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

[realvc]

So sorry to hear about your job status. There is a better one out there for you. Will be praying for your job situation.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

So sorry to hear about your job status. There is a better one out there for you. Will be praying for your job situation.

Thank you Vince.

I make peace, despite the extreme stress it causes me, with these things.

Life does go on.





Another bit of typical American style.

Home built.

And registered as a pistol.

Also licensed for personal carrying in public.

Unless you are part of it, you,will never understand.

I tend to accept it as part of a country of extremes.

Miles of anti-abortion billboards, repent and live, and many other themes…..

Then open and concealed carry laws.

Still love this place.

https://youtu.be/Yfcr4EmtB7M?si=CmMSzKnPpniTxUwl



.

[Grizz1963]

https://youtu.be/bUaRmDBSLV4?si=fHAr-4WvFfyhVrmU


More random observations.


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[Grizz1963]

https://youtu.be/nQnqvJ28GG8?si=neHrFMWT5nPw-8Ww

[Grizz1963]

Well that was a fast three weeks.

Ending with a bit of a bump.

Packed n ready.

Tomorrow

[Grizz1963]

https://youtu.be/tfPxt3DC6Q0?si=vadzzv24moRfkx-N

Pete and Jakes.

[Braunschweiger]

Wow, this is a dream, inspiration for my new project.
Come home safely, it's been 3 weeks?
No, right?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Wow, this is a dream, inspiration for my new project.
Come home safely, it's been 3 weeks?
No, right?

Back home yes……

Amazing time as always.

George the cat is happy.



Cardinals home game.

A great day out, we all need one.

https://youtu.be/ns7C3jeopLc?si=Br6ZUqDuMSdERQ-4

[Grizz1963]

https://youtu.be/sdUN1MSoKCc?si=-0piWQumgXgkbHgi

[Grizz1963]

BACK TO REALITY…..


3 weeks in America gone in a flash.


https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...023-road-again


My planned trips completely aborted and rewritten.


Saw some of what I planned and saw, a lot that I had not planned and saw made this a much more rewarding trip.


Only did about 3800 miles or 6100km but that was enough to keep me very busy and out of sleep.


Driving 500 miles to buy a 1934 Ford, with an 81 year old veteran driving the tow rig, sharing many stories, only to find after loading the 34 that nobody remembered to bring the pile of cash sitting on a shelf in a garage in St Louis must be the stuff of road trip movies.

Driving 360 miles to go meet strangers, then another 40 miles to have dinner, followed by taking them back home and then driving many more miles before settling in possibly the best $80.00 motel in all my road trips for the night before heading to Pete and Jakes in Peculiar, ending up with 800 miles for dinner…. More great memories.

Driving 350 miles to Fayetteville to visit friends Clem and Kim, only to call a scrap yard in Rogers, Arkansas (go Google BB Gun history) who said they have a few Astro vans, when nobody so far had even one in their junk yards……. Seriously?? Then getting there and finding a 1995 face lifted model with the right dash piece I dreamed of having….. for $20.00 -PRICELESS.



Yup, the trip was different to the plan, but it was delivering like the goose laying golden eggs.


Once again life was kind to me, in a curved ball kinda way.

The kindness of complete strangers always amazes me. (Admittedly, I have done the same kind of thing many times before as well, but it always humbles me)

While I was there in Arkansas, a member “Opelbits” from AstroSafari.com forum reached out and offered me an original steering wheel for the van, FREE for the taking, should I want it. I do not like taking stuff just because it is there, but I prefer the original to the sports steering wheel fitted.

Logistics seemed a slight problem as he lived some distance on the other side of St Louis, same state as Dennis, but still a long way away……

I accepted the offer of a free steering wheel, offering to pay shipping etc. supplying him with Dennis’ address and contact number.

Turns out, Tony, who had offered the wheel, likes to drive his Mustang as well, and unbeknown to me, he and Dennis agreed to him driving all the way to Dennis’ place to hand deliver the wheel…….

As if that was not enough, he came with a load more stuff for Dennis and me.

What Tony brought…..

Treasures.






TOTALLY (relatively) UNOBTAINABLE GM MAINTENANCE MANUALS.








Every possible fault, identified, cross referenced and then answered between these manuals.

I cannot even describe how Dennis went on about the amazing value these three books add to owning one of these vans.









And of course the original NON-AIRBAG steering wheel, which I love the idea of fitting back in the van.

I absolutely love it, and it is an immaculate example as well.

Along with repairing the dash…..

What a win.




One more thing he brought from his personal treasure stash ( I love this stuff) was an original steel, embossed Disabled Parking sign.

I had been looking for one for Andy the welder, my repeat lodger whose wife is ex-military and disabled through service.

But Andy will not be getting this sign…… I decided to give it to Dennis, as it goes much better with his replica Gas Station and the age of his collection, so we traded a newer one for the original. The one Andy will get, was left with Dennis as my baggage was on the limit, well, over and I had to swap out some stuff at departures, so it may come back next year, should I make it there with having to find a new job and start saving up vacation etc.







So that brings us back to today, back in the U.K.


I am looking forward to seeing if these parts all fit my van, and then of course fitting them all.


.

[Braunschweiger]

If it's not the positive, great unexpected encounters that make this road trip, you've experienced enough to keep the evening campfires happy.
Great trip and welcome back.

[Palf70Step]

Glad you made it back Rian. Hope all goes well with the other issues also.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

If it's not the positive, great unexpected encounters that make this road trip, you've experienced enough to keep the evening campfires happy.
Great trip and welcome back.

Certainly makes for better stories.

Good to be back.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you made it back Rian. Hope all goes well with the other issues also.

Thanks Bill,

I trust it will.






And another one.


From Fayetteville, Arkansas.


https://youtu.be/5mlwg5g-_N4?si=-m_eS5S6JqQU7BKd

[Grizz1963]

Quicky

https://youtu.be/KM-zLVXjUC0?si=Elsj8BfvS2PfOsu6

[Grizz1963]

Quicky

https://youtu.be/KM-zLVXjUC0?si=Elsj8BfvS2PfOsu6

[Grizz1963]

When I was running around with Dennis, trying to find bits for the Chevelle he is building, I also looked out for anything random that would go with me, my garage or any of the cars on site.

The Astro has one of those large UK style rear fog lamps fitted.

Being lowered means it will be at risk at times and also it is just not that pretty.

When I built the Rezin Rockit I discovered a slim line fog light in my pile of “Maybe one day we can use it” spares, fitted it and it really is great, being narrow and out the way.

So I bought a slimline (not pretty) unit for the Astro.



Yesterday afternoon,I offered up the new radio surround for the dash.

Realised there is a load of electronics to be disassembled, identified, made redundant or used……

So I stopped messing with that.

It is a job for a longer day, possibly with a friend or two who know electronics better than me.

And I need to make a plate, and find the right head unit.



While out there, I also checked the new Chevy steering wheel, compared to the smaller one currently fitted.

Different for sure.



Today, after @pauly had been to collect his parts, I went out to see if I could get the steering wheel fitted.

Errrrmmm…..

NOPE !

Seems that if you give a monkey an Allen key, they will go in and screw it up.

So job aborted until,I figure a way to get these stripped out heads removed.

Any advice, photos, help accepted as always, on how to address these things.

You will see one had a head broken off already in the second line.







Weather has tuned cooler too.

Still need rain to recover what is left of my dead lawn and plants.

Yup……. Ugleee.




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[Grizz1963]

A day in Eureka Springs, Arkansas with Clem

Quite the tourist trap.

https://youtu.be/UFfqTbenCJ4?si=7_vHwnkxRTLthUWq

[Palf70Step]

I normally try and dremel tool grinder and make those screws work with a flat blade screwdriver

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I normally try and dremel tool grinder and make those screws work with a flat blade screwdriver

Great idea.

But very limited access.

However, I may just head in with a drill and drill out all the allen heads and remove the cap, then remove the steering wheel and hope the new one fits correctly.

Current wheel is “Disposable” if I do get it off, it will be sold, traded, melted down or eaten.

[Grizz1963]

And at last….. Loaded.


A collage video I have put together of Tom’s work in Kansas where Dennis and I visited for Dinner.


Hope you enjoy.


He is a migrant worker in the USA and we have no real clue as to how hard or long his days are, but I admire his resilience.


Romanticised here.


During harvest season this is his typical two week period, NOTE: 13 days in this case.



Hardcore work.


https://youtu.be/nWFtEFTiOew?si=RXKJFKfARXiX-j1j

[Braunschweiger]

My greatest respect to Tom, it's hard work. It's the dimensions that always leave me speechless,
they don't exist in this form in our little Germany.
I'm fascinated.
Thanks for that Rian

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

My greatest respect to Tom, it's hard work. It's the dimensions that always leave me speechless,
they don't exist in this form in our little Germany.
I'm fascinated.
Thanks for that Rian

Indeed Harald.

Tom had childhood as abused orphan, living home to home, and has managed to stay an amazing human, despite his past.

The USA is so big, and everything is bigger there.





Still on the USA road trip, reporting all of it in one place on Retrorides.

Andy is like kid who loves to share his toys.
So at some point it was inevitable that he would be letting me drive his new truck, already 22k miles of work on it.


https://youtu.be/I0cUpFN4pe4?si=6d5C2htzyjldPMve



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[Grizz1963]

Video of pics and various things on the trip from Fayetteville to Tulsa, back to St Louis loaded


https://youtu.be/wDb9U6m2XwQ?si=-lq4zMR61k7Vm0SY


Monday night was slow in the workshop


But we had a good time.


Talking n drinking..

[Grizz1963]

Sally’s grandson, Harry, now 4 years old.

He loves anything with wheels…….

video:

https://youtu.be/2NrYARjWHjQ?si=Aney5hn1pQMnus_N


Hopefully he survives to grow up and have children.

.

[Grizz1963]

Todays car show photos, over 200 pics, in this link.


https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...-add-photodump





A few more pics to add, and that will wrap up this 2023 trip report.




Video is a bit ahead of the timeline.


https://youtu.be/cIgJNYF0kzk?si=jLFgz0fXSHZOQoMz



Thanks for watching nd reading.