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

[Grizz1963]

Weather forecast still not playing ball.

Nice morning view today.

Pretty privileged I think to have these.




Patiently waiting for the lowering stick.




Chilly outside.

[Grizz1963]

Not sure where this fits.

But I hate these stickers.

Love the idea.

[Grizz1963]

Side Update from St Louis, Missouri

Dennis has been quietly getting on with his NASCAR ‘66 C10 build.

Yesterday is was power steering pump bracket fabrication







Then brake bias setting







And still to be fitted.

Gas pedal, cast by Andy Martin in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Dennis.




More work to be done today by Dennis.

Current temperatures are well below the Zero degree mark.

Thankfully the workshop is heated.

[Grizz1963]

So Birthdays being what they are, Sally insisted she take me to lunch or dinner.

So we went in between.

I had a load of clothes and service manuals to drop off for Mind, one of the charities I support.

So we also took a walk through Rochester.

It was bloody freezing, as I only had a hoody and T shirt on, and the breeze was brisk.







Rochester Cathedral

Twice.





Medway river from Rochester Castle.

Cold but beautiful





Note the angle of the lean in this building.



Then down to Chatham for my late lunch of choice.

Turkish.

Mezze starters for two.



Followed by a pile of various meats on rice and also wheat.



Stuffed after all that, a coffee and chat, then headed home in the Galaxy via the gas station.

First time in years I have put 60 litres in a cars tank, except for the Chevy Blazer, which I used to keep topped up above 1/2 tank anyway.

Galaxy like a drink more than my daily 1.5 Diesel,Ford Focus.

All in all, a perfect birthday for me.

[Grizz1963]

Random update on my old 1963 Ford Taunus Transit van.

Now on hydraulics.


Some updated pics found out there.





V6 motorvation.








I do hope we see this back on the road soon.

.

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@mr2fc" source="/post/2567840/thread" timestamp="1580650441"]Is there a more impossible item to ferry about or manhandle than a cross-trainer? Heavy, awkwardly shaped, and every piece you think you can use as a handle suddenly moves as soon as you start to lift!

Horrible, horrible things...

...which do indeed make a decent clothes horse once finally in position!

Cough "springs" cough cough [/quote]


Ohhh you have hit the nail on the head there.

Weird movement, odd shape, tall and a PITA for sure.

But its done, I am not 100 sure that Prozac the Berlingo would have managed it.


Morning Guys.

Weekend came and went in a rush, none of the planned yard or garage jobs done, rain, distractions and life again saw to that.

I was a bit late taking this one.

For those who do like a sunrise or sunset.

This time of year we see multiple vapour trails from the planes headed to Europe and beyond.

Some days are better than others and the naked eye works best.


But here you go.

[Grizz1963]

Storm Dennis has certainly curtailed any weekend activity.

Nicola sent me some pics of Harley as a kitten.








My favourite



And moments later she pooped in the pot.



.

[Grizz1963]

Three months into Galaxy ownership it continues to do lots of little and bigger, dirty jobs.

Friday was of course Valentine’s Day.

Got home from work to find the recycling bags and wheelie bin was put away......

Nice girl, Sally, I thought.

Got indoors and saw this in the lounge.

Nice girl, Sally, I thought.

Took a pic and sent her a thank you, she would be over later.

Her reply?//

A cropped pic, showing the keys on top of the chocolates

My lodger moved out after two weeks notice.........

That would be it then.



Sally got a card, chocolate and four packs of muesli bars for work, oh, and I cooked dinner.

I got a card, and a cross stitched piece of embroidery.



This weekend was kind of significant, but Storm Dennis kept it wet and windy of course.

We met on the 16th February last year when she visited me on my driveway where I was cutting up pallets.

She brought cookies.

Working as a carer in the community her hair tied back etc, this was not a glamorous life, but she has turned out to be a real gem.

With Bear, her then dog.



So Saturday I started to cut up more of the branches from the plum tree, till the wheelie bin was full, and the rain came in hard.





I also unpacked a bicycle from the trailer a mate gave me last year.
I bought it in about 1998 as an insurance replacement.

It does need a new home though.



Random smile, sent by a friend in South Africa.




Back to the Galaxy.

I had not yet fitted the rear view mirrors I bought from @Mercdan yet, as dismantling the door in cold weather seemed a guaranteed recipe for snapped clips and plastics.
But last weekends storm managed to break off the passenger side mirror from its household silicone based perch.

So on Saturday morning early, I cleaned it all, and refitted it using a massive blob of said bathroom sealant and dictate to keep it in position while drying

Possibly the worst bodge repair of my life, but it held on a 10 mile trip yesterday and ultimately will get removed and thrown away when fitting the replacement unit.




Randomly seen in Catford.

One up on graffiti



Storm Dennis really battered us Saturday and Sunday with a lot of surface water about.

But at least we got a nice sunrise.




Sunday was a wet day mostly.

But I got one payback job done.

[Grizz1963]

Amazing how time flies.

May have mentioned it before.

Got an email two weeks ago that I needed to order a new company car.

In 2016 I managed to get permission to downgrade to a smaller, cheaper tax class car. But also one that the seats drop down. VS the BMW and Mercedes Benz of my job rank that cannot do that as both are sedans.

Since then, they have brought in the estate of the lower level car.

And I got permission again to downgrade (it now releases just over £1200.00 per year in Benefit in kind tax vs the car I qualify for)

But before just ordering one blindly, I really would like to see and inspect one, especially the rear load area.

My local dealer does not have one, and tbh do not seem interested in helping as it will be a fleet purchase of no value to them.


So I contacted the Lease Company (who have been incredibly unhelpful along with our transport department, “only doing their job”)



I got this email reply regarding my query about viewing a car.



WHAT THE ACTUAL F@£€????????


Good Afternoon

Yes I am well thank you – Hope you are as well.

In regards to being able to view the vehicle if your local Dealership doesn’t have an Estate for you to view, you can visit their website and build your own vehicle which will allow you to select the specific spec and view the vehicle.

Alternatively if you google the vehicle description this will bring the vehicle up.

Kind Regards

[Grizz1963]

Mate Andy Martin has been getting back to life after losing his wife last year.

This includes long road trips.

Last leg of this trip to get back to Tulsa, included a stop over at mate Dennis Jones’ place.

First pic was the guys sitting on Dennis’ tailgate bench outside the shop, chatting.





Andy inside the shop, helping Dennis with some stuff.





Of course, running out of air could prove tricky.

Outside Dennis’ Shell gas station.




Long distance call?



At these prices, Andy was quick to take the opportunity for cheap gas.







Couple of pics today from Dennis.

His 1966 NASCAR Chevy truck is coming together fast.





Pure Porn !!!





So by now Andy is back home on the farm, safely.


Weekend over too.

[Grizz1963]

I cannot remember what I shared and who is up to date with the Blazer after I sold it the day before heading out to America last year.

It got picked up, along with a Camaro on a transporter and got taken to Herefordshire

From there both cars went in for a bit of a make over.

Body and paint.






Note all the old colours coming through.

Hugger orange, original blue and the white plus primer.




A few days later the change was notable.


.

[Grizz1963]

When I bought the Galaxy, the old guy said that the battery was suspect and at three weeks it would struggle but start the car.

Knowing this, I have used it at least every week or two since then.

However, possibly for the last two weeks it has stood with cold rubbish weather possibly not helping.

So an hour ago I tried to start it, almost but no cigar.

So it needs a new battery.

Euro car parts have an ongoing or intermittent 50% discount offer

Opinions on what to buy or not, pretty sure some brands may be only European.

I do prefer cheap/sensible pricing.



Thank you.

[Grizz1963]

A few days later........



Suddenly different.

[Palf70Step]

Glad you got the brakes squared away. Normally one of the first things I always address on a "new" (well new to me) vehicle. Almost always I think I find the same condition.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you got the brakes squared away. Normally one of the first things I always address on a "new" (well new to me) vehicle. Almost always I think I find the same condition.

I would say that’s a sensible approach Bill.

[Grizz1963]

Well, it ended quietly, with compassion and dignity.

I know not everyone cares about animals, and that’s fine too.

But the last ten years Harley has been a companion and friend to me, always a shadow and near me in the garage or wherever I was working. More dog than cat.

An aggressive oral cancer, which filled half her mouth in two weeks so that in the end she could not eat or drink.

Commando Surgery on a 15 year old was not an option.

I hope these pics make you smile as they certainly did me.



Inspecting Prozacs contents.





A seeker sunbug for sure.







Forum story proof reader.Quality Control.



Melted cat on the hottest day of summer.

[69Tom]

Really sorry to hear Rian. Had to put down one of my dogs last month, so know how it feels. RIP Harley.

[realvc]

Hey man, so sorry for your loss.
It seems so strange in a way that we get so attached to these creatures.
Then in another way it is not so strange at all.
Death is really an extention of life but on another plane.

Take care, bro.
Still praying for you, your bro.

[69 C10 LWB]

Rian, so sorry to hear this. I can’t say anything to make it better but hopefully you can take a little comfort in knowing that you did the right thing and the only thing you could to help him.

[Palf70Step]

Sorry to hear the news Rian.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

Really sorry to hear Rian. Had to put down one of my dogs last month, so know how it feels. RIP Harley.

Sorry to hear that too that you lost a friend.

Dogs sometimes feel more human to me, closer, more emotionally connected.

Harley was half dog for sure

Originally Posted by realvc

Hey man, so sorry for your loss.
It seems so strange in a way that we get so attached to these creatures.
Then in another way it is not so strange at all.
Death is really an extention of life but on another plane.

Take care, bro.
Still praying for you, your bro.

Agreed Vince, and thank you.

Originally Posted by 69 C10 LWB

Rian, so sorry to hear this. I can’t say anything to make it better but hopefully you can take a little comfort in knowing that you did the right thing and the only thing you could to help him.

She was a faithful companion for a long time, the least one can do is not being selfish.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Sorry to hear the news Rian.

Thanks Bill, Thank you all for your comments and PM’s

She was certainly part of my life and made sure anyone who visited here was given the security check over and then welcomed as family.

Some animals just fit in well.

And she was part of the forum, often by her own insistence, to be in cars, the wood shop, garage etc.

The house is certainly quiet without her being around me, talking, to me constantly, waking me at 5.30 for her breakfast etc.

And it will be quiet going forward.

But we get over this sort of thing.

The memories and many moments of laughter she induced will stay.




Interesting to see Photophukit has killed a bunch of recent photos again.

Not sure if anyone else has experienced that.



Almost the weekend.

[60chevyjim]

Hi Rian I am very sorry to hear about Harley . our fur family's bring us special times that we will all ways remember them by. each one has it's own special place in our heart.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 60chevyjim

Hi Rian I am very sorry to hear about Harley . our fur family's bring us special times that we will all ways remember them by. each one has it's own special place in our heart.

All are unique for sure.

Some just more than others


Photophukit seems to have a mind of its own right now.

Nicola sent a few more pics of Harley that I suspect many of you will enjoy too.



Loved a fire, also fearless of them, like with power tools.




Surfing the web.







Sweet innocent cat.




And where this story really started

December 2010 when I moved to this house and bought the Sachs Madass.

Security checked by her.




And a final good bye from Harley the Fearless.

Set up in her new job now........

A happy girl.




The house has been empty for sure, and one sees her and looks for her in all the places she should be.

She will be missed,

[Grizz1963]

Earlier this week a big or important part of the “build” arrived in the post.

Microphone for the Bluetooth telephone system and radio.

Will get fitted as soon as there is a bit of decent weather and time.



More than to happen.

[Palf70Step]

Nice work. Looking forward to seeing the finish with the silver paint.

You get your new-new replacement center caps yet?