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

[Grizz1963]

Just to add to the block work entries.....

Robbie is what Nicola called him.

But his name is actually Zibbi, no idea why.

Been tossing this idea around in my head since making the Celtic Cross.

Today, after helping a mate move some gym equipment (two trips) I came home, and got going with it as Nicola was out shopping.

First up, I drew up a rough robot to get placement and size on the block.



Started by cutting away the excess.



Hand held blade works a treat to get into tight spots.





Arms made thinner.



About four hours later my wife thinks I am a hero.



And in my opinion ...... enough of a reason to spend more than 4 hours in the garage sucking dust.



Ohhhh, and she still does not have the Celtic Cross.

[Ta2Don]

and I thought those blocks would be useful in building something like a foundation...

Great work Mate!!!
We want pics of Nicola when she gets the Cross!

[Grizz1963]

Parcel of patch panels arrived today.

Thanks Don for helping out to get them here.

Will unpack tomorrow evening.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Parcel of patch panels arrived today.

Thanks Don for helping out to get them here.

Will unpack tomorrow evening.

You are more than Welcome, Glad to be of assistance...

[Grizz1963]

Well, sometimes the smallest victories are the sweetest.

I have been looking for a large truck brake drum or wheel rim to use as a base to a mobile vice stand, like Kiwi Kev on Garage Journal made.

Went in to a haulage company this week to ask about one (no success) but then saw their neighbour was a large engineering shop. So rang the number from my mobile while outside as no one responded to me ringing the gate bell, and had someone come open up.... he could not help, but I had my eyeballs in their skip and saw a lump of steel which I asked for..... he said, yes take it.

So now I have that little piece of steel you sometimes need to hammer a bit of metal straight on.

[markeb01]

That robot is just too cool!! I have a few chunks of metal like that, they sure do come in handy for a lot of things including just holding stuff in place.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by markeb01

That robot is just too cool!! I have a few chunks of metal like that, they sure do come in handy for a lot of things including just holding stuff in place.

Thanks Mark.

She was really impressed and pleased with it, so I am looking forward to her reaction to the cross when she gets it.

[Grizz1963]

Well, got me a parcel in the post this week from America.....Thanks Ta2Don.

Postage alone was $97.80 which included the $17.10 cost from Top Banana to Donz place in Arkansas.




So what was in the box were two inner fender supports as mine is rotten, a pair of fender repair panels and for Martin a paid of cab corners for his build.




Had to do a quick test fit with the welding magnets....



Expecting Martin here later to collect these.....

The cup was a £1.00 charity shop find by Nicola for his work van, as customers pee him off regularly. It is a rather LARGE but exactly what you need on a job out there.....

Just to put this in perspective, the two panels Martin ordered cost him £51.00 or $85.00 landed. Panels themselves were $13.00 each.

[Ta2Don]

Glad they arrived sans damage…

Time for disassembly, cutting, Welding, Grinding etc...

[Grizz1963]

Well, it is winter, and we have had the wettest January since 1909 when records were begun.

Today Nicola and I decided to take the truck out for a decent run as we both have a bit of cabin fever, and deliver mate Martin the latest copy of Classic American (we subscribe to different mags and swop after reading them)

So we made a few stops at Chatham Dockyard where we were chased away by security........

Then off to the yacht basin to get a few pics.

I have been looking for a decent photo of the truck to enlarge to about 1200mm X 1500mm for my study, to replace the Super Hero wall I have there at the moment.

Not sure if any of the pics I ended up keeping really make the grade. I may have to look for a better setting at some point.

So please give your opinions too.


















So there went another weekend.

Frustrating PotatoBucket !!!

Turns pics about.

No idea how to overide it, tried rotating in files.

Last try

[Ta2Don]

If your computer is working normally for everything else… PotatoBucket is asking for a Hammer fix...

Great Photos… I vote for this one...

[McMurphy]

Using a tripod, and either a remote trigger or the timer function on the camera itself, will increase the clarity of the photograph by 50%. Most people dont realize this applies to digital cameras as well.

I personally like them all, but I thougth the first one, in the driveway, was the clearest, and had the very nice color contrast between the truck and the vegetation to look appealing up close and far off.

Nicely done sir !!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Using a tripod, and either a remote trigger or the timer function on the camera itself, will increase the clarity of the photograph by 50%. Most people dont realize this applies to digital cameras as well.

I personally like them all, but I thougth the first one, in the driveway, was the clearest, and had the very nice color contrast between the truck and the vegetation to look appealing up close and far off.

Nicely done sir !!

Thanks for the comments Michael.

Photos taken with iPhone, so far from ideal.

I am still looking for that perfect setting..... I love graffitti walls.

I will take my digital camera when I go out again.

[Grizz1963]

Nicola's birthday on the 5th Feb.......... SOOOOOOOOO....

Well, because we are both out to work early tomorrow, we decided that tonight would be cards and prezzies.



She got loads of nice cards and prezzies from friends and family.

Then I went upstairs and dug out the prezzies I had gotten her. (She had asked for a ring, which I bought in December)

YES, I KNOW....... Christmas paper, but it was all I had.



She liked my card, then the specialist book on smoking pipes.

I had a set of 5 pipes I had bought from America last year, and a ladies leg pipe bought for way too much recently (but I know she can sell it for double or more) The ladies leg was one of three fantasy pipes which included a revolver pipe and a family pipe that she always coveted..... so now she has three of her dream pipes.



Lastly she opened the box with the Celtic Cross.

I am pleased to report that she was speechless.

When I asked her, she just said that she was gobsmacked that I had created the cross for her.



And a piccie posed for all of you out there.



I guess as they say "RESULT !! "

[ChrisDollins]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Such a good looking little truck! The red really pops in this one.

Chris

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ChrisDollins

Such a good looking little truck! The red really pops in this one.

Chris

Thanks Chris, I like that one too, but the dark side could have done with more sunshine.

[Grizz1963]

Well, tonight is probably one of the biggest score reports (with a twist)

I replied to a Freecycle offer for a broken Acoustic guitar which I want to turn into a floor lamp, with a light fitting inside and low wattage bulb.



Guitar needs some repairs and bits added from my spares pile.

Then mounted on a decent wooden base and given to my daughters boyfriend who plays rather well.

When I replied to the offer, I did mention to the guy offering that I was only interested if nobody wanted it, as I was going to "re-purpose" it, which intrigued him.
So when he replied, he also offered me a 5 foot electric metal working lathe that comes with thread cutting gears etc.
I only took one pic tonight with my mobile phone in the shed as there was not much light in the shed where it is stashed.

I immediately decided to offer it to my mate Martin's neighbour Trevor who works in a machine shop and is busy setting up his own shop as he gets to buy in machines.



Possibly my best ever score, and really cool to be able to offer it to someone else.

I am also in the process of collecting bits to build a replica petrol pump and bought this nozzle off Evilbay last weekend.

Paid £45.00 which was way more than I had planned.

Nicola's brother is bringing me a fire hose reel and hose which will make the pipe red, and kind of direct the direction of the final product.



I am looking at combining a few bits I have into something "unique"

I am looking for a LARGE white glass lampshade like in the pic below.

Went to a reclamation yard today on the way home, but they could not help.

Any guidance appreciated.

If you have a plain old petrol pump globe, or even one with graphics on to sell, let me know by PM.





These are some of the bits I have collected so far......

M&S Christmas decoration in steel - £1.50




I also have this which is missing a side but has a locking door.



Now start by making the steel cabinet shorter, add the star to the front of it somewhere, add a globe with some fantasy brand on top, add a front face with numbers etc and add the pump nozzle and a length of old red fire hose to it...... get the picture ??

Something like this on the front.

I have ordered one from Ebay and will add some clear perspex or polycarbonate to it.




Now.... fit a small compressor inside and mount the whole thing outside the garage to use for tyres and blowing stuff clear.

[Grizz1963]

My number plate collecting continues, although I do try to find unusual ones, and some specialist plates like disabled, army, fire dept etc. I also still do not have a British Army plate in my collection.

Today a few came in from Arizona from Nic who happened to see my collection on a thread.

All of these are cool as they are different to anything I already have.



Also still looking for "Arabic" type plates.

[niterider65]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Well, it is winter, and we have had the wettest January since 1909 when records were begun.

Today Nicola and I decided to take the truck out for a decent run as we both have a bit of cabin fever, and deliver mate Martin the latest copy of Classic American (we subscribe to different mags and swop after reading them)

So we made a few stops at Chatham Dockyard where we were chased away by security........

Then off to the yacht basin to get a few pics.

I have been looking for a decent photo of the truck to enlarge to about 1200mm X 1500mm for my study, to replace the Super Hero wall I have there at the moment.

Not sure if any of the pics I ended up keeping really make the grade. I may have to look for a better setting at some point.

So please give your opinions too.


















So there went another weekend.

Frustrating PotatoBucket !!!

Turns pics about.

No idea how to overide it, tried rotating in files.

Last try

Looking good like the pics of the truck in the ship docks
looks a little cold there across the pond can't wait to see more
keep up the great work .

[Grizz1963]

Update.

Together with the spares donor



20 watt bulb fitted.




Needs more work to be done, small holes closed up and strings fitted.

[Ta2Don]

Such Creativity!!!

[Grizz1963]

Woken by Nicola this morning, as she found these two fire hose reels at the front door and could not move them.

Deposited by her brother for me to use as I see fit, they were meant to go onto a boat, but the capacity is too small, as the boats use 2 1/2 inch hose and equipment. Been in their skip pile a few years now.

Anyone else need some hose, or even a whole reel ? Drop me a PM please.

I will use about 6-7 meters only in the petrol pump build.



Wondering what else I can do with the rest of the hose, not sure if I should run some down the side of the property down to the garage to have permanent water down there.

Sure some idea will spring to mind.

[Grizz1963]

I suddenly seem to be elbow deep in little projects.

Probably a good thing with all the rain that has been falling in the UK and it seems there is no end in sight.

So any outside work on the truck is on hold till further notice.

Received this in the post today from Ian, (BIAS on Retro-Rides) after he had to go fetch it back from his skip bin.

The old grille from his 1992 Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign project car and daily driver.

Thanks mate.

Plan is to tap out the dents in it, get some diamond mesh in stainless or steel, paint it satin black and fit in the holes like a Bentley grille.



The plan.....



Ian's car.





I love the look of this car.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Woken by Nicola this morning, as she found these two fire hose reels at the front door and could not move them.

Wondering what else I can do with the rest of the hose, not sure if I should run some down the side of the property down to the garage to have permanent water down there.

Sure some idea will spring to mind.

Sure you will come up with something...

Looking forward to the Grille, and the Jag is sporting a Sweet Stance!!!

[Grizz1963]

Anyone build a motorized BMX lately??


I am never sure if I should apologize for the stuff I dig out or tell you guys about the silly grin it puts on my face.

Pulled this out of a skip a few months ago. No other parts, so no pull string or safety cover etc.

Today I had some time to clean up the garage and thought I would see if a trick I saw about 25 years ago when my cousin used to start his lawnmower that was missing its pull cord, with a socket and a power drill.

Found the right size bolt, ground it roughly triangular so it would not slip in the chuck, and did exactly what you see in the video clip below.

BOOOOM !!!!

Now playing around with the idea of seeing if I can find a free BMX bike to attach it to.

Not sure if it really has the power to pull anything but a 6 week old monkey about, but should be more noisy than cardboard in the spokes (remember that??)

Video link below.

Another Tip Treasure. - YouTube

Any advice appreciated.

And yes, I know putting it back in the skip is the best advice, but where would the fun be in that??

Next up..... Chainsaw bike??

Going back to the garage to finish the guitar floor lamp now.

Some of my other Skip or Tip Treasures in this thread:

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/...pdated-22-2014

Sometimes old stuff can be a lot more fun.