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

[realvc]

I know what is like to care for a friend/pet that has been attached to your heart. They are special beyond words. The level of animal and human interaction is truly amazing. She knows she has you to see her through this.
Take care bro.
Get better soon Harley.

[Indian113]

Rian, I wish I could take your worry and pain away for you! I know that anybody that loves their pet as You do will suffer along with them. Prayers that Harley doesn't suffer long.

[Palf70Step]

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

I know what is like to care for a friend/pet that has been attached to your heart. They are special beyond words. The level of animal and human interaction is truly amazing. She knows she has you to see her through this.
Take care bro.
Get better soon Harley.

Thank you Vince.

That’s the truth.

She would do the same for me. Maybe

Originally Posted by Indian113

Rian, I wish I could take your worry and pain away for you! I know that anybody that loves their pet as You do will suffer along with them. Prayers that Harley doesn't suffer long.

Hey Ray, yes, I do love animals, more than most humans.

Same thoughts about her suffering, not fair, so will keep an eye on the Fair-0-Meter.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thanks Bill.

[The Rocknrod]

Only cat I ever loved recently got killed by the local coyotes. That bothers me.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Only cat I ever loved recently got killed by the local coyotes. That bothers me.

Sorry to hear that.

Cats are b@stards..... they crawl so deep into our hearts, and often dog people don’t get cat people, and vice versa.

But regardless, these animals become incredible friends, and often therapeutic conduits for us in modern life.

I have had many cats move in with me over the years and to be honest, never had a bad one.

But a good cat, like Harley and two others I had around 25 years ago, are even more special.

I hope you can process and celebrate your cat, even in its absence

[Grizz1963]

I guess it is still progress as parts come in.

My Hermes delivered the new Mercedes Benz Vito wheel bolts today.

Longer than the Ford Galaxy items as the Benz alloys are quite a bit thicker.






Not sure when I will get a chance to trial fit the wheels and tyres, but certainly looking forward to seeing them on and the first drive.

[flashed]

Rian , sorry to hear about Harley , seems I have been adopted by a stray cat for my shop . Have not been on much lately , had no internet for a week and been busy with work and truck stuff and the Youtube channel .

[aggie91]

Sorry to hear about Harley. Prayers for a smooth return to her glory! Cats are a special breed that as you said, can get deep into your heart. My Mom has 2 right now, as I don't get over to see her and Dad as often as I should, they are slow to let me interact with them. Thanksgiving, they did both let me pet them for a moment...progress I hope.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Rian , sorry to hear about Harley , seems I have been adopted by a stray cat for my shop . Have not been on much lately , had no internet for a week and been busy with work and truck stuff and the Youtube channel .

Thank you John.

I saw your one truck has come out again, liking it.

Your cat would have chosen you because it feels safe, and an affinity for you.

By implication you are a good man.

What colours is your cat?

Originally Posted by aggie91

Sorry to hear about Harley. Prayers for a smooth return to her glory! Cats are a special breed that as you said, can get deep into your heart. My Mom has 2 right now, as I don't get over to see her and Dad as often as I should, they are slow to let me interact with them. Thanksgiving, they did both let me pet them for a moment...progress I hope.

Thanks Karl,

Cars are weird, and they choose whatever they want to do.

They need to either trust you, or know you hate them, in which case they will come sit on your head.

As with all of us who have animals, we only wish the best for them.

Harley has been so valuable to me as shadow, buddy, therapist over time, and I selfishly want her for much longer.

But at 15 years old, she has had a good innings, and unfortunately life and old age does catch up.

She had half a minced up chicken breast last night and again started on one this morning, so I will continue to do whatever I can to make her comfortable



Taken one of my left over vacation days today.


Sally is off work too. Has 5 days in a row.


Mini road trip planned later, after I do some more online study modules.


Hopefully all will be good on the mini trip, with a result.


Still wet and cold outside.

[69 C10 LWB]

Rian, sorry to hear about Harley. I just had to say goodbye to one of mine for the same thing. Had a growth in his mouth that popped up over night. It was an aggressive cancer we were going to try and treat but he stopped eating before we could. It’s a hard thing to go through. Thinking of you both and hoping for the best.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 69 C10 LWB

Rian, sorry to hear about Harley. I just had to say goodbye to one of mine for the same thing. Had a growth in his mouth that popped up over night. It was an aggressive cancer we were going to try and treat but he stopped eating before we could. It’s a hard thing to go through. Thinking of you both and hoping for the best.

Thank you very much

Sorry you lost one too. Never fun.

Not sure where this is headed, but it seems The growth is fast

Harley won’t let one look either.

[Grizz1963]

Vacation today.

Lazy start.

Cat



Did some online training modules before we left.

Then headed down to New Romney in the Galaxy after getting a call from We Weld Engineering yesterday to collect the Chevy C10 parts that I dropped off on 4 November for blasting and priming.

When we got there, I loaded the parts.

Much more space than in Prozac of course.






Once all loaded, I paid for the work that had been done.

I was quoted at £30.00 per piece.

The job seems to have been done with a gentle, sensitive hand.



Once the job was paid for, Sally and I headed homeward via McDonalds, and I got us each a kids meal and coffee.




Check out the street name for heading home.



So then headed homeward via Morrison’s to get some food.

Then home to unpack the treasures.

[realvc]

Truck parts, looking good bro.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

Truck parts, looking good bro.

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh..... Yes.


Fooled you Vince.



Stand by.

[Grizz1963]

.




SURPRISE !!!



.






.


SOOOOOOOOOO..........?.



The question remains.....



What remained of the 53 year old “ex-CALIFORNIA TRUCK” ?



Answer: “A Lot Less than Expected”



My expectation was carnage, for it to be really bad after the sand blasting and primer, to prepare the parts for me to start cutting, welding, repairing and preparing it all for filler and paint ultimately.


But my expectations were EXCEEDED BY A MILE.


I will just post up a load of photos here of most of the damage and rust that needs to be sorted.


Unfortunately, the primer and late afternoon winter light, does not show the full extent of the damage.


NEW TO ME, INNER FENDERS.




One buckled, at least they have no rust, so hopefully hammer, dolly, heat will improve the look.



Drivers side fender.

Patch panels may not be big enough.






Passenger side. Some small dents up front to address.....





The rest of it though.......

I think I may be needing either a replacement used fender, or a half a used fender, or a pattern part, complete fender.

This will be interesting.



Very interesting






Sally seen here just finishing off saying a sentence starting with “Take your camera” and ending in “....gger off”

Hates photos.

But worth mentioning that she carried every part from the Galaxy down to the garage for me and stacked them like a man would, sensibly.

Front radiator support panel.

Spotless, not a speck of rust on it.

It makes sense, if the truck had some front end damage before being exported in 2004 from California, after a colour change, motor and trans change, that it may have received a new front panel.




Carrying on with the unloading and cataloging of the chaos.

Front panel damage, only this bit, needs a small panel made up and welded in, unless I found a piece off one.



Good overall, no further damage.



Doors, passenger side, replacement California door, bought a few years ago.



Drivers door upper damage where convoy mirrors must have been fitted before.



Drivers side lower leading corner.

Needs extensive metalwork.

Including filling the hole where the speaker hole was cut in before.



Mirror mount, needs much welding, Rivnuts, and dent repairs.





Lower drivers side rust.










So all unloaded and stashed in the garage.

My Christmas break pretty much mapped out then.





So there you go..........


Interesting.

[Palf70Step]

I always hate to see what is hidden beneath the paint and bondo of our old stuff. Most of it seems to be very repairable Rian. Those wings would definitely challenge my skill set though..

[realvc]

Put it back together as is and enjoy your truck on the road.
Find new or better parts and repair and replace as you go.

Hows that for a plan?

Oh, wait that's the plan for the 62 in my shop.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I always hate to see what is hidden beneath the paint and bondo of our old stuff. Most of it seems to be very repairable Rian. Those wings would definitely challenge my skill set though..

If it were not so cost
Y to bring in a wing or other bits, I certainly would look for new pattern or replacement parts, but add in all the costs and it becomes a bit costly.

So repair is the way.

Originally Posted by realvc

Put it back together as is and enjoy your truck on the road.
Find new or better parts and repair and replace as you go.

Hows that for a plan?

Oh, wait that's the plan for the 62 in my shop.

Morning Vince.

No way would I even attempt to reassemble a rotten truck now.

Only way is forward.



Bit of history here......

Been asked by a few people why I started the resto on the truck when it looked so shiny before.

Of course the results of the Blasting and etch priming kinda answers it. It was in much worse condition than the photos implied.



Harley in June 2013 when the Chevy landed, as always inspecting and ensuring my safety.

With restarting the truck resto now, I will miss her if she ends up not making it after Tuesday.



Currently I am feeding her 1/2 a chopped chicken breast twice a day which she is managing easier than the dry food or even her favourite Dreamies

This behaviour is also completely alien to her, only the last 10 days or so has she jumped onto kitchen units and been trying to drink from any cups in the sink, I now leave a cup of water for her..... she never used to do it, so another sign that all is not right.



So truck as it stands now.




Was chatting to my cousin in Cape Town yesterday about the cost of the blasting, at £240.00 for 8 pieces.

He felt it was a bargain, compared to the cost of my time and materials, as did I.

If you look at the other sides of panels and the Complexity of cleaning them up for repairs and paint, it would have taken a lot longer than 3 hrs per panel to clean and prime at £10.00 per hour.

Sally and I went down to the garage to grab some more detail pics yesterday.



Speaker hole needs to be closed up too as part of the repair work.



I think this will be interesting....

Yup, scares me.






Garage temperature this time of year stays between 0’C and 6’C if it warms up.

Yesterday was 3’C which obviously interferes a bit with working in there.

Hence the small caravan on the drive that can be heated really fast and is insulated to stay warm enough for welding and also for priming panels once welded and finished up.




Should be gooderer.... 😉

[Indian113]

I have those same style holes for speakers in my doors! I can't wait till I start welding in patch panels. Give Harley a little lovin for me makes me hug my Pups tighter.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

I have those same style holes for speakers in my doors! I can't wait till I start welding in patch panels. Give Harley a little lovin for me makes me hug my Pups tighter.

Thanks Ray,

You know how I feel about all animals.

So this girl really saddens me.

[Grizz1963]

Got a message from @forddan @mercdan last week to ask if I would be interested in a pair of used wing mirrors for the Galaxy.

Of course, and at £20.00 for the pair it was a no brainier.

So next thing he sent a pic with the message to say he had them.



This afternoon he called to ask if I was in a hurry, should he deliver.

Of course I said yes please and an hour later he was here in one of sin George’s cars,a hot little red Ford Fiesta, lowered and on alloys.

Delivered, Harley had to inspect, in spite of not doing too well.

One needs a new glass.



Covers need some paint.



After Dan left, I packed them away for future reference, well, after tomorrow as the Galaxy got dropped off this afternoon for a full service and new discs, pads etc.


Harley came and settled down on my leg, again, even the way she is sleeping, not the usual way.

Old age sucks.



Weekend over again, got a fire tonight, so the room is warm.

Thanks for checking in.

[Grizz1963]

Took the Galaxy in for a service today.

Remember when I bought the car, I was told the brakes were in desperate need of a service.

They were.having done about 250 miles since then they went very bad last weekend when I fetched the furniture for Sally.

Weirdly, I never noticed till I got home that there was a message on the dash “Service Now”

So I told the mechanic to run through it and address everything that needed doing.

A few pics.....

Dirty underside.



Rear brakes



Not good



Front end





Front pads.....



So new discs, pads fitted all the way around.




Digging around further, Ivan came up with some interesting surprises.....

Shock retaining washers and nuts......

Old and new.



Yup, it is dead alright.




Replaced and serviced parts have made the drive feel much smoother.

Not cheap, and actually more than I would have liked to spend, but now I seem to have a decent car again.

Oh, and lastly....

Dennis in St Louis sent through a pic of his service station.

Almost a Christmas card pic for men.





.

[Grizz1963]

Had the most amazing nights sleep.....


About 9 hours in total, not even what I get after jet lag.

Then an extremely slow start, Some laundry, clearing the house a bit and lazy breakfast.

And eventually carried loads of stuff to the garage.

Started on removing the Galaxy’s wing mirror.

The cold does not help, and neither does the fact that I have no idea how it’s all put together.

So rather than break clips or panel parts, I reassembled after a few minutes, and Torx suxx.



And started moving the Mercedes Benz wheels into the little caravan workshop, along with an electric oil finned heater and some small sanders.



More later.

[Grizz1963]

Feeling pretty chuffed tonight.

Started with refurbishing the wheels for the Galaxy today.

Using the free two berth caravan I got and prepared in October, I have managed to prep, prime, paint and clear lacquer the wheels obverse 8 hours, which included paint drying time, and a run to go fetch another can of etch primer.

Work table.



Hand held orbital sander made life easier.



All the damage sanded back



Four wheels done.



Ready for etch primer.



Typically, the etch primer I had was not as much as I thought there was, so Sally and I had to run down to Chatham to get some.



Got it.



Primer going down.





And done.

Oil heater doing it’s thing...... drying the primer while I went to make us dinner.



Decided to give it 90 minute to dry before going back to paint the silver on.