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

[Ta2Don]

Getting Closer!!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Getting Closer!!!

LOL.... Yes, I guess it is.

Just ordered a 4 foot Argon shield bottle from Martins mate. £55.00 first bottle, then £33.00 per refill.

[Grizz1963]

Got an hour in with the build.

Where I cut the cabinet shorter I needed to cover up the gash before I ended up with a gash.



Cut the top off the top of the door I had removed.



Welded it together, and also closed the holes on the top of the frame and rear of the front face.

You will see the front face standing 10mm higher than than the rear. This will allow me to add a section of 18mm ply to the top to give a solid base to add whatever ends up there in the end.



Wood cut but not mounted on top.





I got a text from JoeM this week to offer me a small winding handle to use as the "power switch" on the side of the cabinet. Still thinking about it, bt it is much nicer than the door handle I was going to make fit.



Rummaging for some bits of wood I found this death trap in the back of the garage.

Should probably get rid of it, I have no medical insurance.



Hope to get back to it for a few hours on Sunday as the rest of the week and weekend is booked up, including a small road trip to Battersea at 06.00 on Saturday, involving a 1969 Chevy Chevelle rear bumper, due to be part of another project later on.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Rummaging for some bits of wood I found this death trap in the back of the garage.

Should probably get rid of it, I have no medical insurance.



Hope to get back to it for a few hours on Sunday as the rest of the week and weekend is booked up, including a small road trip to Battersea at 06.00 on Saturday, involving a 1969 Chevy Chevelle rear bumper, due to be part of another project later on.

DeathTrap...

Another Project needing a chevelle rear bumper...

[Grizz1963]

Went down to the garage tonight, but in the end gave up as phone and texts from USA, Canada and South Africa kept interfering.

So all I got to do was just set up the dial to establish position, as well as hanging a vacuum cleaner hose and my one nozzle from the side of the cabinet.

Made me smile......



Really want to get on with stuff, but I guess life does get in the way sometimes.

[bj383ss]

Looking Good Rian. Sorry I wasn't able to answer today you called during one of my meetings. Maybe next time.

Bret

[Ta2Don]

Glad you're getting Positive results on da job, and the pump is looking good...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Looking Good Rian. Sorry I wasn't able to answer today you called during one of my meetings. Maybe next time.

Bret

Hi Bret, no problem.

I will try to call when the 5/6 hour time difference does not get in the way.

I can really only use "Face Time" when I am at home, or McDonalds so that I can use the free WiFi signal, like I do when I call Ta2Don or Kieth in Oklahoma

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Glad you're getting Positive results on da job, and the pump is looking good...

YUP !!

That day had me buzzing for two days, just on my way into London for the day again.

Sure we will chat over the weekend.

[Grizz1963]

On Retro-Rides there are some very talented people, one is Bruce "Mystery Machine" and he commented recently about the designs I had floating about, and that he had something in mind, so I asked him to show me what he thought, after a couple of texts and PM's he submitted these designs below for me to play with.

Thank you for making up these designs Bruce. I suspect they will be running about in my head for the next few weeks/days to get closer to an idea for which colour combo and graphics to go for on the pump, based on these designs.

I have always loved the Sinclair Oil Corporation logo's and colours, so they are on my short list.

I also love the "New Brand" colours in the blue and red, with the Blue circle surrounding the logo.

I think that it would look great with a Blue dominant pump housing, and then some white and red details, and some lines, graphics running diagonally from bottom left, across to about 40% of the height, to cut below the 3 dimensional metal star that will probably end up on the front of the pump, spaced below the dial face.
Alternately, a dominant Green, like Sinclair but with different width stripes running horizontally below the star.

I will have to see how it pans out, as the pump evolves.

Fresh, Crisp "New Brand" is my current favourite.



Sinclair colours, my number two right now.



Number three choice currently



And not the worst, but currently least favourite as I cannot yet add it into a mental picture of the completed pump.




Of course, colours like the GULF Oil are instantly recognizable as well, and I love them, but it is a toss up between the classic, retro feel for a 1940-50's replica pump in Sinclair type colours or a crisp new design for a brand that does not exist.

I guess time and some of you guys will tell.


The other bit of action from the last few days includes a PM from Bryan up north that he had seen an offer for some 1930's lamp glass.

He replied and got this glass, decent sized, and also adding in a different dimension if I end up using it, a vertically mounted, forward facing Pump Globe.
I would have vinyl stickers or transfers made up to add to the front of it.



See his hand for size perspective.



And lastly, I stopped in at a scrap metal merchants on the way to work, looking for something to still try create the right size of zero-ing or power handle to fit to the side, the way I remember them as a kid on pumps.

Found an old Victorian Bath tap/Shower control and stripped some bits off it.

I think the white porcelain "bead" and it's nut could just make the handle, once I create a crank, I am also trying to think of how I can use the shower head rest, and the other bit of brass that was the handle to a fire place companion set stand.



This weekend is filled with stuff, but no time set aside for the pump build, so not sure when the next update will be.

In the mean time I am looking forward to your opinions, and advice as to what colours and designs to go with.

[Ta2Don]

Gotta agree with your choices so far… Being the age I am , my bias points to the 2cd choice...

That's my opinion thus far…

Have a Great Weekend Grizz!

[Grizz1963]

Weekend's here !!

Thought I would post up this pic of one of the pumps that I saw on sale recently to demonstrate where some of my thinking comes from.

Firstly, the little crank arm/lever on the side.
This was used to zero the pump if I know correctly, and I seem to think it also turned the pump on for the next customer.

That is why I am trying to put one together.

Secondly, something not mentioned on here yet, is the small glass dome in the middle front, when I was a kid, the Mobil pumps in our town had those on the side, and they had a "screw" like a propeller turning and you could see the petrol in it when you were pumping petrol. I want to try get hold of a MkI Landrover or Mini Park/side light lens which looks similar to it, and fit that to the side of the pump or on the front.

Lastly, the ally trim on this pump is a bit rough, but I like the idea of a bit of polished ally detail.




On the way home today I stopped at out local pub, The Fenn Bell, and asked Terry the landlord, who breaks caravans that contractors leave behind in his caravan park (Previously bought a Zig Unit for the Grizz-Pod from him) before burning the rest, if he had any aluminium trim, which he sells as scrap metal. So he took me around the back of the pub for a rummage and we came up with this, unfortunately in bad shape, as it gets stripped for scrap not restoration. The little louvers will possibly go to the bottom of the cabinet when I find a vertical compressor. Hopefully the strips polished up will yield one length to use as embellishment on the front of the cabinet.



I tried the red fire hose reel tonight as well, not sure about it vs the black vacuum cleaner pipe but it could work with red in a colour combo.



I made the top plank onto which the globe will be fitted, fit better tonight, then started making the nozzle retainer plate. I looked for a thick piece of ally to machine into shape but found nothing...... so step up plywood.



Also recessed it a bit, still need to make up the bottom hook/rest onto which the nozzle sits.

Then gave it some coats of white paint as a base.



Followed by two coats of silver paint, to create the illusion of having an ally plate there.



That was it, up early to go fetch a 1969 Chevelle rear bumper for another project.
Then off to Nicola's dads place with some garden tools and a chainsaw.

[Ta2Don]

That Faux Ally plate is

Great Job!!!

[bj383ss]

I can't wait to see what the Chevelle bumper is for!

Bret

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

That Faux Ally plate is

Great Job!!!

Not perfect, but good enough from 5 meters.

Originally Posted by bj383ss

I can't wait to see what the Chevelle bumper is for!

Bret

I was going to tell you on Face time Bret, but seems we are a bit out of sync at the moment.


"If nobody wants it, I will take it to the tip in two weeks time"

Well, of course I sent a PM, to say that if nobody wanted it, I would have it, rather than see it on the tip.

So after two weeks I got the PM to say "Nobody mate, It's your's"

Of course this meant being up at 05.30 to leave home by 06.15 for a very Mini-roadtrip...... 39 miles that should take 90 minutes each way.

Arranged to pop over early on Saturday morning, woke at 04.00 and left as planned.

Ultimately, I got very lucky in both directions, there and coming home as it only took an hour each way.

When I got there, this was parked outside.



Went indoors, and by 07.30 Dr David had made me a great cuppa coffee, and we sat chatting about just about everything......we will hopefully have a BBQ some time and also meet up at Wheels day.

So of course, some of you will know what I went to fetch.... set under the good doctors feet.



A rough-ish rear bumper from a 1969 Chevelle SS 396ci





It is even larger than I had thought, but should be perfect for the project I have in mind.

Answers on a post card please.


Went to movies with Nicola tonight, and after movies at 20.30 got a text from Martin, he had organised some Argon/CO2 mix gas for us.
£55.00 deposit once off on the bottle, and £36.00 per fill. No contracts. Perfect.

This means I am a step closer to actually welding with the Argon shield I want to use on the truck.



SOOOON I will be starting the strip down on the truck and cutting rust etc.

But the plan is to do Wheels Day (where Top Gear is filed for our American brothers) first before I take the truck off the road.

[Ta2Don]

We will require pics of the Wheels event...

Glad you got the Argon bottle sorted… Looking forward to some deconstruction progress...

Cheers Mate!

[Grizz1963]

Went out scavenging this past weekend for bits for the petrol pump build.

Saw this deep in a yard.



Interesting.




This is the scrap pile for a housing agency....

Popped in on the way home and was offered the whole thing for a £30.00 donation to a local charity vs it going for scrap.

It has a good steering set up and a decent chassis.
However the rear wheels are independently driven by motors.

This may just be the foundation for an adult sized "Tot-Rod"

Whatcha think ???


Just found a couple of pics of the motor and drivetrain I have been offered for the collecting about 100 miles from here.

Thiis was a project started by a group of guys early in 2011 and would have been awesome if life did not get in the way.










So there you have the basics of what may be the start of a next project once some of the other current ones have been completed.

While out scavenging I found this hood support arm/bracket which may become part of the pump nozzle support.



Painted the undercoat on both inside and outside.



And also mocked up a bit more.

Tried out the idea of a cut out star.

[Grizz1963]

Thought I would post up a bunch of photo's Nicola took today.

I washed the truck and got it ready for Wheels day, and the Chatham Steam and Traction Festival over Easter weekend.









Change is good ??









One of my favourites.

The sky was really good as well.



Clever camera.



Out on the Isle of Grain.





After Easter the teardown will start.

[Grizz1963]

Ohhhh, and I recorded the sound of the truck, Nicola operating the camera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXAI...lt8TvG8KEwT5Kg

And another

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Sq...lt8TvG8KEwT5Kg

Free entry tickets in the post today as well..... that is good

[mjh1965]

Very nice pictures and like you I got my tickets for the show in the post today
Once again thanks for the help with the bonnet (hood) today

[Ta2Don]

Stealing Pic 9 for a wallpaper pic

Great Work Nicola...

Diggin' the Videos...

Looking forward to Show Pics!

[bj383ss]

Awesome Pics Rian. I am looking forward to your teardown. I know you don't want the truck to be off the road too long so should be interesting.

Bret

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

Very nice pictures and like you I got my tickets for the show in the post today
Once again thanks for the help with the bonnet (hood) today

Always a pleasure mate.

And I get to play with your dogs without having to clear up the poop.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Stealing Pic 9 for a wallpaper pic

Great Work Nicola...

Diggin' the Videos...

Looking forward to Show Pics!

She has a good eye and the "new" camera is very good for a compact instant digital.

Videos are long overdue.

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Awesome Pics Rian. I am looking forward to your teardown. I know you don't want the truck to be off the road too long so should be interesting.

Bret

Hi Bret

You are right, I do not want the truck off ther road for too long.

Actually looking forward to getting started and then of course finished.

[Grizz1963]

Sometimes 10 inches is enough......

Found this complete opaque glass lamp at IKEA last week.

Photo does not quite show proportions right, but I am happy with it, and once I get some signwriting sorted out for it, it should complete that part of the build.



Perched on top of a wood wax tin.



Hope to get back to this over the weekend.

[Grizz1963]

The yard manager where I bought the disability scooter last week said I was welcome to come take a rummage in their scrap pile, as they clear out many properties every week after dirty scummy people vacate......

Today I popped in on the way home and found a pile of broken and misused tools, including these 1 inch ratchets of a large size. Both are slightly knackered, but I gave one to Martin and have kept one for myself, the side cutters are for the Mig welder.
Plan is to see if the ratchets can be serviced back into useable condition, if not, their heads will be welded into position and they will become "force tools"



While I was there, I also removed this old sign from a pole in the pile...... very pleased with it (an no real idea why I like it so much, but it will go up on the side of the shed)

[Grizz1963]

Restarted work on this today, as the last couple of weeks were a bit busy.

Yesterday I sealed all the insides of the welds with silicone.

Followed this morning by a skim of filler over all the welds.

After which I started block sanding the filler till Mickey popped around looking for some old Whitworth threaded nuts..... and he commented "why don't you use an orbital sander to speed up the job?" Which I then did.



Nicola brought me some coffee down to the garage and took this pic.



Once the sanding was done, I mocked up again, using a printed STAR word, but still not sure what I need to add to make this front end look right.



After I cleaned up everything, I gave the front panel it's first coat of paint as well.