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

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Very nice Rian. I have trouble just making firewood as a wood working project, let alone nice stuff like this..

Gives me a thrill.

Was out for most of the day, home by 2.30pm

Flipped the table over and gave it two coats.



Then another good thick coat on top and dragged it onto the deck.





Also tested the tailgate that will be cackrest to the bench I plan to build.




Next job will be to build the framework for the bench.

And then get it completed.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday was the Kent American car Breakfast Meeting so Sally joined me and we went to Sevenoaks but had to use the Berlingo as the Blazer was parked down at the bottom of the garden, with all the decking boards and furniture blocking it in.

While we were there I was having conversations with @Disasterbus and mate Martin on Messenger.

Disasterbus was a car conversation, nothing unusual there.

Martin, conversely was trying to spend some of the money in my wallet.

He sent a message about an engine hoist for sale.

And it is one of those things I do not own, but have access to, Martin’s is 15 miles away, in the back of a garage behind his house, with bikes, a truck and various other bits blocking it, and @CraigRK has his stored 80 miles from here, so neither ideal.

I will need one to lift the engine and trans back into the frame of the C10 as well as lifting the cab on and off when the time comes to remove it, paint, cut, weld and paint it.

At £70.00 and an hour long back road “road trip” as Sally said, coming back via the Isle of Sheppey and a couple of shops, finally getting an overpriced take away shop coffee that tasted great 😉 it was a fair deal imho.


Also saw these guys on the way back.




And the hoist, used for one job by its owners whe was building a boat, and needed to manage the motor into the hull at some point.

Looks like new.



I also managed to build a large BBQ table to go on the new deck

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...building-table

So a great weekend all in all.

Just waiting for summer now.

[Palf70Step]

Nice "Cherry picker" as we refer to them. Looks like great deal Rian.

[Grizz1963]

Pavement find on South Circular on way to work this morning.

Little Tykes Coupé car.

Google or check Amazon for price.

Perfect for Sally’s one year old grandson.

Her sons are 19 and 26 and had days of fun in one too as kids.


Did I mention Free is good.




I do Like her pragmatic view on stuff like this.

[Grizz1963]

A quote from a Garage Journal member.

Easier to copy and paste.

Originally Posted by Bob Heine

Rian, is that one of those new "Self Driving" carts I've been hearing about?

The table is a great addition to the new deck and looks right at home. I do need one of those engine cranes but it would end up being stored outside. I have filled my 5-pound sack with 10 kilos of you know what.

The toy is a great score. Our daughter-in-law was a little disgusted when Liane gifted our grandchildren with thrift-store finds 20+ years ago. Learned recently that in her new grandmother role, things have changed. She was thrilled to find a high-end car seat for a fraction of retail and couldn't wait to tell us. Liane smiled and said nothing!

Morning Bob,

Those Self Driving carts are very goood at dividing communities.

Table is great, had a friend around to collect my sledge hammer yesterday morning early as she has concrete to break (does not need me) and we had a coffee and chat at the table, it feels really good.

I actually increased the leg height by 30mm as 99% of visitors will be full sized adults, and the patio table it replaced was always a touch low.

Regarding the toy score, I think partly it’s a mindset, and so many people fall foul to advertising, opinions and nonsensical false pride.

How often do kids prefer the box an item comes in, wonder why.....?

Anyway, this girl knows the value of her pounds that she works incredibly hard for, so anyone giving her or her son free £50.00 toy, is putting £50.00 back into the kitty.

I could just imagine what went on inside Liane’s head (well, as a man we never really know, do we?)


Sally has also opted to take the small two seater bench that was on the deck the last three years for her garden. I had inherited it from Mickey next door, and the new one I will be building will be bigger and more robust.

Painted it for her on Monday evening after work.




She was very pleased.

Now to find time to build a bench.

It’s WHEELS DAY on Friday so my time is allocated.

[68Timber]

You have an eye for the aesthetic. Am I the only one that's following your adventures and watching the blood mark move to the end of your thumbnail? Sorry, my mind doesn't always track straight. Nice work on the Blazer, deck, and nice catch.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

You have an eye for the aesthetic. Am I the only one that's following your adventures and watching the blood mark move to the end of your thumbnail? Sorry, my mind doesn't always track straight. Nice work on the Blazer, deck, and nice catch.

Morning John

Thank you very much for your reply


You certainly are not the only one watching the blood blister, added in November, move along.

Its like a watermark on photos

The deck, table etc are all just ways to keep busy and also save cash.

It releases cash for other incidental stuff

Like:


Off to Wheels Day tomorrow.

Picking up a windsurfer to go on the Blazers roof if I can find a decent set of fitted roofracks somewhere



As per what one should do, I checked over the tyres etc. last night and found the rear tyres both with some side wall cracking.
Tread depth is almost like new but I suspect they have been there 10 years or more.



So early in to spend £86.00 on two Chinese Ditchfinders for the rear.

Again, I have to say, This car has cost peanuts to run the last three years.

What a pleasure.

And these guys in Strood are both helpful and friendly and matched any prices I brought.

Win Win.

[Grizz1963]

Quickly after work.

Varnish.



Halfway



Done. Happy.

[Grizz1963]

Wheels Day 2019

Used the Berlingo as the Blazer was stuck behind piles of wood down the driveway, and I was not going to move it all about.
Also neededto use the Berlingo to collect a windsurfer board to use as added decoration for the Blazer.

What a great day out.

Met up with Craig.

Saw loads of stuff. Took over 150 photos but won’t be posting them all up, takes forever

One of @CraigRK dogs watching him leave from the camp site to go to Wheels day.




Board just fitted in, 100mm so spare.



Of course there was Swapmeet and traders stands....

First stop.

Craig bought me a non functioning (the light works) Makita Impact driver for £3.00 so if a bit of fettling gets it going, bargain.

If not, the high power battery is good, so still a great buy.

Two scale faces, one to be used for the next dummy Visible gas pump build. At 50p each, a bargain.



Two license plates, free from a trader, smaller one for my collection as it’s an illegal plate, and the larger one headed to Russia as soon as I manage to find a modern motorcycle plate to add to it for Vladimir to put up in his garage. He sent me a modern Russian plate for my collection.

Spirit level and square from Craig’s collection to add to my tools.




Russia bound



Very smelly Meerschaum pipe was £7.00 including case, a good price.

Imp badge, given free by a trader and is for Mr Tiki to add to his badgeless Imp.



Sally got a Hoody that pleased her no end.



Prozac’s main job for the day, retrieve the board for the Blazer.



Looks like it is bit (lot) too big.

[68Timber]

Did you change your camera settings? Maybe it's on my end. Just the last few posts, the pics have become pretty big.

I like the surf board idea, I know someone thinking of adding one to the top of his (faux) Meyers Manx. Do you have a rack in mind yet? You seem to have the wood working skills to make one if you don't. Whatever you use will be bolted to the fiberglass top, something that can be patched later if you remove it. It's only four bolt holes right?

Just a thought.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Did you change your camera settings? Maybe it's on my end. Just the last few posts, the pics have become pretty big.

I like the surf board idea, I know someone thinking of adding one to the top of his (faux) Meyers Manx. Do you have a rack in mind yet? You seem to have the wood working skills to make one if you don't. Whatever you use will be bolted to the fiberglass top, something that can be patched later if you remove it. It's only four bolt holes right?

Just a thought.

Thank you for the reply.

I only use my iPhone for photos, editing (I have to edit, every photo I take, even just the slightest touch, or Photophukit reads it as a movie or something, no idea why, never had the problem with the old phone)

So not changed settings, not changed anything from my side on Photobucket.

And as a company they are useless too, not having a clue.


As for the surfboard, windsurfer, ideally I want some nice roof racks to bolt onto the glassfibre permanently, and not the metal roof.

So the holes do not bother me at all.

It seems it will happen.

[Grizz1963]

I know many of you in various parts of the world enjoy the Bootfair s when they are on during summer.



Easter Weekend.

Sunday morning I woke, like a druggie needing a fix.

Actually posted on a local FB group to ask if any Bootfair s were on locally (less than 15 miles away)

Then straight into the Berlingo.......... in case of a large item.

Loads of stuff found and bought.

Two of these for £1.00 each



5 of these for £5.00

12.5 mm HSS bits.

Same guy sold me the Duck Oil, sanding discs and some gloves.




Total haul, included items for @CraigRK and Sally.

Excluding their items I spent £22.70

Including items for friends £27.70

90 Velcro Hookit 60 grit discs were £10.00
Kiddie rocker £4.00
Duck Oil £2.00
Coffee mugs 10p each
Tights £1.00/pair
Large scarf £2.00
3 soft toys £1.00 for dog
One soft toy 50p
24 inch stainless steel ruler 50p
S letter Free
Gloves 50p per pair
Damp course for Craig £1.00
10 plastic hangers (I only use that type, not for sale anymore) £1.00
Turkish bowl 50p
Glass ball 50p
Lei for Blazer 50p

A good day out, then headed home for a coffee and toast with Sally, followed by more yard and woodwork.









After the Bootfair Sally popped in for tea and toast before going back to work, today, Easter Monday is her last day at her current job of the last 7 years, next week she starts working as a nurse at a local (13 miles away) Hospital

Once she left, I carried on getting the wood ready from the old deck, that we are going to use for her garden, which is a sanctuary to her. She needs various beds out back and in front, edged. This treated timber will be perfect for that.


Prozac loaded.



Stas in Siberia commented with a photo (we have WhatsApp chats daily, sharing various things) that the Berlingo looked like a Russian Cowboy builders GAZ van, seems it translates well.



Drove over to her place, load staying where it should.

Offloading and adding some to her she’d as requested.

The rest will be done once the paving has been pressure cleaned.





She had asked for a board around the bottom edge of her shed as it is raised on a concrete pad.



Then headed home to get started on the Chevy tailgate bench build for the deck.

Thread and build here http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...building-table

Last good day of the week forecast.

Got to make it count.

Later.

[Grizz1963]

So the BBQ/Feelgood patio or deck build continued yesterday after getting Sally’s wood sorted and delivered.

As you may recall, @CraigRK and I managed to get an 80’s Chevy tailgate at the NSRA Swapmeet

Next trick is to build it into a bench that’s been in my head simpnce last year when we were doing the USA Road trip, and went shopping with Clem Johnson and Dennis in Arkansas followed by melting metal in Oklahoma at Andy Martin’s place.

ROAD TRIP LINK http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...2018-humdinger

The pieces were already collected for it then.

So very basic lay out planned.



Then the job to remove all the closing and hinging hardware as I need to recess the tailgate into the frame of the bench backrest.



The next part of the job took a lot longer than planned as the large fitting screws were all rusted solid, so various forms of force and manipulation were employed to get the rods disconnected and out.

At that point I called it an early day as my guest was soon to be headed over.

Some of the inner clips to the ally trim were missing and rusted away, so even reassembly was interesting.



Packed up and closed shop.

Hope to have it built and in use by sunset today.

If not.......

[Grizz1963]

All in all, I failed......

Had hoped to complete the bench by end of Monday.

But it was the right thing, to pack up early by 3pm.

Started by drawing a basic plan, not something I usually do, mostly I just cut and make it up as I go building stuff.



I tend to lay stuff out as I go, in order to edit if needed.



By 2pm this was where I had got.



And by 3pm all the parts were just laid out, balanced and visually illustrated.



And looking like it was complete, at this point I packed it all away for another day, to do assembly.

And cut the grass,



And then a pic of Dennis’ truck, 1987 model, which is what the tailgate came from.



Shortly after a good friend, and famed memeber of various forums, Glen Anderson arrived with his 1959 Land Rover.



After he left, I started a fire to do a BBQ for Sally who had her last shift after 7 years at her job, she starts working as a nurse in a local hospital next week, so will be unemployed for the first time in her life for a week.

[Palf70Step]

Nice work Rian. Land Rover looks good too!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice work Rian. Land Rover looks good too!

Thank you Bill..



One of Easter Monday’s jobs was to name the Blazer.

I had wanted to wait for the temperatures to go up as sticker vinyl does not like the cold.

The first job was to establish where to place the stickers.

Eventually I thought subtle, hidden in the side Stripes was ideal.

Also added a self portrait to the rear tailgate



On the other side, a bit of luck. And some finesse...... fitting it over the fuel filler door

Of course the secret is now out too...





Happy with the result.

[Grizz1963]

21.30 last night.

Doorbell rings.

Either someone has parked a car on it’s roof in a ditch, or Mickey next door is pissed and locked himself out.

Neither, well, it was Mickey, parcel from Russia being hand delivered.

From Vladimir who had messaged recently to say a friend of his crashed a car, would I like the front one for my collection.....?

Of course I would.

I Offered to pay postage or shipping, but he declined and said an English plate for his garage would be nice.


So I opened the very manly parcel......




Plate, some mittens, and......



And best of all, a bit of an honour.

One of Vladimir’s cube in a cubes that he makes on his lathe.

It’s incredibly tactile, and I sat playing with it the rest of the evening.



I am pleased to have found and been given two plates for Vladimir that are 40 years apart in issue.

A 1966 “D” plate, and a 2006 “56” plate.(Thanks to Zeberdee for the 56 plate from his GasGas trials bike.



Got today and tomorrow off work, but loads of yard work.

Weather forecast sucks.

[Grizz1963]

OK.....


So, Whodunnit???


Thank you anyway.


Much appreciated





Scanned. Approved

[Grizz1963]

Funny how things change.

Prozac is not Digger or skid steer bucket, but certainly is not shy of any jobs.

So today Sally and I decided to change and restart the small bed next to the newly rebuilt deck, after clearing the side beds and cutting the rotten tips, and other off cuts for the neighbors from the old decking materials.

So we decided to use Prozac along with a heavy duty cargo strap, to pull out the conifers one by one.

Two of the six were trying to put up a fight, one made Prozac’s wheels squeal, followed promptly by Sally squealing even louder.



In the end the whole bed was cleared, excluding the little windbreak hedge.

I will find some more new and different plants at the next Bootfair I find.



While at it, I also cleaned and serviced the water feature, another two part skip find from years ago.



All back together, just awaiting new plants.

Mickey hanging over the hedge was impressed too.



Tomorrow ai need to assemble the tailgate bench as well.

If no Bootfairs are on.

[Grizz1963]

Mate Fil from Cambridge found it and a DHL sprinter van toy at a Bootfair, he is building an ex DHL Sprinter based campervan.
And could not resist. I know the feeling.



Today one Bootfair did not happen, and the second one was half size, due to cold, chilly, spotty and breezy weather.

But I went anyway, and fond the second one still delivered.

Spent about £11.50 if my calculations are correct


Liked these.

After a clean up they looked like this.

Read the fine print.



Back home, the weather continued to be cold, with spotty rain, and I decided not to work on the tailgate bench today.

Coffee, biccies and some rarely watched television as Sally is at home doing a load of online study for the new job she starts tomorrow

My four day break flew by, but was good.

[Palf70Step]

Some neat bootfair finds.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Some neat bootfair finds.

Totally love them.

Cheap is fun. Keeps cash in my pocket.



Midweek madness

Why not cook dinner on a fire.

Surely a flat chicken on a fire trumps one from an oven.

Similar trimmings.

And baked bananas with chocolate buttons for desert



Big knife. Split the spine.

Flatten.



Olive oil.

Rub both sides in Cajun spices, mixed spice, herbs and in my case....

Place on a plate, cover in cling film, zap in microwave for 10 minutes then another 5 minutes to ensure its cooked near the bone.



While preparing the chicken and vegetables indoors, the decent sized fire looked after itself. Followed by briquettes laid on the coals once it settled down.



A very happy me.



Results should be slow to show up.



Two bloody supervisors



Plated.

Sweet BBQ onions followed shortly.



Desert. Sprinkled cinnamon sugar over the top to add to badness.

No squirty cream tonight.




* Disclaimer: We only had a quarter chicken each the rest is tomorrow nights dinner.


Midweek madness used to be a tradition here.

Looks like its back.

[Palf70Step]

Chicken looks good!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Chicken looks good!

It was all good Bill.


Berlingo or Noberlngo.....


Long weekend in England.p

Saturday weather had me packup no less than 4 times

Plan was to complete the bench.






After all that, this was what I had.





Bootfair today.

For mate @CraigRK





Plants, nice and affordable.



All our purchases

The poor quality wobbly children's play pony was £8.00 but retails at £50.00 +



My best was probably hinges, 50p per pair.



Then home.

[Grizz1963]

One of the things I thought of doing was to create a “license plate” to hang below the front beam of the seat.

Something like GRIZZ’S BENCH but in my case, too many of my license plate collection would have to die.

So just a nice idea.



So after breakfast etc, I carried on with the bench.

Sally had stuff to do, dog to walk and other home jobs, so went off for a while returning later to supervise ad help.



Harley always has to be there to help.



Armrests made wider, and screws clocked for those who need to see that.





Also added a strip of wood to the front of the seat.



And as @CraigRK said to Sally, I have been trying to kill myself for 56 years, one day I will succeed.



Final result for the day.



And of course, Branded.




More to come.