GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project~”

[Grizz1963]

Started very late today around 13.30 as my day was filled with stuff.

Also my last day of vacation. Back to work tomorrow, and start the year with my year end performance review at 3.30 Absolutely not looking forward to that to be honest. It was not a great year in my opinion.

Anyway, my intent was to complete door no 2’s outer door shin rust after doing all the holes before.

I am amazed at the amount of damage that has been exposed by the media blasting, dents, rust obviously and a lot more work once the new metal has been let in.

Measured, made patch no 1 and cut out the rusty part.



Fitted, magnets, welded.





Ground back.





Both doors have weird damage from below, like they have been hammered with a rock or similar tool.

A bit more hammer and dolly work needed.

But happy so far.



Then the next corner. It is the worst corner of the four in fact.

The inside is completely rotten too.

Patch ready cut, skin marked out.



Cutting out.



Nightmare.



Welded. Ground back. Not impressed.



Etch Primer done, started to pack tools back in the garage as I don’t know when next I Will get in there.



Done less than planned during my vacation, but no regrets.

As Sally said tonight when I came indoors, is there a deadline?

Nope.

Thanks for checking in.

[68Timber]

Progress is progress.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Progress is progress.

Certainly is sir, certainly is.



Just to change pace a bit, and to bring you all up to date with Dennis’ NASCAR based 1966 Chevy C10 build.

He has been busy the last few weeks.

Ultimately it will be 800+ BHP of pure Hendricks Racing motor propelling this beast down the road.



Serious stopping power.

Typical of these builds, you dream it, you build it, you tear it down, you paint it you build it and hopefully you get to drive it.



So stripping back more paint, after media blasting





On your own ??

Easy, flip it with a tractor bucket.







Progress.

Man alone, painting.








More in a bit.

Internet is not cooperating tonight

[Grizz1963]

Back to the rest of Dennis’ update pics.

NASCAR brakes on all four corners.





Typical of this sort of build, loads of parts, not one the right one.





Hand made parts too...

Turned out on the lathe.





Motor in place.

[Grizz1963]

Some more from Andy’s road trip.

Last night.








Dinner diner

[68Timber]

Dennis' truck... Wow.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Dennis' truck... Wow.

It will also be more than the sum of it’s parts.






So got home and found two Post Office and courier service delivery cards.

One piece next door, one next door but one.

So I fetched the etch primer from Stuart’s place.

Later just after dinner, doorbell rings madly, I know it’s Mickey.

Parcel no 2 Hand delivered.

From America, from Dennis. Sent Priority Mail, Postage $76.00

Ouch !!! And WTF??

Description is sweatshirts, but it’s a large box and it’s certainly heavier than a couple of hoodies.

So I wonder..... “Has my crazy friend Dennis rushed the lower door repair panels over to me as a random act of kindness?”

Opening the box, yup, two hoodies and some boxes wrapped inside them......l

Unpack, and it turns out to be two large boxes of my favourite Oatmeal cookies, only $1.99 a box (think postage)

Christmas card included.



P

Contents.

Red for Sally, Grey for me.




Once again gobsmacked by people’s generosity, and can only hope my pay it forward bucket is full enough to deserve this.

Life is certainly good.


PS. Had my yearly Performance Review with two managers via Skype call today.

Seems like I still have a job, and they are happy with whatever it is that I do.

It was stressing me by the way. A lot.

[Grizz1963]

Ran the Galaxy up to the farm quickly this morning thinking there was a chance of delivery of the lowering springs today as Sally checked online.
But it seems it will be Monday as the card suggested next working day.

Took a quick side shot and 1/4 front pic so there is a baseline to compare to.





Looking forward to lowered and bigger wheels.

[Grizz1963]

Andy’s ongoing road trip.....


Early morning.




Remember this song??


https://youtu.be/trNW-GAClUM



.



Yup.



Guess who is there






Note the Yellow Peril hidden in the background





So the road trip continues


Unabated.

[Grizz1963]

Just been digging around on Rock Auto website.

One reproduction fender costing £90.00 or $122.00

Delivered to the UK for £281.00 or $368.00

I want to replace both the fenders outright as they are so damaged, but looking at these prices, it almost makes sense to fly out and bring them back as baggage.



They said it would be interesting.

Certainly is getting that way now.

[Grizz1963]

Just been down to the garage to check the size of a fender for someone who asked.

I am actually shocked.

Not that heavy, they are under 7kg or 15 lbs or a stone in mass


HOWEVER, I am shocked at their naked dimensions.

Approximately

56” or 1450mm long

26” or 650mm tall

8” or 200mm deep/thick.

So add a bit more for boxing up to protect from dents.

It makes sense why they get shipped as extra large or over sized parcels.

I know the rear bed sides attract a significant cost penalty too.

[Grizz1963]

Funny how things move about.


Had a question on another website an hour ago as to the weight of the fenders.

So popped to the garage to measure and weigh them.

Chatting via PM and then Whatsapp it turns out I am getting messaged from Kuala Lumpur. And it was almost midnight there.

Keeping it simple......

Messages received.


Hi Grizz
M*** (•••••••) here.
Just saw your message.
I’m a pilot with XXX and go to USA most months . I reckon I could get the fenders back as luggage if no bigger than skis .

Told him sizes again.

Reply.

For example I’m in Phoenix 23-25 January then New Orleans 22-24 February

More chat and then ended with this.

I’ve asked the question on our work Facebook group
Will get back to you when I get answers.



Lets see where this goes.

Could be helpful

[68Timber]

Friends in high places!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Friends in high places!

Certainly does help.

What amazes me is how complete strangers reach out to offer pretty unique help that they are able to offer.

Weather forecast still not playing ball.

Nice morning view today.

Pretty privileged I think to have these.




Patiently waiting for the lowering stick.




Chilly outside.

[Grizz1963]

.


53p per litre for petrol.

Yup, Tulsa, Oklahoma today.

Thank you Andy.




Anyway, back in the UK, I saw this poor guy in a hospital.

Guess the wind can really hurt them.



Message from Dennis earlier today, Happy Birthday, wish we could go here for lunch today.

We went there last year on the road trip and had lunch.

Turns out they give guests a free slice of pie for desert on their birthday.

Note the age of the shop.



And for my Birthday, Sally did a slow cooked ham and various salads plus some prezzies.

T shirt from her son, and the rest from her.

Perfect for the kind of guy like me, who needs very little.



Another number box ticked.

[Grizz1963]

Side Update from St Louis, Missouri

Dennis has been quietly getting on with his NASCAR ‘66 C10 build.

Yesterday is was power steering pump bracket fabrication







Then brake bias setting







And still to be fitted.

Gas pedal, cast by Andy Martin in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Dennis.




More work to be done today by Dennis.

Current temperatures are well below the Zero degree mark.

Thankfully the workshop is heated.

[Hammered 77]

Does Andy Martin make those pedals for anyone?

Rick

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Hammered 77

Does Andy Martin make those pedals for anyone?

Rick

Hi Rick,

Andy made those for us as gifts.

We go visit him just outside Tulsa.

Check the road trip here: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...g-dennis-kelly

Andy’s thread on Garage Journal.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...d.php?t=334140

Not sure if he would do a commission casting, but you could message him and ask.





So Birthdays being what they are, Sally insisted she take me to lunch or dinner.

So we went in between.

I had a load of clothes and service manuals to drop off for Mind, one of the charities I support.

So we also took a walk through Rochester.

It was bloody freezing, as I only had a hoody and T shirt on, and the breeze was brisk.







Rochester Cathedral

Twice.





Medway river from Rochester Castle.

Cold but beautiful





Note the angle of the lean in this building.



Then down to Chatham for my late lunch of choice.

Turkish.

Mezze starters for two.



Followed by a pile of various meats on rice and also wheat.



Stuffed after all that, a coffee and chat, then headed home in the Galaxy via the gas station.

First time in years I have put 60 litres in a cars tank, except for the Chevy Blazer, which I used to keep topped up above 1/2 tank anyway.

Galaxy like a drink more than my daily 1.5 Diesel,Ford Focus.

All in all, a perfect birthday for me.

[68Timber]

Belated Happy Birthday! Beautiful weather and scenery. I guess the leaning house stopped its slow creep off the ledge when it bumped into the one across the walk? That will be a fun rescue for someone someday. How have you been feeling?

Dennis' truck... I know it's NASCAR-themed, but I didn't realize how serious he was until the latest pics that show the front brakes.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Belated Happy Birthday! Beautiful weather and scenery. I guess the leaning house stopped its slow creep off the ledge when it bumped into the one across the walk? That will be a fun rescue for someone someday. How have you been feeling?

Dennis' truck... I know it's NASCAR-themed, but I didn't realize how serious he was until the latest pics that show the front brakes.

Hi John,

Thank you, birthday was good, understated in a way I prefer.

Rochester is a lovely City, also the background for many of Charles Dickens’s stories.
Oliver Twist plays out here too.

Regarding Dennis’ build.

It will be an 800 plus horsepower NASCAR truck, skinned in 1966 C10 skin.

It’s going to be a brute.



Quick pic from Dennis.

He fitted the gas pedal that Andy designed and cast for him.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Belated Happy Birthday! Beautiful weather and scenery. I guess the leaning house stopped its slow creep off the ledge when it bumped into the one across the walk? That will be a fun rescue for someone someday. How have you been feeling?

Dennis' truck... I know it's NASCAR-themed, but I didn't realize how serious he was until the latest pics that show the front brakes.

The basic chassis is a 2000 model NASCAR truck racing item.

However, Dennis is fitting all newer and much upgraded parts, right up to date.

Adam, his son built a model a few years ago as a Christmas gift, showing how the rear bed and wheel arches needed to be cut and moved forward, as the chassis is actually even shorter than a short Fleetside


The whole chassis is low, very low so loads of adaptations are done.

This is actually a real hot rod he is building with tons of custom fabrication









.

[Grizz1963]

Right.......

Going to Bobs is a treat.

He is a dry old guy and wiley as a fox.

Got there and he was trying to fix a security light and PIR by trying to add a new PIR to the old light.

Of course he handed it to me immediately thinking that I could sort it.

Different items. So tried drawing a diagram and record of wiring. As one has three wires and the original has 4 wires.



Ended up ordering new ones.

Then a walkabout in the yard. Cold out.

Somany things covered in bramble bushes.



1952 Commer Radio truck.





So barn one.



Russian









Interior.




More later.

[Palf70Step]

Lots of treasures to keep you occupied!!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Lots of treasures to keep you occupied!!

Enough stuff for many lifetimes.

But like many hoarders, even getting one done is an achievement



Part two....

Same barn as the Russian and many others........

Read the details



Tax disc was last renewed by Bob in 1970, NSU Quicky he used to get to work.

Still owns it and hates it as much as back then..... 50 years ago.



More random pics.



Swage block...... a blacksmiths forming tool.



PaulY needs this.



I wanted this.



And lastly, Massey Ferguson, known as Old Smokey....Bobs retirement gift.



More from this treasure trove another day.

Rovers, Austins, Land Rovers, tractors, tractors, tractors, bicycles, machines....

Enough to keep most people happy a long time.


.

[Grizz1963]

Some of you my have noticed that Dennis was obvious in his absence.....

Poor guy.

Had to go spend some extended time out in Cancun, Mexico at very sexy resort, being fed beer and good food 24/7

One pic only, of him and Debbie on the beach.

That was enough for me.






Galaxy worked today.

Sally bought a Cross trainer, not sure if a clothes horse was not a better idea.




This week I had a couple of new rugs delivered, so cleaning up the existing ones before rolling them up, was important too.

Interesting his Sally has the timing just right.




Tree to prune back hard tomorrow and hopefully some welding as well.

Been a bit busy lately with various tasks.