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

[Palf70Step]

WAAAAAAY to much pink in those one set of strips.

The badges look like they came out pretty good!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

WAAAAAAY to much pink in those one set of strips.

The badges look like they came out pretty good!

Morning Bill,

There is no pink, it was just to illustrate the design, Orange, red, yellow is where we are headed.


Badges are a failure.


The quote below from the guy who sent them.

Originally Posted by mr slug

Sorry Grizz,

Maybe I should have mentioned they are painted with CARC.

This is what Wiki has to say about CARC \/

-------------------------------------------------
Chemical Agent Resistant Coating - Wikipedia

Chemical Agent Resistant Coating is a paint commonly applied to military vehicles to provide protection against chemical and biological weapons. The surface of the paint is engineered to be easily decontaminated after contact with chemical or biological warfare agents.
--------------------------------------------------



Military paint is not all bad, I once begged a can of 'grey primer' off the local airbase - it had been intended to spray paint jet fighters, and would absorb, not reflect radar waves - it made my beat up old Dodge power wagon invisible to speed traps

[Palf70Step]

Glad about the p[inkish looking color is not pink. I think the badges will look pretty darn good the way you are going after them. Keep on bud!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad about the p[inkish looking color is not pink. I think the badges will look pretty darn good the way you are going after them. Keep on bud!

Thanks Bill,

Yes, it was old fashioned Photoshop with whatever colours I had at hand.

Looking forward to getting them on the truck.



Postman saved the day today......


DVLA Returned my corrected V5c registration document.

Now I can proceed to MOT and get it used.


In other news, I continued with the badges after primer and painting them with wheel silver.

Started out by blacking out the background to the rosettes.



Gold and black done.



Next up I added the red, not sure if it was going to work.



Comparing them.

I think I prefer the red, still.



Completed.

I will touch them up a bit more tomorrow once the paint has completely dried.



Probably came out better than I had any right to expect.

Will still decide how it looks once mocked up when the side stripes have been added.

Thanks for checking in.

[Palf70Step]

Those came out really good Rian. Your hand is way steadier than mine.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Those came out really good Rian. Your hand is way steadier than mine.

Thank you Bill,

And even better after I touched them up this morning.

[Palf70Step]

Great to hear about the MOT and all Rian. It is always soooo much fun to cruise with a friend. Looking forward to seeing the sticker layout.

[realvc]

Congrats. on the MOT pass and the cruise in your Not-A-Project Blazer.
You inspire me to enjoy my big toys.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Great to hear about the MOT and all Rian. It is always soooo much fun to cruise with a friend. Looking forward to seeing the sticker layout.

Thanks Bill,

I love to share my toys, part of the pleasure is the pleasure they get too.

Originally Posted by realvc

Congrats. on the MOT pass and the cruise in your Not-A-Project Blazer.
You inspire me to enjoy my big toys.

Thank you Vince.

I think we all learn from each other and get inspired likewise.

[Palf70Step]

She looks a lot better already Rian. Good luck with tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

She looks a lot better already Rian. Good luck with tomorrow.

Thanks Bill,

Well, the weather held out, in fact it was a good day.



Fighting talk.......

I really don’t care about who does not like today’s progress.

I like it, may even love it (not really) but anyone wanting to change it, the Blazer if for sale and you can then change to your hearts content.

Another rubbish night last night, seems to be a pattern, leaving me tired.

So I did clean the house, then ironed 20 work shirts etc before getting out to start with the truck.
The temperature must have been above 10’C most of the day.

Started out with a thin red pinstripe along the sewage line.

This would allow me to use it to get the rest of the Go Faster Stripes spot on and straight.





Getting the curve into the leading edge, and also the keyhole right was important, as the whole thing needs to look just right in the end.



Bottom line completed, one side.



Rear view.





Then the yellow stripe below the orange.

I would prefer the yellow a bit darker, but this was what was available.



Chrome trims fitted for the pics, but I need to prep the rims and then add in two layers of Duck Tape for the clips to kick against of bit into.

You can see where the clips scrape and try to grip when removed, so the Duck tape gives it something to kick into and hopefully they will stay in place.



And finally, photos of the job completed.





And side view.



I am really pleased with how this all,came out, certainly pleases me.

May just go for a decent drive tomorrow too, to celebrate.

It’s been a good, if busy week.

[Palf70Step]

Good work Rian. It adds a lot to the ole girl!

[realvc]

Not A Project Blazer is coming along really nice. Your stripes add some horse power too.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Good work Rian. It adds a lot to the ole girl!

Agreed Bill, all the way from The eighties

Originally Posted by realvc

Not A Project Blazer is coming along really nice. Your stripes add some horse power too.

Vince, you had me chuckling here.

Yes,extra HP per foot means a good 30 hp added.

[ibrown50]

That turned out well

Definitely an 80's vibe going on there

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

That turned out well

Definitely an 80's vibe going on there

Thanks Ian.

Tongue firmly in my cheek, but I do like it.

[Palf70Step]

Definitely adds to the theme. VERY good job Rian, especially for it NOT being a project!

[Larry64]

Unknown to most, each stripe will add 10 horsepower.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Definitely adds to the theme. VERY good job Rian, especially for it NOT being a project!

Originally Posted by Larry64

Unknown to most, each stripe will add 10 horsepower.

Agreed.

Needs an exhaust cutout next, to add to the loudness.




I am off to get some normal,not Christmas food in a bit from the shops.

Then over to @CraigRK later as we are all going out for a restaurant meal (not a thing I do often)

Tomorrow will be just Harley and I here, so garage time sounds like a perfect present to myself. (Kettle will be on)

But I wanted to just leave this here.

For every one of you who helped work, gave parts, advice, moral support or popped around for a coffee, and those who take the time to post replies on this thread.

The thread is yours, and my record of how good life can be.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL.




And it needs some of these stickers to be made now.




Later.

[Palf70Step]

Have a good Christmas eve Rian. Looking forward to your further ramblings this holiday.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Have a good Christmas eve Rian. Looking forward to your further ramblings this holiday.

Your wish is my command boss.



Popped over to @CraigRK and his family about 80 miles or 120km from my place on Christmas Eve.

They do like getting into the swing of things , I don’t......



But Craig and his wife were going to drag me there, even if it meant kicking and screaming.

I seem to recall the last time I saw Craig in a mask, things went south fast, and we ended up getting pulled over by a State Trooper with Dennis in Arkansas.

Deja Vu ?



I had taken Craig’s wife, who can do not wrong, a bottle of Prosecco, and when I got there, Craig gave me some lovely chocolates and Lorraine handed me the winning prize, three French sausages.



After a few manly chores, done including taking the dogs to boarding kennels, we headed out along wit the kids and Lorraine’s sister who is over from South Africa

To this address........





Hint in the name.



And the facilities......



Our waiter lady (sorry, no selfie with her) informed us there were free Margaritas on offer as it was a Monday evening.

Hmmmmm.....

You know this can only turn into fun, or mischief.

Craig ordered a smallish steak that he could not finish.



I was predicable......

Wings and ribs.

Wings are miniatures compared to American wings, but hey ho, I did not go hungry at all.



Not sure if the Margaritas can be blamed or not, but between us, Craig and I realised we need to go back to the USA next year, this time to make a video travel programme.......

So any advice on GoPro and legalities etc appreciated.




Everything subject to change and natural,disasters

[Palf70Step]

Where is the "Like" button?

Go for it Rian!

[Palf70Step]

I like the steering wheels off the 88-94 ish trucks better than the original ones. You might find one easier over there than an original style wheel. The one I put in the 81 is the higher end model with leather wrap. I even found mine with a GMC horn cap which seem really hard to find. Love the feel of these wheels.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I like the steering wheels off the 88-94 ish trucks better than the original ones. You might find one easier over there than an original style wheel. The one I put in the 81 is the higher end model with leather wrap. I even found mine with a GMC horn cap which seem really hard to find. Love the feel of these wheels.

Yup, leather and thicker feels good for sure.


Weird how Centre caps go missing.



I recently put out feelers on forums and FB groups for a replacement grille and original steering wheel for the Blazer in my continued quest to ensure it does not become a Project.

I found two sources of grilles, and ended up buying a new in the box correct for the year, grille from Derbyshire and that probably has been collected now by my friend Kevin and his wife as they were headed right by the grille on their way to see family. I will be spending old years eve with them and some other friends, at which time I hope to collect the grille.

I had lived in hope that I would find an original steering wheel to buy to replace the nice one I have fitted, and to regain the self cancelling indicators.




You will see the replacement wheel pushes out quite far into the cab.



Then I got a text from my friend Ian Brown up in County Durham

His side of the conversation went like this.

Hi Rian, I have one of these “ in my shed” it’s missing the centre cap / horn push and it’s grubby ( would definitely need some Grizz “resto-magic “ ). I remember checking the part number and it was 73 to 80 something Blazer and Suburban. I’ll send it down to you if it’s any good?

You should be able to get someone on the forum to send you a centre cap.

Hi Rian, front & back and part number photos attached. I’ve tried cleaning a bit of it with interior shampoo ( not the best but all I have to hand ) it should come up great with a bit of elbow grease (and patience)

All the horn contacts are there too but will need a good clean
I’ve tried cleaning a small section of the wheel using Armour-all tyre foam cleaner and a very fine scotch-brite. It will clean up ok I think. I’d have done the whole thing but the tin was almost empty.

Front.



Rear.



Part number.



Hell..... Yeah !!!

Of course I would be able to use it, someone somewhere would be able to find and sell me a Centre section/horn push

I had messaged Dennis in St Louis to tell him that I had “got lucky” with Ian having one to give to the Blazer free of charge, and he said that was good, but to make sure that the three screws and a plastic piece that took the screws and a metal cup that the horn button snaps onto were there as they were not in the original pics Ian had sent.

So I texted Ian again and a few minutes later he replies that he found the parts as well, and they would be making their way down south soon.



Got a message this afternoon at 13.20 from Ian to say that he had boxed and dropped of the wheel at a courier, to make its way down South to me.

All I can say is Thank you, and that life certainly is good.

Today was a good day as well, as I had some garage time with my friend Henry who came over from Romford in Essex to give me a hand in the garage.

More Later.

[flashed]

Love the Blazer , still hope I land a nice 72 one day .