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

[Grizz1963]

Bit of a hectic day.

Fitted at 07.30 this morning with Mickey’s help lifting it in.

Had to use a small hydraulic bottle jack to push the front feet open about 15mm that the heat distortion had created.

Bolted down.

Pretty (very) happy with the overall look.

Closer to my visualisation than I deserve.

Most importantly was getting it to lean back to mimic the “B-post on the entrance/door.



Rear supports hardly impair load area. So some practicality retained.



Unobtrusive from the front.



This is a great point to have made it to in my opinion from where it started.




How much further before the final straight??


.

[Braunschweiger]

You've already turned onto the final straight, a big difference from before, very nice

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

You've already turned onto the final straight, a big difference from before, very nice

Thank you Harald.

I feel there is still a mountain of work left to get done.

but a lot has been done.

[Grizz1963]

Harnesses are different makes and needed different approaches.

Some changes may still be affected.







Drivers side HOOKER Harness.



Passenger is SIMPSON ITEM.



Lots more to come I guess.

Awaiting rear light units.

[Grizz1963]

Also in the post/mail today a random sticker.

I like the sentiment.

And have suspicion who it is from.

Come on…… own up.



Certainly will be used on the ally firewall.

[Grizz1963]

So last night I went out in the truck to the 6 Bells pub in Cliffe for a car meeting.

A load of very different stuff, older, newer, traditional, not so traditional…..

Noisy Harleys ridden by crippled geriatrics trying to grasp that last handful of youthful pleasure. And making me look the other way while they rev up their overly loud, expensive steeds, tottering about trying to park them for all to admire.
These are absolutely beautiful machines, don’t get me wrong, and I have ridden since age 13.

Click link for photos.


https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...m-retro-loaded






Today was hot, unpleasantly hot, even the dog was not impressed.





Quick after work job.

Buckle for the crotch strap.

And then bolted into the frame as well.





Tight, but adjustable fit

.

Done.



Weekend has arrived.

[Grizz1963]

Ahhhh, MOT man says you need to see where you just came from.

Combined a set of old and new mirrors.



Needs tidying up.



Better



4 of these made as only one original.



Ready




Tight fit, call the octopus.



Arms on.



Done.



Looks so wiiiiide now.





Central rear view mirror also contemplated.

Chevy mirror from my stash.



But then found this one.

Sucker



Job done.



Spent the rest of the day with Sally.

Walked the dog.

Saw my next resto project. Right there in the Thames, Essex in the background.



And took her out for dinner.

Happy life.

[Grizz1963]

Had an interesting question about the mirrors on another forum…….

From someone with a scatty memory. Asking why fit these mirrors.


Original fitment.


I just added new mirrors as one glass was broken.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks to @peteh1969 for making up the badges.

Fitted them early on today.

Details.





Followed by……….

Passenger “Anti-Submarine” strap.

Unbolted and raised the seat base.

Remember this was the drivers seat before.

@nickwheeler had just arrived and suggested I make the brace stronger than what was fitted as standard.

So……..



Measured and cut a new 3mm steel brace.

Also made a new buckle to go with it.



Bolted in.



And fitted.



Fits too.

Fully adjustable.





.

[Grizz1963]

So while I carried on with the second seat harness mount, @nickwheeler took a look at the wipers that came last week.

Very quickly realising they would be needing some adjustment on every level.


1. Mounting plate and Rivnuts to the frame.

2. Shorter arms, a lot shorter (think headlight arms)

3. Shorter wipers. 8” or 200mm as those supplied are 300mm


So we carried on working side by side at more of these small necessary jobs.


First mounting plate made up.

Even the small screws needed replacing from the magic tub with slightly longer ones.






Tried out.

Looks good.



Yes, that works.



Bolted up, spacing works.



Both sides done.



Another couple of small jobs included getting the passenger footwell firewall kickplate carpeted. Looking plush in there now.

And finding where I had hidden these bonnet/hood catches……

Making up some backing plates and finding small nuts and screws to attach them to fenders and hood.



Attached.



And finally, stepping away

Wipers and arms too long, need something shorter.

Bonnet catches in place.



A short day unfortunately, as the rear light units were not delivered on Friday or Saturday as promised by Ebay.

Busy week ahead.

Have a good one all.

[Grizz1963]

Just some random thinking tonight.

Sometimes I should not be permitted to think.

Rollbar.



Add scaffolding pipe lagging

Wrap in nylon webbing.





Or wrap in vinyl.



Not sure at all yet.

Just Finking.

For now.

[Grizz1963]

Rear light units came today.

Took longer than anticipated, but all good.



So after work I went down to make up some splash guards for them.

Measured, cut and folded.



Bottoms folded up.



Fits the hole.

Thats a good thing too.

John the lodger got home and came down with a beer.

This aids the thinking processes.



And wraps around the lights nicely.



Added some insulation to the rear where the contacts may make contact.



Being a bit more adventurous than me, he started to test the lights, wiring, switches etc.

Battery is almost dead, so it was a struggle, but except for the rear foglight, all the rear lights are wired, and the new lights are a massive improvement on the old.



Once the shields were done and test fitted, I decided to shut shop and come up.

Magic Mike moved the car.



Another small job completed tonight.

Headlights, side lights, side repeaters, and a few more bits, plus restoring the wiring………

[Braunschweiger]

The little things make progress, nobody sees it. It will be great and will be a lot of fun on the road

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

The little things make progress, nobody sees it. It will be great and will be a lot of fun on the road

Morning Harald,

You are right.

Also, if you cheat, you will always know it is not right.


Still got questions and opinions on this …..

You get pre-made units that velcro over, foam and a printed nylon type covering.

Like these: https://www.rollbarcovers.com/rollbarcovers





Zippers, velcro and poppers are all feasible though. . I suspect velcro is the easier way.

I actually prefer that coarse broad webbing, which is not seatbelt material and it allows you to navigate the bend and absorb the curve neatly.

As Phil said, the vinyl can look bit untidy.

I always wanted a thicker bar for looks, and the wrapped look achieved that in part.

Like this size.

[Braunschweiger]

The Wrap tape is great and what if you line it with fixed foam beforehand?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

The Wrap tape is great and what if you line it with fixed foam beforehand?

I think it would be good.

Contact glue is good, and willkeepthe webbing in position.

Maybe do it later.






Decided that as I had paid for the lot, I may as well destroy it all while at it.

Wipers that is.



Measured, marked,Bent, cut.



Shorter for sure.

May have to make some stays to stop the sweeping.



Painted the folded, cut and drilled tips.



Back together.



I do hope it all comes together sufficiently.

Small jobs.

[Grizz1963]

A day off work always sounds like a great idea.

Especially when you choose to be off.

But when you do not, and feel a bit rubbish, it is still a good thing. Right?



But there is always stuff to do.

Yesterday I checked the cells in the battery that came with the car, intending to put it on charge.

Cells were all dry, took 1.5 litres to fill, no wonder it was so light.

I hate duff, tired or dead batteries, so time for a new one.

John the lodger picked up a new battery on the way home from his favourite battery shop. Cost £55.00



While trying the front wiring, the original airbag (disconnected) steering wheel would not activate the horn, may need some magic or new alternative.

https://youtu.be/EThky5GcbH4

But I also looked at alternatives.

Eunos wheel.

Mot pretty.



Fits but needs a working horn push.



A spare, fitting centre boss, but no wheel or horn push.



And the wheel I really do prefer for looks.

But the centre boss is a differently splined unit.



So many options…….

Do I blend two steering wheels to make up one that fits?

Or stick with Mr Ugly.

Suspect Ugly it is.

For now.

[Grizz1963]

Went to look for some specific diameter pipe for the Rezin Rockit.

Failed.

But found this hammer in the dirt.

My first thought is slate roofers hammer.

Possibly quite old, and from before the modern ones seen now.

@dez is a bit of a hammer guy, so may know.

Anyone else got a clue?







Thanks.

[Grizz1963]

Spectacularly rubbish night. 12 hours in bed, maybe 5 slept in total.

Bored to hell by 9.30 so went to the garage and stood and stared at things.

Liking what I see, but bored within 10 minutes.

So I found a lazy, slow job to do.



Fix the dash a bit, original design was in a different direction…… leaving gaps.

Created template.



Found some wood and tools.





More shaping after making a second one, yes, V1.0 was not quite right.



More materials.



Looks like a fit.



Glue, fit, pressure.



Done trimming back.



Vinyl next I guess.



Knackered, from doing nothing.

Came indoors.

[Grizz1963]

Well.

Covid certainly slows me down.

But I struggle to sit still, and indoors is a killer.

After a slow walk around the bootfair, which netted exactly zero, I had breakfast, sat around a while, then went to the garage.

Gathered some bits of metal.



Measured, cut to.size, drilled etc.





Drilled and tapped the rear support



Glue.



Result.





Solid stick welds.



Painted.



Result.





Tell you what.

That screen is a load more solid and stable now.

It was good, now it is better.

[Braunschweiger]

That you can still move like that with Covid 19, respect. I couldn't do anything but sleep. But nice progress. Get well soon.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

That you can still move like that with Covid 19, respect. I couldn't do anything but sleep. But nice progress. Get well soon.

Evening Harald.

Thank you.

I really do not like being sick or slowed down.

But today……….



Shortest report ever.

Thanks to Covid.

3 holes drilled, 3 P-Clips fitted to brake lines.



I gave up, and came in to sleep 2.5 hours.

Nasty stuff.

[Grizz1963]

Came to a decision yesterday.

My car, my build, my visualisation, my way,

Advice always appreciated.

I walked down to the garage just to get out the chair and off the couch.

Saw this support, which I really like.



Then thought about it, walked back and fetched the garage keys, got a length of high density foam from the rafters.

Added it to the brace.



Then wrapped it in 50mm wide black nylon webbing.

Both tidier and arguably “safer”



I like the look, as mentioned before.

Ordered some fresh new webbing off Evilbay.

Both the rear section as done before, and the cross brace will get this treatment.

Those who do not like it, I am sure will not be doing their car builds like that.

And anyone who really really really hate it that much, come buy the car, take it home and fix it for yourself.

Problem solved.

[realvc]

I really, really, really like it. All bars near your head need to be padded.
Sorry you are so sick. Take care and get well soon.

[Braunschweiger]

Exactly, it's going to be a great car, the head protection is important, get well soon.