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

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Hope for humanity yet!

Indeed Don, but like Nocola said last night, I often do stuff for people as well.

Originally Posted by bj383ss

That is awesome Rian. I am surprised he ran all those through with the glue on there. It must have some bada$$ blades on it! Wood turned out beautiful.

Brett, I have offered my machines to various people to ise here on site before as well. Its only my Stihl Chainsaw I would only lend to my brother. Anyone else, I would go do the job for them but not let them take it away.

The blades were happy doing the job, and one has a small nick in it, but a single pass with a medium or fine beltsander belt will sort it out.

I am hugely thankful because removing three different types of industrial strength glue with hand tools is a pain but also scars the wood.

The finish is very good.

[Grizz1963]

As a follow on to last nights report on getting all the recycled skirting boards planed and thicknessed I thought I would unpack them this morning before packing them away in their spot under my motorbike trailer which just happened to be out over the weekend delivering a bike for a friend of mate Martin's

The shortest three to the right are the exact length of the truck bed, and the width they make up is again the exact width I need.

Clearly they need to be processed and cut etc when the time comes.




Today was time to attack some of the trucks wiring that must have been done by a blind badger with a crooked walking stick on a night with not much moon shining.

Mate martin had to return my trailer, and also wanted to join Nicola and I on our weekly bootfair trip. But of course we usually leave home between 06.00 and 06.15 as the first one is about 12 miles from home.
Martin was unhooking the trailer by 06.15 and I pushed it though to the garage while he reversed his tool laden car down to the garage.
By 06.25 we had a quick cuppa tea and then went to three bootfairs, getting home by 10.30 for a quick breakfast, an then down to the garage.
Martin managed a nice little haul, including an unused gravity feed spray gun for his primer work @ £5.00 and a complete, unused Airbrush kit for £4.00
We each also bought two 500ml cans of red gloss enamel spray paint for our truck springs, the result below.



The main reason for Martin coming over was to help me identify why my passenger indicator had gone on the blink again (well, it did not blink anymore)

While he was at that job, I did a load of other odd jobs in the garage.

It soon became clear that the truck did not have side lights, which in the case of my truck are both in the bonnet.

So after a load of testing, breaking old oxidized wires and also finding the one fitting was useless, Martin went home to take Amanda, his other half out grocery shopping etc, returning three hours later with his spare fitting to use so that we could get a bi-filament globe fitted.
Unfortunately, both fittings were so buggered that he had to solder small tabs onto the bulbs so that they would make sufficient contact to be functional. After which he renewed some of the wiring which was broken.

This left us at 19.30 with working indicators, side lights etc.

Through the day we also solved another few problems of my and his rebuilds.

These are the fittings we now need to find replacements for from the USA.






And so a greatly productive weekend came to and end.

Next weekend is MOT time, and I do hope the truck will pass its test.

[markeb01]

I take a nap and you've got two more pages on your build thread! Nice progress. I left a note in your other post about the light sockets. Let me know if I can help.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I take a nap and you've got two more pages on your build thread! Nice progress. I left a note in your other post about the light sockets. Let me know if I can help.

Mark, I doubt you ever nap...... your truck is permanently evolving.

As I am now actively collecting parts n bits to make it a decent job, Martin is screwing up my life further and further every time I speak to him by making me aware of all the stuff I could be doing to the truck.
Then I look at Brett's truck build and the detail and how clean everything is, and I want to tear down my truck to the last nut and bolt.

[Grizz1963]

Well, after Sundays fun and games with trying to get the side/park lights sorted for MOT, I decided last night that I may well be better off replacing all the wiring on the truck when I redo the body.

The wiring is an atrocious mess.

This lot is the result of just making one pair of bulbs work out front by replacing the relevant wire with fresh stock.



This lot all has to work for MOT, and the indicators are also in the top units on the hood/bonnet.



In the mean time, I started looking for and asking around on the USA forums for a source where I could buy one or more replacement units for the bulb holders as my mate and I both needed either new, or new used units to replace what I had on the truck.


Come forward Markeb01 from Spokane Valley in Washington State who offered me a pair of his used ones, followed by a message an hour later that he had located four brand new ones in NAPA store and bought them for us.



So the decision has been made, after Nicola told me to do what needed to be done ;-)) to replace the complete wiring loom with a full EZ Wiring 21 loom.
Just need to find the best deal to land it in my garage, as there are various ways to get a loom, either via a direct purchase off Ebay USA or getting a local agent to bring one in and sell it to you.

I spoke to a local chap today and he said he would airfreight anything I needed from the USA at a direct 1:1 price, so an item costing $100.00 in the USA, he would sell to me here for £100.00

Glad I have now made the decision to go ahead and sort this out as well, you do not want your newly restored truck burning out next to the road because of some dodgy wiring.

The headlight unit will become "crystal" type units at some point too.

[markeb01]

Glad you made the decision to do a full rewire. I've seen a few cars burn to the ground while several fire extinguishers failed to help. It's a scary situation I'd hate to see happen to one of these classic trucks.

Fyi - your package will be leaving later today.

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Glad you made the decision to do a full rewire. I've seen a few cars burn to the ground while several fire extinguishers failed to help. It's a scary situation I'd hate to see happen to one of these classic trucks.

Fyi - your package will be leaving later today.

Rian will be making the while I rewire the truck. I owe him big time any way as the amount of time he has spent at mine building my car port to put the truck in . Thanks again mark for the bulb holders . It's good to help others if you need anything that we can help you with from over here let us know Martin

[markeb01]

Will do Martin. It's nice to have friends, both nearby and long distance!

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Will do Martin. It's nice to have friends, both nearby and long distance!

Cheers Mates!!!

[Grizz1963]

Thanks guys, this is part of what makes these forums so good, the friendships that are struck across the world.


Tonight the truck worked again.

Nicola is involved in a charity The Milly Foundation http://themillyfoundation.co.uk

To Assist in the treatment and care of persons suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) or in need of rehabilitation as a result of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, by the provision of facilities for recreation.
To advance the education of the general public in all areas relating to AML.
To provide a holiday home for patients and their families during treatment for AML, in a home-from-home capacity, to be used either during a break from treatment or at the end of treatment.
To promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of AML through the provision of financial assistance, support, education and practical advice not normally provided by the statutory authorities.

She had ordered a load of furniture and a flat pack shed for the caravan/park home that the foundation owns in a caravan park near us.

So we delivered the goods, saw the lovely place they had set up and then took a drive around the site.

These are the times I really love this truck, and also love the fact that Nicola made me buy it a year ago.




Overlooking the Thames River with the end of South End, Essex over on the other side.




On the train today I was messing around with a photo editing app and kind of liked it.




Tomorrow evening it is the Chatham Dockside American car and Hotrod gathering again, so guess where I will be going?

[Ta2Don]

Cool pics...

…another car get-together...

[markeb01]

Hard to believe it's been a year already! Hope you have a great time at the car show, looking forward to the photos!

[Grizz1963]

Ordered a complete new wiring loom for the truck tonight.

I have gone with EZ as Martin has gone that route, and he will be overseeing my rewiring, so if he has done one, a second one should be easier.

The EZ 21 wire/18 fuse kit was £144.00 delivered, and the Rebel kit, locally sourced is £159.00 so price of EZ is better, but I have also not heard one complaint yet.


I did order my EZ Wiring loom today, and less than an hour later got the message it had been dispatched.

Tonight was also the monthly hot rod and classic car gathering at Chatham dockside.

Loads of cars and a couple of quirky bits.

I was contacted last week by a member on Rods n Sods with a single electric cutout and pipe to sell.

So after looking at it and testing the close off valve, I bought it.

Now the trick will be to find or build another one.






I did not take many photos tonight, but there was one very quirky attendee which I hope some of you will like.

This Citroen was one of about 100 build for over night, transcontinental newspaper deliveries. Most were driven into the ground or crashed as drivers fell asleep.

However the 1964 Piper Comanche plane that had been converted into a small sleeping caravan was what got my attention.



Table and stools




Sleeping space.



Forward dash area.



Self contained galley.




Now I just need to find someone who can cut some ally on a CNC machine for me to the same spec as the one cutout valve.

[Ta2Don]

Seriously Streamlined Trailer!!!

…and that Citroen is Looooonnnng!!!

Spotted your Truck in the Cockpit Pic!

[Grizz1963]

I went straight to the garage from work, in a suit and tie to measure and photograph the measurements.

This is what I got for those who have opinions and advice on replicating these plates etc.


Ally: 13mm thick
Hole 57mm sideways.
Max hole 60mm downward.
Butterfly axle 60mm downward.
Hole 57mm minimum, with lip to cover max size at 60mm

Ally 139mm inc motor plate. Ally plate 133mm alone.
Ally plate 115mm wide

Y piece entry and exits on a O/D 64mm

64mm = 2 33⁄64in Which I guess is a 2 1/2 inch outside diameter.

Loads of photos, as I measured everything.

PLATE THICKNESS 13mm



Exit hole, widest width. 60mm



Exit hole smallest size 57mm



Butterfly spindle 60mm



Clearly bottomed out in some application.



Motor mounting plate 6mm



Spindle end view.



Top to bottom height 140mm





Sideway width 115mm






So that is all I have at the moment.

Beyond this, I guess it becomes a touchy feely measuring thing.

[markeb01]

That looks like a QTP cutout. Perhaps that will help find more specs, etc:

[Ta2Don]

MOT results???

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

MOT results???

Woke at 04.00 (result of a great pizza dinner) and now wide awake.

MOT is only at about 09.00. Leaving here at 07.00 to get there for 08.00 as they do not book times, but rather use the "First come,first served" rule.

So hope to get the truck done early and then leave Martins Merc there while we go to some spares places.

Will let you know later.

[bj383ss]

Crossing my fingers for the MOT Test. And yes that looks just like the QTP I have on my Camaro.

Bret

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

crossing my fingers for the mot test. And yes that looks just like the qtp i have on my camaro.

Bret

mot pass !!

[Ta2Don]

[Grizz1963]

I had forgotten about my MOT expiring this month, so when Nicola reminded me it was panic stations for a while.

Last weekend Martin came over and sorted out the side lights wiring etc.

This lead to me ordering in a full replacement wiring harness from the USA. £145.00 well spent I think.

So today I followed Martin who had his Mercedes booked in for MOT to a testing station, after which we were going to a spares warehouse.

Happy to say the truck passed its test (not that I had any concerns)

The tester commented that he thought it was a lovely bit of kit and he looked forward to testing it again once restored.

The station operates on a 1st come first served basis, so we were there by 08.10 for an 09.00 spot.

CHEEKY MONKEY, MARTIN suggested I just weigh in the truck for scrap as we were next to a scrapyard.



Up on the ramps and on with business.



After the test we went spares shopping, and I bought some long reach 1/2 inch sockets, a stumpy ratchet with 1/4 and 1/2 inch drive.

Then we went to Dartford to get some timber, taking a shortcut over the Woolwich Ferry. Only one ferry running, meant we had a 20 minute wait, but a chance to chat about the plan for the bits of equipment I would be building later.

Thames river in the background.




After the DIY shop, I came home with 12 meters of 6X2 inch lumber, and Martin went home to disconnect everything on the truck and remove his windscreen etc.

The design is a direct copy of a picture of one built by Pimpston65 in Corktown Misouri.

I came home to build a single handed cab lifter attachment to fit to the end of a 3 ton engine hoist which will be used tomorrow, and later possibly on my cab as well, If I do fool myself into removing my cab.

This actually fits just outside the door rubber ridges, stopping the cab from slipping off when you lift it.



This is the upside down view, imagine the diagonal timber is the boom of the engine hoist.



While I was at it, I also prepped all the wood for the cab trolley, onto which the cab will be mounted, I will also make up, or we may weld another 500mm raising table so that one can get to work on the sills.

This lot gets bolted together with 10mm coach screws. And then the wheels are mounted underneath.





Looking forward to tomorrow.

Only problem is that Marin keeps on putting Carp ideas in my head, which creates more work for me.

[bj383ss]

I'm glad it pasted the MOT test! I'm not sure I am reading this right you are going to pull the Cab off the frame. What was all that talk about never taking it off the road for very long. Did you get biten by the bug?

....

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

I'm glad it pasted the MOT test! I'm not sure I am reading this right you are going to pull the Cab off the frame. What was all that talk about never taking it off the road for very long. Did you get biten by the bug?

....

Hi Brett

I still do not want to take the cab off, but of course it will be a better finish in the end.

And a job well done is best done well.

[Grizz1963]

Today was a great day for me.

I spent about 5 hours over at mate Martins place today.

We removed his cab, which has set me thinking that I should maybe remove mine as well, to get better access to the underside of the chassis.

On removing the cab, he found a lot more rust, terrible historic patches an a load of sand inside the chassis outriggers.

I will post up the pics to tell the story of getting the "special tool" in and moving the cab away.

Final inspection before removing the last two chassis mounting bolts.



One broke off, despite all preparation.



Lifting jig fitted to three ton hoist.









AND THIS IS HOW IT WAS DONE:

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


IMPRESSIVE STUFF, AND RESULT.





Next up we parked the cab out the way, the trolley needs another 24 inches of height, which will happen later.




Farmer Brown........



Lastly Martin removed the welded on front bumper and the truck was put back into its tight spot.



That was it for this weekend.

As we go on working together, I am learning more and more.