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

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

You have a guy building what looks like a postal truck and you are picking up postal crates. There seems to be a postal theme going on here

I offered him some, he agreed they may look cool somewhere in there.

I doubt he would,though.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Still, if he wants some, he is welcome.



Well, sometimes it pays to be kind.

I don’t do it for any other reason, than it not affecting me, if one or two or three people eat dinner.

So my new welder lodger has settled in well, he and Sally get on well, take the pee with me etc.

I cook most nights as I work from home with Covid-19 and Sally who gets up at 4.15 for work, eats here, so when Andy moved in three weeks ago, it was no skin off my nose to offer him dinner when we eat, he likes spicy food, we doo, so no wasted food as shops often pack and sell in odd numbers as they know it forces double up buying so you can get an even number of portions, vegetables are cheap too.....
Tossing laundry in the machine works the same way even though these things are not included in the lodging cost, makes no difference to me.

Anyway, this weekend he went home to see his wife and son and also his parents.

Monday night he came in from work bearing gifts, these were stashed in his dads garage from various previous contracts over the years where he gets issued with new tools per contract, that then never get used as the ones he has in use are perfectly fine. So he just stashes the spares or used ones and at the end of contract stuff gets skipped.

In fact, when he moved in here as contract manager and backup welder to the current contract a week before it started, he borrowed two 1/2 inch drives and a few sockets from me as there was stuff to be done but no tools on site, again, not really a problem when stuff comes back.

So now I have a brand new 1.0 meter breaker bar (was needed when I tore down the C10 and Blazer) and a 38mm socket plus some files and a small square (mine was stolen a long time ago)

Chuffed.





Karma?





And another random happening from this week.

I do love it when people pop in unannounced when I am at home, this working from home thing sucks and is a bit lonely at times.

So the doorbell rings and it is Charlie, the local farmer who historically used to call me to see if I or Nicola my ex wanted to go drive the combine harvester in the back field when harvesting (thing drives itself really)

“Got time to boil the kettle?”

So a quick coffee and a risk and he is off to fill up his tractor and get back to work.

When your company car does not fit on the drive.....





More later.

[Palf70Step]

That is a hair taller than my John Deere.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That is a hair taller than my John Deere.

It is on tall wheels too.




So once the wall and roof to @PaulY ‘s annexe was complete, the next step was to paint the inside



Followed by shelves cut from some recycled skirting boards and old freezer baskets.





Then cement paint all the blocks to get the pores filled and it all looking uniform







Colour match the shelf supports, brown to the left, white on the right.



Once the cement had dried, follow up with white paint, thanks to the clearing out Mickey took me along for.



Resulting in a very bright white wall.



More jobs to do of course, but they all need to fit inbetween the day job tasks.

Or mostly, after work.

[Palf70Step]

Looks good Rian!

[aggie91]

New wall looks great! Not to call you out on anything, but go back and look at post #4410, there is a picture of a guy that looks like you with the mixer, that guy is wearing socks and shoes...lol... That was what I was talking about on my last post. I don't think I have seen you work (yard/house work) in anything but flip flops...

I started in again on getting my '65 back on the road. I have started putting the next engine together and getting misc. wiring done now that I have my second bathroom functional!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

You have a guy building what looks like a postal truck and you are picking up postal crates. There seems to be a postal theme going on here

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thanks Bill

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

New wall looks great! Not to call you out on anything, but go back and look at post #4410, there is a picture of a guy that looks like you with the mixer, that guy is wearing socks and shoes...lol... That was what I was talking about on my last post. I don't think I have seen you work (yard/house work) in anything but flip flops...

I started in again on getting my '65 back on the road. I have started putting the next engine together and getting misc. wiring done now that I have my second bathroom functional!

Hey Karl !!

Well spotted.

I had to really gp back and do a forensic reconstruction here.

It was on the 20th June.

I had the big grinder out to cut the block wall.

Not much good but made me feel safer.

Good spot though.

[Grizz1963]

Some lunch time digging, next post foundation.

1000x1000x1000mm Concrete








Then mixing and casting concrete.

Amazing how much concrete goes into a cubic meter.





Of course Andy the lodger enjoys this whole process too.



And cast and done.



Rain followed play too.

[Palf70Step]

I keep wondering if I should go back to steel toed shoes when I am in the shop, but if the tenny runners work for Rian, than I am safe.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I keep wondering if I should go back to steel toed shoes when I am in the shop, but if the tenny runners work for Rian, than I am safe.

Bill, its all relative, for some jobs, I do wear real steel cap boots or trainer shoes, but most is a risk assessment and get on with the job.


Well, it is Saturday morning.

Slow start.

Honeysuckle is gathering speed, growing up the big pine tree.





In Siberia life goes on, some random pics from Stas.





Greetings from the man.



Katya had her 35th birthday recently.

Still the best looking honorary member on here.



In the mean time, Covid-19 is screwing up their lives too.

This week I also cut two freezer baskets down and created some bird proofing fo ether vent holes.

Plus adding some of the discarded USPS boxes on the shelves.




Plus removing the spacer board for the post mounting points.



Cleaned up.



And ready to be paved around until the posts are cut down to the right height and welded back together by pro welder Andy with his special machine.



Had some rain this week, and even half an hour after it stopped, two long puddles show that the paving needs lifting up, and re-laying to get it all level.





All of the highlighted paving must be lifted, relaid and also new added where there was none before.

One of today’s jobs.



Mate Fil from Cambridge came down yesterday to collect and drop off stuff.

He also collected a load of the postal boxes to be redistributed nationally to those needing some storage solutions.

More in there than it seems.
‘


Score of the day on FB Marketplace to be collected after 3.00pm.

£10.00 each, lodger Andy can do a full industrial weld on them to create a useable length.



Total length will work on structure.



And lastly, same sunset, 40 minutes apart.





Later.


.


.

[Grizz1963]

Sunset last night.....

I was still contemplating giving the bootfairs a miss after the last few weeks.



Woke at 04.00 and dozed till 05.40 then got up, made Sally a coffee as she stayed over after dinner and a glass of wine......

Then headed out by 06.10

First blood went to Craig who is away camping with the family at the coast.

£3.00 and the seller would not budge.

Seems it is a bit rare, I certainly never saw one before.







Next up was this, like new, balance bike for Sally’s grandson.

At £2.00 it has to be a bit of a bargain.



My last purchase, a vintage Red bulkhead light was a bit of a bargain at 50p

Really like it.



Then some rubber and fabric gloves at 50p/pair.

Got 12 pairs for £5.00

And my winner for the day.

A guy selling everything in lots of £1.00 per item......

A plastic box with 12 nylon trolley castor wheels..... half of them braked, half fee running, and also in the box an air driven drill chuck with chuck key, perfect for tungsten carbide tipped bits to use when filing down welds or reaming holes.




So after wanting to walk away from bootfairs, they redeemed themselves again today.

Now back to block paving.

[Grizz1963]

Thought I would check the price of the little balance bike.

Ouch !!

[Grizz1963]

Mirror on Freecycle today.......


Guess her cleaner is coming after Covid restrictionists release us.


Look at the background.

[Grizz1963]

Quicky before work starts in earnest.

Saturday.

No going back.



Prep

Added two wheelbarrow loads of sand to exposed areas to get levels back to where I wanted them.





Starting with the easy part.....

Border.



That was it.

I needed to spend time with Sally who never complains.

Sunday update later.

.

[The Rocknrod]

Nice work.
Is that clump of trees and dirt behind the white wall there to hide the house from the shop?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Nice work.
Is that clump of trees and dirt behind the white wall there to hide the house from the shop?

Spot on, and it is known as the “secret garden.”

When I was married, we had three cats, they loved it.

Many visitors do not realise there is a pile of stuff and my shop behind there.

[Grizz1963]

So Sunday Bootfair delivered very well, depending on what you needed.

Facebook Marketplace also came up with these two chunks of steel.



£20.00 for the two.

Having an industrial welder for a lodger...... priceless.

Galaxy doing it’s thing.



So back to the job in hand.

When paving with different thickness stones, it adds to the magic.



Started on one end.

I never wear hats or caps, but the sun was hot.





Takes time



The sun, and not sleeping well and many other excuses, eventually caught up with me and I sat down to rest, just when Sally came back from her home.

So I started again, but she could see I was losing the will to live, and starting to hurt.

So she said that if I levelled the sand and told her what to do, she would pack the now thicker blocks for me.....

She can also fold in half while standing straight up, unlike me, who has to go on my knees as my back is so knackered



We called it a day by 5.15 and closed shop and cleaned up.

Went indoors where I had a few beers to rehidrate and she left to go cook her uncles meals for the week, and prepare for Monday getting back to work.

After she left, I went down to the garage again and started to fit in the small cut triangular sections down the side by the hedge.

Not easy sitting still by 7.00pm, way too early.




Much better


.


Also got offered an 8 year old cat looking for a home.

Called Kitty....... I thought many other names would be more descriptive



Tempting.

I asked a few questions.

Got some answers.



Also realised, the cat was there long before the dog.

WHY do people dump animals when they get bored or a newer one comes in.

Tempted, but the road outside is a fast, dangerous road.

We got lucky with all our three rescue cats surviving to full ages ranging between 17.5 and 16 years.

Sweet dumb Dukey, got caught twice when we tried to capture a terrorising feral cat that came indoors to create havoc.



No introduction needed.

Missed many days, she would have loved all this building work.



And Granny Tabitha who made 17.5 years.



So the question is, would Lucifer survive here, would she/he be happy here (I think so)

Would it screw up my life more than I want it to be.


.

[Grizz1963]

So Monday I actually took an hours “lunch break” and went to carryon for a bit moreof the cutting in.

Amazing how little you get done in an hour.





Then after work by 5.00pm I was out there again.

Loads of small complex cuts, trimming etc to do saw me progressing.

Hated the job by this point.



Had already unloaded the compacter from its wheelbarrow earlier so started it up. First pull it fired up. What a pleasure.



Some serious compacting to get it all blended and the stones set before sanding the joints.





One spot I knew would be a bit different was the recycled pavers.

Different textures and colour but they will blend in.



After pressure cleaning them all it looks as good as it will get.

Happy with that.



Its a lot of work to have gotten two post foundations in and to move a wall 500mm but the rewards should be worth it once the posts and roof go up.

I noticed the little orphan side garden is really coming into its own too.



Later.

.

[Palf70Step]

Nice work Rian. I am now tired seeing what all you did!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice work Rian. I am now tired seeing what all you did!

Laughing here Bill.

Sometimes I was ready to give up, but it was not an option.




I know most of you dont like food, so thought opening with a bit of food made sense.

On Wednesday after work I cooked some ribs and oven chips for myself and Andy the lodger, Sally had stuff to deal with at home, so skipped dinner.

2kg of ribs became this after 70 minutes at 180’C
30 minutes on the bone side, and 40 minutes on the meaty side.

Serve and enjoy.





Back to the carport job.

Went up to the farm to drop off some more unused hardcore on their pile.

Walked around the pile and saw this marble lintel that’s been there for years.

I had asked Charlie the farmer about it before and he had said yes I could have it, only problem is a 5 foot long lump of granite weighs a fair amount.

Now with the current progress and changes here, I thought it is time to try get it here again.



Also found a birdbath stand or who knows what you want to put on it......



As always there is still stuff to do,

I need to band the paving at the edge, and also recast a bit of the driveway that I broke out.



While I started mixing the banding cement, Andy carried on with the rather large RSJ cleanup and weld.





What a pleasure watching a pro weld......

Once he strikes an arc, it just goes on till the rod runs out, or he gets to the end of the run.







Joined up, welded all sides.



Then added some more bracing.

Totally over engineered without doubt.





And finally some galvanising spray over all the grinds and welds.



And cement and concrete work done and cleaned up.



Chicago Town Stuffed Crust Cola Pizza and nice seasoned fries as a quick n easy dinner.

Along with maybe more beers and most of a litre of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey.

No regrets.





Weekend soon.....

[Paul Y]

Nice work as always Rian.

P.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

Nice work as always Rian.

P.

Thanks Paul,

You are generous with your praise.

I am happy with function over form, and sometimes taking a clever photo can fool the crowds too



Bestest £2.00 ever spent on a little guy.

Loves it.

To him it is a challenge and a toy, not £2.00 vs £119.99



Seems he was on it all afternoon.



Andy the lodger bought Chinese take away last night, pub over the road looking very smart.



Clearing up time at garage to make space for working later.

BBQ Tonight.

T-Bone steaks and some Kofte Kebabs

[Grizz1963]

Bootfair sucked to a large extent.

Got a pack of 10 pairs of red, rubberised grip, fabric backed gloves for £2.00 that I gave to Mickey as he will always share if he gets stuff, and I know he is mostly out of gloves recently.

Also a bobbing head dog for £1.00

Home by 7.30

[Grizz1963]

So this week I have been kinda held back a bit.....

By what I assume is a bacterial skin infection on my nose and one eye.

Possibly from the sand and cement work, wiping my nose when there were Thunderbugs about, and with a grain of sand cutting my skin microscopically.

Started off on the tip of my nose, feeling like a pimple developing, red, sensitive.

Eye scratchy, maybe a sty ?

Ignored it but by Tuesday things were turning nasty and the tip of my nose looking like Pinocchio was a relative, and seemed like cellulitis, eye sore enough to go get eye drops.

Thursdays I actually felt quite rubbish, and by 10.00am on Friday I called in sick, also called my GP surgery that was closed down by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) on the 24th June for posing a threat to patients.

So I got a telephonic consultation at 4.45 booked with a covering Locum.

It took all of 6 minutes to have antibiotics prescribed and some eye ointment that I am clearly allergic to, based on one photo I had sent to the practice.



It looked and felt worse by Saturday but I am hoping the antibiotics work.

So my building type work has been scaled down a bit for a few days, and I am wearing shaded safety glasses outside, as it helps with the glare of the sun.



As is known by now, randomness here is often just to share some of the treasures on your dooorsteps, or to even broaden your horizons.


Saturday morning 08.00 Sally and I ran down to Chatham High street in the Galaxy to buy some stuff at our two favourite Turkish food shops.

Prices are better, and the selection is great.

I also love being able to select and order my cut of meat in a real butcher.

So a BBQ for us and Andy the welder/lodger was on the cards.

T-Bones ordered, slightly thinner than we usually order because we had other stuff to add.





Sally got some treats for the girls at work, including amazing Baclava, then off to shop no 2



Andy had asked for some bottled Jalapeño peppers. Cheap there.



Some interesting spices, its also where I get my Cajun and mixed Spices.











Now for our European pallets some of this stuff may seem weird or just wrong, but you may find if you tried it, it was good.

Anyway....... As kids, we certainly ate chicken feet, heads, gizzards etc, because growing up poor, meant making the best of a bad situation.

Bulk butcher.





Seafood, really cheap too.






What rice did you want?



Also an amazing selection of cheap, fresh fruit and vegetables.







£1.00 pack, Bargain city.




Then back home to do some smaller tasks, and take paving stones in the Galaxy over to Sallys place with Andy who got in early from work and was helping.


The day was going to get better.

[Grizz1963]

Saturday I also measured the beam.



Long old thing.

And heavy



So by 4.00pm we closed shop.

Andy chopped the wood while I prepped the meat.

Started the fire.



Freshly cut earlier, I cleaned the steaks before getting onto the business at hand.



Three degrees.

Well done,
Medium rare
Blue/Bleu

All to be served at the same time.



Sally was as always incredibly tolerant as Andy and I finished what was left of a litre of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey and then attacked a second bottle.



As you can see, at this point it was Beer, Jack and a kilo of Sainsbury’s chocolate toffees.



An amazing afternoon and evening

And fortunately I managed not to go look at cars for sale on eBay


Thanks for checking in.

.