do her inspection, weird cat.



On the way home tonight I had to fill up my car, prices are a bit higher than those in the USA



In other news from the USA, Clem Johnson of Tubatrucks.com had send Dennis an old gas station driveway forecourt bell earlier this week.


Started out like this.





And after doing his magic.........






And earlier today, Dennis sent a pic of it mounted on the side of the replica gas station.




Looking forward to tomorrow.