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

[ibrown50]

Great progress Rian.

I have used paint stripper and a wire brush on a grinder to strip both my fenders, you're absolutely right you have to know what you are working with before you start any repairs. A blow torch and scraper removes filler very quickly,.

With your fender repair it's all down to personal choice, I wouldn't joggle the fender repairs, it does give you a bit of leeway if you get your cuts wrong but you will run into problems getting the wheel arch to look right and the seam at the door edge will be tricky too.

I'd always butt weld this kind of repair, if you take your time with the measurements, leave an 1/8" extra on the panel for wriggle room and then grind the last little bit until you have the perfect fit. You have the skills to do that no problem

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 61K10

Good to see you back on the tk sense you have all kind of things going on. Just a note on your finder braces. If the upper part is good just use what you need at the bottom (cut new brace and weld in whats needed) as they are a pain to remove.

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Great progress Rian.

I have used paint stripper and a wire brush on a grinder to strip both my fenders, you're absolutely right you have to know what you are working with before you start any repairs. A blow torch and scraper removes filler very quickly,.

With your fender repair it's all down to personal choice, I wouldn't joggle the fender repairs, it does give you a bit of leeway if you get your cuts wrong but you will run into problems getting the wheel arch to look right and the seam at the door edge will be tricky too.

I'd always butt weld this kind of repair, if you take your time with the measurements, leave an 1/8" extra on the panel for wriggle room and then grind the last little bit until you have the perfect fit. You have the skills to do that no problem

Thank you gents.

I think cautious, slowly, gently will be the operative word here.



Took a day leave today so that I could prepare for my mid year review next week.

Yes, it is a big deal and a lot of preparing.

Fetched a fan from the garage, because it got hot.

This thermometer is inside my bathroom.



At about 19.00 Iwent to the garage to give the four rescue chairs a coat of Danish Oil.

With help as always.



Despite the two coats of furniture oil, you can s e the difference the Danish Oil made.



And all four done.

Happy with the exult.

Probably around £35.00 plus my time



Hopefully years of use ahead in them

[clemdaddy]

Hey Rian,
Your welding skills are right-on and I am so happy you are back on the truck. The radio panel fix and speaker fill look great and I agree, a light spread of filler and it's all good. By the way... I would love a welding table as cool as the one you got in the dumpster. Is it possible to put it in a suitcase when you next visit. We're looking forward to seeing your British self soon... till then.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday........

Today promises to be even better.




And a book I could do with reading, maybe.



Almost weekend though.

[Grizz1963]

Worked in London on Friday. Had a training session for 20 senior nurses that went great.

Earlier in the day I saw this bike.

Branded as a Mondial, I suspect it is another Chinese built clone, using an old name and license.

They are available in 125cc and 250cc and I love the look.



By 15.00my car said it was a bit hot.



Back home, even the cats had melted, looked like Dukey had tried to drag himself off the couch and failed.



Had to go to the shops yesterday, was looking for some affordable work shirts, this led me to the usual Turkish restaurant I love going to on a Saturday afternoon.

Pizza anyone?

And no, it does not have to be round.



Not a good day for Bootfairs today.

The larger One has shut down for the rest of the year, due to trading laws, which means they can only use a site so many times per year, and the second site they usually move to has been closed down this year, as it will be developed into an housing estate.

So the smaller site was operating. But with less than half the field occupied by 06.30 when I got there, usually it’s a lot fuller even by then.

So I did not hold out much hope, and seeing hordes of Eastern Europeans flocking the site meant some shoving and being walked out the ground, fortunately I am larger than life and only got shoved once.

I walked the rows and there was very little of interest, and I tend to avoid tables when there are 10 young men milling about, all speaking foreign and getting way too close inside my personal space, I had been attempted to get pick pocketed a few years ago by a man, I got his hand on my wallet in my pocket, and landed a flat handed slap to the side of his head, this really pisssed Nicola off at the time as she was worried I could have been assaulted by a gang, but I told her in no uncertain terms to not even go there, she may have understood.

So by the time I got to the second row, after starting out, I saw some bits, randomly on a table. Seller a super nice guy, chatted with him for about 15 minutes in the end.

Bought a few things off him.



Some 150mm Velcro 320 grit sanding discs for when I get to that on the truck.

£5.00/50 per box, one box for mate Martin. Or about $7.50 per box



3mm drill bits 10/pack £5.00 took all four as they are disposable these days. Or $7.50 for 10
12mm HSS drill bit £1.00 or about $1.50



So the Bootfair was not a total bust.

Came home and now it is raining, perfect to break the long hot spell, and stop me from grinding a truck fender

[Grizz1963]

Took a day off Friday to get a load of yard work and hedges done as my back is so knackered now that I cannot just do it in one long push.
I had planned for Sunday to get into the garage to start on the front fenders.
Not happening in the end. Got a movie date at 2.30 today with Joy, much more fun.

Only one Bootfair now.
Today’s mini haul.





Beer bucket for Craig £1.00
Weird Norwegian mug 50p
Gruffalo mug 20p
Toy for dog 50p
Bottles of nails 50p each
CD’s for myself 20p each
Snail Brand spanner 50p

[Grizz1963]

Been trying to kill this cactus for three years, and it keeps on giving.

Last night.



This morning before 06.00





Life is good.

Prozac May have a big job ahead of him.

PaulY called me this morning to offer me a rather large, non functioning wind out awning.....

To be collected over in Essex stuck through the open sunroof.

Not a lot, but much to show.

Driving up to my home tonight I saw some krap on the pavement two houses down.

Went to investigate and brought some stuff back, all covered in bird poop.



Included three old paraffin lamps, a chain and hook and a steel pin.

Also a 450watt Random Orbit DA Sander, identified by JohnnyBravo after a quick check on the part number.
Just needs a backing pad.



Strange front end.




Dennis continues on his own, building his replica gas station.

Still looking for and gathering bits to decorate it.





Thats it.

[Grizz1963]

Well, what do you get if you combine a clown, well, a plate spinner.....



A truckload of beer



Bacon.......



The Missouri Mayhem Terminator.



And some black lines that may just matter.



All headed to go inspect progress here.





Progress......



A old skinny cat with a sixth sense suddenly stuck like glue by your side or on top of you.





Must be a road trip.

Strange weekend, I was busy nonstop, and all I can show for it is a clean house, garden and bathrooms, plus a confirmed house sitter and cat sitter for September, all the way from Republic, Missouri.

How small is this world, it is where Dennis’ son Adam grew up.

PS. Bootfairs sucked big time today, spent a total of £2.20 on three items.

Better luck next week.

[Grizz1963]

After a few months of not getting much I liked at bootfairs today started out slow at 06.30 after I was awake from stupid-0-clock.

In the end I got home after 12.00 which is a record from about 5 years ago when they used to deliver.

A lot of the stuff may seem incredibly random, and it is too......

But remember that I shop for a few people, and some of the stuff I get is for my own pleasure.

I am just getting ready to do a BBQ for 10 as Joy wanted to do it at her place which is not really ideally set of for a good South African style Braai/BBQ so I offered my place to celebrate her dad who died a year ago.

It should be a good afternoon.

Report and photos later if you guys are still about.

[aggie91]

Chairs turned out nice. For the little work you did, I say money was well spent on those.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Hey Rian,
Your welding skills are right-on and I am so happy you are back on the truck. The radio panel fix and speaker fill look great and I agree, a light spread of filler and it's all good. By the way... I would love a welding table as cool as the one you got in the dumpster. Is it possible to put it in a suitcase when you next visit. We're looking forward to seeing your British self soon... till then.

Thank you Clem, it feels good to be back, getting dirty but also problem solving.

Speaker holes have horizontal and vertical curves, but I am happy that they are very flat and need minimal filler.
Radio delete, came or better than anyone dared to expect.

And as far as seeing you, it is two crazy South Africans, transplanted to England 16 and 18:years ago respectively who,are looking forward to popping in in Fayetteville. Seems we may be headed down to New Orleans with Dennis before that too.
Three man road trip

Originally Posted by aggie91

Chairs turned out nice. For the little work you did, I say money was well spent on those.

Agreed Karl.

And typical of this sort of thing, they were perfectly fine, just neglected.

Now they have a life and purpose again.

[Indian113]

Those are unique Finds! Enjoy your movie date, take a short break on the truck. It all sounds Good, some Good BBQ and Brews would Top it OFF

[aggie91]

Hope you enjoyed your date with Joy. Since the kids where with their Mom this weekend, I was able to spend some time going thru boxes and getting stuff sorted for an upcoming swap meet next weekend. Got to keep my mind off of the other crap in my life.

Anyway, found a box I was looking for, I will be sending you a package out hopefully this week, hope you will enjoy it.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Those are unique Finds! Enjoy your movie date, take a short break on the truck. It all sounds Good, some Good BBQ and Brews would Top it OFF

Agreed, a break is always a good thing.

I do love a great find.

Had a few

Originally Posted by aggie91

Hope you enjoyed your date with Joy. Since the kids where with their Mom this weekend, I was able to spend some time going thru boxes and getting stuff sorted for an upcoming swap meet next weekend. Got to keep my mind off of the other crap in my life.

Anyway, found a box I was looking for, I will be sending you a package out hopefully this week, hope you will enjoy it.

Joy is a pleasure to spend time with.

Thanks re package. That’s nice of you.




For all the Imp fans, Bryan sent me a couple more pics.

I am amazed at just how low and small it is.

Hiding behind the modern.

[flashed]

I have yet to make a swap meet , been working too much . Worked yesterday and today , not much of a weekend at all .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

I have yet to make a swap meet , been working too much . Worked yesterday and today , not much of a weekend at all .

Soooon John.

And I hope to see your report back here.


Random acts of kindness some call it.

I say “Just because I can”

Recently bought a book at a Bootfair for my guest bathroom, one of the Chevy truck forum guys saw it and commented on it, so I offered it to him, he accepted and I put it and a Queens Jubilee coin in original presentation pack in the mail to him in Texas.

Yesterday the mailman delivered an envelope with some license plates, and a covering letter from Karl (Aggie)





Thank you mate.

Pulled from another thread, only in the USA




Weirdly, at the same time a “Come and collect it if you dare” card was put in my mail.

When I broke down last year in Arkansas, I was rescued and helped by Charles.
He sent me a parcel too.
Being a good, older Christian man and totally honest, he did a complete customs declaration on the contents.
Ultimately this was the associated costs, clearly quite unrealistic but I appreciate the gesture.
More than £20.00 in import duty and a handling fee for the post office plus of course parking and a trip into town.



Contents, along with a coin.





Covering letter from Charles.



Mate Bryan sent another pic of his Imp



This years Road trip should be a Humdinger, with various visits to factories and members from other forums, including Andy in Oklahoma who collects all the Alluminiumhe can lay his hands on, as well as brass and bronze, which he then melts down to produce amongst others, hammers, trivets etc.

His thread here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...d.php?t=334140




Headed to the USA with a clown as a travel partner is a bit worrying, but looking forward to this one.

Meet Craig, my travel buddy this year.



Seems to run in the family too.




PS: Craig is looking for various parts for his 47-50 Chevy AD trucks, Suburban and Fleetline.

Ideally he needs patina’d parts as his vehicles are all well worn.

I will post up his wishlist/what he is looking for when he gives it to me.

[Grizz1963]

No idea what the fuel consumption is meant to be on these 1.4 liter petrol engines.

But today I filled up to the neck with 40 liters after 300 miles of unsympathetic driving.



I guess the diesel models are a lot lighter on fuel.

[flashed]

Enjoy the BBQ , I will check in later , Im trying to get some shop cleaning done today .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Enjoy the BBQ , I will check in later , Im trying to get some shop cleaning done today .

Thanks John,

Here you go.


Progress at Dennis’ place with his solo build of the replica gas station continues.

Sides gong up.

Floors going down.



Gutters being added.



Had a BBQ for Joy today as a little celebration for her dad who died a year ago, with some of her best friends, and mine over.



Food....

[flashed]

Food looks great ,what kind of peppers were those in the pan ?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Food looks great ,what kind of peppers were those in the pan ?

Morning John

Peppers are a sweet red pepper, the bbq brings out the sweetness even more.



Well, Bootfairs were a winner yesterday.

Left home and in the fields by 6.30 for first one, of course while you are at one Bootfair, the buying does not stop at the other...... so think of all the missed rubbish you could buy.

First blood was this little number for @CraigRK for his daughter. All of £1.00



Next up another item not for myself, but at 50p for friend Bryan @MrTiki who owns the little Imp, it was a no brainier.
Same seller had a Ladybird Book for 50p on how to survive a Zombie attack.

The reason I bought the book for Bryan was because he and son Harrison built, rather than bought a Millenium falcon a few years ago, now to me that is quality family time and top parenting.





Item no 3 was again not for me, but for Joys daughter, who runs a an acting and dance school, she needs to move large props, stage floors etc, and recently her sack barrow went missing.
Photo was for her to choose one, the rusty, better one for £5.00 was chosen.

At the same table I got 4 spanner’s and an unused rasp for £1.00

Seller took pic to WhatsApp to Dayzee.



Then another £1.00 spent on a complete and hardly used Impact driver, I used one a lot on dismantling my Chevy truck.
This will replace the one I have as its well used.



Time for a WTF?

Last year the same seller appeared once at a Bootfair and I bought a load from her.

Yesterday she was back, selling the usual tat, but also having a car full of very pretty tights.
I texted a friend in South Africa who works as a senior PA in banking and always dresses immaculately for workto see if she wanted more again. Dùlce was straight back on the phone calling me on WhatsApp video to select 20 different pairs of tights for £14.00 which compares rather favourably with the typical £5.00 per pair for this sort of thing in shops.

Also, in South Africa she has no access to this much selection and variety plus top quality.
@CraigRK will ask his wife to deliver the next time she or he heads back there, so worth the effort.



Randomly bought soft toys to put away for winter, for Joys dog Wyzz, he likes his soft toys and therapeutic destruction of them means the house is spared. Mostly 50p per toy, some 20p.

Thenhat, with original box, in the background bought for resale, cost £3.00whichmclearly is a lot less than retail.





Next pile, CD’s for various applications around 20p each, new Johnny Cash triple pack for road trip. Two for Joy.

Books discussed already and cup 30p for Joy, cup,and saucer £1.00

Gloves are full Retro ladies driving gloves.........unused, new for sale too. Love them.

Key ring bear thing for a friend 50p





Last pile.

Tools, spanner’s and rasp £1.00/5 items
Tin snips 50p
Vintage scribe 50p
Key safe £1.00
Gloves for Joys daughter £1.00/pair.
Industrial cling film £1.00 per roll for me and Craig.

Clay statue £2.00 for me






Socket organisers £1.00 for both.




Not totalled up what the day cost me, but pretty certain I had a decent day.

[clemdaddy]

Looks to me to be a great day. Good scores...
We are so looking forward to September and we hope you can hang out a bit with us. Tell your buddy that we have tons of 50s truck parts for him to go through, all with well earned patina.

[Palf70Step]

Nice haul Rian. The Millennium Falcon book is very cool for us nerds.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Looks to me to be a great day. Good scores...
We are so looking forward to September and we hope you can hang out a bit with us. Tell your buddy that we have tons of 50s truck parts for him to go through, all with well earned patina.

Hello Clem,

Thank you for the reply.

I am hoping we can come get under your and Kim’s feet while we’re there.

Three men and a cooler full of beer in a rental....

Craig would surely love to see what you have.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice haul Rian. The Millennium Falcon book is very cool for us nerds.

Indeed Bill, even for me it was good.

Let’s hope the weather holds out as we have a long weekend here with Monday a public holiday, so two potential Bootfairs again before I leave.

[Grizz1963]

OK then......


You asked for it.


So, what do you do after an absolutely awesome American road trip in 2017 where I managed to break a Dodge Hemi Challenger before his 60th surprise birthday party?

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...d-small-update

Which had followed the first trip to meet Dennis and a first trip using his Dodge in 2016

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...2016-best-trip

Which had of course come about as a result of my first road trip to America when mate Martin and I had flown into Texas and got to get in at Gas Monkey garage and a load of other amazing peoples garages.

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...chevy-roadtrip


Well, if you strike it lucky and get a small performance bonus from your boss that will cover the plane ticket and airport parking, and you are able to arrange for an American Masters student in infectious diseases, (From Republic, Missouri, just up the road from Dennis) writing up his dissertation on Malaria to come live in your house and look after the cats etc for a month.........

As Steve the lodger from the last 20 weeks leaves........




You spend the cash and go on another road trip of course.


If you are really really lucky, you take along a friend from here @CraigRK (whose father I used to buy spares from 26 years ago) and then get Dennis in St Louis to hand over control of his shop for a week, to join you as well.........

By now most people know Dennis my very good friend in St Louis, Missouri so no introductions needed.

Craig’s interest is very wide, as is his experience in cars, having grown up on the shop floor of his parents’ VW garage.
His current cars all resemble each other, threads below.

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...an-inspiration

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...p-electrifying

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...suburban-again


First leg on Saturday 1st September will be a long stretch from Missouri to New Orleans, including Tennessee, Louisiana.
After that there is Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and many more including Iowa, Illinois etc.

This year will be a high mileage trip again.

I hope we get to meet other members from various forums along the way.




A cooler full of beer on the back seat, Johnny Cash in the head unit and three reprobates in a big ass rental car, what could possibly go wrong?

Hold my beer and watch this.