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

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Sure don't know what you mean by "waiting for a large lump to fall off…"

Here's my pass side wing…


…and today I plan on planting 2 posts, so I will be digging post holes and mixing quikcrete while the Arctic blast keeps our high today around 2C, woke up to -3C...

Cheers!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON !!!

[Grizz1963]

I was looking at this thread and found some leads on something I want to do with my spare/replacement instrument cluster.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=552896

There are two blank pods, and I want to fit a small rev counter in one (Chevy made one for these trucks, but they appear to be rare) and the other will work for me with a clock fitted.


DOES ANYONE IN THE UK KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND A VOLVO CLOCK LIKE THIS ?


Some pics of the work involved.



Volvo clock to the top left in pic.









ORIGINAL OPTION REV COUNTER.



JOB DONE !!!

JUST PERFECT !!



Engine in the truck.

[flashed]

His threads are awesome as is this one .

[Ta2Don]

Are you planning on turning the Odometer back to zero on the restored cluster??? It is super easy...

[Lokin4AReason]

just found this thread .... talk about a neat one

item(s) on that side of the pond, are either expensive or nor exist

[Ta2Don]

Posting some pics fro Rian…
He and Martin spent a lovely English Weather kind of day buying truck bits, supplies, and a Sand Blast Cabinet...

[Grizz1963]

Today Martin and I were up and away from my place by 07.00 which is tame, as he only got to bed at 01.45 and probably to sleep by 02.00 then up by 05.30 to sort his dogs out and get ready to pick me up by 07.00 as I had already texted him by 06.00 to check if he was up......

Anyway, we were off to Maccess for all sorts of spares etc, Don posted a pic of the trolley earlier.
I got a new battery for Nicola's MX5 and some paint primer, Schutz, cleaning agents and a 22 spanner to replace the one modded for the shock and spring replacement jobs.



Next up we went to KMS for me to buy a little Sand Blasting Cabinet for small parts........

At the counter I realized that what I was about to buy would not serve our purpose very well, and promptly made an executive decision to buy a large cabinet on legs. Fortunately we were in Martin's Ford Mondeo ST Estate........ which swallowed the box with ease.

We are fortunate that we can buy certain tools to share, who needs to own a blasting cabinet etc ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAGNUM-IND...item2eb2c4e15c





Lastly, we went over to Ron Fenton of STS Imports Ltd. He is in Great Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex.

Ron has previously brought in parts for Martin on several occasions, and his service has been exemplary. The last time a new bumper Martin had imported got damaged in transit inside the container, and he immediately replaced it, ordering a new one, and sold the damaged one to me at a sensible rate.

Today Martin collected a pair of used inner fenders.... ORIGINAL, not reproduction, which he will use on his rebuild as a reference point for metal replacement on the cab etc. He also got my new cab insteps in stainless.
Lastly, a brand new Radiator support to replace the rotten one on his truck was fitted with.

We spent about two hours with Ron.

He has been bringing in a load of Ford Crown Victoria front ends for fitting to older trucks. Seems they are easy fit units, delivering disc brakes, steering etc at reasonable cost to UK builders.

Ron also had for sale a slightly rare beast........

A 1972 Oldsmobile Toronado.






So that was our day in Essex.

On the way back we stopped at McDonalds for a chicken wrap meal and a drink, the came to my place.
Fitted the new battery to the Mazda, and then sat chatting, including a long Face Time chat with Ta2Don in Arkansas.

These trucks do make life interesting.

[mjh1965]

Thanks Rian another productive day

[disasterbus]

Looks like you've had a good day Rian. I'll give the guy who got Martin a bumper a call - I'm after a rear bumper for mine but the cost of shipping big lumps of metal like that from LMC and similar suppliers is scary!
I've been playing with ideas for fabricating one from scratch or adapting something like the ones fitted to Mitsubishi L200's but it's going to be a lot of work and even then I don't know that I'd be 100% happy with the look. Would prefer original look if possible.
That Olds is awesome but definately won't fit on my drive!!

[Paul Y]

Originally Posted by disasterbus

Looks like you've had a good day Rian. I'll give the guy who got Martin a bumper a call - I'm after a rear bumper for mine but the cost of shipping big lumps of metal like that from LMC and similar suppliers is scary!
I've been playing with ideas for fabricating one from scratch or adapting something like the ones fitted to Mitsubishi L200's but it's going to be a lot of work and even then I don't know that I'd be 100% happy with the look. Would prefer original look if possible.
That Olds is awesome but definately won't fit on my drive!!

Mr. Bus,

If it is of interest I will have the rear bumper available from my 66 when it arrives.

Grizz,

Always enjoy your threads, look forward to seeing your truck in the flesh in the not too distant future, if I had known you were in Great Leighs would have come out and met you as about 10 mins away.

P.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

Mr. Bus,

If it is of interest I will have the rear bumper available from my 66 when it arrives.

Grizz,

Always enjoy your threads, look forward to seeing your truck in the flesh in the not too distant future, if I had known you were in Great Leighs would have come out and met you as about 10 mins away.

P.

You know what Paul,

I actually had you in mind when we came over but time flew faster than planned.

I need to speak to you about those rims too.

[duallyjams]

Always a fun day when you get to hang with your mates.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by disasterbus

Looks like you've had a good day Rian. I'll give the guy who got Martin a bumper a call - I'm after a rear bumper for mine but the cost of shipping big lumps of metal like that from LMC and similar suppliers is scary!
I've been playing with ideas for fabricating one from scratch or adapting something like the ones fitted to Mitsubishi L200's but it's going to be a lot of work and even then I don't know that I'd be 100% happy with the look. Would prefer original look if possible.
That Olds is awesome but definately won't fit on my drive!!

Kerry

Looks like you are still awake.

I will call you in a moment.

May have a lead for you.

[flashed]

Grizz ,I showed my wife your thread here and she wanted me to tell you she likes your truck .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

Always a fun day when you get to hang with your mates.

Really is, and I think between Martin and I there is very little selfishness, so we both are happy to go out of our way to help each other, it really gets stuff done fast.

Originally Posted by flashed

Grizz ,I showed my wife your thread here and she wanted me to tell you she likes your truck .

Hey flashed, thank you and your wife.

Half of the purpose of threads is to learn, and the other half is to entertain.

Next update in a bit.

[Grizz1963]

[font size="6"]IT HAS BEGUN........ NO TURNING BACK NOW.[/font]


Greeted by this before 09.00 today.

Driven by Bob the Magician.






Tools of the trade.




I met Bob a few months ago when he picked up a pedal kart for his son Alfie that he had won on Evilbay.

Typically of me, we started to chat and ended up talking jobs and hobbies...... so it was agreed that I would use him to pull the dents on my trucks door where it had flipped open before.

I still need to find a pair of Jeep Cherokee "door straps" to replace the stretched original ones.

Bob started dressing a few of the small dents on the bonnet for me.

Made it look so easy, I also made him a wooden tool to help massage the metal. Made me feel useful as he is so bloody skilled.



Then onto the door to open up the first crease......

The filler at the bottom of the ground back section is about 8mm thick, camera does not capture it well.

Loads of holes from previous damage repairs, I suspect the door was damaged again after the repairs were done in the USA before exportation.





Then I got to help...... now there was no going back.

The clips that hold the wide trim onto the door screws in, and I managed to unscrew one, the others we just ground the heads off, and dropped the bits inside the door for attention later.
I believe the new trim I will be buying when I have saved up the cash, from Mar-K, comes with new clips.



NINJA !!




Next up came the fun, magical part.

Using the "Wriggley Wire" welded on with this special tool.

Bob showed me, and then made me do the next few.



It fuses these wriggley wires to the body metal with current, then you get to pull the metal back with various tools and also tension, with added hammer and dolly strikes.

MAGIC !!!







PRO at work.

Hook in as many hooks as you needed and welded on and into the crease.







MARTIN had come over earlier from taking his Rottie to the vets, to take a look and learn as well.

He made a few very short video clips which will give an idea of what happens. Excuse the finesse and aspect of the clips, it is an iPhone 6 so quite technical (rofl)

The violence levels vary, and finesse is the name of the game in stretching and shrinking metal.

CLIP 1

Dent Pulling part 1 - YouTube

CLIP 2

Dent Pulling part 2 - YouTube

CLIP 3

Dent Pulling part 3 - YouTube

Bob dressing the steel after the wires, which he alternated as he went along.



Bit by bit the crease came back, as well as the swage line which is really badly creased.

Next up it was the time for a pin puller. Same as the wriggley wires, apply current, fuse to door, pull.





At this point Bob was trying to fill the holes we opened up with some of the pins, a couple took, but the rest would not seat.

So I brought out the Mig Welder, thinking that would be sensible, Martin, being the hero, who welds plate most days of the week took the welder out of our hands and proceeded to burn a hole and create a blob....... OOOOPPPS !! (OK, I admit, it was not his fault, though I would love to blame him)
After 5 years, the bottle of CO2 that Oldbus had brought me from Germany had just expired. BUGGGERR !!!
No Problemo..... Or so I thought, I have a fresh bottle of Argon/CO2 mix, specially bought for the trucks welding, just quickly change bottles and we will be back on track.

ERRRRMMM..... ?? NOPE.

Can you see the problem ??




YUP.

Female-Male or Male-Female.

So I needed an adaptor for my regulator. (suspect I have one hidden away somewhere)

So Bob just finished up as far as he could, as he had another home visit to do today.



Up here he could not do anything where some idiot had tried to crowbar open the quarter light at some point.





After Bob packed up and left, I went to Rainham to pick up a 3 speed Raleigh Shopper bicycle in need of attention.
Hammerite paint and a flat front wheel is the opening bid, but I have a plan.



Then I shot over to Machine Mart in Maidstone as I managed to get a 20% VAT Free discount voucher off a member on Rods n Sods to meet Martin and to do a group buy of tools we both needed.
I got an electric Impact Wrench, Oscilating DA Sander, two half packs of discs for the sander, 50 each in medium and coarse grit which Martin and I always share half and half, as well as the adaptor for my welders gas bottle.

My little pile in heaven.



This weekend has been wet, rainy and relatively miserable.

Nicola really only saw me this morning when I took her a cuppa tea and last night for a bit.

Yet, when I came in from all my "Manly tasks" the house smelt rather good and I found these in the kitchen, with a lovely casserole in the oven, cooking away, as well as a Summer fruits oven baked crumble.......


MY LIFE IS GOOD !!





That is all for today.

Next episode soon.

[clemdaddy]

wow, what a day.
your pal made short work of the door, that crease can be tough. the work you guys did together, outstanding. then after all the sweat and toll... theres a batch of hot muffins waiting...
wow, what a day.

i just gotta ask. how many batteries a day do you go through with that jumpsuit?

great job and a fun day...

[Grizz1963]

Found in a skip over in Hackney area today.

Will be almost perfect for when I sit alongside the truck sanding..... wheeled one would be better.

Put it on the table out on the deck, turned around and Harley was straight on it.



I suspect she will be there every step of the way while the truck gets done.

Cats.......

[Grizz1963]

I can't believe how different the truck can look from one week to the next.




Last night I removed the side trim off the truck.

I was amazed at just how knackered the trim is.



First question is WHY ???

WHY do they need these clips to keep the trim on?

How the hell do you get it off the truck without getting a hernia??



BARSTEWARDS !!!!!!



These little clips are OK to remove.



Leaving the trim in a pile of mangled treasures.



While I was in the garage, I looked at the quarter windows, the passenger side is rotten..... now to find a decent replacement. Who said it would be easy.



Rusted frame.



Drivers side is a lot better, and the rubbers need replacing, but the frame is good.




I took a day annual leave today, to fit some hardboard into the rafters of the garage.
Hopefully it will help when I get to do the body work, to keep the garage a bit warmer, and also to manage the dust from sanding filler etc.

Once I pulled the truck out on the "winter wheels" and minus its side trim, it looked pretty misserable.



Went to B&Q Hardware to fetch 8 sheets of hardboard, and some cut timber for framing up the walls I want to put up inside the garage.

On the way back, I stopped for some fuel as the needle was dropping very low.



It took me the best part of 8 hours of cutting and fetteling to get the the drop down sheets onto the rafters.

I still need to tidy up the holes and some of the escapes for the heat, then I will do the walls.

Before






While I was clearing up the loft area,I found the trucks "aircon/blower" pipes. Merry mix of pipework.



After.




Getting there bit by bit.

[Ta2Don]

Wow! What a day!!!

New toys and Hot Muffins!!!

[CRGRS 66]

I thought you were going to say that Ian baked the muffins

Progress in dents looks great

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

wow, what a day.
your pal made short work of the door, that crease can be tough. the work you guys did together, outstanding. then after all the sweat and toll... theres a batch of hot muffins waiting...
wow, what a day.

i just gotta ask. how many batteries a day do you go through with that jumpsuit?

great job and a fun day...

You had Nicola choking on and spitting her tea out when she read your comments.

These suits were off an oil rig support tug, so needed all the bright lights, at least you cannot miss me in it.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Wow! What a day!!!

New toys and Hot Muffins!!!

YUP YUP YUUUUUP !!

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

I thought you were going to say that Ian baked the muffins

Progress in dents looks great

Thank you mate.

Ian is too bloody bone idle to bake the muffins, better at eating them

[Grizz1963]

Have started to clear out the garage so that I will have space to do the bodywork when I get going.

So tonight I removed the chrome smoothies and fitted these Japanese 4x4 wheels that my buddy Scott (Jabbo) dropped off here about a year ago.

They will be perfect to roll the truck around on, and are OK to get dirty etc.



I do love this quick Snap On jack.

Up Up and away.



Job done !!

I also used the new impact wrench I bought yesterday to undo the nuts, what a pleasure to have the "right tools".

It is brutal for sure.

I will not be using it for most fastening jobs.



Just before I pulled the truck back in, I looked down the side and again just grinned at how Bob had managed to sort out the creases yesterday.



I also started to move stuff into the caravan shed, as my bike trailer needs to go to Martins mums place 30 miles from here, into her garage.

Once the space is liberated I can move my motorbike across and put up the wall I want to add to keep the rest of the garage reasonably dust free.

The blasting cabinet needs to be assembled too.

[Ta2Don]

Cats be Cats!!!

Will FaceTime you later today…
Cheers Mate

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Cats be Cats!!!

Will FaceTime you later today…
Cheers Mate

Thanks for the call, was cool having the lot of us in one room.


Truck time tomorrow, well, sort of. Working on clearing the garage.

Sold my Sachs Madass tonight.

Stripped off all the side trim on my truck after work.

Looks rubbish.