GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project~”

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Me on that bike, NOT.

I have ridden one of them, also rode a swing bike.

Interesting

[Grizz1963]

A few random bits.

Dennis put up a long distance telephone to support the call box.



One of my current favourite builds.

Started out with a rotted out VW Beetle.

BUILD THREAD AND MANY PHOTOS HERE:

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...-beetle-thread


Resulted in a prize winner.



Unseasonably hot weather has resulted in early harvesting out back behind my house.




Really good yields this year. Enough to waste too.



Even Harley was not enjoying it.

Seeking coolness on the lawn.




And after a stream or is that bunch of time wasters so far, I washed the Blazer this morning early and put it out front with the For Sale signs up.

You never know, you know.







Still a neat looking rear end.






.

[Grizz1963]

Today was a busy one.

We did loads, saw much, ate well.

And laughed a lot, visiting various friends

Bought, scavenged and collected stuff.

All I want to share is a bunch of kids toys seen really.


So off to Faversham for a market, and then visiting mate Neil nearby.

Saw one of these, would love too find one or more of them.



Council,offices, from a loooong time ago.




Decommissioned water pump.



Then my highlight of the day.











Love this one. Not for sale.



Loads more done, tools and machines collected, bought etc.

More later.

[Grizz1963]

Thursday I called a mate whom I do not get to see often anymore as my job has evolved and the territory changed

However some friendships are cemented in simple trust and knowing who has your back.

In this case, both of us know it.

After 45 minutes of catching up on travel, kids, dogs, cats and the rest, he randomly asked me if I had a trailer.

I thought he needed to borrow one, and said yes, I had a bike trailer with no sides, but he was welcome to it, and that I wished it had sides as it would possibly work better for him (he is not a biker, so would not be needing a bike trailer of course)

So he replied that he did not need a trailer, but had one, and did I need or want one.

He would send pics on Friday.

On Friday he sent these photos, and I realised I would happily offer it a home, so I asked him how much he wanted for it, to which he replied: A Handshake, drink a coffee with him, play with Max their new dog and collect the two litres of South African Brandy he has had stashed away for me the last two years.

Now I just need to get to collect the thing 30 miles from here, as none of my vehicles have a tow hitch.

@CraigRK May have to collect on my behalf on his way here to collect all the treasure he has at my place.







Friday night after a rough week at work my V8 addiction broke through and Sally and I needed to go for a decent drive in the Blazer

So off to my local, serviced gas station where they still fill your tank.



And then off......

Sally likes to take photos when I am not watching.



Eventually back home, I parked the Blazer up over the street, in case a potential buyer stopped to look.



On Saturday Sally and I went to Faversham to a street market, afterward we went to see mate Neil, who sold me my new welder a couple of years ago.
He also sold @CraigRK a 75 liter compressor while we were there, into the back of the Focus it went.

Then to the Isle of Sheppey to deliver the Radio Flyer race car to mate Aaron, and check out what he was up to.

He pointed out the small skip and mentioned stuff he had tossed in there.

Included was a good welders mask, about 20 hardly used micro fibre cloths bag, 200 very large black bin liner bags, and a load of random stuff I did pass on.

Micro fibres already washed and dried.

However............

This, came home from his workshop.



Complete Porta Power tool.

[Grizz1963]

Bootfairs were big today, both had large fields filled to the brim.

However, as @johnnybravo says, loads of Pink stuff.

For those who do not know Bootfairs, side view.



Some small wooden masks.



Managed to convince @CraigRK that he needed one of these.



Massive length of 3M double sided tape, cheap.



I love the romantic notion of Cuba, and the cars there, possibly linked to my current want, to change the Blazer for something older.

This picture cost me a whole 30p and it’s love.y.



And all together now......

Listed below.



So.

Lovely Vintage gate bolt for Craig 20p
Two small wooden masks for me £1.00
Ice trays for Sally 70p the lot
3M double sides tape Martin £2.00
Stars scarf for me £1.00
Cuban picture for me 30p
London Bus £1.00
Clay bottle for garden 50p
VW mug 20p
Extendable metal Shoe rack for Sally £2.00
“Radio Flyer” Cookie jar for Craig £2.00
Buy of the day for me. MEXICAN BLANKET £2.00



In other news, the “Hotrod Shopper Bike” I did a few years ago, came back from Mickey, headed to Craig’s caravan site.




Weekend almost over.

All that left is to go for another nice drive in the Blazer.

Yup, needs must.

[Grizz1963]

Rubbish Bootfairs today.

Two fields and only this.

Flamingo, Unicorn for a friend £1.00 pair.
4 Jack Daniels plectrums for Craig 5p each
JD harmonica £1.00
Wonder Woman toy 50p
Pedal bin new 50p
Bad taste bear £1.00
Lego keyring £1.00
VW bus photo stands 50p
Shopping bag new 50p



Did like these glass coasters. @50p the pair.

Pinups are always cool.



Been looking for a pair of Pinup cufflinks

Found a pair of Paul Smith for £2.00

[Grizz1963]

In other news.....

Remember last years USA Road trip included Andy in Oklahoma where we cast aluminium and Alu-Bronze.

He has been going on a bit more after I made a comment.

Posted this pic yesterday

Next up will be casting a gas pedal.

Certainly will be a Marmite thing, to love or hate.

[Palf70Step]

Kewl!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Kewl!!

Thank you mate.

I love it.




Just got a pic from Andy in Oklahoma

He did a first casting for a personalised Bigfoot Gas Pedal.

Due to being thin, long and metal setting too fast, it did not completely fill the mould.

However........

All is not lost in my world.

Being perfect imperfect it would be just right for a patina build.



No need to add damage or fake wear to it.

I love it.

[Palf70Step]

I like it.

[Grizz1963]

Sorry, Bit back to front.

https://youtu.be/ti_Y_xfEjBA

After casting the mould.
_____________

[Grizz1963]

Got a message from mate Dirk (Maverick) in South Africa.

He went back there a few years ago from a cushy London IT job to manage AVOOVA (Google it) and bring his kids up in Africa.

“Just bought this for the price of a pizza dinner with two beers for two in London today” was his message.

He and the boys are currently building a teardrop trailer, a VW Beach Buggy and living a carefree life.





He is also onto a very old Massey Fergusson tractor wreck for parts to use on his patina build.

What a Thames Trader used to look like.




In other news, Andy sent another teaser photo

His furnace getting a next melt ready.



Looking forward to the 2019 USA Road Trip now.

[Palf70Step]

That semi-cab-over is a kool looking truck. Should be a real nice project.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That semi-cab-over is a kool looking truck. Should be a real nice project.

He does not even know what he will be doing with it.

Just that the $60.00 price tag was irresistible and even if just yard art,mot another place for the boys to play, he will be winning.



And in other news.


Yup, it may be news for some of you.

@CraigRK and I are off on the 2019 USA 🇺🇸Road Trip.

THREAD HERE: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...ennis-reloaded


Will update as we go along as usual.

Plans include Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and a few more.

We will go wherever interesting takes us.

[Grizz1963]

Only one bootfair today.

Few bits.

New brushed cotton King size duvet cover for winter £8.00
Fender replica £1.00
Bear, new £1.00 (nice seller)
Toy 20p
Kitchen Knife 50p
Wood puzzle £1.00
Glass things £1.50/3
Hi-Viz vest 50p

[Grizz1963]

Out for a nice long drive and then home via Morrissons for gas and some food.

It’s really a pleasure now, only filling up gas and checking vitals, driving the rest of the time.

Every time I park it in a regular carpark I realise its large.





And home via a spot above Rochester and the Medway river.



The last part of the drive is dual carriageway and it keeps surprising me in how easily it approaches license threatening non-Warp speed.

Makes me smile.

Then of course reverse down the side of the house.

Done in one action.

Andy cast another gas pedal as he was not happy with the previous one.

Looks just fine to me.

[Palf70Step]

Looks good. I liked the fangled toe one too!

[flashed]

Love the Foots , You find the best stuff at Boot Fairs , cant believe the Blazer has not sold yet either . Been crazy busy over here with work and all .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looks good. I liked the fangled toe one too!

That one really appeals to me.

Especially if one did a patina build.

Originally Posted by flashed

Love the Foots , You find the best stuff at Boot Fairs , cant believe the Blazer has not sold yet either . Been crazy busy over here with work and all .

Thank you John

My eyes are always open.



For those interested in Mate Dirks Thames Trader cab he found.

Collection on Saturday morning at sparrows fart and then homeward







Unloading made easy if your friend says just put in some Diesel.












Dirk had hardly unloaded and the boys were straight in.

Even if nothing gets done, its a place to expand the imagination



And maybe less rust but certainly a Love it or Hate it car at a dealers.

[Grizz1963]

Right.........


Associated Charity time.


On our 2019 Road Trip Dennis, Craig and I will be visiting Clem and Kim Johnson in Fayetteville Arkansas again this year.

Trip reporting thread will be here:

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...ennis-reloaded

Unfortunately we are traveling too early by a month this year.

I have mode two of these amazing charity events in the past.


HOWEVER.....


I would still like to appeal to anyone who has the financial ability or inclination, to support Clem’s attempt to support for the Toys for Tots campaign in Fayetteville where he has yearly shindig with food, trucks and music at the Tuba Trucks workshop www.tubatrucks.com
Clem arranges and Sponsors a large part of it himself.

Toy Drive is described by Wikipedia as:

Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks.

More info here.

https://www.toysfortots.org/

So if you feel compelled to contribute a toy or support to the drive please contact Clem via Tuba Trucks website and email or call to establish how you can help.

Poster lifted from FB.




I do hope that those who can attend and bring a toy in October will do so and get to meet some amazing people in the deal.

[Grizz1963]

On my drive tonight.



Under the bonnet/hood.

Check out the paint.



Garage find after 12 years locked away.



Far from perfect, but certainly responded to all the attention it gets.




Looking for a very good tailgate, and an original, working Radio if anyone has a lead please.

[Grizz1963]

.


FFS !!!


I am getting old.

Had to use my Poundland reading glasses yesterday on the Blazer as I found it all a bit blurry.





The radio in the Blazer has been non functioning for some time, since it stopped working, and then when I investigated it, it became apparent that there was a mass of spaghetti behind and under the dash.

Included were household box junctions, crimped junctions, ducktape, twisted connections and to rop it all off.........

Yup, even some twin core flex, one assumes from a long discarded IKEA bedside lamp.

So yesterday afternoon after work, I decided to see if I could get me David Allen Coe ( Too rude to post on a family forum, but all over YouTube) CD out the machine and get it working.

Fixed the hooter button too, which for some reason had stopped working since last weekend when I used it on Sally.

Anyway, found a place for all the loose wires, reconnected them and the rest a bit more securely, and recovered my CD.

Now we can have music when not listening to the V8 burbling away.





Bank Holiday weekend and it certainly will be picking up more miles.


One more day to go work next week, then break and off to the USA

[Grizz1963]

2019 USA Road trip.....

Going to be interesting.

Who knows.......?

Been awake since 03.30

Spoke to Dennis and Craig earlier on.

Seems there are four guys on the trip now.

Our new driver.......



Loves Horsepower

Then



Now




More about how this is unfolding later.

[Grizz1963]

Just been down to the Thames river walking the dog.


Found this manifold in the water.


Question is “what is it from?”

[Grizz1963]

Big boot fair today, only one but good stuff.

Bought a tall wooden cat for my garden for £2.00



Sally clocked a Mexican blanket over a cars bonnet, I know the lady sells weird, random stuff but always stiff, hardly negotiable prices.
So took a pic, texted @CraigRK to counter offer whatever she wanted via WhatsApp, and showed her the offer.....

She wanted £5.00 which he was happy with, but he texted back £3.00 or £4.00.

She took £4.00 when I nagged, I know she was not overly impressed, but Craig got a cheap blanket for Ouma LiL http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...osedan-company



Between us Sally and I bought quite a few bits.

One of two of my favourite things was this riding crop, clearly old.

Note the woodwork, it’s a spiral, cut from one piece. @50p it was a bit cheap, and clearly has age.

Same seller sold me a beautiful military swagger stick for £1.00 covered in very fine leather I wish I knew someone who would love it as much as me.



Not at all everything we got, but some of it.

New IOM TT Races T-Shirt £1.00
Two Jack Daniels T-shirts new 50p each.
Mexican blanket £4.00
3 rolls of wide masking tape 50p for them all.
Riding Crop 50p
Swagger stick £1.00
Racing duck 20p
London scarf £1.00
Strawberry Glass bowls and holder 50p
4 Guineas coasters 50p
Dog toy dragon 50p




And as a “special treat” because I am heading to the USA next week, took Sally to Maccy D’s for breakfast.

Both of us on CCTV screen.




Then back home.

Next job, unpack and clean company car.
Remove personal stuff from Blazer. Potential buyer Tuesday.
Wash and hoover Prozac the Berlingo, MOT due 20 October so nice to have it clean for then.


Best part of the weekend......?


Public Holiday Monday.