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

[Grizz1963]

Out for a nice long drive and then home via Morrissons for gas and some food.

It’s really a pleasure now, only filling up gas and checking vitals, driving the rest of the time.

Every time I park it in a regular carpark I realise its large.





And home via a spot above Rochester and the Medway river.



The last part of the drive is dual carriageway and it keeps surprising me in how easily it approaches license threatening non-Warp speed.

Makes me smile.

Then of course reverse down the side of the house.

Done in one action.

Andy cast another gas pedal as he was not happy with the previous one.

Looks just fine to me.

[Grizz1963]

On my drive tonight.



Under the bonnet/hood.

Check out the paint.



Garage find after 12 years locked away.



Far from perfect, but certainly responded to all the attention it gets.




Looking for a very good tailgate, and an original, working Radio if anyone has a lead please.

[Grizz1963]

.


FFS !!!


I am getting old.

Had to use my Poundland reading glasses yesterday on the Blazer as I found it all a bit blurry.





The radio in the Blazer has been non functioning for some time, since it stopped working, and then when I investigated it, it became apparent that there was a mass of spaghetti behind and under the dash.

Included were household box junctions, crimped junctions, ducktape, twisted connections and to rop it all off.........

Yup, even some twin core flex, one assumes from a long discarded IKEA bedside lamp.

So yesterday afternoon after work, I decided to see if I could get me David Allen Coe ( Too rude to post on a family forum, but all over YouTube) CD out the machine and get it working.

Fixed the hooter button too, which for some reason had stopped working since last weekend when I used it on Sally.

Anyway, found a place for all the loose wires, reconnected them and the rest a bit more securely, and recovered my CD.

Now we can have music when not listening to the V8 burbling away.





Bank Holiday weekend and it certainly will be picking up more miles.


One more day to go work next week, then break and off to the USA

[Grizz1963]

2019 USA Road trip.....

Going to be interesting.

Who knows.......?

Been awake since 03.30

Spoke to Dennis and Craig earlier on.

Seems there are four guys on the trip now.

Our new driver.......



Loves Horsepower

Then



Now




More about how this is unfolding later.

[Grizz1963]

Just been down to the Thames river walking the dog.


Found this manifold in the water.


Question is “what is it from?”

[Grizz1963]

Big boot fair today, only one but good stuff.

Bought a tall wooden cat for my garden for £2.00



Sally clocked a Mexican blanket over a cars bonnet, I know the lady sells weird, random stuff but always stiff, hardly negotiable prices.
So took a pic, texted @CraigRK to counter offer whatever she wanted via WhatsApp, and showed her the offer.....

She wanted £5.00 which he was happy with, but he texted back £3.00 or £4.00.

She took £4.00 when I nagged, I know she was not overly impressed, but Craig got a cheap blanket for Ouma LiL http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...osedan-company



Between us Sally and I bought quite a few bits.

One of two of my favourite things was this riding crop, clearly old.

Note the woodwork, it’s a spiral, cut from one piece. @50p it was a bit cheap, and clearly has age.

Same seller sold me a beautiful military swagger stick for £1.00 covered in very fine leather I wish I knew someone who would love it as much as me.



Not at all everything we got, but some of it.

New IOM TT Races T-Shirt £1.00
Two Jack Daniels T-shirts new 50p each.
Mexican blanket £4.00
3 rolls of wide masking tape 50p for them all.
Riding Crop 50p
Swagger stick £1.00
Racing duck 20p
London scarf £1.00
Strawberry Glass bowls and holder 50p
4 Guineas coasters 50p
Dog toy dragon 50p




And as a “special treat” because I am heading to the USA next week, took Sally to Maccy D’s for breakfast.

Both of us on CCTV screen.




Then back home.

Next job, unpack and clean company car.
Remove personal stuff from Blazer. Potential buyer Tuesday.
Wash and hoover Prozac the Berlingo, MOT due 20 October so nice to have it clean for then.


Best part of the weekend......?


Public Holiday Monday.

[Palf70Step]

Kewl!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Kewl!!

Thank you mate.

I love it.




Just got a pic from Andy in Oklahoma

He did a first casting for a personalised Bigfoot Gas Pedal.

Due to being thin, long and metal setting too fast, it did not completely fill the mould.

However........

All is not lost in my world.

Being perfect imperfect it would be just right for a patina build.



No need to add damage or fake wear to it.

I love it.

[Palf70Step]

I like it.

[Grizz1963]

Sorry, Bit back to front.

https://youtu.be/ti_Y_xfEjBA

After casting the mould.
_____________

[Palf70Step]

That semi-cab-over is a kool looking truck. Should be a real nice project.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That semi-cab-over is a kool looking truck. Should be a real nice project.

He does not even know what he will be doing with it.

Just that the $60.00 price tag was irresistible and even if just yard art,mot another place for the boys to play, he will be winning.



And in other news.


Yup, it may be news for some of you.

@CraigRK and I are off on the 2019 USA 🇺🇸Road Trip.

THREAD HERE: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...ennis-reloaded


Will update as we go along as usual.

Plans include Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and a few more.

We will go wherever interesting takes us.

[Palf70Step]

Looks good. I liked the fangled toe one too!

[flashed]

Love the Foots , You find the best stuff at Boot Fairs , cant believe the Blazer has not sold yet either . Been crazy busy over here with work and all .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looks good. I liked the fangled toe one too!

That one really appeals to me.

Especially if one did a patina build.

Originally Posted by flashed

Love the Foots , You find the best stuff at Boot Fairs , cant believe the Blazer has not sold yet either . Been crazy busy over here with work and all .

Thank you John

My eyes are always open.



For those interested in Mate Dirks Thames Trader cab he found.

Collection on Saturday morning at sparrows fart and then homeward







Unloading made easy if your friend says just put in some Diesel.












Dirk had hardly unloaded and the boys were straight in.

Even if nothing gets done, its a place to expand the imagination



And maybe less rust but certainly a Love it or Hate it car at a dealers.

[Grizz1963]

Right.........


Associated Charity time.


On our 2019 Road Trip Dennis, Craig and I will be visiting Clem and Kim Johnson in Fayetteville Arkansas again this year.

Trip reporting thread will be here:

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...ennis-reloaded

Unfortunately we are traveling too early by a month this year.

I have mode two of these amazing charity events in the past.


HOWEVER.....


I would still like to appeal to anyone who has the financial ability or inclination, to support Clem’s attempt to support for the Toys for Tots campaign in Fayetteville where he has yearly shindig with food, trucks and music at the Tuba Trucks workshop www.tubatrucks.com
Clem arranges and Sponsors a large part of it himself.

Toy Drive is described by Wikipedia as:

Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks.

More info here.

https://www.toysfortots.org/

So if you feel compelled to contribute a toy or support to the drive please contact Clem via Tuba Trucks website and email or call to establish how you can help.

Poster lifted from FB.




I do hope that those who can attend and bring a toy in October will do so and get to meet some amazing people in the deal.

[Grizz1963]

Bootfair follow up.


Cat found a spot.



I love the detail of the leather bound swagger stick.





And the riding crop.

50p for this work.........

How is it done?






@CraigRK and I took some time today to fine tune the road trip as well.

It has taken on a whole new life and personality with 4 of us in a truck for the first half.



New logo.

Of course it can be improved a lot.



And this years transport.

Can you say Dually?

[Grizz1963]

Small field today.

My first purchase was £10.00 though, in retrospect, do I need it all?

Three hammers and 4 dollys.



Split pins £1.50
4 metal plaques £1.00
Coke tin 50p
Mouse/Fairy doors 50p each
Books 20p each
Socks 20p
2.3kg curry sauce paste £1.00 each
Desigual top £2.00 for a friend.

[Grizz1963]

Sally took me to meet Uncle Bob yesterday.

She had previously taken photos and sent them to me.....

This time I got to go see for myself.

Snowy the rescue *****.



Owl sh!t meet car in barn.



One of soooo many tractors



Yes, it is for sale.

Pity it is 2200mm wide over the mudguards.... never fit down my drive.



First find........

Uncle Bob offered it to me for Dennis.



And offered me this Land-rover

But what to do with it??





Fag break.



Offer number two for Dennis’ gas station



And a Dunlop puncture repair kit dispenser.



Rover 3500 S

He has three, this is manual, the two Autos are for sale.



More once the Photophukit sorts itself out.

[Grizz1963]

Prize winner.



What does £20.00 or $25.00 buy you at a steam and traction show?

One large tap



I felt pretty privileged being offered shed and barn afyer barn just look around, dig around and smell the dust and oil.

Such a perfect counter balance to my day job in the hospitals.



After two hours we sat down and Bob was asking me about America, American cars and tractors

Of course told him about Andy in Oklahoma.




Once we got home I gave Dennis’ prezzies from Uncle Bob a preliminary clean.

Inside was mucky as a mucky thing.



Dunlop dispenser is covered in grey primer.

Dennis will know what to do next.



All done.




What a great afternoon I had.

[Grizz1963]

Bit behind here.

Monday was of course hot, sunny and a public holiday.

Sally had to work, so after bootfair, I took the Blazer and went shopping and driving it around with a friend.



Looking right at home.



When I got home, I had a coffee, then decided to go up to the farm to see if there were any good photos to be taken.





My favourite



Then created a chicane outside my house for all the speeding idiots while opening the side gate.




Of course the farm is super dry, so the Blazer needed a wash.

I do like it clean.




And of course, in case the potential buyer, who messaged me on the 4th of August, that’s 24 days ago about buying it, did actually show.


Selling the Blazer has become a real BALL ACHE with so many d!ckheads and random time wasters.


Anyway, it needed to be clean.


Done.

[Grizz1963]

Harley.



Craigs daughter.




It’s happening.

[Grizz1963]

Well.

This Blazer sales negotiation started on 4th August with a hit via FB Messenger from Matthew.
“Hi Bud, is your Blazer still for sale?”
“I need it for a movie.”

He used to own a 4x4 Blazer before.

This one seen at Wheels Day this year.





So yesterday at 11.57 I went out to start the Blazer and move it out onto the middle of my drive because he was coming to look at it having said on the phone he was going to buy it.

Tucked into the tight alley .



FFS !!!!

Blipping the throttle to push a bit of fuel into the carburettor for starting it, the gas pedal just dropped flat.



BUGGGERRR....!!!

Why would they fit a plastic Ferrule to a throttle cable??

Anyway, more importantly, WTF do I do now? Viewing booked for three minutes hence which is not a problem because I expect him to be ten or fifteen minutes late anyway based on the last three weeks worth


Bodgetastic !!

Old door lock and hacksaw to the rescue.

.

“New part” made up.

Got back to the Blazer from the garage and viewer was there. Ooopps.
Explained what happened and proceeded to disappear under the dash for 3 minutes.

Fitted and ducktape added for extra security.




His dad had come along to look as well.

So started the Blazer up, he hopped in and we drove a mile down the road by which time he said, its all good let’s go back and do the paperwork.

Parked up

Inside.

Cash transfered.

V5c completed.

Posted out.




So the Blazer has gone to its new life in the movies.

Look out for it coming back looking a bit like this.







Buyer has agreed to send me some photos of it once its done up and the movie breaks cover.


No idea what may be next.


Watch this space.

[Grizz1963]

Now another 3 hour connection.
Then baggage collection
Then evening traffic for an hour to Dennis.

An beeeeer !!

[Grizz1963]

Just headed out for breakfast now then on the road.



My life is complete.