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

[Grizz1963]

Right.

It seems that there are quiet people, and then really quiet people.

Imagine registering in 2011 on a forum, and doing a total of 20 posts in 10 years, including a couple of owners threads. Thats a quiet person,

Then there are others, much more recently registered, and higher post counts, and looking back at histories of chat, clearly some clashes. ‘Nuff said.

So imagine my surprise after posting up that I had bought the two little Mini Motos 250 miles away and was looking for alternatives to getting them back to Kent when a message came through from someone asking about them. I replied to him by PM and gave my number, asking to be contacted...... still not heard from him. Not impressed.

Then the next day, a message from a very Quiet guy @pegasus stating that he could possibly help, and if it was of value, to contact him by mobile, signed with his real name.

So I contacted him, half an hours chat and a plan agreed.

Introduced him to the seller and let them arrange the collection, rather than getting in the way.

Plan was that Matt collected from Phil, then keep the bikes in his van, till he and I can meet up

He works the corridor that includes Leeds up North and runs down to Leicester and Birmingham

I will take a day leave and drive the 165 miles or 260km up to meet Matt, possibly for a coffee and the bikes, then head back down South.

So after the collection yesterday, Phil the seller sent me a pic, just a teaser.



Happy me.

This morning, chatting by text with Matt I took a quick pic of the truck.




Later he reciprocated with a welcome deluge of low down pics.

And a name for the one bike, as always, these things happen randomly.









Kiss my what ?



Named as Easy Rider.







So there you have a it.


I am looking forward to seeing Harrys little face when he gets his bike.


.

[Grizz1963]

When I used to work a larger area up to Oxford, Cambridge an across to Essex and down to Southampton and Bournemouth, I constantly moved stuff around for people.
Hitting the Buy it Now button on EBay was easy as I knew I would be there again within a week.

So when I got contacted by @pegasus it was almost like Dejavu speaking to myself years ago.

Talking to him it became apparent that he certainly is a car and bike guy.

Having built himself a wicked Nissan Skyline and various other cars over the years.

He lives near Leyland in Lancashire, definetly don’t state Blackpool like what I did initially. But what do I know ehhh?

Current bikes include the following.
98 Honda VTR
98 XV1600 Custom Chopper
02 Ducati 900SS

@pegasus Matt is currently on the lookout for a good 1968 to 1972 VW Beetle and @disasterbus and @jabbo could have a lead.


Looking forward to meeting a like minded guy in the next two weeks.

[Grizz1963]

Remember the driveway needing to be straightened?

Well, so does the side grden, as it is taking up too much space and scratches are not attractive.

So climbed in, albeit slowly and cautiously, and cur back the side hedge and then the shrubs I want to keep.





Maybe not that hard to believe, but a whole wheelie bin there.



Mickey had removed the picker]t fence from his fish pond as he had to redo it all, and offered them to me.

There is a lot more to make the next week or so.

Using some of the wood rescued from the neighbours fire wood pile.







Also on Saturday, I removed the license plates from the truck, in order to replicate the placement of the holes on the new plates.

Looks like a lot of plates.



Sunday was wet and miserable.

So eventually at 1.30 we went out in the truck to some shops.

Sally needed paint for her home and I needed a study table for the new lodger, expected on Friday.

Electrical engineer.


One more thing.......

We went back to the truck twice, once to drop some shopping off behind the seat, and once to leave, obviously.

And both times I just grinned madly at the fortune of having this truck.

I do love it.

[Grizz1963]

Doorbell rings, look out front window to see a large panelvan on the sidewalk, and a hug box leaned up against the porch.

Go downstairs, open door, yup, large box.

Sign for box, drag it through to back yard.

Opens box.





New lodger lands on Friday from Guernsey, Channel Isles.

His transport for 6 miles to work till he finds somewhere closer. Yup, you heard my thoughts.

Lets hope he stays a while longer.


Over to Sally’s to fill her crack, in the upstairs ceiling.

And thought its time to take a pic of another loser.

Parked here for years.



Dinner soon.

.

[Grizz1963]

.

So this morning early I decided to quickly cut the broken ends off wood that Sally and I denailed yesterday. As I wanted them ready for the weekend to make more picket fencing.

Dragged my new to me Delta saw out on the drive and then proceeded to top n tail the wood.



Last bit that need cleaning up.



Long lengths sorted.



Short cut bits sorted.



I carried the saw back into the garage. It was neither that heavy or awkward but clearly my back did not agree because by the time I got inside the house my back was objecting. A lot.

Thankfully I had an appointment at the osteopath today. She usuually hurts but helps.


While I was at the Osteopath today my phone (on silent) went mad. Twice.

Once done I looked and missed calls from @glenanderson and @pauly
So I called Gen and it turned out he was reversed up my drive and rummaging for timber, of course there is a load of it.

He was picking up the super heavy complessor that came from @craigrk in Leatherhead for Paul and some V8 parts, tools and my digital torque wrench, along with a heavy duty rubber mat for the load bed in Woody his C10 truck he is building currently.

Glen will be headed cross country to pick up and deliver Land Rover parts and a rear diff that will end up in Bexley. So quite a trip.

My back was absolutely knackered from the osteopath and hurting it this morning so Glen managed to load everything alone.



And ready to rock n roll.



Next stop Essex at Chez “y”

[Grizz1963]

He managed to evade all systems and slip into Essex and beyond.

First stop was at @pauly towers to drop off some stuff and pick up some tools for me.



And then he was off again.....



As always, good to see stuff going where it needs to go. (Off my site)


Today I only have about 2 hrs as other priorities have taken the rest of the day, as well as tomorrow.

So is it a bit of hedge trimming, or make some space in the garage?

Rain seems intent on making is a bit indoorsy.

[Grizz1963]

.

[font size="5"]MINI MOTO ROAD TRIPPISH THING, PONY EXPRESS........ THURSDAY.[/font]


Just confirmed.


I am leaving home (Rochester, Kent) at 06.00 sharp on Thursday morning to go up to meet @pegasus at the National Motorcycle Museum at B92 0EJ at 09.00 sharp (traffic****ery excluded) to collect the mini motos. I also am collecting a bunch of bulky stuff in Essex on the way back, so space is limited.

So space available for a human or cargo on the way up,( Ford Focus wagon that cannot be abused) between these points, and in the time frame only, if anyone needs to move stuff.

PM to make contact.

[Grizz1963]

Quick update for those interested in randomness.

Sandpit for Sallys grandson headed out.



New lodger, so have two now.

Both are day to day/week to week lodgers as they have differing situations.

One is sorting some stuff out.

The new one, since Friday is an electrical contract manager, but he works 6.5 miles or 11km from here, so is looking for a place to stay, closer to work, and alternately, a job in Vietnam, where his wife and family live, or in Saudi Arabia where contracts are much more lucrative.

He was a bit nervous about leaving his expensive bike unsecured here.

So I created an anchor for him.





On Saturday afternoon Sally and I visited friends for a birthday BBQ/Braai South African style.

No Vegans were hurt or eaten.

Steak



Beef sausage, ribs



Ribs ?



All of it.



An amazing day, which included live music and great company.

While I was there, I bought myself some biltong from “Biltong Cottage” which is their Facebook online business.

Today I could not stop myself.




So a good weekend.


I was also looking out for an Extang Blackmax tonneau cover for the S10 but it seems they have been discontinued.


What a pity.

[Grizz1963]

Dennis in St Louis has been building this 1966 C10 on. Modern NASCAR chassis for a while.

However, he is now hitting it hard, in order to get out and drive it.

The weekend he went out and drove to Mittler Brothers factory.

He was very good friends with the late Mike Mittler and did the bodywork for their racing trucks.

His C10 is built and based around a 2015 truck.

From this.



To this.

Not finished yet, and the cab will get paint soon.

[Paul Y]

I would own Dennis's C10 in a heartbeat.

Right up my street.

P.

[Grizz1963]

Guess what next.



.

[Grizz1963]

So with my back beating me up, but improving for sure, I continue to have to modulate what I do.

Currently the plan is to move the driveway over by 18” or 450mm in the centre so I can reverse cars or large trucks down there.

So I have cut the hedge back hard as well as the shrubs. Down the drive, so that the drive van be moved.

Hurt my head.



While hacking away, and having two lodgers now, one with a Vito van, and one with an electric bike, no....not Dirty James, that needs to come through between the cars and to the lockup at the rear, I relised that my front hedge was 12” or 300mm too wide.







On Saturday I ended up cutting three times as much as planned, and my back told me about it.



Then on Tuesday morning I was out there by 06.15 to carry on cutting the next part of the hedge.

I cut it back hard down by the garage as well, gaining some space.



Then down the side of the garage.





I think all of this, though gardening in effect, means that I can get on with real jobs, including garage work as they chores are put aside for a while.

I also noticed two Starlings up in the small window in the garage loft the day before No idea how they got in there.

So once cleaned up, I went up there to see if they were catchable.......

I found one dead, and the other one just sitting there on the windowsill.



So I took them both out, released one, which flew straight back to the nest under the eaves.

Lastly, a couple of sunsets.





Of course I was sore, but hotwater bottle, icepack and pills.....

Sorted.

[Grizz1963]

After who knows how long.....


And it has been close to 8 weeks, the DVLA has changed the S10 plate from the Y-Reg it had, to the number I bought some time ago.


I will fit the new plates and surround from Gary in America later today, if I get time.


VERY INTERESTING TO NOTE THE SPACING OF THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS.


I WOULD SAY THEY ARE TOGETHER.





Yes, I am pleased it has been done.

Why so long though?/

FK.

[Grizz1963]

Right.....


Left....


Road trip.


Randomness.



So a restless night, followed by getting up by 04.40, shower, shave etc then out the door by 05.40


Absolute pleasure of a drive up to the destination and meeting point.


I pulled over just before getting there for a walk and break.




Then drove on, to our meeting destination.

I thought it was cool as a meet up for the bikes


Thanks Matt @pegasus for thinking of that, and coming to meet me and deliver the bikes.




Including natural security





I sneaked up the one way passage to use the toilet.

And found this, never seen a willy washer in a public









More in a moment, if I stay awake

Been a long week

[Grizz1963]

So when Matt @pegasus got there we started with the traditional exchange of gifts.

Matt got very little, I got some used number plates to trade or add to my collection, and also an item I was recently contemplating buying off Marketplace.......

Clarke Parts washer.



Then we unpacked the mini bikes



Followed by a “BIT OF A PHOTO SHOOT.”







After this, they went into the car, and we went indoors at the museum, used their facilities followed by a 90 minute chat, walking around the gift shop, drinking very good, and certainly affordable coffees.

These were my first shop bought coffees since March last year, and the price was good at under £3.00 for a large Latte

Looking at key rings, cups, gifts etc, the pricing surprised me, really sensibly priced.

I do love robots, and found this one.... no, did not buy it.





And then a few random pics.

Some beauties here.






Incredible detail and beauty.





On leaving I saw this plate that made me grin, bike ridden by a pretty gnarly old guy.




Saying our good byes, we headed North and South.

The road back was a touch slower than coming, but loads of interesting things popped up.

I also stopped in Brentwood to pick up a bunch of stuff


More in a bit for those who are still here.

[Grizz1963]

So, the return trip.

Uneventful, but a few nice things caught on cameras.

1947/48 Healey.

This car has a significant heritage. Look it up.







Husband and wife team.

Spoke to David for a while.

What a nice guy.



Look at how small it is though, in a regular UK service station carpark.



Based on the fact that I have the Rezin Rockit on standby, Matt @pegasus sent me this one.



Then off the M25 and into Essex lanes, pulling over for this view, so nice.



Another view while parked up when picking up the stuff Paul “Oblertone” had left with his daughter, she loaded the car as the drive left me bent over and stiff as a spring.



More stuff, including some heavy duty ratchet straps, large trolley wheels and some ramps in the back.

And to top it all off..... a a dentists lamp, heavy as a heavy thing, still not unloaded at this point, it may be a job for today though.





Unpacking.



Very pleased with this ornament.



And then later I delivered to Sally, in exchange for cajun chicken wraps for dinner.



My back was not happy at all, miles, carrying random stuff, hedges, bags of sand etc.

But a good week.

Today..... who knows.

[Grizz1963]

Few random pics.

Mate Dave loves a big one, over in Essex.

So he shared this on Thursday



Also checked on the DVLA website and at last, after many weeks, my personal plate had been processed onto the truck.

I had ordered the American style pressed steel plates with the numbers to the right, leaving space for a small Stars n Stripes badge to the side.



Mate Gary in Florida had sent me a plate surround, after I had drilled the holes to replicate the holes in the trucks original plates, and also some small screw embellishers.

So the rear plate has a hole, partially visible.... plan to be made.

The surround also tucks below the level of the step



Having had the dayoff on Thursday to fetch the mini moto bikes, I decided to have a drink with my good friend Vladimir in Russia.



We have previously gotten quite drunk together via WhatsApp and Google Translate.....

Never try keep up with a Russian, or for that matter a Siberian.

Today, Mickey also went over to Sally’s place and cleaned her gutters.

The man is certainly fearless, and while prancing around on her roof, Sally was having kittens on the ground.





More about today in a while for those still awake.

Awake ?

[Grizz1963]

So, how do you get this tired ?


Ask Sally.

She has two sons, 21 and 28 years old. Both were very busy growing up.



Meet Harry.

He does have a sleep as part of his mothers control programme.

And if you have spent a few hours kicking ball, driving diggers and who knows what else.....

You sleep.

Seems he loved the new sand pit, needs a lot more sand though.





Then after his sleep, Sally who was baby sitting, fed him and sprung the surprise on him.

She had Cream Puff covered under a sheet, with a cardboard box to change the shape, all day.

So when Harry had had his lunch, she showed him the bike in the dining room.

He was super excited and helped her, carrying the paddock stand out for her.

This gave the two of them some time to have Granny and Harry time, something thats really precious to her.







At some point, his Mum and Dad came back and were shocked that he and Sally were playing in the back yard, with him using it like his balance bike.

She took great pleasure in telling them the whole story of how it had made its way from beyond Leeds to down South via Birmingham through the kindness of strangers like @pegasus and Oblertone’s part in the Essex detour. As she said to me later, she just wants this next generation to be less self obsessed and more kind and generous, so sharing stories may just help.

They took Cream Puff home with them, and Luke, Sally’s eldest had it fuelled up and running 10 minutes after getting home.

Video for your pleasure.

https://youtu.be/C25p0TqYdFg


I had been out in the truck today and came home after a nice drive, parked on the drive as Sally had taken her Corsa through for a wash and polish.

Looking at the truck, I just smiled.



While polishing her car, she suddenly went mad.......

An injured pigeon had come into the yard.......

So I had to rescue it.




That concluded our day, a long, busy one.

Life is good I seem to recall mentioning before.

Bootfair in the morning.

Fingers crossed.

[Grizz1963]

From a friend.....


More examples

[Grizz1963]

Bloody cold, but dry bootfair today.

Being bank holiday, we have two this weekend, so another tomorrow morning.

Spray on glue. £1.00 per can. Bought all 11 he had. To be shared.



Looking for a set of training/stabiliser wheels for Cream Puff the bike I got Harry, we found a decent MX helmet, advertised at £2.00 but paid £1.00



And shortly after that, another £1.00 vintage cork helmet, for only £1.00 to go with my Easy Rider display





Other items included £8.00 in fruit and vegetables.

4 greeting cards for £1.00

A teapot to me made into a bird nest for £1.00

Some nice Plants for £4.00 for both our gardens.

Some hinges at 50p each.

Total.

[/URL] https://app.photobucket.com/u/niknak...-94db1f4c423c][/URL]


So not stabiliser wheels, but hey, to,orrow could deliver.

[Grizz1963]

Made a slow start on shifting and straightening the drive strips.

Marked out



My pace is possibly 20% of my previous pace, not how I like to work, but my back just says no.



So after a failed trip to the coast yesterday, due to spending too much time at the bootfair in the morning, I decided to get back onto clearing and moving some of the soil.



I must say, there still needs to be some more digging there and getting lower, followed by some form of retaining of the garden bed.

Then break up the concrete, remove it and redefine the strips to be cast.

After our aborted trip to the coast, we also stopped at the local Ford dealership to to look at used Fiestas.

Indoors, I saw this interesting new car.







And when I got home,,chatting to Mickey next door, I told him I wanted to get some stabiliser wheels for Harry’s little bike, he is good on a balance bike, and once his dad restricts the mini moto, it should be a good way to start him off.

So Mickey handed me a pair over the hedge.

They will work, and one can replace the plastic wheels with something more robust if they self destruct




I will report on Mondays Bootfair later.

Today is a bit of a hectic work day.

[Grizz1963]

Part 2

Monday.

Up early, off to the bootfair on my own.

Allowed me to stop and speak to sellers for 10 minutes at a time.

Loads of allsorts.

Mostly old fashioned bootfair prices.

Three glasses and three shot glasses £1.00 per set
80’s pin frame 50p
Skull 50p
Toy cars, 50p each, except for auburn £1.00 and tiny fire engine and old yellow truck 20p each
Old fashioned brace auger £1.00 kinked spanner 50p and vice grip £1.00 for Craig.
Dragon 20p
Tiny piggy bank Free






Love these.



50p skull.



And then this lot

Cushion for my chair £1.00
Superhero mug 20p
Jack Daniels mug 50p
Bracelet 50p
Small box for sally 50p
Fedora hat new £1.00
Lambswool Dunns cap £1.00
Two limited edition plates for 50p
Depression era Strawberry glass gravy boat £3.00 for Dennis’s Debbie who collects it.
New knee and elbow protectors for Harry 20p
Mammut mat 50p





So that was Mondays public holiday bootfair.

Bringing to an end a great weekend.

Sally cooked dinner.

[Grizz1963]

Posted elsewhere on another forum.

Just made me smile.

I am pretty sure it was a planned registration by someone.

[Grizz1963]

Farm sale this week

Such diversity.

New



Old



Also stole my own lunch hour and then some, to cut the front hedge while the weather held out and between meetings.







Another flashback that popped up in my life this week was this pic, taken in Arkansas while out being a tourist.

Lovely build.



After a couple of warm and sunny days, today closed in and it started to rain, all day, and it is still raining now.



Tonight the rain beading on the paintwork that @mercdan68 had polished, made me smile again.



Weather permitting, Dan will be here tomorrow in his Ford Escort Panelvan to deliver @pauly ‘s gas can.

.

[Grizz1963]

Day started overcast and “fresh”

By 10.45 @@forddan68 and Daughter Amy were here, bringing along @pauly ‘s vintage 20 liter “Jerry Can”

So coffee, chatting, catch up, spleen venting all done, we decided to drive a mile up the road into some farm lanes for a few Ford v Chev pics.

Random photodump.



And then we headed out.

At this point we took a couple of random pics.

As we were headed out again, it appears poor Dan had sat down on a wasp that had entered his car.

Not sure who felt it more, Dan or the Wasp.



Note the name of the lane, it is bad enough Kent is known as the capital of dogging or is that dog walking?













Lastly, Dan and son George were breaking a Mk6 Fiesta, and just happened to have a spare door rubbing strip that “went missing” when Sally’s son had his car repaired, and to this day, 6 months later the strip is missing.
Not really impressive, but thanks to Dan, there is a new one on standby.



Back home it was time to unpack the box of GMC spares that Steve had sent with Craig a few weeks ago.

Then some light woodwork.