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

[Grizz1963]

I saw this and instantly heard young @nickwheeler grinding his teeth in disdain.



They are horrible things.

[Grizz1963]

Bought some supplies on the way home.

Fresh Light Bulbs for the rear lights.

Impact glue for the carpeting.





Marked out on the yoga mat.

Glue on both surfaces.

20 minute drying time, while I removed the masking tape from the body tub.



Fits.



And with the inserts in place.

Plus the padded kick panels in place.



Waiting for Sally to come over to make some cheese and onion wraps in the grillerI sanded back the fiberglass filler that went on into the press stud holes months ago.

Rubbish stuff to flat back, but will need to be done before paint anyway.



Last night I taxed UncleBob’s Bedford truck on an old J reg, Free Road tax of course.

He insisted on me sending a receipt and proof of completion.

So I put it in a frame for him.

Tonight Sally brought me the frame back, and in it a pic UncleBob had sent me.

I love the fact he was ready to bat it straight back at me.

Not clear, but a load of information in the pic.

Love it.





Happy?

Yes.

[bigmoe]

I keep looking at that white gelcoat and wondering why you haven't power buffed it to a shine?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by bigmoe

I keep looking at that white gelcoat and wondering why you haven't power buffed it to a shine?

Very good question.

Time may be a factor.

And ability.

But it is a good call.

There is a fair amount of damage, cracks etc to it as it stands.

Plan was paint at some point, but maybe I should give it a go some time.

Would you suggest a compound like G3 on a mop?

[bigmoe]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Very good question.

Time may be a factor.

And ability.

But it is a good call.

There is a fair amount of damage, cracks etc to it as it stands.

Plan was paint at some point, but maybe I should give it a go some time.

Would you suggest a compound like G3 on a mop?

The nice thing about gel coat is that it's at least 5x thicker than paint so you can polish off the faded surface without fear of going too far. I'm no expert but there's some good youtube videos. A power buffer and some polishing compound is all you need. Finish with a good wax.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by bigmoe

The nice thing about gel coat is that it's at least 5x thicker than paint so you can polish off the faded surface without fear of going too far. I'm no expert but there's some good youtube videos. A power buffer and some polishing compound is all you need. Finish with a good wax.

Pics later.

But just to let you know, raining here all day.

But not under the carport during my “lunch break”

Giving a small bit with rust stains some quick hand action after some P180 wetordry in dry to get the rust away a bit.

If it works a mop may be employed.

More later

[Grizz1963]

Random update.

Mate Andy in Oklahoma is building a house fir a friend.

Well beyond 70, he has always got a ton of stuff going on.

Sent me an update yesterday.

This overlooks a river too.









Have a good weekend.

[Grizz1963]

I keep saying the same stuff over and over again, but dayjob is a pita so I need to grab bits of time to do even the most arbitrary of jobs just to get away from it.

Yesterday was Teams meetings, strategy (I hate it) and admin tasks.

So my very late lunch/earlier weekend resulted in a whitewash. Hence the Billy Idol reference to bleaching.


Another flashback to what was delivered on 11th September 2020

Time flies.









I had tried hand buffing some of the rust stains away with G3 compound.

Resulting in this.









Not that impressed.

So maybe a machine mopping will help, also to remove some of the grinder dust that has rusted to the flat surfaces on the body over the last 6 months of working on it.

Typically, back to work, and then when I wrapped up for the week, I headed out and unpacked the car completely, sealed up exposed wiring looms and plugs etc.

The pulled out the bleach, a bucket of water and a washing cloth.

Big brush, bucket of bleach gel.

Ideally spray the body and apply gel over water, this allows activation and oxidation to get going.

Kills moulds that grow in the exposed fiberglass.



Rinse.



Dry, drill out drain holes for potential future puddles in the footwells.

Put away and go walk the dog for 3 miles.



Looks a bit cleaner.

I think.

[Braunschweiger]

Huge difference, now buffing and waxing and they need strong sunglass

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Huge difference, now buffing and waxing and they need strong sunglass

Harald,

Thank you.

I was talking with Mickey next door this morning, and actually, the plan was to paint it straight white 2 pack for one season, then next year go the crazy green, orange or whatever colour.

But if I buff the mix of gel coat and exposed, cracked fiberglass, do I not create more problems for the next job of painting.

Should I not leave it alone till paint time, and then add a bit more sanding to create a textured surface for the paint to hold onto?

[Grizz1963]

Another job I did late last night was to clearance the hood/bonnet to fit flush around the wiring loom grommets.





And went for a 3 mile walk with Sally and Bonnie the dog……

Saw this road, down which we walked…… report in the Chevy S10 thread elsewhere. Or to followon other forums.

Maybe it is a sign.

Hell, I do hope so.



Time to get this thing wrapped up, but we know there are loads of jobs.

Yes, they keep coming.

[Grizz1963]

Went for a 3 mile or 5km walk with Sally and the Dog Bonnie.

Walking down this road, I hoped it was a sign.



WW2 pill box.



Zooming on, on the Thames river banks.



Weird patterns of death in the wheat fields.



Sheep, should taste really good feeding on the salt marsh grass.



Amazing stuff the tides bring in.

Just not easy to access, and a long walk to carry home.



And the tide washed up a truck.

Tempted to carry it home…..

Sally just laughed and laughed.



Back on the Rezin Rockit build today.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday was one of those extremely rewarding days.

Very little to show for it.

But a big step forward toward getting the car safe and on the road.

Remember the 5 point racing harnesses Dennis sent me recently?

Time to break them out.

After all……

Safety.





For all the zoooomers you can see the basic profile for the roll bar drawn on the blue card.

So the shoulder straps get bolted to the shoulder high cross bar.

Lap straps are bolted to the chassis through the transmission tunnel and on the seat where the original seatbelt locking cable used to sit.

Floor mounted crotch strap is again bolted to a cross brace.

With all of these points established, it was time for what turned into a big job, small evidence, but great outcome, like a 1 carat diamond engagement ring.

10mm steel plate that has been on standby for 12 years, retrieved and cleaned up.



Big ass grinder fetched from the darkest corner of the garage, safety boots pulled on, new steel cutting blade attached.

Cardboard template copied onto the steel, hearing protection, glasses.

Footplates Cut.



One Cleaned up.



Pair of them.



Then more measure, plan, cardboard, copy, cutting.



Try for size



Much drilling, bolting, visualisation

Paint can caps representing a large diameter roll bar welded onto the mounting plate.





Next up, cut the heads off some bolts to leave decent studs.

Chamfer rears to ensure good contact and penetration of weld.

Weld into place, test roll bar mounting plate fit, grind back welds.





Disassemble and set up in modern spray booth for paint.



Paint, walk away, allow to dry, return, flip over paint and leave to dry.



Very happy with this result.

Close shop at 6.15, pour a heavy gin and tonic in a pint glass, drink, go shower, pour another pint of mothers milk.

Relaxxxxxxx.


Then John the lodger got in around 7.30 and offered to buy us a take out Indian curry meal.

I was certainly not going to cook, offered to pay my way, he declined.




Dinner was good.

Sleep was not.

Awake by 3,45 and out to a disappointing bootfair by 05.45

But managed to get 11 pairs of safety glasses for £10.00 and also some foam squares to glue to the inner scuttle/firewall 4 for £1.00



Should work a treat.

Breakfast next.

[Grizz1963]

@nickwheeler" wrote the following up:

No precision was wasted making these parts .

It was time to do something about these ghetto hose-separators:






The hoses are 7/8" diameter, and the bulkhead fitting spaces them 38mm apart.

Scribe  some that looks about right marking to some 8mm aluminium plate:




Hack off, and clamp to the mill - a drill press would do - and drill four 22mm holes because that's close enough to 7/8":




I milled two straight and parallel edges because I could, but that could have been done with a file. Hacksaw them apart, and lop off the corners:



Mill the new edges straight and parallel to the originals, and shape the ends with files:




Like this:



I rubbed them across 120 and 240 grit DA discs on a piece of granite, using plenty of glass cleaner for a smooth, bushed finish.. No pics, as I did that in between dinner and going out.


Old vs New



And on the car:



The 22mm holes are slightly looser than I'd like, and will benefit from a touch of black silicone next time we have some out.


Much happier.

[Braunschweiger]

Great these self-made parts and they look great

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Great these self-made parts and they look great

Aluminium is left over from the Mitsubishi Shogun roofrack legs I made for the Taunus Transit.

[Grizz1963]

Did I mention that Sunday was a busy day.

Loads of yard work etc.

Eventually got started on the car, working on the floor, fitting the seats etc.

Nick and I had planned a few progress jobs.

Get the brakes bled through, get onto the rear lights, in order to button that up.

And then this week @nickwheeler remembered he had a large kit to pressure test cooling systems.

So the cooling system prime and test was on the cards.

While I carried on with my jobs, he fetched a watering can of water, called for a large funnel to fill the radiator and cooling system.

I carried on cutting metal and drilling, my power tool noise induced reverie suddenly torn apart by Nicks scream of disdain (OK maybe I have exaggerated)

So I flew to his side to find this.

Look closely, look again.

Pssssssssssss……




After some weird angle photos, and a bit of wriggling, pulling and pushing and loosening, Nick had a trophy.



Problem.



Some internet research showed that this is a known weakness in these engines.

Poop.



Clearly, being a known and recurrent fault, has led to it to be exploited to the max.

Crazy money.



I managed to contact an independent who agreed to selling me a used part for a 1600cc engine at £40.00, just need to make a gasket, used to have gasket paper….

A long time ago.

Another job planned was the brakes.


Errrrmmmmmm…..

No, not happening.

A long time ago, the one brake hose that came with the car, seemed perfectly fine.

On Sunday, no flow, either with pressure or suction.

So using the last of the braided hose, Nick made a new brake hose.

Testing the old pipe, with a stainless steel welding rod it seemed it was blocked solid.

At the rear a similar scene played out as well.

Bloody soul destroying.












So there you go.

Still no start.

As Quoted: What is it they say, 90% done, 90% to go

I like that.

[Braunschweiger]

Two Stepps forward, one step back.
It'll be fine, you're a great Team.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Two Stepps forward, one step back.
It'll be fine, you're a great Team.

Absolutely Harald

Just keep going.




Well

That used part did not work.

Part he had to sell was wrong side.

After some digging around he pulled one out.

But same flaw and damage.

Walked Away. Around the corner to an engineering shop.

Where the shift extension came from.

20 minutes consultation later……

I will try fix it myself.

Drill this out @8.5mm





Then tap and fit this.



Delivery 9-16 June.

Wonder if they are delivering on foot.

[Grizz1963]

Came home today and the mailman had delivered a new edition of the Illinois Route 66 guide for me.

Thanks @jagwinn for taking the time to show me a kindness when it was needed.



Guess it means a road trip has kinda got to be done.

[Grizz1963]

Would you pick up £135.00 if it landed in your way….?

I need to put an edge to the new drive planned for when I get some time.

Down the side to retain the garden.



Sally’s son is redoing his garden, and it all has to be new, no cleaning up and reuse

So I went 6 miles to rescue these 25 450x450 slabs and 4 shorter ones after work.

Glad I have a wagon.



And ready to be used when I get to it.

Plan is to pressure pressure clean them all before using.





You go do the maths.



As an aside, filled the car today.

Diesel price per litre.




Thank goodness for free cash laying around.

[Grizz1963]

Report back from Nick tonight.

Old and New brake lines..



Fitted the rear one.



Onto the coolant elbow.

Some heat and gentle Dremmel work.

Gave this.



Tapped M10 and filed flat with most of the repair piece.



Repair piece screwed in so Nick can clock the hose (which he still needs to make and solder in)





And there you have it.

A highlight of the week, on a Monday evening.

Chuffed yes.

[Grizz1963]

Errrrrrmmmmmmmm……





Watford Gap.

[Grizz1963]

I was delivering oop North.

And hoping to snag this old man……..



But common sense prevailed ultimately.

Maybe another day.

[Grizz1963]

Was chatting with Dennis, and also Alistair, and it is interesting to see how prices are all over the place for flights.


[quote author="@alistairk" source="/post/2733616/thread" timestamp="1653581945"]@grizz I've no idea. Ticket prices seem to be up and down all over. Jiggling a few days either way seems to sometimes affect the prices quite a lot, or going a week earlier or later. Obviously avoid peak school holidays, etc. and special events in either UK or US (like thanksgiving or 4th July whatever)

Just play with Skyscanner / Expedia whatever and see how it shapes up.

I think my tickets were like £460 but the swine then said that didn't include hold baggage! BA is becoming EasyJet... I paid £50 for my return home bag but I took a seat upgrade with free bags on the way out as they made me a nice offer

Also be aware BA have told me "car and motorcycle parts" are prohibited items in hold baggage now...

So a bunch of stuff ended up coming home in the boot of the LTD. Hopefully it all makes it here OK...[/quote]


You are right, prices are erratic.

Agreed, they become sneaky.

I was just chatting with Dennis.

Then went onto Google for direct flights to St Louis,

However, not available.

At £683.00 though, I am going.

BUT……

The price is cheaper right now, were I to buy (got to sort a new passport and ESTA visa) than in 2019 when I went.