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

[Grizz1963]

REGARDING THE NEW TO ME BLAZER.

A Few things......

Yesterday, Lee and his dad John came around by 12.00 to drop off the wheels and extra seats (originals) for the Blazer and also a dash mat, though the dash on this truck is unmarked and not cracked.

They were down at the garage for a while and we chatted cars.

John, who owned the Blazer and recommissioned it, told me about all the other stuff he had done to it over time, and reckons he could have as much as 200 hours into it. He certainly replaced quite a lot of stuff, that one does not always think of when recommissioning a car. And I am glad it’s all done already.

Just add fuel and drive.

Sounds a lot of time invested, but then you will see in a bit, what I got done over 4 hours late afternoon once I eventually made it to the garage for real, in fact I was busy for a minimum of 3 hours and have a bit of sheet metal to show for it.

A set of four alloys, which will be for sale, immediately as I like the steels on the truck.



Rear bench seat.......

Excellent condition. Getting stored for now.



Front seats, actually are the same height and in good, if grubby condition.

Weirdly, I still prefer the colour of the ones fitted to the truck.




Part of my time wasting in the morning was ironing 17 work shirts, doing laundry, cleaning house etc, a mans work is never done.

Then I pulled the Blazer forward from the garage and turned Prozac around and drove it head first into the property, I always reverse stuff down the side of the house.

And then a few pics, the left side of Prozac is lined up with the right side of the truck, just to show how much wider it is.



Yes, that is really how wide, though a bit of an optical illusion I guess.





By 2.00 pm Caleb who had looked after the cats came back from his two weeks in Europe, to collect his stuff as he had found a temporary job in London and a place near work to stay.

Once he had packed up and we had a coffee and catch up I took him to Rochester station in Prozac, for a guy claiming to live a gypsum life, he has a pot of stuff to carry. Van worked perfectly, again.

After dropping him off, Ireversed Prozac back and saw this in the mirror, made me smile.



By now it was 2.45 and I had a quick coffee and sandwich, then headed out to the garage to start looking at the “bit of rust” that I had seen and been shown when buying the Blazer.

I am under no illusions and was expecting more rust, randomly.

So there will be no surprises, rather pleasant discoveries of good sheet metal to work with and attach patches to.

Harley was looking on and I left the house.

Did she know something I did not??




More later on the closer inspection and smiles.

[Grizz1963]

So on to the rust I knew would need to be addressed, not for MOT reasons, but rather for waterproofing and because I knew it was there.

So I undid the sill plate and removed that and folded the 40year old carpet and underfelt etc out the way after removing the door seal and rubbers.



Closer inspection showed that despite my expectations, it is another as bad as expected.

Clearly not a desert or new car.



Felt my butt being nudged and it was security cat wanting to inspect, Harley, she has always loved a new car and has to check them out.



Found some good fresh steel plate in the C10 cab, then washed the floor, scrapped and poked and actually hammered the rust before drawing music lines out where I felt the new metal needed to be let in.



Cut and measured the first replacement section.
Offered up.



Further cutting and shaping to get the angles and fill right.
Only good metal to good metal.



Edges on both sides of the patch panel cleaned up, ensures a much better went.



Then grind back the paint and rust on the floor in preparation for transferring the patch panel pattern.



Also some Vactan planned for the pock marked shallow damage.

Some welding and some rust converter planned here, worked well on the C10





Next up will be transfer of the pattern to the floor before cutting the rot out, followed by welding and primer.

[Palf70Step]

Moving quick! Looking forward to the medical procedure pics.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Moving quick! Looking forward to the medical procedure pics.

Thanks Bill

Sharpie in hand, time to trace the patch panel out.



While all this was going on, Security cat had decided to get comfy, on the job.



First welding job was to do then30mm upright for the side kick panel, they rust out in the bottom corner and you need to replace that steel too.

Easier to weld in some metal, than another fold, if your steel is not that wide.



Technically the outside, and awaiting weld through primer before it all gets welded in.



Inside



And in place.



I will probably only cut the floor and weld this in by next weekend.

Unless I get time, which is unlikely as it’s another week from a dark place.

Later.

[ibrown50]

That patch will work a treat, nice job. I agree with Bill things are moving quickly, it’s great to see and I’m looking forward to more updates..... you’ll need to start another thread at this rate

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

That patch will work a treat, nice job. I agree with Bill things are moving quickly, it’s great to see and I’m looking forward to more updates..... you’ll need to start another thread at this rate

I was going to ask Bill if I should start a thread in the relevant section or just carry on blogging here.

All in one place.


Thanks Ian

I really just want a nice driver.

Structure and mechanics sound. No cosmetic madness.

[Palf70Step]

Do what you want as far as thread goes. Sometimes you'll get more expertise in the specific forum, but for what you say you are going to do, I'd stay here so I can find ya

[mjh1965]

The best bit is you can practice on the Blazer and perfect your skills . Then with your Mojo back you can start the C10 . I am glad I gave you the lead as I know you have been after one for a while, just don’t kick me in the balls if it’s more work than you expected.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

............................................. if it’s more work than you expected.
Posted via Mobile Device

Aren't they always

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Do what you want as far as thread goes. Sometimes you'll get more expertise in the specific forum, but for what you say you are going to do, I'd stay here so I can find ya

Agreed Bill.

I know where to find help.


Some more ideas spinning around in my head.

Found this case last week Friday, thrown out on a sidewalk.

Yes, I dont know either but knew its potential purpose even before I bought the Blazer.





Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what its to become?

And at the opposite end of the spectrum, a pic sent to me by Disasterbus.

I do like it.

But not £100 k much.





Tail lights.........

Lexus style........

Just so bad.



Changes underfoot here too.

Bedtime.

[Grizz1963]

Well, funny how stuff works .

I was looking for a pair of original tail lights for the Blazer to replace the not so sexy anymore, Lexus style units fitted.

And then next thing I know, I am chatting to a guy called Martin, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire.....

He has this: 1975 Chevrolet Blazer. http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...evrolet-blazer

Which currently looks like this.....





Looks a bit like my floor.



Panels





But a lot more pain.

Life has got in the way over the last few years for Martin too.



Stepping back.....

It looks challenging.

But it will all get fixed, when it gets fixed.





In the mean time he has this to keep him busy.






Some may see it as a mountain too high, but I see this as motivation.

My Blazer seems to be in a better place.

[realvc]

I vote that you keep it here. I have trouble keeping up with this thread and your other thread too because I'll reply on one and then wonder where my reply is and realize I'm looking at the other thread.

How would you like to back that Suburban down your drive?

Glad to see you are still wearing the safety flip flops

I just got home from "Northern Tool" with a 10 ton porta power and a air hose reel for my shop. Funny how spending money on tools makes you smile.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

I vote that you keep it here. I have trouble keeping up with this thread and your other thread too because I'll reply on one and then wonder where my reply is and realize I'm looking at the other thread.

How would you like to back that Suburban down your drive?

Glad to see you are still wearing the safety flip flops

I just got home from "Northern Tool" with a 10 ton porta power and a air hose reel for my shop. Funny how spending money on tools makes you smile.

Thank you Vince, makes sense to me.


So last night I had an hour after getting home from work.

Primed the first patch panel and proceeded.



Then moved the truck so I could work on both sides.



Proceeded to cut.

No going back now.



And then we had opened a can of worms, or maybe not.



Despite what it looks like, 2/3 of this section has strong steel in it, and a large hammer and sharp screwdriver could destroy the structure more.



From the underside there are chalk marks, I missed them when inspecting the truck.

Not that it would have stopped me.



Conversely, the passenger side looked perfectly fine








At this point, the truck is still not as bad as expected and this rust is a day job

A couple more odd shaped patch panels, and we will be in business.

I am still,happy with my purchase

[Palf70Step]

Like you said Rian, not bad. Can be expected when you cut those areas open, but still looks solid.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Like you said Rian, not bad. Can be expected when you cut those areas open, but still looks solid.

Agreed.



Call it a confession if you want.

It’s more about recording stuff as the truck is right now.

I know many people will recoil in terror, but many (I do hope) will say, it’s not that bad at all.

I guess we all have different perceptions and opinions on the same things......

I bought it because I saw enough value in the sum of its parts and a fun car that will cripple you financially on fuel costs alone, were it a daily.

However, this is not a daily.

It’s a toy.


The fenders are available as replacement reproduction items, not cheap, but probably cheaper than patching up what is there.

So unless I find the cheapest of the cheap, in a set of ex-desert or dry state fenders to just bolt on, it is not even going to happen, till these do self destruct.

For now they are just fine.











The hood has rust in all the same places they rust, currently expertly covered in a very thick layer of filler, and Dulux home enamel paint, or something.



I had my friend Joy around last night and before showing her the truck, told her she best make all the right noises of approval or else there was no dinner for her.

She made all the right noises.

Next....!!

[Grizz1963]

Looking at various options to polish this turd

These graphics are the ones I seem to be drawn to.

Over the hood or over tbe roof.

Ideally not a colour change from the white it has now.

Of course its just toughts right now.

Starting with plain white on Smoothies.



Randomly different.



This style really works for me.









Of course I love this.









Really Really like everything about this van.










Lastly this.

Subtle. But maybe too subtle.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks to @littlepixel we have a quick photoshop of the truck.

Not entirely the way I want it, but lovely nonetheless.

Its as close as I could get to it right now with minimal cash spent.

Remember this is not a project.




I will certainly look at other colour combos too.

I have a hankering for brown wheels and some autumnal graphics on the white or a beige background.

Lets see what transpires.

[Palf70Step]

I agree with your comments, this one would look very good on the unnamed Blazer.

You can also duplicate the stuff on Prozac, make the Blazer look like his big brother.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I agree with your comments, this one would look very good on the unnamed Blazer.

You can also duplicate the stuff on Prozac, make the Blazer look like his big brother.

That truck looks like a worker too.

I liked it.


Another one of those questions I do like to ask, in order to maximise my own responses and actions.

The sum of us all, is a lot cleverer than one of us.

So, yesterday evening I had the front end up on my low Snap-On 3 ton (I think) jack and saw the different looks available.

I was measuring up the front suspension for @PaulY as he said he may have something that could fit the front end, to replace the parts in there at the moment.

Pics to follow.

So the question was posed by a lawyer friend in St Louis, Missouri, yes the truck has eyes on it all over the globe it seems.
“Are you leaving it that low? “

I need to get it a lot more driveable, despite it actually being good as it is.

What height then?


Off-roader



School run



Gangsta




While crawling around under the truck, I noted the transmission was a TH400 as mentioned by the seller, seems that is a good thing.




So, on to the suspension, or what is needing the attention.

Amazing engineering tool an oxyacetylene torch can be.


Drivers side.





Passengers side.





Shocking shocks all round.






This needs to be addressed.

Soonish.

[Grizz1963]

Took a pic for Lee, my lawyer friend in St Louis last night while checking the trucks vitals, oil, water etc.....

Can you see what is wrong?



Just connecting the dots again.

Been looking at potential simple 80’s style graphics and at this point the winner seems to be this one.......

Who owned one of these in the Day???




Inspired.



Also this....




After work I walked down to the truck, as I seem to do every day.

Is this a good thing?

So I took a few pics of the paint.

For those who may be thinking it’s sacrilege to paint it or change things.

If you,look in the gas filler neck, it seems this was an orange truck in the past.


Anyway, welcome to 30 grit textured paint, it is right up ther with wood chip wall paper.



Fender




Roof





Side panel......






And lastly the hood.




So that concludes all the unpleasantlnes of this 40 year old survivor truck.

Still happy.


It is worth more than the sum of its parts.


Paint? Satin white with graphics??

[Grizz1963]

Cannot seem to be able to get this to edit the previous post where I had two roof pics.

Here is my favourite paint pic.

Well beyond Satin or Matt this finish.

[Grizz1963]

This style I like too.

Except it has to be on white.

[Grizz1963]

Obviously not the wheels.

On a white background.




With red or brown stripe.





Someone suggested red.

I dont feel it at all.



Will stay white.

[Grizz1963]

Well

Its not really a challenge.

The clever guys who can do this stuff have already done it. Repeatedly

I took two sets of pics earlier in the garden.

Suspension as it is now and one on the jack, raised to “Stock height”
Which is where I am headed.

I think for the moment, this is where I am headed.



Based on this.



I like the simplicity and chunkyness of this design.


However


The front and rear start and end may need to be on the samelevel or completely different.

I still like the idea of some simple bonnet action, subtle and either connected to the sides or seperate, in a U shape or L shape accentuating the slight raised area.
The tailgate also can do with a symmetric or asymmetric design.

I like the rear canopy black with shaded side glass, but also wonder if it can look good in white as it is now.


So below are a few pics to work with if you are interested in habing a go.

Thank you all for helping.


Low and “broken” as it is now.



Difference between now and future wheel arch height.

“Broken”



“Fixed”





Raised slightly as it will be once I get done.




Rear 3/4 view for the adventurous.




Tailgate.

Glass can be blacked out too.

[Grizz1963]

Quick bit of randomness.

The last few weeks at work have been hectic.

Culminating on Friday in a marathon training, plractical and learning session. I was up at 04.00 because this sort of thing stresses and kills my head.

Headed to Cobham for the day by 07.00 and finished there at 5.45pm

All in all, it seems the boss and our trainers are still happy to let me loose amongst our customers in London and outskirts.


On the way back I stopped in at Craig and his family, Lorraine was doing steaks and desert, what’s not to like.

When I got there, she had just got home from scouts with their daughter and Kyle, their awesome son (I rarely like teenagers) was in the garage, painting up a a contraption Craig had designed and built to change the way the dogs access the house in winter.



While I was there, Craig worked on getting my 5500 photos from my old mobile and the 2500 onnthe new one into a saved file and will then try create a new super file for my iPhone

I left their place at about 9.30 and headed home, before I left, I noticed their daughters Halloween protector was outside her bedroom door.



Weirdly, also on the agenda last night was a chat with Mr Tiki whom I had not chatted with for a few weeks.

He was having some family time too.

Love the angle grinder inspired brazier





Back to the Chevy Blazer.


The playing with designs continues and a few more came through, I do like bits from ever one I see.

Do note, the rear glass has been shortened.





This was the surprise, and I also like the subtle reference to the year of manufacture



Yesterday, like most weekends, I had a load of other stuff to do.

One of the jobs was to cut back the access to the garage by another two wheel bins worth.

Now you can drive up and down that part without hugging the hedge in order to avoid the trees branches that overhanged the drive.

Less camouflage but more easy access.




It’s 04.00now, but been chatting to,Dennis since 03.00

He went to a car and Hotrod show and sent me loads of great pics.

I will only put this one up and say that he said it was a blast.