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

[bj383ss]

What cool goodies you got.

Bret

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Not sure what painting you moved mate, but the hubcap works perfectly...

Agreed.

Originally Posted by bj383ss

What cool goodies you got.

Bret

Definitely.

It's all about karma and paying it forward.




Funny how these trips keep giving long after the fact.

Adam who owns the Hellcat, and is Denniss' son made the following comment on my FB feed this week.

Just made me smile as I guess it kind of forces my hand......




And yesterday Dennis sent me these pics of a newspaper his mum had kept all these years..... 20 years that is.

You need to read the article, to see that sometimes very little changes.





Seems they ended that year in 7 or 8th spot nationally in the US.





And nothing has changed.

Awesome to see two men as best friends.

Father and son.





Got home yesterday and found the postman had left a parcel.

From Australia.

I knew exactly who it was from as he had sent me a PM last week.

Lyndon...!You champion....!!

Thank you.






The parcel included a covering letter, to explain the origins and meaning of the license plates.

I really like to understand and know origins of plates when it is available.



These are very cool plates as Australian plates are not that common or easy to get.

[Ta2Don]

McD usually underwhelming... Thanks for the preview Mate!

[Grizz1963]

Tuesday morning 7.30 and Mickey and I ran down to the council tip 10 miles from home.

The ton bag was just too heavy to handle alone and get up the four steel steps to get it into the massive dumpsters.

So we unloaded, a 3 minute job and then headed back home as I had a lecture to do at Kings College Hospital for 75 attendees.

Typically, the M2 was screwed and so were some detours too.



Made it to my lecture with 15 minutes to spare.

Saw this on Facebook this week.

Memory flashback.

One of the troop trains we used to travel on when I was in the military, I spent 4 days on one in 1981 travelling to Namibia.



Had a rough work week this week and Thursday evening I needed to find some head space.

Walked up to the farm.

Saw the beauty around me, and took these four photos, stood in one spot, turning through 360 degrees, one in each wind direction.

Looking over the Thames river toward Essex.



Looking back toward home, over to the Medway river and Isle of Grain on the left.



Eastward.



And of course the result. Had also spoken to Charlie the farmer for a while.



On Friday I was back in London for the day.

Met a gentleman who works for UPS Couriers in St Thomas Hospital in the lifts.

Now most of us like them as they usually deliver parts for our projects.

He was very proud of his job, and the rest of his attire was honestly immaculate

Asked if I could photograph his shoes, he agreed.

This certainly was the highlight of my week.

Someone loving their job.



This time of year, despite getting colder gives awesome sunrises and sunsets.

This morning I was greeted by this sunrise.




Headed out for a 60th birthday party..... second one for the year. Remember Dennis?

[Grizz1963]

Thought I would just add some random pics.

NASCAR Truck racing stuff......

What keeps Dennis busy at crazy hours of the day and night.

Build them, break them, repeat.

So this is what comes home from the various tracks they race at. Often thrown into the walls at 150 plus mph.






When any of he 13 trucks get destroyed on track, they have to get rebuilt in the shop.

Every track has a car built to specification for that track, now you get why it's such an expensive sport.

Stripped down to a frame......




New sheet metal gets fabricated and a new carbon fibre nose added.




We had to pop in at Mittler Bros Racing to check the metal work of the truck they were rebuilding again.



Next up.... paint.





Then Dennis gets onto the fun part.

After the paint dries, he starts the wrap and stickers.






And then it is ready to be thrown up against a wall somewhere across the USA again, in the pursuit of a podium spat.




Nice to be working on these 358 cubic inch displacement V8 motors, pushing out around 750bhp.

Later.

[Grizz1963]

Karma is an awesome mistress.

Last week I got a PM via the Chevy Truck Forum from a New Zealander, who lives and works in Australia but was somewhere in Europe travelling with his partner in a camper van for the last six months.
He needed a recommendation on a non franchised garage to carry out some maintenance including new shocks all round on their camper van.

So we went to mobile Whatsapp chat mode.
I found and shared some garages but it seemed that everyone is booked quite solid.
So they decided to come to England, then fly to Iceland for a week on Friday and get the van sorted once back here.

I offered them my home as a stop over to use as a base while regrouping and doing London touristy stuff.
I think they were a bit surprised but I managed to convince them to stay ove a few days.
Of course lots of car and truck was spoken and we spent some time in my garage too. Arron's dad is a mechanic in NZ so it was a good time.

The cats both loved them and having the company and Caroline got herself a cat fix.

As always it was great, like when the McMurphy's were here, to have company in the house and being able to spend time with like minded people.

They previously did 42 states in the USA over 8 months and covered 24000 miles on that trip.

So had this on my drive for a few days while they slept in a real bed.



Arron's Chevy thats in storage in Australia at the moment.

Link to his Build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590143



It seems winter is here.

When I work in my office ( I work from home ) in winter the small oil heater keeps the chill at bay.
I had a personal wager not to turn the heating on till end October. Made it to 6 November though winter has not yet gone bitter cold.

What is funny though is that both cats often do a double decker in my office to be near the heat.



Of course this is more like what they like...... toasty

How I found Dukey, next to his latest hairball. Bleughh.



Friday today means weekend, unless I get a call out to work in London tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

Continuing the skinning of the barn.....






And looking from the front........



The next step is to cast the massive floor and then do the interior, which should go a lot quicker and show results.

The large workshop doors will be added later.

I have been enjoying the progress as Dennis shares it, going along.


Back home on Mud Island (Just imagine being in the Southern Hemishphere where the summers are kicking in now) things are going along their merry way.

I popped into Rochester last Sunday thinking the Christmas market had started at the Castle..... Wrong.




But it was on this weekend and I got some chutneys and sauces I wanted from a small batch manufacturer, so all good.

This week I also had a really good early morning sighting.

This was the front and rear of my house, photos taken less than 5 minutes apart.

From ugly skies to rain in under 5 minutes.

You have to love the weather here.


Looking at the Thames river and Essex direction out front.



Out the rear toward Dover and the Medway River.



Went to lunch with Katy and her daughter last weekend and seems they did know where to seat me.



Ohhhh..... and to get back to automotive type stuff.

I had washed and cleaned Prozac as well.

Love it when the little van is clean.

Despite its body being as rough as a Badgers butt it still looks great from 500 meters.

And makes me smile when I go out to the shops in it or use it as intended to move stuff about




So that's me kind of updated.

I am still contemplating buying either a Ford Ranger/Mazda B series truck in single cab/King cab 2x4 flavour, or if I can find an affordable Chevy S10 in 4.3 litre V6 flavour with a Fleetside body and king cab at the right money (cheap)...... woooohooo.


Later

[Grizz1963]

Interestingly,

Related only because I used to own this car before.....

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...it-fk1250-sams

My old van now is flat on the floor.

Got sent this pic by a friend.





Christmas decoration is up too.

Baaahhhh Humbug !!



Chill increasing here.

Off to London for the day.

[flashed]

I loved our chat today ,thanks for calling .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

McD usually underwhelming... Thanks for the preview Mate!

Pleasure mate

Originally Posted by flashed

I loved our chat today ,thanks for calling .

Great speaking with you as well John.



Got some pics from Dennis over the weekend.

Remember the tree pile from cutting back the brush and trees at his place??

Well, it's all gone, burned away.

He also sent me a pic of a future addition to my collection.

I love it, different and never had one like it.



Got home from work tonight.....

Envelope in the post

Opened it.

Minnesota plates and some stickers, plus a description where the plates came from.

Thanks Jeremy...... hugely appreciated.



Life is good.

[Ta2Don]

Sweet Sunrise!!! Keep Rockin' Mate!!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Sweet Sunrise!!! Keep Rockin' Mate!!!

Thanks Don !!


Some of you know I collect car/truck/bike license plates.

I have all sorts and some pretty nice stuff.

However, I have been looking for a vintage SAP license plate for many years.

These pics are pretty cool, they contain vintage cars....


However, I am looking for an old SAP number plate.

There has to be one somewhere. (I do not want a new reproduction)



















So if you have one to trade, sell, donate or whatever.....

Please send me a PM to let me know

Cheers.

[Palf70Step]

Don't you wish we could get ours re-done that quick?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Don't you wish we could get ours re-done that quick?

Indeed.



Thought I would share these two videos.

Very different, but both made me smile.

And we all need to smile.

Anyone for a bus ride?

Keep on watching. - YouTube

And of course a bit of history.

Just a big smile. - YouTube

Enjoy the weekend.

Life is good .

[Palf70Step]

OK Rian....we need your great wonderous knowledge.



http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post8073995

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

OK Rian....we need your great wonderous knowledge.



http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post8073995

Guess they got all the answers they needed Bill.



Will do a random non car related update for the stalker brigade some time.

Got a message from Nicola yesterday that a parcel had landed for me.

It would be delivered to the Crematorium where she now works by someone in a very smart stripey suit.

Not sure yet who it is from as usernames often differ to real names.

But it seems to be from Ireland.

So thank you.

I will get it in two or three weeks when she gets back from sunny Cyprus where she is headed for a winter break.




Later.

[flashed]

Friday today means I get to hand over the On Call phone to next in line after having it week. Its great you had some quality time with your guests too.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Friday today means I get to hand over the On Call phone to next in line after having it week. Its great you had some quality time with your guests too.

And so Thanksgiving came and went.

I trust you had a great weekend.

Good to speak to you for an hour yesterday John.



Not much to add.



[quote author="@speedle" source="/post/2364829/thread" timestamp="1510308063"]Paying it forward as always Rian, if there was a single person on this forum I would pick out who embodies the spirit of RR it would be you! Great stuff![/quote]


Paying it Forward is real easy.

I always assume thst I am three payments ahead in the kindness people have shown me. So all I do is balancing the books.

To be honest Mat, it feels great when you can do stuff for someone without expectation of anything in return.

Kindness, even to an animal or especially to an animal fills your Karma bucket very quickly.



In unrelated news........

I know some of you read this for general entertainment.

So not quite Berlingo relalated but still in the realm of cars and road trips.

Some of you may remember that Dennis' son Adam and his Fiancé Hanna had bought a large parcel of land next to his. Maybe 10 acres or so to build a home and workshop on.

This will house his race cars, the Hellcat etc.

When I went over in September this was the state of affairs.

The pole barn guy works alone but meticulously so progress is a lot slower than if you brought a team of Amish barn builders on site who could spend a week putting it all up.

Inbetween their day jobs and racing Sprint cars at weekends, Adam and Hanna also have been buying fixtures and fittings to go into the house looking for bargains and ways to stretch their cash.

This was the state of it when I visited.





As time has evolved and moved on, it has progressed and Adam sensibly also had a "small" tool shed added to the rear for tools and toys.











Of course at the moment it is good storage space.




They cannot wait to get in.......

So the front door is ready.

[Bomp]

Thanks for the update Rian, when I read through your post its your voice speaking. Always a nice visit on catching up on the thread.
til next time.

[flashed]

Rian ,I always love your updates but our chats are quite special ,really enjoyed it yesterday .
John

[Palf70Step]

Nice to see some more updates. Prozac is catching/addicting.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Thanks for the update Rian, when I read through your post its your voice speaking. Always a nice visit on catching up on the thread.
til next time.

Thanks Greg,

I think your thread does the same for many of us.

Originally Posted by flashed

Rian ,I always love your updates but our chats are quite special ,really enjoyed it yesterday .
John

Pleasure mate.

It's good to speak with someone who sees stuff the same way.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice to see some more updates. Prozac is catching/addicting.

Prozac certainly is Bill, even when Imthinkmof selling it, the thoughts of Why exactly? spring to my mind.

I still want a mini truck though.



Winter is here.

Walked out onto the deck this morning to put recycling out and coming back into the house slipped and fell straight on my butt, which of course hurt my back, got up and managed to fall again on the iced up deck.
Tonight I have a fire on and a hot water bottle behind my back.
Not impressed.

It also snowed in various places in the U.K. Today.

Nothing to report, except that Prozac's heater blower works a treat, that made me smile.

Two little items though.

Over the weekend I drove over to Darren's place to drop off some bandsaw blades that his dad will re weld for me.

While there, I saw a few bits I liked and also how Facebook can launch something.

He has a laser/lazer cutting table, and cuts pretty much any design you want.

Ebay item number: 162775473983

Look at Other Items to see what else he has in his design pile.

Finish is up to you, plain, powder coating etc.





All of these are one weeks orders on EBay, and he was still busy with them, as I said, all sorts of designs available.



Being the grumpy old man I am, this is the design I chose.

It will constitute 100% of my Christmas decorating.



When I left, I also saw this.......



Story number two, is more about life and Karma, and paying it forward.

This is a retired gent in South Africa, who had his vegetables in his garden stolenat night.

He realised that there were people out there who were so hungry, that they would risk stealing a cabbage vs going to jail.

So he started to turn his whole sidewalk into a Free to use and take, Community garden.

Hats off to such unselfish deeds.






More wood on the fire now.

[Palf70Step]

I was reading that somewhere else too Rian. That is a cool thing to do. With my gardening abilities I have no worry about anyone ever stealing my stuff, it would have to grow first

[The Rocknrod]

Did you get the license plate yet?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I was reading that somewhere else too Rian. That is a cool thing to do. With my gardening abilities I have no worry about anyone ever stealing my stuff, it would have to grow first

I love generosity like that Bill,

I try to live my life in a similar way.

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Did you get the license plate yet?

Not that I know of, was not expecting one......

Where was it from?

PS, Thank You of course.



Another short, but in my view, necessary update, report, call it what you may.

This Internet has put so many of us in touch with each other, furthered hobbies, friendships etc.

When I bought my Chevy C10 one of the forums I started to frequent was a dedicated truck forum, for all Chevy trucks. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/index.php

On here I along with other people around the world, but specifically in the UK got to meet Dale who was a creative, and driven petrol head and builder. Always supportive, full of advice and gentle, generous and kind in his friendship.

His last amazing build:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=655167

Dale was a Quadroplegic since 1984 after a Motor Vehicle Accident but none of that ever stopped him pursuing any of his hobbies.
As his girls said, he was the tallest man they ever knew, despite never seeing him walk.

Sadly, he died on the 10th of November and those that knew him, lost a great friend and mentor.

Today a parcel was delivered, he and his daughter were collecting very personalised pieces for myself, Ian Brown and Mate Martin who all have C10 trucks in restoration process, included were Ontario plates for 1964, '65 and '66
Thenparcel had been sent to Ian, who then redirected the contents here in the UK.
After his death, his wife and daughter fulfilled one of his wishes, to send out to us the pieces they collected, along with hand written notes from both ladies.

This is incredibly touching and humbling.

It again restores faith in mankind.

I have a new fridge magnet that will hold a significant place in my kitchen and home.








I feel honoured, along with Ian and Martin, to have known Dale.

RIP Friend.

In other news, Mate Darren has completed my Christmas tree by powder coating it red for me.

I love it.



And lastly, an opportunity to break out the eye bleach..... or not.

Mate Don in Arkansas sent me this photo yesterday.

It is so weird, and right now, Imam still,undecided. But it could work, a bit like a Transylvanian princess.



Later guys.