GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[Grizz1963]

Just a bunch of pics today.

We all did a helluva lot of stuff yesterday and as I said to Craig last night, what we did was a lot more than the sum of its parts.

Still, loads of progress.

A lot of jobs needed to be done in order to line up for other jobs.

After all the lawns were done, the next big task was breakfast at around 11.30, American style bacon, scrambled farm fresh eggs and mushrooms and onions.

Then back out to cut backma load of overgrown hedging, trees and other wild growth.

Clearing, bagging and more.

Ohhh, and with the money saved by changing the roofing felt into the Hippo bags as Craig said, in my typical “Man Maths style” the saving, back into pocket, by recycling or reusing, repacking a Hippo bag left by the gas fitters is £132.50 if they remove it with your bad rubble, and you reuse your own turfs from it, along with recycling the contents.

Sally, Lorraine carrie on cleaning and clearing loads of beds that have clearly not seen a gardeners hand in years.

Larry carried on shifting soil, prepping for the Type 1 to go down and compacted (Monday)

Craig worked, and played Ring Master to all.




So in no particular order.

Reversing all the way from the A41 motorway up a farm alley road.




We had prepared and laid down some so e of the OSB inner walls from the stables so that the drive did not get too contaminated with the Type 1



Nicely dropped.



Another job was to cut a gateway for an archway and person gate in the rear hedge and into where the workshop, stables and Craigs new office will go.



Using the digger to lull the plants out, quicker than a spade and axe.



This was one of Craig and Sallys jobs, while I carried on cutting trees, hedges etc.



Trees along the way were cut back so the digger could get through to bring the Type 1 through from the front, remember the purple route on the satelite picture.



This was cut back by about a meter, also the rose bushes inside of it, cut out bit by bit and removed.



Larry carried on with hi demolition mission.

By day he is a farmer, but since Covid screwed his life up, he does a lot of this stuff, and really does take pride in what he does.

Loads of manual lifting, shovelling by hand and checking it was coming together as planned.





I gave up by 4.45 as my body was huring.

Craig and Larry carried on for another hour in the dark, laying the membrane under the new drive, and bringing the first bucket of Type 1 around from the front and spreading it to hold down the membrane till Monday when the whacker plate comes and the stone will be compacted in two layers.

After. Dinner, cooked by Lorraine, we headed home fast just after 7.00 pm

Absolutely knackered.

At our AirBnB there are chickens, cats and a dog called BEAR.

She greeted us and came to spend about 20 minutes being loved and loving unconditionally.

I love a dog mauling me, not bitting my butt.



Rarely sits still.

I was very happy, so was Sally, who wanted to handbag her and Donna the horse.




Today we have yard work, moving a load of numbered plastic boxes, and maybe dismantling a smaller shed so a bigger shed can be built in its place incorporating the smaller shed on the side.

Work till 2.00 pm

Then head back, shower, clean up and hopefully head out, cleaned up to a couple of local shops, followed by a pub dinner.

Of course things can still change dramatically.

Later.

[Palf70Step]

I am exhausted just reading all this. You folks are really getting after it. I remember all this work in my younger days clearing for my shop (2004 ish)

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I am exhausted just reading all this. You folks are really getting after it. I remember all this work in my younger days clearing for my shop (2004 ish)

Evening Bill,

Trust me, the last three nights were all entertained with the help of ibuprofen and paracetamol.



So Saturday promised to be a full day.

Woken early morning by Tara, our AirB&B hostess’ chickens and the neighbours ducks, along with a visit from little black Bear the catflap sized dog….. we go going and then headed back to Craigs place.

They came inside our space, looking for food.

So Sally shared a slice of bread with them, which they loved.



Then off to Craigs.

A quick walk around to inspect the work we had done the day before.



Looking top to bottom.



Quck coffee, a status check and day plan, followed by me straight out to start cutting back on the very overgrown garden shrubs, loads left to do.

The house is also covered in a variety of creepers and and different plants, all fighting for,space.



Loads of cutting, chopping and packing into ton bags.

Many of them.



We took 6 tightly packed ton bags and a few loads of tree branches and removed shrubs to the neighbours bonfire pile, pulling and packing everything on top on]f the pile.

Remember the person gate created yesterday?

From the other side, after removing the gazebo and about 70 boxes, all individually marked, inventoried and recorded.

Moved into the double tandem garage space for storage till the stables are moved and Craig figures the most sensible garage construction to lay down on site.



Yes, it is at an angle, weird for an OCD guy like Craig, but it is planned that way.

Continuing on the lift, carry, move, pack theme, we unpacked a shed and greenhouse after the gazebo was emptied.

Sally and Lorraine continued while Craig and I sat in the shade and drank a ton of low alcohol beers…….

Strong as a Shire horse and as eager.



Loads of stuff carried inside.



Such a fake pic.



Sally is a pretty good recorder of progress, taking pics when we were not expecting it.

While we kept rearranging the interior she got some pics too.



After emptying out the gazebo and sheds we broke for some food, and Craig with his chest still beating him up, took 30 minutes to catch is breath, sorting his mailbox..

I also tried but the paparazzi was there.



During our break, Craig and Lorraine sorted the sign writing on the mailbox……

Remember it cn only be straight.



Of course I had to edit it slightly.



When we took the bags and branches out to. The bonfire field, they neighbours wife was tending their donkeys.

Gentle, tame animals.

I loved the attention too.







Then back to more of the same.

Just so much overgrown plants.



Dinner was due after a shower and catching of our breaths.

Always more to do.


.

[Palf70Step]

Nice work on the "stick wacker: Rian. Looks like you guys will be cleaning up things for a while. I have been doing same at my friend's widow clean up their place. I think we ar on the 2nd dumpster, have taken 5 or 6 loads to scrap recycling, plus 3 or 4 loads of busted electronics to recycling center. I am not coordinated enuff to operate a camera and work at same time, so just think of someone old and worn out at the end of the day.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice work on the "stick wacker: Rian. Looks like you guys will be cleaning up things for a while. I have been doing same at my friend's widow clean up their place. I think we ar on the 2nd dumpster, have taken 5 or 6 loads to scrap recycling, plus 3 or 4 loads of busted electronics to recycling center. I am not coordinated enuff to operate a camera and work at same time, so just think of someone old and worn out at the end of the day.

Evening Bill.

Creating a new, fresh base line is a lot of work, but also needs to be done, despite the initial ugly it creates.

Respect and sympathy to you as well for the work you clearly are putting in.






So in the spirit of randomness…..

I popped in at Sallys Unclebob the hoarder today to go look at a car I have an eye on.

No idea why really, just a whim.

While I was there, Bob who knows everything Sally does asked how the weekend went.

I told him, showed a few pics and mentioned some things that need building sooner than later.

Like a firewood and solid fuel store alongside the house and the play area in the loft for his daughter Elli.

So from old Cars we went out into the yard to a pile of wood and he said to select any of it that I thought Craig may need.

So I will go back before the weekend and select all the hardwood and pack it in the car.



Window sills and door thresholds.



Also in the deal were some “offcuts” of 6” by 1” thick planks, treated good quality.



Remember the loft conversion and Sally halfway up there?

Craig wants to build a permanent staircase up there from her bedroom with a door to close in when needed.

And guess what……..??


Uncle Bob had a 101 inch rescued wooden stair.


Now I just need to get it in or on the car…… and up to Craigs place.





In other news, Fil “Sparkplug” contacted me today to ask if we could use another set of hands as he did not want to miss out on the fun.

At 150 miles from Cambridge in the Yellow Submarine camper, he will be sleeping on Craigs driveway on Friday and straight out into the horse yard.

Thanks Fil.

[Grizz1963]

A friend, Bob in America commented below:


Rian, that looks like a wonderful old folded axe head, probably forged in a small shop more than a century ago. With my eyesight it may well be a Chinese knock-off from Bunnings circa 2002. Either way it's a beautiful save of a classic tool. I am so glad you are easily distracted because it makes me feel better. I can often be found working on something that isn't on any list with even the lowest priority. They just make me smile.

Well Bob, I took a closer up pic for you.

Grinding marks very much evident.

BUT……

Looks like you were right.

[Grizz1963]

And again a surprise skip find.

Used, still works, but the neighbour building has used it as needed, and not keeping it.

Thank you, free money.

Offered it to mate Craig but he already has one.



Madness.

[Grizz1963]

I took the drum, slave and shoes @nickwheeler removed and left neatly, to the local factors today and left them there for them to find the replacement parts for me.

Lets hope they can source the bits.


In the mean time my serial vintage bike restorer neighbour called me over this afternoon to collect the diesel/paraffin heater for the carport.

Usually @pauly arrives on site in winter when the temperature hits 6’C but this winter he may only need one set of thermals…..



The whole heater felt like its tank was filled, reasonably heavy.

But further inspection shoed it was empty.

So I added some diesel and started it.

STINKY Thing.




But it is hot, should make the carport comfortable to work in once I hang the large blue canvas on the front.

Roll on progress.

[Grizz1963]

Partial lunar eclipse this morning early.


Sunrise was just a continuous spectacle.









Weekend soon.


@nickwheeler saving my butt on Sunday around midday with the Rezin Rockit rear brakes if anyone wants to come cheer us on.


Fridays are mostly good unless a deadline is included.

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@admin" source="/post/2705389/thread" timestamp="1636484578"]Thanks for the extra info @grizz it was tricky to get enough info on all the builds in the time between announcement and when we recorded. Actually partly why I made this thread as I'm hoping to spend a bit of time filling in the gaps.

S10 is definitely much smaller than I thought then![/quote]

My S10 is about 100mm or 3-4” narrower than my 2020 Ford Focus estate.

Thought I would post a few pics of the 3rd door in here for those interested, or not and for @rmad and @admin to broaden their S10 knowlege 😉

The door is almost invisible, unless you know that the shut line on the rear of the cab actually for the door.



So once the small door is opened, a skinny lad life Hotwire and others could get in there and sit on the sideways mounted seat for a 5-10 mile trip to a pub, show etc.

Full size …. Chunky (fat buggers) like me would fit in there mainly if hijacked or prodded with an AK47 in the back, or a Glock in the neck for an indefinite distance ride.



The 3rd door also locks in place to form the B-pillar for the drivers door.

So it cannot latch unless you close it.




These are on a long wheelbase chassis, and actually have a different length to the LWB trucks.

The bed is a really useful 6 foot bed as well.

Turning circle on these are extremely poop, and having mounted slightly wider than standard tyres, I have a bit of chassis rub on full lock.

Other than that, these trucks have extremely comfortable seating and ergonomics are on par with luxury cars of the era.

Aircon, speed-o-cruise control, automatic gearbox with an overdrive gear in my ZQ8 factory special which included a bunch of nice touches like upgrades on steering and factory lowering has made this truck a real keeper, unless someone needs to have it more than me.

[Grizz1963]

My mate Kevin continues to move along with his build.

Wiring currently challenges him.



The S10 on the other hand is an absolute pleasure.



Life does go on.

And it’s good.

[Grizz1963]

Does it really matter?

Tasteless will always be that.

However, tongue-in-cheek? Well, that may be different.


Saw a used set of these in this new thread by @etypephil and it made me chuckle.

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...arlin-roadster


So I ordered a set.






I also fitted another strip light in the carport, now it’s like daylight in there.




Followed by swearing repeatedly at my new Dewalt cordless drill that for some reason will not retain a 4mm bit.

It keeps releasing the bit.

Surely not right, is it, or is it.

While I was down there, I modified a rolling stand that I had made years ago to carry the space heater.




And lastly, added another permanently live, Motion activated light that will make finding key holes easier in the dark.

@craigrk gave it to me last weekend, and this is the right job for it.

Quite a lot of light.



@nickwheeler will be over this afternoon to help with the safe changing of the rear brake shoes and cylinders.

Plan is to try get the curtain side up before that too, as cold weather has been forecast.

More later.

[Grizz1963]

Chilly day yesterday, possibly the first one this year.

Weather has been so mild to date, so dropping to @pauly territory meant I had three T-shirts and one of my garage hoodies on to protect my chest and prevent couching and spluttering.



So when I built the carport, I knew that at some point I may want to add a curtain to cut the breeze and even hold in some “HEAT”

First job was drilling pilot holes, and then adding these coach screws, a 3/4 box of which cost me about £2.00 at a bootfair last year.

New impact driver working nicely, the drill being a pain in the butt releasing the drill bit constantly.



Once the canvas was measured as the holes are individually spaced, screws were in, it was time to hook and hang the truck curtain side to see how it fits before @nickwheeler came around midday to help me do the rear brakes on the Rezin Rockit.

Of course it is way too big, so I guess a bit of folding and tucking will be in order.



Looking over from the neighbours yard, it is obvious that there is a 4 foot gap from the left side.

This can be fixed……. Or not.

Due to folding under and raound some beam ends it is a bit slack.




I think it will work well along with the space heater later in winter and for now it is folded, packed and put away.

Small steps.

I also raked up,a load of leaves, cut the grass and pulled some dead bits from the side beds.

[Palf70Step]

People forget how versatile the ole station wagons are (or what ever you folks call them over yonder )

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

People forget how versatile the ole station wagons are (or what ever you folks call them over yonder )

Thats what they are called.

Reason I replaced a BMW or Mercedes Benz with this car.

Love it.




This weekend is the yearly charity toy run that we have visited a few times before at Tuba Trucks in Fayetteville in Arkansas.

Run by Clem and Kim Johnson the entry ticket to the whole day including food, live music and friendship is a kids toy.

Dennis used this as a deadline for taking his 1966 Nascar C10 there along with partner of more than 25 years, Deb, she makes an amazing breakfast too,

So last night the truck was loaded.



This morning.



On the road…..



Dennis relaxing.



And eventually Arkansas



And then Clems place.










And there you have it.

@pauly dreams of this truck.

We all want 800plus bhp in a 2015 NASCAR racing truck camouflaged as a 1966 C10

Or don’t we.


Next year…….. ROAD TRIP.

For sure.

[Palf70Step]

Just love Dennis' truck. I would be in a LOT of trouble with it though.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Just love Dennis' truck. I would be in a LOT of trouble with it though.

Dennis is like a teenager with powerful toys.

Sure he will get in trouble too.




Saw this on FB this morning.

Yes please.





Should be a bag of laughs.

[Grizz1963]

So I forgot to post the interior of Dennis’ truck.



Friday I headed up to Shropshire again to meet up with mate Fil “Sparkplug” at Craigs in order to help him bring down the stable block and move and stash it.

Unfortunately I struggled with the trip.

It took me 5 hour 45 minutes to do the posted 204 miles on a Friday afternoon.

Included was getting “lost” twice thanks to Fords useless Satnav that is both slow and not very clear, plus showing maps upside down etc.

The roads were stop start, and at times the engine was off and handbrake up…..

Not ideal.



So I stopped at Craigs just after 7.00pm, had dinner, then Fil got there from his 150 mile trip from Cambridge and we sat talking till after 10.00pm before heading out.

Fil to his camper, and I came to the AirB&B we used last weekend as well.

Greeted by nobody that time of the night.

However, this morning both cats were in for a love and a cuddle as their mother was away on funeral duties.



After a mug of tea and a shower, I headed over to,Craigs.

Fil’s van in pole position on the drive.



Walked around and found them already busy.



So we unpacked my car and started on the stables…..

At about 11.00 we were called in for breakfast by Lorraine.



Then headed straight back out again……

A hectic, hard and productive day saw us get about 70% of the job done.

I am happy to do a more complete report if anyone is interested.

More to do tomorrow till 12.00 then it is back on the road.

Knackered tonight.

Pills x4.

[Grizz1963]

Friday morning while I was having my before work starts mug of tea and toast, George the cat came in.

Had his Catnip on the “cat tree” scratch post.

Then walked into the lounge and jumped on my lap for a cuddle, and off again to inspect the lounge as before.

Then this……



And this.



Followed by this till I got up to go up to my office.




Nice of him to pop in.

[Grizz1963]

Before Fil and I got there, Craig and Son Kyle had done a load of preparation already.

Removing a corrugated roof, and a felt roof off the wooden roof structure.

Dismantled all the doors, cages and removed most of the wood panels inside of the structure.

These were already move and dry stored up on his land.

So he and Kyle both are skinny size, unlike me and to some extent Fil who are full size humans and they went up on the roof to start dismantling the roof panels.

It was wet and slippery when we started.



Crowbar cobras, there was so much nails, screws etc there.



Larry the farmer and digger/tractor driver had brought a trailer to help move the panels across the field to the next resting place.



One way to move a bloody heavy trailer…….



First panel down.





Once the first one was off, it got slightly easier as one had a hole in which to shove crowbars and reciprocal saws etc.



Not as much fun as it seems.





Looking from the other side.



And deceptive…..l




A wasp nest, one of many.



At this point we were called in for lunch, around 2.00pm





Fil the machine.



Roofing all off.



Next up was the walls.

Large

Heavy

Awkward

Dangerous.



Eventually Larry got home from his day job, potato farmer.

And drove the tractor to drag the trailer up to the top paddock.



We laid sheets and then moved Lil the Chevy back onto some boards.



First load unpacked on top of sleepers/ties.



After unloading we headed back in failing light and carried on with loading a second load of walls and panels, using phone torches etc.

And unloaded trailer no2 with Larry's help in the dark.

Calling it a day by 5.30 when the dark had completely taken over.

I was hurting like hell by then and found some pills in the car, taking a load.

Craigs wife, Lorraine had made us a South African Malay curry and rice and a traditional South African food called Vetkoek which is basically bread dough (or you can use diy pizza dough) fried in hot oil.
Then you slice it open, and load with the curried mince, or apricot jam/jelly and butter.
Absolutely mind blowing, if you know what it is.
I had not had any in 25 years or more.

Fil and I left by 7.45pm for his camper and my guest house respectively.

It had been a long, hard day.

I stayed awake till 11.00pm as I knew if I went to bed too early my aches would wake me by 4.00am.

It did, and I got up by 5.10am and made myself some tea.


Sunday was still ahead of us all to deal with the rest of the stables.

[CG]

Over five hours to get there, UGH!

Put me down as a full sized human too ... LOL!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by CG

Over five hours to get there, UGH!

Put me down as a full sized human too ... LOL!

Yup….. UGH! About sums it up.

I would love to be 10kg lighter, but life is good, too good and crap junk foods are too easily accessible and my “won’t power” is not strong enough.







Becoming a habit it seems.

George walking up the garden path by 07.00 meant company.

First time he has come to sit on the armrest when I am doing my early morning day job stuff.

He also does sit on my lap a bit……..

Life is certainly good for me, having company.



This week has been very busy from,a,work point of view, full days of online training, testing and planning.

So yesterday was my first chance to go for my daily walk, and it was pretty good. Somewhat fresh if not chilly, not cold.

By 3.00pm the warmth leaves and the sun is heding home.



Look carefully at this pile of hay bales.

Zoom into the left top of the pic, and get a perception of the sheer size and height when you see the fences and gate on the ground.

This new farmer has so much scaled up his operation, which of course if destroying the roads because of the sheer size of the machines and tools running up and down here.

And it seems the local council and he do not give a toss, or care for anything except profit.

It really does anger me.



Now a home, but the St Mary Hoo Parish Church has been here a long time.

Quoted off the internet.

Of the three churches in Hoo – St. Mary’s, St. Werburgh’s and Allhallows – it is not completely clear which came first. However, St. Mary’s is the best contender as there is record of one Wifward de Hou passing part of the tithes of the parish here to the Priory of Rochester when he became a monk. This was around 1068 and strongly implies a church was already well established here.

By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Hoo St. Werburgh seems to have existed and was prevailant over Hoo St. Mary already. This is probably because the site of Hoo St. Werburgh was more suitable for habitation and that village grew as St. Mary Hoo shrank to a few houses.

Nevertheless, the church at St. Mary Hoo was rebuilt between about 1280 and 1350 as a fairly typical Kentish ragstone church with a castellated tower. All of this was heavily rebuilt around 1881.

Today the church is, unusually, a private residence and no longer has any ecclesiastical relevance. It is an odd feeling being the graveyard, which is still open to the public, but being aware that you are also standing in someone’s garden.






Hopefully I will be able to get back to the Rezin Rockit by the weekend inbetween giving Sally some deserved time.

Friday tomorrow.

[Palf70Step]

Love to watch folks lay and work on concrete/cement slabs. Glad it is not me, but I do like to watch it.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Love to watch folks lay and work our concrete/cement slabs. Glad it is not me, but I do like it.

I have always loved construction, from the smallest to the largest jobs.





So in the mean time, I decided to rather than fight them, just put things right for the testers.

No need to stress them out, is there.



I am sure these look much nicer than the American style items.

[Grizz1963]

Searched Google for a MOT testing station close as possible to home last night.

And found what seemed like a good idea.

A station that only charges if your vehicle passes.

Also, they do only the test, and no repairs or parts…….

So no incentive to fail and possibly take advantage of anyone unsuspecting or lacking in knowledge.

So I drove there after getting the truck ready around 12.00 today.

They doo bookings and some walk in appointments.

So I got lucky, their only walk in for. The day was a cancelled booking for 13.00

So I took it and went to the shops, before returning at 12.50



I felt like a dad watching his kid ride a bicycle for the first time.

45 minutes later they reversed the truck out and after paying £45.00 for the service I was handed a certificate, valid to 23 December next year.

No advisories either as I had addressed them all before.



The whole team there liked the truck, and it seems it was the first S10 they had tested.

.
.
.
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And back as we were.

Number plates swapped around too.




Pretty chuffed it passed and that I have another job ticked off for now to end of year.