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

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

I like the Blazer one best, so when you sell it to me I won’t have to change my name

Plan ehhh...?

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That's how to plan it.

[Grizz1963]

Went over to Robin Hood Pub and met up with some of the BHRA guys, along with Ricky.

Had a drink, few hours chat and then came home.

Of course scrubbing mats at 10.00pm out back is nothing unusual.

Came out good.




Tomorrow I will add a bit of furniture polish to make them pop and fit them.

Loving this non project truck.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by sparkplug

Wow - that's quite a transformation!

I love how it's sometimes these simple tasks that give so much satisfaction.

I like the stainless laser cut idea. My vote would be with "GRIZZ" too.

Oh, and you should start doing merchandise...



:augie

Only sold in man sizes XXL up yo 4XL


Waiting for daylight so I can get on down to the shop.

1’C out there this morning.

May see me in an overall and shoes today.

[Indian113]

Shoe's THIS I have to see!

[Palf70Step]

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Shoe's THIS I have to see!

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Hmmmmmm.........


So last night, Ricky who brought me the mats for the truck, knowing I like a knife, and also that I love miniature items, brought me a serious dagger.





After adding a bit of shine to the mats, as well as cleaning the previous set I had, that then went in for the rear seat, it looked like this.

I love it for sure.



It rained intermittently today, typical of the day I chose to take off work.

So I did lots of little random jobs in the garage, moved stuff about, made some space.

Also grabbed a large can of satin black, and after cleaning the wheels, I sprayed the centres three coats of black.

Next will be Silver Hammerite paint along the edge.





One of today’s planned tasks was to modify the VW Polo Towbar to make it fit the Blazer chassis.





I believe this is where Lee, the previous owner had removed the old Towbar.

So it will be the new mounting point once I figure it all out.



Up it goes.

And yes, axle stands too.



Coffee break looked like this, and I got optimistic, only to be rained out 20 minutes later again.

Grrrrrrr....!!

[Grizz1963]

1999 Jeep Cherokee wheels.

£80.00 for 5

Opinions??





Just an idea.....

[Palf70Step]

I didn't think the Cherokee wheels were the same bolt pattern. Thought they were 5x5.5?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I didn't think the Cherokee wheels were the same bolt pattern. Thought they were 5x5.5?

Looks like a walk away anyhow.


As isoften thecase, in this case the third time this week....

Prozac had ajob to do.

Headed over to PaulF’s tocollect his hydraulic press.

Will be needing that tomorrow.

His splits meeting Prozac,



Loaded along with a 1960 vintage table that was in the back of Prozac already



Back at home, security had to check.



Moving it from Prozac to garage.

Amazing how easy the wheels made it.




Waiting for tomorrow when @PaulY gets here.



Then back to the Towbar issue, needing to be mounted off the chassis.



Measure, visualise and



Cut



And finally trimmed to size,



Ready to be welded and fitted.

[Indian113]

Anybody Else see Those SHOES?

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Anybody Else see Those SHOES?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Anybody Else see Those SHOES?

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Rare thing, but at 40’F you need all the help you can find.


Update in the morning

[Grizz1963]

So Saturday started thus.




I got the truck off the rear axle stands and then turned it around on the lawn, not a clever thing as there are a load of wheel tracks/trenches from the weight of the truck.

I usually reverse stuff down the drive as it’s easier that way, but when @PaulY got there we would be needing the front end facing the garage entrance.

A rare sight this way around.




Up on axle stands, wheels off and tools ready so that when Paul got there by 10.30 we could carry on.



Mickey came around to check up on us as he heard the motor earlier on.




This guy has always got a smile, even when things go badly wrong, he just grins and says something like “well, let’s think about it, we just need to get on and do this thing”



The blue house carpet I brought home last week came in handy, two layers helped against the bone chilling cold while the wind continued to drop the temperature for us.

Busy Busy Busy...... and yes, I helped (a little bit)



DIRTY BIG THING, DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY.

Lower control arm.



Scrape, dig, clean up using knife, chisel and brush, then washed with a hard toilet brush and loads of petrol.




Followed by commercial kitchen degreaser that smelled lovely.

Then once it dried away, pressure clean, wash and dry.





Clean parts are so much fun to work with.


The 40 year old bushes and ball joints still needed to be removed.


More in a bit.

[Grizz1963]

So we continued to dismantle, clean, strip and swear from time to time. (I do most of the swearing, @PaulY jut get on with it)

The amount of dirt stuck to this truck, possibly the same as most or many other 40 year olds is staggering, possible a good rust preventative though.

Both sides torn down.




Next job of course was to clean, service and refit new parts to the Control arms.



The springs removed form the truck were as impressive as any that had been torched before.

Useful only as ballast when weighing something in.

Take a good look.

Before you burn them.

Measuring 11 inches.



So a new pair were selected from the pile, and measured, offered up and then Dr Bosch Grinder came in.

Surgery.

13 inches saved to be fitted.

Happy.



The next big job was a YouTube research job......

Easiest way to remove the 40 year old swing arm bushes.

Dr Bosch Drill to theatre.

Bench mounted, a few large drill bits sacrificed

Two per swing arm = 8 total.



Followed by Mr Press.

This tool, belonging to @PaulF was the most sensible thing to bring to the party.

Not always easy to use, needed loads of small custom pressing pieces made through the day, each taking time, and finding the right materials being a pain too, it worked a treat.



New brake shoes added while the front end was dismantled.



As we got busier and time drained away, I took less photos.

Needles to say, once the old bushes were removed and the new once’s pressed into place, often necessitating restarts the Ball joints were removed, replaced and then I took each piece out to a tree, hung them and painted the fresh metal in underbody sealer, getting a lovely uniform and clean look.

By 8.30 Paul had completed the reassembly, I still need to go back to torque up everything, change the position of the passenger side lover swing arm arm as it seems to have escaped the locating points.
Brake on passenger side needs bleeding.
Then I need to do the steering or tie rod ends, as we ran out of daylight and ambition, the cold is a killer.
Finally I also need to remove and replace the existing front wheel bearings.

Tired but happy, we closed shop at 8.30

Sleep was a problem for me, netting a total of three hours, and then awake for 4 hours, followed by another hour.

Today it was rain, wind and 5’C all day, so I decided to go shopping for food, paint and Silver Hammmerite for the wheels once the sun returns.

This afternoon I popped down to the garage to check the height and get a pic of the new height.

A sure sign of us being tired toward the end.



Front end came up 35 mm

Looking a load better, rear seems to have gone down a bit, 5-10mm



So there you go.

One step closer to an MOT submission.

Thanks for checking in and making your comments all.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks to Paul’s expert guidance I have now just ordered a set of these.

Looks like the rear will be dropping by 2 inches.






And so ends another good MoJo filled weekend.

[ibrown50]

That's sitting much better now, a 2" drop at the rear will be spot on, another good weekends work , great to see Paul Y back in the "fold" too

[realvc]

Great progress for having to work outdoors in between showers.

Be careful with your new dagger, it looks like it really could do some damage.

[flashed]

Front looks much better and ride will be much improved too.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

That's sitting much better now, a 2" drop at the rear will be spot on, another good weekends work , great to see Paul Y back in the "fold" too

PaulY is quietly getting on with more important stuff in the background Ian, like family and job stuff.

But he will be back, along with Woody once his life gets back to an even keel.

But it’s always good seeing him and spending time with him.

He is a good man.

Originally Posted by realvc

Great progress for having to work outdoors in between showers.

Be careful with your new dagger, it looks like it really could do some damage.

Morning Vince,

Yes the new dagger is a dangerous weapon, especially in the wrong hands.

Cold work hurts, but progress certainly feels good.

Originally Posted by flashed

Front looks much better and ride will be much improved too.

Hey John,

Agreed, front was cartoon like and functional, but rubbish.

I suspect it will all handle better now.

[Grizz1963]

Thought I would post up a few useful or interesting links.

THANK YOU TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THESE RESOURCES.

FRONT END REBUILD TUTORIAL

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...n/frontend.htm

BLAZER PICTURE THREAD

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=331470

FULL AND COMPLETE 1979 CHEVY LIGHT TRUCK SERVICE MANUAL.

http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/tech...ice_Manual.pdf


Garage cat warning.



Someone asked if the Teardrop Trailer still existed.

Yes it certainly does.



And it seems Dennis has pretty much used up all the wood on his gas station replica build.

Perfect timing for a winter outfit, now the inner walls, insulation and electrics are done.





With winters chill and short days here, it looks like the truck will mainly be getting weekend time now.


Off to London again today, back after dark.

[aggie91]

Great progress on the Blazer. Looks beater with the front raised a bit.

its been a little cooler here last week, but that seems to be gone again. Back in the 80's (26-29 C)yesterday and today...

Rain coming Wednesday and Thursday, but hopefully a nice weekend if the weather man is right...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Great progress on the Blazer. Looks beater with the front raised a bit.

its been a little cooler here last week, but that seems to be gone again. Back in the 80's (26-29 C)yesterday and today...

Rain coming Wednesday and Thursday, but hopefully a nice weekend if the weather man is right...

Thank you

It has gone cold now.

Hope to have some good weather to complete last weekends work.


Currently on the look out for a set of 15 inch beauty rings, wheel trims, call them what you like.

The original photo I took of it a few years ago shows it with a set of trimmrings fitted.

I did try to fit the trim rings from the C10’s Rallye wheels, but they would not get themselves seated.

So stil looking.

[Grizz1963]

Went down to the garage a few minutes ago, it’s bloody cold out there.

Wanted to check and see if my bought 10 years ago, used a few times, Torque Wrench still worked.

[Palf70Step]

No color with the VIN. However the SPID tags were on the Driver's side (US ) inner fender. Maybe yours is still there and readable?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

No color with the VIN. However the SPID tags were on the Driver's side (US ) inner fender. Maybe yours is still there and readable?

Been down there tonight after work Bill, nothing in the inner fender.

Or anywhere else.

Dennis has a few other secret tips to follow up on.