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

[Grizz1963]

Before work today I bagged myself an hour.

Mounting plate for the diagonal had to be made as it sits in a completely different place to the original 4 point roll bar support.

I also needed to make up a foot plate for the diagonal.

Cut some plate.

Faithful Sharpie out and cut basic plate back.



Tidied up.



Foot plate measured, cut, drilled, finished back.



Next up, find some time to bolt together and weld to chassis and then the diagonal will be added.

Sir Steve Redgrave telling me how he was successful in 5 Olympic games.

Time to concentrate.

[Grizz1963]

So the next little problem would be supporting gussets under the plate that would not interfere with the Jeep Cherokee fuel tank planned for the build.

With a bit of fine tuning it should all come together and fit.

Exhaust will be side exit in front of the rear wheel so route not fouled by the tank.



Rear view.






Tank sits in a robust steel basket, thanks to @Pauly again for the “trade”’

[Grizz1963]

Busy day here for work, so nothing done till after 5.00pm

And even that was negligible.

But I started by priming the roll bar and diagonal as polishing it failed to impress, old age left some pitting, chrome flaked off, and of course where I cut, ground and welded there was damage too.

Not sure the primer will stick ultimately, but I hope so, and then some paint, temporary in nature again, as I plan on having the whole thing covered in high density “roll bar foam” and some nylon sheathing.

Still need to investigate how and where to get that done.

Still very pleased with the outcome here, thanks to @pauly ‘s generous offer and vision.



After work, around 6.30pm a Nissan Cube reversed up my drive…….

@paulf had come to check out progress on the RR

AND DELIVER HIS HYDRAULIC PRESS FOR THE BUSHES.

I had previously used it to push the bushes on the Chevy Blazer that was never a project.

Massively useful tool too.



After a lot of chat, opinions and advice, he headed home to his family.

I closed shop and came in before the mosquitoes carried me off to a dark place to suck me dry.

Tonight is an early night as I will need to be up at 04.45 to get out and head over to @craigrk and a quick 250 mile x2 trip to deliver Ouma Lil his Chevy to is new home……..



She is a big girl.



As always, it should be a good day out.

PS: it has to be Rum-0-Clock

Later.

[Grizz1963]

On the road by 06.30



Some slow bits….



Eventually nearly there.



Meet Donna, she followed me all over, head on shoulder.



Such a sweet horse.



Eventually after unloading, a decent walk around and dicussing a ton of logistics, we headed home to Leatherhead and London.




Back down South delivering the trailer to the yard it came from, a load of what is presumed to be a load of film props.



.

[Grizz1963]

Bootfair I nearly missed today, delivered OK in the end.

When I woke at 4.55 I got back in bed and heard David the lodger rummaging around, usually I don't get back to sleep, but I did, woke 6.20 and thought….. screw the bootfair as it has not been spectacular the last few weeks….. checked my phone, message from Sally, asking me to look for a multi picture frame…… so I got up and got going.

First blood was mine today, a house clearance guy I check every week, had a tin full of 10mm and 12mm HSS drill bits at 50p each.

I said how much for the lot, hoping a bundle deal would work, he said 50p each, so I counted them all……. 30 of which 21 were the 12mm bits.

His prices are always fair, and we got a load of flower pots from him before, so I paid the £15.00 with a smile.

Driving 10 miles to the big hardware store for one, would cost me a lot more than 50p for one.




Other items included a picture frame (unused) for Sally£1.00
Fake patina Coke bucket for Craig 50p
Rusted oil jug for Craig £1.00
Stanley type lockblade carpet knife for Craig 50p (cost a lot more)
Sabatier kitchen prep knife FREE for two super nice girls
Side strip for Sally’s kitchen top after new cooker was installed 50p
Hessian sand bag FREE from a seller I talk to every week.




So a semi decent day in fact.


For those wondering what a motorbike and bunch of stainless scrap translates to, along with some savings……


I give you Sally’s new cooker, installed and delivered yesterday.









On a different front, mate Craig gave me (traded for stuff) a 5 liter can of white Cellulose paint yesterday, ostensibly to paint the Rezin Rockit once it is completed as the gel coat on it is dead and crazwd in places.

I know very little about paint and what goes where. or which you should avoid.

Do I blow the fiberglass body over in this stuff, or rather avoid using it, due to its properties and possibly the type and amout of prep involved.








Need to have another coffee, then scrape together all my resolve and go make a start on bushing the suspension parts.

Raining here at themoment….

Ooohhh, we have a carport.

No excuses.

[Grizz1963]

Started late yesterday.

Only made it to the garage by 12.00 and came out just after 18.00

Some progress was fast, some ballachingly slow…….

Making stuff up and learning as I go along is interesting and actually really enjoyable.

So armed with the book from @nickwheeler I sat down and started to try understand what went where.



First job, identify and lay out the bushes.



Started easy enough, undo the axle side and try get to the Void bush.

Problem no 1…..

Bolt completely seized in the bush sleeve and not moving, despite all the tools and force available.

Even the G-clamp destroying itself when trying to shift the bolt.



Then managed to break off a drill bit inside the rubber…..

Joy !

Followed by a burning,torch, swapped this one for my garden weed burner, usually used for my woodwork branding.

Mickey had come around in his slippers to see what I was up to.



Result, followed by Mr Grinder to cut the gead off the bolt as it was not relinquishing the sleeve.



The result of a lot of BFH action.

This was after no 2 went easy.

Still a load of rust, but at least not like the first one.





Repaired and rebent the metal to standard afterward.



Next job was to use the Void Bush tool sent to me almost a year ago to use to pull the bushes from the rear axle.



Using the impact wrench released them, but it was an absolute ballache.



After burning out the rubber, the sleeve was left to pull, so I started with tht one.

Magic.



Both Void Bushes done.

Note the amount of rust in the holes.



Next up was the bushes in the arms, so onto @paulf ‘s press.

These are not easy as they are quite thin and the press tools are specific sizes.



After much more swearing, skew pressing, popping out etc, I had all of these……



And these were ready, well, they need to be fine sanded to clean them out before fitting the new bushes.




Oh……

And of course I need to go buy a replacement nut and bolt for the one destroyed.

Rain and a load of work ahead.

[Grizz1963]

So yesterday my one neighbour who restores pre-unit Triumphs popped around,

“Hey mate, do you have a space heater?”

My reply was “Ys, a a small gas powered unit, why? Do you need it?”

“No was his reply, I have one, do you want it?”

My reply was to ask what or how much he wanted for it, and just what model it was.

The small one I have runs off Butane or LPG but I have never actually used it, so new in the box

Seems Mike tried using his 55kw unit twice, running it on Diesel but did nt get on with it as it needs ventilation.

I offered him my one in exchange, but he is going ceramic something or other.

I will collect his one, when it gets colder.

What it means, is that I will probably be able to work in the carport in winter if I do hang that large blue canvas in the front of the carport.

I really want to complete this build as soon as possible.






So last night I left the Rezin Rockit packed away as they weather forecast was for rain today.

I forgot to show the inside of the one arm.



And all packed away.



Today, in a fruitless search for diesel for my car, I bought some nuts and bolts to replace some of the pieces removes when trying to get to the bushes.

I also had some steel pipe cut and acquired, no charge.






More later.

[Grizz1963]

So after work I got some free time as Sally was too knackered to come here for a few hours and dinner.

Perfect.

So I started cautiously…….



MAGIC !!



Then the second one, needed the press to just seat is as deep as possible.

Then onto the famous Void Bush

Bit of white Lithium grease, and all the sleeves got traditional Copper Slip to help them resist rust for as long as possible.






Once all the bushes were fitted, I removed the lower arms, one at a time, not knowing how the Anti Roll Bar would react once released, it was easier than I thought.

Fitted the new to me lower arms and upper arms,

Job done by 7.15 almost dark.




Next job…….

Front end.

[Grizz1963]

Big nuts………

These are what I have .

20mm of bolt/shaft thread sticking out, and the nuts first 3mm is curved



I thought I would try plan C which is in fact Plan A first, calling mate Kevin Kelly, but his wife answered the phone, he was doing plumbing…. Bad idea to bother him.

So I went to plan D which is plan B and drove less than a mile to Cliff’s Auto Repairs (he did some work on the MX5 about 8 years ago, and I have been there since.

Plans A&B which really were C&D were to purchase from Ebay and wait a week, or Amazon and own an expensive “single use tool”

So Cliff whipped out a long 27mm for me and wished me luck,



Fingers crossed we are up to the job.



I may get to it tonight after work if I can find some time, having a sandwich on the side right now at my desk.






Quick bit of Eye Candy






We can all dream ehhhh.

[Grizz1963]

DIRTY

DIRTY

DIRTY

And a load of rust.

As this comes apart bit by bit it seems a lot of this is original 70’s Cortina.

First stop was this one.



I did not realise for a while that I cound unbolt the other end.

Inappropriate tools abound.







Then the arms and their bushes that seem bushed.



A ton of cleaning up followed.

Wire brushed all parts.



Less and less to it.





Why a split pin, Nyloc and bolt retainer?



Bushes go there.

How the hell?



Anti Roll Bar gets new bushes both ends



So thats where we got last night. Still so much more to do.

I am also replacing all Nylocs and bolts as I go along.

Later team.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday and today were and will be very busy.

Today is my first face to face team meeting with the whole team in 18 months, as our company is super conscientious about staff safety and social distancing etc.

I also managed to find a service station after passing 8 with zero fuel yesterday, and that included a 25 mile round trip to be allowed to buy £30.00 worth of diesel.


Amazing how the profiteering is openly happening.


£1.56 or $2.10 per liter at a Shell station on Bluebell Hill


I am sure some will say I should not complain and be thankful that I managed to find some fuel.


I did some Rezin Rockit “work” as well, stopping at a nearby Nuts n Bolts guy who has reinforced my belief in people.

He will sell two washers and single nut if that is what you need, and at the price of what that item is worth as a portion of the pack.

Hopefully the weekend which has a LOT OF RAIN and WIND forecast, will also allow me some time to get to the build, as it is Sally’s weekend off at work, and I feel the need to spend some good quality time with her as well.


Yesterdays purchases……..



Looking forward to seeing them back on the front end.

[Grizz1963]

So the weather forecast said rain.

A fair amount of it.

And I must be honest, it got worse, amd left me really thankful for this structure.



Lodger came home around 13.00……… a bit wet.



A big part of the time spent is just cleaning, matching, restoring, replacing, painting etc.





Two dots to remind me how it goes back together later.





Bushes cut to fit over the bar as ends are rather large.

Also added copper grease on every opened surface to protect and enhance movement.



First bit reassembled.



Followed by the steering rack bushes, after a bit of a fight to get them loosened up, they came off.

Both were split when fitted.

So still on the right track.







Though fit is a major problem.

The bushes are actually too small for the job in one aspect (fitting around the steering rack) and too wide, fitting in the prerequisite spaces, so the bench grinder helped.

Followed by BFH encouragement and Fairy Liquid in copious amounts.



And after a bit of a struggle to get both ends captive, it was all good, Nylocs and split pins back in place. The nut fixing. Plates need to still be folded up.




Then I started on the next set of bushes, on the top control arms.

More castle nuts and split pins.

Undid one, started to drive it out, not sure what the referred energy would be from the springs………

So with one end disengaged, it was time to panic and stop, as light was failing and I may need to approach this a different way.

Note the difference in height already there.



Is that a curve I see in the spring, or is it just happy to see me ?/



At this point I decided walking away till tomorrow was a wise move.



So I packed up tools and went into the garage and painted the roll bar a second coat of Hammerite Red as well as the rear shocks, mainly to see what they look like in red once refitted when planning the lowering, as I have red springs from @Kevins to go in there.


No Bootfair tomorrow as it has been raining most of the day, and will continue overnight.

So maybe a Sunday morning lie in in bed ?/

Unlikely.

[Grizz1963]

I rarely “give up” on jobs.

Today I did give up and changed direction for a while.

Sometimes you need to change place and pace to survive.

I had hoped to get the bushes completed and even the chassis partly reassembled.

Sousing a Mercedes Benz spring compressor which was not a Ford item, meant I ultimately failed to disassemble the upper and lower control,arms.



Unfortunately too big to successfully clamp and deactivate the springs so that I could get the arms off.



So once I gave up on the springs, having tried them three ways, I decided that reassembled parts made sense.

Problem with the poly bushes, was that even when completely wound in, they hardly give way, compared to the units removes.



VS

The old



So the space is taken up differently.

Looking at the parts next to the wheel you can see I had too much bush.







Minus the two steel eyes that this threaded though I was still dismally short in bolt thread.



So I took the 8 small bushes and ground about 3mm off each of them to create some space so that I could thread on, and tighten the nut.

Once completed, I felt a bit better about failing.

Despite the control arms still having to be done, possibly when I cut the front springs, or buy some correctly specced shorter front springs and shocks.



I am hopeful that I will be able to do this as soon as I have time to get to it.

Todays weather was decent in fact, starting out cold, but dry all day.

Weekend is over, work again tomorrow.

Life is good though .

[Grizz1963]

Remember my friend on the nearby farm whonwas building a Rolls Royce based, Jaguar engined Deusenberg replica.

He was really driven to get it out and running before winter.

Got this video from him on Sunday.

https://youtu.be/lBQyUQN34oY



I would say that equates to success.

Silent runner.

[Grizz1963]

Seems the truck has started to attract attention.

George is from two houses down.

Loves catnip.

I iz a dealer







So, do I chase him away, and stop him visiting the truck, or encourage him

I do like animals of course 😉

Nice boy.

[jmarkha1]

George not only has good taste - he matches the truck's colour scheme.
He may have a drug problem but I say he stays...

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Seems the truck has started to attract attention.

George is from two houses down.

Loves catnip.

I iz a dealer







So, do I chase him away, and stop him visiting the truck, or encourage him

I do like animals of course 😉

Nice boy.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by jmarkha1

George not only has good taste - he matches the truck's colour scheme.
He may have a drug problem but I say he stays...

Agreed, a stoner he may be, but he is no bother……

Yes, he can visit as much as he wants.





After several extended laughter filled and teeth gritting exchanges with @pauly he sent me a picture to explain what has to be done next.

Create a simple threaded bar spring compressor in order to release the springs safely and rebush the upper and lower control arms.

After knocking out the lower Ball Joint.


Tell you what, doing the springs and suspension on the C10 was much easier, bigger hammer, but easy.




Fingers crossed that I have fingers left to cross once I get this done after work tonight.

It seems a good time to start thinking of fitting some strip lights up in the carport roof right now too.

And plan for heating etc.

Winter’s a-coming.

[Grizz1963]

Make a compressor said @pauly

Got some bits from the steel store.



Mark out, clamp, drill.



Test fit.

I used the shock absorber mounting bolts to anchor the bottom to.



Threaded bar.



Then add a small plate to the top of the angle iron so the nut can be tightened flat.

Then welded the plate to the angle iron and grind back.





And painted, just because I ran out of workable daylight.



Tomorrow is a long day for me, so may only get to dismantling on Friday.

Also removed more rusted, broken, bent split pins from the castle nuts.

Then shut shop and headed indoors, earlier onI found a happy George on the S10 enjoying the late afternoon sun.



Bedtime soon.

[Paul Y]

I will never be a teacher.

Or an artist....

P.

[Grizz1963]

Almost the weekend.

Been a busy (rough) work week and I planned on bailing out by 2.00pm but typically I was still at it by 4.15

Keep in mind I start by 07.00 most days.

Bought myself a couple of tools, since my one is dying, and the other I do not have.




I went and bought DCD796 £62

DCF887 w/ 2x2aH £130

as one gets confused with the variable offers out there, and at the end of the day, I am kinda a Hobbyist at best, and these specs seem to deliver for most hobby guys out there.




Hope to get back onto the Rezin Rockit tomorrow.

PS: No idea how to make these links work as a click link.

(I got a Dewalt drill and Impact driver)
.

[Grizz1963]

………………and then I ground to a halt.





I had hoped to finish work early (flexi-time) today so that I could get a start on the final chapter of the bushes.

Then work kicked me in the nuts, hard.

When it gets busy I just need to keep going, so by 4.30 it wound down.

Also realised that I will need to disassemble some of the work I did before.

Too many obstructions and retainers.





I will try find some time tomorrow, but we are planning a bit of a run out in the S10 that has not been out much lately as I have spent a lot of time at home.

.

[realvc]

Greetings Rian

I can't imagine how much time you spend on your job and on your projects while still finding time to take pictures and post up on here. Plus keeping up with your many bros. around the world.

Thanks for your time and effort.
I enjoy your ongoing journey with all the projects and fun time running around.


Hope you can it make back to the states some time soon.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

Greetings Rian

I can't imagine how much time you spend on your job and on your projects while still finding time to take pictures and post up on here. Plus keeping up with your many bros. around the world.

Thanks for your time and effort.
I enjoy your ongoing journey with all the projects and fun time running around.


Hope you can it make back to the states some time soon.

Morning Vince,

Good to see you here.

I think the time I spend posting, photographing and chatting is when the rest of the world is spending time with their families.
I have none of those wonderful distractions, unfortunately.

However, I also struggle to sit still and do nothing, Sally is similar, and if she is not here at my place, she is home, cleaning, cooking for uncle Bob or clearing his garden etc.

It is a mindset thing though, keeping busy and finding those small chunks of time to work on project’s.

I cannot wait to be back in the USA.






Went down to Whitstable yesterday in the truck with Sally to see mate Martins new home and garage he is building.

Threw an accrow (spelling?) extendable support in the back for Martin to use to support his main steel girder if he ever wants to hoist out an engine or something similar.

Again, truck made me grin madly, both for the drive as well as for using it to do even a simple job.



Last bootfair of the year sucked.

One item worth £2.00

But……..

I have been looking for a horse riding spur for a few years on my USA travels and generally when out and about.

Usually overpriced for me at around $20-30 a pair.

Todays one was worth adding to my random pile of weirdness.



Home by 08.20 from bootfair, hoping to see mate Kerry, @disasterbus who was popping over to drop some random stuff off that he had collected over time for me.

When I got here, the first thing I saw was a pile of stuff on the driveway, and no Kerry, somhe had been and run as he does not like to leave his animals at home alone. I totally get that.

Still need to carry through and sort through all the treasures.






I am sure we will meet again soon enough.

So unpack and carry through treasure, sort through solid wood kitchen shelves etc mate Kevin dropped off yesterday (firewood and shelving)

Then get back to Rezin Rockit for bushes part 2.

[Grizz1963]

Seems Photobucket feels I am loading too many photos for the contract I have.

So it is not loading my photos.

At the tariff I pay as it is, I am not going to have them extort another $xxx or whatever it is out of me. They get about $xxx/year from me.

As far as I know I am on the intermediate tariff which equates 25000 photos.

But for now it seems pics are on hold

[Grizz1963]

Remember this…….?


Damascus steel, hand made, in America.

Had a message from my friend Jon Hall custom Knives to say the weather had forced hime back into the forge and to start making knives again.

My custom kitchen knife is taking shape.

Not sure if I will want to use it or just look and touch it.

Such an honour.

And of course I do love people who are skilled creators.




Layer upon layer of steel.





On Saturday Sally and I took the truck out for a run down to Whitstable to see mate martins new home and under construction garage via some shops.

What a pleasure, as always, to take the truck out.

Silly grins abound.





Thankfully the recent fuel shortages have not impacted my pleasures.