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

[Grizz1963]

Another one of those days…..

Started slow, got going in the garage and was looking out front for my neighbour.

Saw @nickwheeler was just pulling up and reversed up on my drive.

When he got out, he had a mischievous grin on his face…..

We walked around to the deck and got a coffee.

Then he pulled out this bit of magic……..

“ I had a bit of time and was bored, so I made a Dimple Die”

I guess once again, we have no excuse not to make a small, tidy visor for the front screen.





Thanks Nick.

That is just awesome.


We then spent the rest of the day down at the garage, loads done, little to show.


But a nice dinner, chat and an alcohol free beer for Nick.

Trust me, the chicken thighs, Cajun rice and a load of vegetables was bloody brilliant.




More later.

[Grizz1963]

PREPARATION


PREPARATION


PREPARATION


TIME FLIES FOR SURE.



So my first job yesterday morning was to start trimming back the original steel dash support some more so it could be worked in under the dash and support the steering column and other bits.

So I ground and cut back the welds at the ends, removing the wings.


Better.



Nick and I were working in parallel most of the day.

Next to go, more cautiously was was the steering column end mounts.

Followed by careful grinding back, and cooling with a wet cloth to keep the plastic bush safe.



Coffee time at 2.00pm saw the iced Belgian buns coming out.

At which time Nick had removed the original brake pipes in the engine bay, and I had managed to remove more of the engine bay “decorations” that would not work for this build, but will have to be made again to fit and accommodate the Mazda parts.

The original Ford steering column bulkhead hole was disassembled and put up a very brave fight…. But eventually it was opened and cleared of plates and rusted in allen bolts.

Allowing us to start making up the new plates. Which currently will incorporate the Ford brake and clutch assembly, albeit modified.




With trial fitting the Mazda steering column it became apparent we needed more space.

So @nickwheeler armed with masking tape, marker and ruler, marked the lines of engagement, and I fitted a fine toothed blade to my woodwork jigsaw with vacuum cleaner in tow and opened the dash up.

The search will be on for a 450mm wide by 1500mm long length of good marine or phenolic ply to shape the dash from.



Pretty pleased so far.

Followed by filing all the edges down, front and back, plus a strip of masking tape to make it less hazardous.



And test fit.

Red line for centring.





Time for another coffee.


Coffee drives this build.

[Braunschweiger]

Very good progress, great project.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Very good progress, great project.

Danke Schön

There was some more work before we stopped.

Next job after coffee was to start replicating the firewall plate for the steering column in steel.

Nick,found and shaped some steel plate while I created a template, then copied, punched, drilled the plate while he was removing the last tab off the support, which we could not figure or remember a function or purpose to.

Drilled.



Another of my many council tip finds from hears ago.

A load of super sized drill bits, adapted to my chuck, going through after them13mm TiN bit did its job.

Love it when old found tools are just the right tool for the job.



Test mounted.



Column placed.

Loads more to do.







Big chunks of time are spent between Nick and I bouncing and refining ideas.

One of them was to sleeve the column where it passes through the firewall plate, weld the sleeve to the plate and then tighten it down with a captive nut and bolt.

We could not find any pipe of the right, or even close to right diameter, so I suggested rolling a pipe shaped clamp around a former on the vice.

So while making the plate, Nick got on with the shaping of the flat plate into this beautiful piece.

Jubilee Clip will clamp it around the shaft sheath.



Today my first job will be to get my air die grinder out and to grind back the hole to the inside of the red circle, after which Nick can tack and Mig weld it partially to the plate.

Refining of the hole and access will be done once bolted in place, followed by pedals, plates and clutch m/c





Before shutting down for the evening at 7.00pm Nick pulled this rabbit out his hat…….

The carports gutting down pipes still have not been fitted, yes I am a touch lazy.

But the pipe is an exact fit for the extension needed when the air-box is relocated in the engine bay.

I will keep my eyes open for a 600mm offcut of black pipe in a skip the next week or two.



Time to get down to the garage and start again.

Seems that time is ticking.

Progress though.

[Grizz1963]

.


WELL


WHAT


A


DAY…..! ! !



Just got in now.

@nickwheeler and I played hard today.

Ham, cheese and Chipotle sauce sandwich each at 4.00pm and a gallon of coffee only through the day.

We shut shop at 8.00pm

And to be honest, Nick and I could have done another hour or more, but we decided to wait till next time.

Through the week I will be doing small jobs after work or at lunch time if I get to take a break.

Now time to shower and relax a bit.

Weekend over again.

[Paul Y]

Solid progress there Grizz.

As I said else where, once you focus on the C10 it will be done in a week!

P.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

Solid progress there Grizz.

As I said else where, once you focus on the C10 it will be done in a week!

P.

Progress yes.

Feeling good now.





Today was a great day.

Little to show, loads done and achieved.

Fabrication and planning.

I got out my pneumatic die grinder and tungsten carbide bits to get the hole roughed out.





And bolted to the firewall.



Once in place, I added the steering wheel and shaft.

Just to get the position established.

Screen cleared.



Reasonable position and clearance.



Steering wheel removed to lessen the load on the firewall channel.



And the engine side.

Looking good.



At this point @nickwheeler and I were firing on all cylinders.

We seem to be able to just get on with tasks, no boundaries, and total interchangeable rhythm.

We had first cut the MX5 dash support shorter and shorter,



Then added in some steel pipe that curved differently.

Nick had brought his Mig welder in the car and we welded a load through the day.

At this point, tacking in the extensions that are getting attached to the screen support.



Tacked, next thing proper welds and also a few pie cuts to make it all fit together.



Once back in the car, and in position, a check showed the steering wheel was aligned.

Adding the indicator, wiper stalks, airbag and horn push meant one could get a better idea on space utilisation.



And where the shaft goes through the firewall.



What a nice fit this shaft makes in the plate.

More tacking, followed by full depth welding on the bench.



Adding the airbag, indicators and shroud left me with a firewall plate and adjustable clam that Nick had created……

Looking tidy.





So that, despite not looking like a lot of progress, was a good place to get to

.

[Grizz1963]

Carrying on last night.

Once the steering wheel was fully mounted, the brace welded in it was time to check again that the placement was good enough.

Turned out even better than anticipated.





So next job was to start draping and deciphering the wiring loom.







Also placement of the instrument cluster.

Which will be going in straight, rather than angled as planned.




Then removing the clutch pedal, and also cutting off the petrol pedal from the MX5 cluster.




And a flashback…….

I still like this pedal as an option.




@nickwheeler and I continued chatting for a while longer, and then we called it a day.

Busy week for the day job so not expecting any progress this week.

Thanks for checking in.

[The Rocknrod]

Interesting about the Cutty Sark. When I was in school I had a 3 foot model of that ship, took me months to build. Very intricate. My druggie brother destroyed it. Often thought of doing another like that.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Interesting about the Cutty Sark. When I was in school I had a 3 foot model of that ship, took me months to build. Very intricate. My druggie brother destroyed it. Often thought of doing another like that.

That sucks, losing the boat to senseless destruction, even if it was your brother.

I think that if you can, you should build one, maybe even find and buy one ?

[Grizz1963]

I must be getting soft in my old age.

Went out and bought these today.



My 20 year old pair eventually self destructed, and the replacement pair never stopped being real uncomfortable

So after dropping something on my foot while building the chassis……..

I am getting old.

[realvc]

Great progress all around. Are you chuffed or what?

[aggie91]

Nice progress!

So, after looking at the foot pedal and the new shoes, was the missing toes on the pedal a warning for you to get some proper foot wear for shop time?

Just messing with you, nice to see you getting this new project moving along!

[blacknwhitedog]

I thought this forum was for 60-66 truck builds? Did I miss something?

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by blacknwhitedog

I thought this forum was for 60-66 truck builds? Did I miss something?

It is. Rian just has a side project till he gets back on his ole Red.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

Great progress all around. Are you chuffed or what?

Thanks Vince.

The sooner this is done, the sooner the C10 comes out to get fixed.

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice progress!

So, after looking at the foot pedal and the new shoes, was the missing toes on the pedal a warning for you to get some proper foot wear for shop time?

Just messing with you, nice to see you getting this new project moving along!

LOL Karl,

Close enough.

I do wear safety footwear in certain applications.

This build,is moving very fast toward gettting back to normal-ish.

Originally Posted by blacknwhitedog

I thought this forum was for 60-66 truck builds? Did I miss something?

I guess you will not click this link again. I hope.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

It is. Rian just has a side project till he gets back on his ole Red.

Thanks Bill,

Headed in the right direction.







Something completely random, like me.

I have a few weird friends, well, many I guess.

some not so weird……

One in Siberia, and then Vladimir in Russia.

It is his birthday today.
What I love about them all is this old style mentality of making or fixing stuff.
He wanted a tractor, could not afford one, so built one from scrap.

This is a short video clip of him and friends, doing what friends do.


https://youtu.be/oWWosI0iQ1o

I hope you enjoyed that.

[Braunschweiger]

Keep going, I like reading your build, it's like there's always something to learn.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Keep going, I like reading your build, it's like there's always something to learn.

Good morning buddy

Thank you.

Hope your weather is mild, we have 12’C forecast today.

I like that.





Missed posting this pic at the weekend.

Removed these front stays from the frame.

Immediately improved the look.

Liking this.



Courier delivered the hole saw that Tool Station did not have in stock on Monday.

I was impressed with the service tbh. Not had an out of stock item delivered next day before.

Hole saw is for cutting through the firewall to allow wiring loom and grommets to fit through and close the holes.



Stopped at the local motor spares shop after work, on the way home at 5.00 and pleasantly surprised they were still open.

Always helpful, they did not have the rubber connector hose I wanted, but allowed me to rummage in the back store box of odd pieces.

Failed to find anything 63mm ID for the airbox, but bought a tin of brush on underseal to finish the body tub as well.



Got home and found the connecting pipe for the airbox to MAF unit that one of my neighbors had left, he is a builder and gas man plus a friend.

So a phone call on Monday to Tony saw another small piece of the puzzle come into play.



Day job work week is keeping me busy and knackered by end of day, so unlikely to find time to do little jobs at this point.

Roll on the weekend…………

[Grizz1963]

Sallys little petrolhead (or is it electronic head) grandson.

If is has wheels, he wants to be in or on it.



Seems George, the cat I don’t have likes a car too.

Found him sleeping in the Rezin Rockit a few times.



Had to kick him out when I removed the body.

Not a happy cat.

[Grizz1963]

Moved the MX5 up to the house.

All things being equal it should be collected tonight for its trip back up to Wales with KevfromWales

Done some indoors maintenance this morning and made a wooden windowsill for the kitchen.

Next up a load of small fabrication jobs @nickwheeler put on the list he created and that we are still adding to.

Also need to find the fender supports for the Jeep if they exist.
Not sure if I removed them or if they were missing when it got here.

Bad weather and rain forecast for tomorrow.

Ready and waiting




.

[Grizz1963]

So…….

After giving George some ham (delivered in the carport) I booted his butt out of the seat.

Figured out a way to lift and remove the body without breaking stuff.

Disconnected the wiring looms that @nickwheeler and I had laid out and strapped in on Sunday.

Then hoisted up the body once I moved the car into the right position.



While doing it, I was wondering why.

I decided to also touch up the chassis that has taken some beating with the fitting and moving stuff about, including the chassis and engine.

Ohh. And one that has bugged me since we made them….. the engine mounts, painted.



I guess the result explained it.



Really pleased with the way it came out.

And all of this in between doing the day job, and being really pi$$ed at the way corporate butt kissing happens, and the way some people are oblivious of just how obvious it becomes when they bend over backwards to kiss their own ring, then coming up proud of themselves while sprouting more corporate bolloxx.

But it pays the mortgage I guess, and I actually really love my job.

One less job for the weekend though.

Onwards in the words of @pauly

[Grizz1963]

Over at Dennis’s place this is the current status at Dennis’s place.



He is not a happy guy.

[Grizz1963]

Stole a quick hour yesterday from work.

It was 3’C outside, some chilly breeze and a bit of rain earlier.

SomI fetched the last of the underseal from the garage, added a small bit, around 50ml of white spirit (fake turpentine) to it, and brought the tin into the house, into a pot of boiling water on the stove and melted and mixed it all up to be able to paint it on the wheel arches and inner fenders.

Amazing how much easier it works when warmed up.

Front end complete.



Rear arches all done.



Body itself now ready to go back on, once a few other chassis jobs are done.

Brake lines, fuel lines, part of the loom to be routed under the body, along the chassis.

Fuel tank, and I want to inspect and possibly restore the original which will be a correct fit, and leave space for the rear silencer that @kevins donated to the build. Or else see what is available online in a small, aluminium or similar size.

A few other jobs still to be done.

Today is Sally’s day, (payback comes eventually) so not planning any build time.

Maybe a coffee at the Turkish place as reward.

[Grizz1963]

Well, Turkish lunch happened.

Sally had me all day, till she got bored and went home to do some stuff.

While out and actually having our Lamachun and coffee I saw this out the windows of the restaurant.

Looked like a character from a sci-fi movie, this electric bike stopped outside.

I like it.



After we got in Sally left for an hour, and the new Lodger, maybe for 5-7 weeks, John, the one legged driving instructor got here.

He has already fitted in.

He came down to the garage when he had unpacked and gave a hand getting the threaded bar template sorted.


More in a bit for those of you watching this move along.


.

[Grizz1963]

Quick hour, maybe less this afternoon late when Sally went home to do home stuff.

Popped down, moved a few bits, placed the screen in what could be its final position.



Then quickly made a template for the bolt holes.

Happy with that.



So now the holes need to be drilled in the frame, threaded bar fitted and Tig welded in place, then we are ready.



Ready for what I hear you say.

Watch this space.