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

[Grizz1963]

I have wanted (because I have use one 5 or 6 times for suspension bushes etc) a hydraulic press of my own.
But due to the cost of a new one vs minimal use over time, and also not seeing a cheap enough used one to justify buying and shoving in a corner it’s not happened.
Neil had two discarded frames, one is intended for a tall floor press build. The second one I twisted his arm real hard for…….
So I have a small 4 ton bottle jack that could possibly be made to work.
If I mounted it to the top and make it push down on a bridge and actuator it would probably work.

After more time there, I left him and all the amazing dogs and headed to mate Darren who was at his workshop.
Some scavenging ensued as always, coffee, notes compared and more therapy consumed, thanks mate.

Darren built a V8 beach racing car this year for Pendine Sands.
Of course he started it up for me as it was not running the last time I saw it or him.

Just awesome.

Very short video clip.

https://youtu.be/kLzsenSSiYc?si=8SNWwgfPqQG2ckSQ

Eventually I headed home and started sanding the crooked cut on the bell housing that I got from Neil.

Using my concrete driveway and going on my knees to push and pull it back and forth.

It took some effort to get even.

Followed by grabbing some industrial thickness ally diamond checker plate. Absolutely horrible stuff.

I marked out my plans for the ally plate and fetched some more tools.


Do you know what is planned yet?


Back once I have created a short video.

[Grizz1963]

I seem to be slightly out of sync to real time.

Short video

https://youtu.be/0xXXcuwk0bQ?si=fyAk5PmwCVNvoB1w

Resulting in some flat surfaces.

[Grizz1963]

Part 2



Carrying on with the bell housing I used a grinder to flatten the inner fin bits and back edges.

Followed by a lot of shaping and beating the ally diamond plate to create a flat bottomed curve.

Then lastly I opened a new grinder after my 25 year old absolutely abused grinders trigger switch finally refused to engage.

I always have a spare, new, boxed grinder on the shelf and keep 4 grinders all set up differently in use.

Cutting out the externally marked ally while mate John watched and filmed.

Video

https://youtu.be/npXVwnMMSf0?si=rL9rzmFOq9z0Nq8H

Next job will be tidying up and getting a decent fit established.

This is a lot of effort to replace a galvanised bucket.

But we do these things.

[Grizz1963]

After cutting out the diamond plate the next job was to shape it with the flap disc.

Followed by marking and drilling the waste hole.

Then matched up, bonded together.

Video.

https://youtu.be/epKacu6M_64?si=BGuO7776lOl8tqwp

Left it alone for 24 hours to cure fully.

Then onto the next phase.

[Grizz1963]

So the next step was to create a base for this to stand on.

I had planned on something super sexy but it meant finding more old engine parts and people are strange.

So I fetched an old propane tank out back that I had found on the sidewalk a few years ago.

Some cutting, grinding, little bit of swearing and paint.


https://youtu.be/Jp2ElzTR_jU?si=IB8Pa4dlzJfC-gow

I still had not figured out the reservoir for water.

Yet.

And a pic of Dennis the older brother that I never had.

Beer time with him soon.

[Grizz1963]

Last part ( Part 5 ) of this hand wash basin build.

It is interesting how much time and resource it actually takes to complete something as simple as this.

Makes me realise why someone would charge £200 for this without batting an eyelid.

Once the basin and stand was complete the job I had not had a solution for actually did come together one evening on the way home from Sally’s house.
Along the way there is a house known as Ivy House for obvious reasons. An absolute knob lives there DAMHIK
Anyway, out on his sidewalk at his 6 foot gate, I saw an old Jerry can laying. Obviously for a scrap collector to pick up. So I turned around and fetched it.
Faded, rusted, clearly not in good health but intact, I planned on using it for the relocated fuel filler neck on my 66 C10 truck as I had a very dented and damaged one, but this was much better.

UNTIL I REALISED IT WOULD BE A GREAT WATER RESERVOIR.

So I fetched it and cleaned it, as per video attached.

https://youtu.be/uNVoEXSMIyA?si=fhkG-3OCQJaUjiVQ

I found an old brass tap in my stash and added it to the Jerry can.

Job done once I cleaned it all some more and filled it with fresh water.

Using some steel shelving on hand to support the water it makes for a perfect tool.

I guess that’s the end of this little build.

Thanks to those of you taking the time to comment on here and on YouTube.

Much appreciated.

[Braunschweiger]

A great project, you have a good hand for it.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

A great project, you have a good hand for it.

Thank you very much Harald.

I probably have a restless eye.

Always looking for something to make.


26 hours before I fly out to America for this year’s trip.

[Braunschweiger]

I hope you have a lot of fun in this wonderful country.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

I hope you have a lot of fun in this wonderful country.

and so it begins :clap

It sure did Fill.

BBQ deer steaks (many) broccoli, potatoes, onions, a couple of beers.

Long haul Flight with a functional but unfriendly team. Then 5 hours lay over in Chicago before flying into St Louis.

Met by Dennis and then straight through to Rogers place.

BBQ Deer steaks, broccoli, potatoes, onions and a beer or two with friends in Rogers workshop.

Joined by Adolphus Busch V (fifth) of the historical Busch brewing family. I do get to meet some interesting people.

Anyway, home to Dennis’ by 8.30 and a bit of chatting in Dennis’ shop and seeing new build projects and progress.

Bed by 9.30pm after 24 hours awake.

Slept 8 hours !!!!!!

That’s never happened before.

Today ?? Who knows.

[Grizz1963]

This is Dennis’ grandson Tripp.

Not yet three years old.

Racing is in this family’s blood.


https://youtu.be/D7A7rryAmWk?si=7dVcTaON1lOa9IEp




And another video, I made this of his dad starting up his race car a few years ago.

https://youtu.be/BDuAjh1JQ1s?si=cpK4R4MJImGIyyCb

[Grizz1963]

Thanks guy.

​
Right……..

UK ���� to USA ����

Day one condensed a lot.


https://youtu.be/9Fkm_INJsTo?si=lnXrzfzXsaPJ3jlh


Next one will be longer

Sorry not sorry

​

[Grizz1963]

So Day One of the trip was spent alone as Craig was still in Stockholm for work.

Some walking around and shops through the day.

Ending up in Dennis’ shop in the evening.

I tried to edit it to something sensible.

Did I succeed??

https://youtu.be/KTBlE8Fue7I?si=wB79t5EJSGyHv-8P

So this was Thursday after an incredible 8 hours sleep.


Friday next.

[Grizz1963]

So when you are out on a USA road trip and things just can’t get any better……..


And you happen to have grown up on a VW Garage floor since you were 9 months old.


You wake up to a notification like this……


@CraigRK has wanted another VW Beetle for as long as I have known him.


And then he wins one for £20.00 or $26.00


Includes free delivery from Scotland



BOOOOOOM !!!!

[Grizz1963]

Saturday last week was Dennis’ son Adams sons birthday.

Held in a park with kids and grownups it moved to Dennis and Debbie’s place.

The day was mostly spent in the garage planning, talking, moving stuff around.

Random video

https://youtu.be/s02_GzkGrTw?si=x-vtFQCvNky7IJnh

I bailed out by 9.30 as my feet were killing me and I was tired.

Sunday was going to be a good one.

[Grizz1963]

Well the USA road trip that just keeps giving.

A few days spent near Tulsa in Oklahoma with Andy @oldironfarmer on his farm, including track hoe (digger) and Bobcat fun.

Andy also loves teaching and sharing his knowledge.

@craigrk and I both love learning about new things.

So when offered an opportunity to make a broom for his wife by Andy, while I was busy shaping and crafting two of the railroad spikes we had blacksmithed early in the morning before it got really hot into knife blanks, he grabbed the opportunity.

A short video in photos and Time Lapse below.


https://youtu.be/E_SQC74tPMM?si=hRqOGFssxDaYvenb


After the broom making we went out to lunch after collecting friend Carol just soften the tone.

Another great day spent with friends.

Thanks Andy.

[Grizz1963]

Couple of shorts

A serious freight train.

https://youtu.be/NOC0atg59_o?si=hg0bNu6VhbcPlsaJ


And some Labor Day shenanigans

https://youtu.be/goUiOliwL3c?si=jYjFV8SH-4QZ9v-d



Headed out to Nashville today, using backroads.


This is a great trip.

[Grizz1963]

So……….

Craig continues to drive and enjoy driving the truck while I take a ton of photos and videos.

All still to be edited and made some sense of. But for now I’m trying to actually enjoy my trip.

This is just an interim waypoint entry.


We are in a Best Western Plus hotel in Clarksville just outside Nashville Tennessee, having set WAZE to take us on scenic backroads designed for motorcycles.

So it took us 13 hours to get here via Metropolis.

Remember who lives inn metropolis??

We saw Superman and an absolutely dead town.

Also stopped at a junk store where I spent $5.00 on 5 items.

Well the one item was three items.

Tell me I am not having a great time spending the cash.

The three cars are special.
A slammed 2WD Blazer like I used to have.
A Custom 62 Chevy C10
And a Jeep

I also found an Eagle of unknown origin or purpose

And a nice Tennessee license plate for $1.00

And top buy was a good Toy Story Woody to attach to the rear step of the truck.

Craig bought a New, unused Coca Cola Christmas decoration for $1.00

We got to meet interesting awesome people and I got a kiss on the cheek for my accent.

Today will be a full tourist day in Nashville and then head for Memphis late in the day.

[Grizz1963]

Astro got a prezzie today.

Clear indicator lenses.

I do think it will work.

.

[Grizz1963]

Out of sync car video.

https://youtu.be/JY1U6IJhjA4?si=Bt4fSMXb7HoCaYjr


.

[Grizz1963]

48 hour delivery.


I wanted a set of clear indicators for the Astro since @Rocket88 sold it to me.


Being here in the USA meant direct order and less than half the UK delivered price.


Also got some great advice on fitting them.


Congratulations. They are getting hard to find. You will discover that the holes are not tapped to accept the bolts to mount them to the headlight bezels. Had to tap mine, which is easy as it’s plastic



Super chuffed.

[Grizz1963]

Maybe not everyone is interested in Hummingbirds but they fascinate me.

The energy they burn while working every day.

Video in slow motion is still fast.

Part of the stuff I enjoy when on these trips in thr USA.

https://youtu.be/poJPpPGEy8k?si=yjSR18WPOXgCCnef




.

[Grizz1963]

And now we are up to Sunday.


The first year I visited Dennis and Debbie here in Missouri in 2016 they took me out for a day and it included ferries, three different rivers including the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers.


Lunch was at Aeries Winery up on the hill, after a $10.00 per person ski lift ride up the hill. Thanks Dennis.


Mixed video and photos.

https://youtu.be/SrRNB8KkOVE?si=D_TaIIdkwJMSFWqq



.

[Grizz1963]

Another almost “Real Time” update.

Yesterday Adam, Dave, Warren and I met up at Ethyls Smoke House restaurant for lunch after dropping son Tripp at the child minders.

Following and awesome lunch, served by the eternally hot and busy Kelly, I had BBQ wings with bleu cheese sauce, we went to Daves house to collect a Kawazaki KX 80 that was Adams as a kid, given to Dave subsequently for his grandkids and now 22 years later full circle, back with Adam and Dennis.

9/11 also Dennis’ Birthday.

He has taken a day off work and the two of us are headed out in his GMC Jimmy for a day trip to Hannibal and elsewhere.


Some random photos.

Video.

https://youtu.be/9804UZoz0B4?si=-jm9Or37fgSFvqgM



.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks guys for taking the time to reply.

Much appreciated.



Last dinner last night.



Cajun Chicken.



https://youtu.be/oYRq-hqToA8?si=HRJSxZuOlugdlSUz



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