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

[Grizz1963]

This was the actual car that got me wanting one of these when I visited Clem in Arkansas in 2016

Sure it is a lot nicer.




But to me, as an aspiring redneck…. Heavenly.

[Grizz1963]

Had the truck for two years.

Not done a ton of miles, maybe 2000

Just tripped over to 40k miles a few weeks ago.

But 20 years of living out back when driving, took its toll on the vinyl bed cover.

When I bought it, the previous owner had poked holes through the bed cover that had shrunk over time, and used cable ties to keep it in position.

Recently when I went to fetch the FRANKENTRACTOR from @frankenhealey I had to refit the cover once 5he tractor was unloaded.

I managed to tear it badly, trying to stretch it in the cold.

Keep in mind it has survived 20 years.


Unfortunately Extang do.not make the Blackmax for this model anymore, I called America about it.

And it does not seem like I will be finding a used replacement for it in America either.








So plan B for now seems to be to use a local “Sailmaker” who claims he can make something to cover the rear in a variety of fabrics.

Multiple colours available.

Very tempting is the option to colour match the cover vs going back to black.







So I went to Chatham Pier today, only to find the shop shut.

Typical.

But at least a couple of pics made themselves available.







I am also hoping to hear from the guy I bought the wheels from who happens to be a high end upholsterer.

Fingers crossed I can get something decent made up.

[Grizz1963]

Remember the fog light I lost when I went to @frankenhealey to collect the tractor?

Today after marathon 100 minute Teams meeting I though repairing it was a good way to recover and regain my equilibrium.



Once repaired I had a coffee and called the MOT station to see when I could go down to have the truck tested.

4.30 today became available just a few minutes ago, due to cancellation, interested?

Of course I was.



They were running late.

But we made it onto the ramp and by 5.30 the truck had a fresh MOT.

The truck must have impressed the young guy testing it, he told me the emissions were brilliantly in range, and that it was a cool truck, he loved driving it into the shop.



So we have a taxed, insured and tested truck for another year.

The last 12 months it only did 600 miles, which included the 320 miles it did a few weeks ago to fetch the FRANKENTRACTOR.


I really do not deserve to have this truck if I am not going to use it.

[Grizz1963]

99% done with this….

So tonight I pose myself the question.

Did I dodge a bullet on this truck that I had found for sale 250 miles from here?

1968 GMC C10 V8 Auto.



Eyes wide open in case something crosses my path.

[Grizz1963]

No gritters out.

200mm forecast for tomorrow, guess some people will be stuck due to iced roads in the morning.

https://youtu.be/OjvMTS1Ka9s

Hey-Ho at least we know how to work from home now.

[Braunschweiger]

Brrr, it's cold, -6°

[rcsbls2]

I have an older extang that I’m on my 3rd cover. Talk to department that makes replacements. She indicated that they have patterns for the previous models. Get mine within a couple weeks. Maybe make sure your talking to the sewing department directly, give them a story about how you’ve really liked their product and see if can talk them into making you one!

[rcsbls2]

I have an older extang that I’m on my 3rd cover. Talk to department that makes replacements. She indicated that they have patterns for the previous models. Get mine within a couple weeks. Maybe make sure your talking to the sewing department directly, give them a story about how you’ve really liked their product and see if can talk them into making you one!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Brrr, it's cold, -6°

It was terrible for 10 days.

I am on bottled gas here for cooking and heating……

2x 47kg bottles lasted 15 days, and that is with heating on 3 hrs in the morning and 3 hrs at night.

Currently paying £133.00 per month for gas, not using it 6 months of the year, means that I am paying almost £10 per day for gas.

Originally Posted by rcsbls2

I have an older extang that I’m on my 3rd cover. Talk to department that makes replacements. She indicated that they have patterns for the previous models. Get mine within a couple weeks. Maybe make sure your talking to the sewing department directly, give them a story about how you’ve really liked their product and see if can talk them into making you one!

Originally Posted by rcsbls2

I have an older extang that I’m on my 3rd cover. Talk to department that makes replacements. She indicated that they have patterns for the previous models. Get mine within a couple weeks. Maybe make sure your talking to the sewing department directly, give them a story about how you’ve really liked their product and see if can talk them into making you one!

BRILLIANT IDEA !!

I will do a bit of numbers searching and see if I can get hold of them.

Even a USA delivery to Missouri would work.

[Grizz1963]

Parts order attempt no2

After failure to dispatch and eventually getting a refund, I ordered another carburettor.

Courier delivered last night.

Will get to it when I can to see if replacing the original on the HOPEMOBILE is as easy as 1-2-3





In the mean time George the cat I don’t have, seems to have cemented his residency here, even more firmly.





Guess I may have a cat for Christmas, though he does disappear at times, presumably to his real home, if they let him in.

There is no catflap, so he is reliant on his humans to let him come and go.

Almost Christmas, looking forward to stopping work for a few days.

[Grizz1963]

A random chat with Craig last night, led to him finding what we can only guess is a very old stock (only 1 in stock) original Extang Black Max bed cover for my truck.

I had previously searched using various cross references and come up empty handed.

He found one item online, for sale by JEGS in Ohio

So a few questions on Facebook S10 groups to ascertain that the bed on my extended cab is is the same 6’ length as the “short bed” confirmed that the item for sale was indeed correct.

The extended cabs have a longer wheelbase and slightly different positioning of the wheel,arches.

Chevrolet S10 wheelbases
Regular cab could get long bed or short bed. Extended cab only got the short bed. And crew cab got that tiny bed that was like 3 feet long

Pickup 1st and 2nd Gen

108.3 in (2,751 mm) (reg. cab short bed)
117.9 in (2,995 mm) (reg. cab long bed)
122.9 in (3,122 mm) (ext. cab short bed)



To say I was super stoked at finding this item thanks to @craigrk is an understatement.

This truck needs to continue to be looked after as it has been to date.

So while we were chatting, we called our tame Chevy guy in St Louis, Missouri, ie. Dennis to check and confirm.

Turns out they are having the storm of a lifetime with temperatures dropping all over America.



I love technology. The three of us on a video chat. Just needed a few beers.

And the weather outside Dennis’s shop had already turned for the worse, with Covid infected Debbie indoors, his isolation spot is the workshop.





So this morning I placed my order for what may be the best find of my year, except for the free motorbike Sally found previously.




And for those who zoom in and look at the details…..

Yes, there is also importation duties and taxes, go do the maths, add another $38.80 or £33.74 to the item price, plus shipping and you see the price of a hobby more than double. Nearer 150% on top of the price.

Looking at the price the item starts at and where it ends on your doorstep makes for crazy reading, and costs.



Today is also my last day of work for the year.

Time to wrap up 2022 from an admin point of view.

It has been a hard and rough year for many of us.

And it is the weekend…….

Soon.

[Grizz1963]

Funny how Facebook brings memories from way back, back.


Remembered this was published a long time ago.


Now stored up as a kit truck, waiting for my finger to be plucked out.







Also 12 years ago I came home with this…… Sachs MadAss and absolutely shall we say angered my ex wife beyond belief.

For thise who know my back yard, it was so very different then, as was the garage.







Remember the Scruffy Micra?


Saw it this week.


Along with the plaintive comment from 21 year old Kyle the driver…. “It makes a funny noise from the front”


Later the day, having bought new front brake pads, it turned out one of the slider pins was seized, and somehow one pad did all the work on the drivers side.
Passenger side, both pads were good.


Servicing all the pins, more copper slip grease and the brakes were good.







This little car continues to ride into the sunset, with the sun never quite setting on it.




I want to also wish everyone of you clicking in here a Brilliant 2023 and may it exceed your expectations.
Thanks for the friendships and support through 2022.
Cheers.

[Grizz1963]

.



NEW FOR 2023



NO IDEA IF IT WILL WORK.



A BLOG AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL



SOME OF MY FORUMS ARE CENSORING ME.



PRETTY PETTY, PITY THOUGH



START WILL BE SLOW.



HERE WE GO



CLICK:



https://grizzmakes.blogspot.com/2022...rizzmakes.html



Thanks all For support and advice.




.

[Braunschweiger]

I also wish you a happy new year.
You're an amazing man, Grizz, just keep it up.
The transport costs have really exploded,
I already have a lot shipped in containers so that it is a little cheaper.
Bought at RockAuto for €133 + 83€ with shipping, plus 44€ tax.
I'm glad that I have everything together for the C10 so far.
Your YouTube channel is going to be great, I'm excited.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

I also wish you a happy new year.
You're an amazing man, Grizz, just keep it up.
The transport costs have really exploded,
I already have a lot shipped in containers so that it is a little cheaper.
Bought at RockAuto for €133 + 83€ with shipping, plus 44€ tax.
I'm glad that I have everything together for the C10 so far.
Your YouTube channel is going to be great, I'm excited.

Evening Harald,
Thank you very much.

Yes, I agree, costs on everything are shooting up.

I hope the channel and blog are entertaining and motivating.




Various excuses and reasons saw me replace the carburettor with the new one I ordered, on Sunday afternoon.







Then fuelled up the tank and tried to start it.

Not a click, not a sound.

So tried an hour of this…….



Result was closing it all up, and driving over to Sally’s for some Netflix and dinner.

Not sure why it has gone from spinning furiously and not firing up, to a deathly silence.

Bit gutted TBH.

[Grizz1963]

Ordered the rear bed cover for the S10 on 23 December.

Delivered this afternoon.



Nice.



Slightly different branding, but that is OK, as long as it fits.





I will wait for a warmer day to try fit it over the bows, and for the rear bed to be completely dry under the cover.

Should look pretty tidy along with a clean truck.

[Grizz1963]

HA…..

GUESS IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

I always refused to put water out for George, the cat I don’t have, forcing him to find his own, mainly in the bird bath and water feature.

I also only put out a small bowl of dry kibble for him to graze on. (Only bullshirting myself there)

So this week I ordered him his own water fountain and food tower, that along with his wet food twice a day may possibly go hand in hand with the back door key I have hung from his neck on a bit of string.

His owners know and are happy that he is happy.

He still is a dick imho.

[Braunschweiger]

Congratulations, the cat owns a human
We also have one of these at home, we are only there to give out food:Haha:

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Congratulations, the cat owns a human
We also have one of these at home, we are only there to give out food:Haha:

Yup.

I love all animals. George knows this, and his own home is not a welcome place, two very young children and a family who are not at home very much. I am happy.

I also have a Robin bird in the garden who has conversations with me, and when it snowed, he came asking for help, I felt honored..



So after removing the old, torn cover, I washed out the bed, and pulled the truck up onto some wood offcuts to train the rear completely.
Then let it dry for a few hours in the limp winter sun.



Started to clip on the cab side.

Pulled and draped the rest.



Then did the sides, which due to the cold, and bows in the framework, was a tight job.

Doing the rear tailgate frame was interesting, especially the last four corner studs.

But it all came together, tight as a drum skin.



To say I am pleased with the result, is an understatement.



And final shot.

Money well spent, in effect protecting an asset.



Anyone want to buy a nice enough S10?

And it is the weekend.

[jmarkha1]

awesome looking truck Grizz - nicely done on the bed cover...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by jmarkha1

awesome looking truck Grizz - nicely done on the bed cover...

Thank you very much.

I see it as a massive win for the truck.






Some awesome badges landed in the post for the car.

Thank you very much mate, hugely appreciated.

Need to prep and paint them.


Thanks

[Braunschweiger]

Nice cover for the truck, looks more valuable.
The emblems are great, my son once made me dealer emblems for my Mustang.
I was very happy about it.
I appreciate that too.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Nice cover for the truck, looks more valuable.
The emblems are great, my son once made me dealer emblems for my Mustang.
I was very happy about it.
I appreciate that too.

Truck makes me smile.

The badges are a small thing that makes a difference.

[Grizz1963]

So it seems like I now have a cat.

Or at least, being Georges butler is being formalised.

He has been coming here since Mollie lived here, she always chased him away, and when she got killed out in the street, he started to move in bit by bit, watching me work at the garage, often sitting under a bush in the garden.
One day I took him some dried catnip because he always liked the wild catnip bush in the garden.
At that point we thought he was a feral cat, how wrong we were.

https://youtu.be/n0mWn5PbP-M

Eventually he started to come indoors, through the catflap and open back door.
Treats, food, kibble etc became part of the protocol over the last year and last week, interestingly, I ordered him a Catmate water fountain and a dry food feeding tower, they were the final steps in giving up on trying to not completely invite him in. Who was I fooling.
His owners knew he was living here, in the house, in the Rezin Rockit and under the carport during summer.
I put a Christmas card through their door last year, knowing he was spending most of the time at my place.
I would never go buy a cat, but they are welcome to come and go of their own volition.

So the reply from his owner below.

Thank you for yours ! To be honest George hasn’t been home since we bought our new daughter Felicity home, he definitely thought oh god they got another one to add to Jaxon who is now 2.5 years old 🤣 I’m just glad he’s happy and warm I know what a cold soul he is, so he’s definitely loving not having any kids about that’s for sure. They do say cats have multiple owners/slaves and since he’s been allowed out he’s living his best life. I just appreciate you looking after him as well. Because we all love him x

Then yesterday I caught him scavenging in the kitchen, as I heard noises while working in the lounge.

I recorded him and sent it to his owner. Followed by her reply and the following exchange last night.

https://youtu.be/5icp98gnIVM

Hey sorry I didn’t reply earlier things have been a bit stressful here lately, I have something I need to talk to you about in regards to George x

P.S. He’s always been partial to a bit of chocolate he also likes a Cheezy Wotsit x

So lately we have been having a few boiler issues which we thought we were working through with “The landlord” but apparently not, things have got heated up and the professionalism and respect is no longer there. Therefore we have made the decision to leave and find somewhere else to call home.
However this is what I wanted to talk to you about…. George hasn’t been home to live with us since we brought the baby home, he’s checked in once or twice but not actually come home and I truly think he is much happier with you, without the babies being all over him. We have found a new home in Allhallows and just going through the referencing now, but my heart hurts. Pulling George away from you when he obviously feels more at home with you. I know cats have a vast mileage radius where they roam if they are roamers, but I’m concerned that if we take him away from the only outside space he knows he will attempt to roam back and get hurt on the way back to your home or worse.
Would you be willing to take George on as a furry lodger on a permanent basis?
I couldn’t forgive myself taking him away from you and the home he loves now, and him get hurt trying to get back. Clearly he loves you and I love him. So to know that you are good and right for him, the babies are too much for him I think. If not then that’s absolutely fine too x

This really hasn’t been an easy question to ask he will always be my first baby. And it kills me everyday that the kids are too much for him. So the guilt I feel about this is truly immense but I just want George to be happy. And with us he isn’t so much, but from your photos he really does look it with your home x

So sorry my battery died. Please don’t feel guilty for loving him though the fact you do fills my heart with hope and happiness.

When I first saw him I fell in love with him. He was one of my childhood friends cats kittens she couldn’t have 5 cats so she gave the kittens to people but vetted them all first.
George went and came back 4 times to other people before I popped round and fell in love. That day he came home with me and stayed until we moved here, he was a house cat before moving here, as we lived in the woods and right by the motorway. Just as I was going to let him out, my neighbours cat was run over and killed and I couldn’t do it. Over here it took me a fair few months to even be comfortable letting him out. I’ll be honest “The Landlord” doesn’t know about George, as it was a no no to pets but I couldn’t let him go so we hid him when he came to inspect the house, he only checks in once or twice a month now he won’t even come in the house anymore.





I would call you back but I’m ugly crying now the guilt is taking over about leaving him behind but he isn’t happy with us anymore it would kill me knowing if he gets hurt or killed making his way back x

Honestly I cry like a baby when it comes to animals one of my cats when I lived with my parents got run over we only found out coz the ice cream man told us I cried for months, my parents also lost their cat recently, she was like a sibling to me she was 23 years old. I was 8 when she moved in. Our one that got run over was her baby he was born on my bed.

I just know he will come back to your home if we take him along, which is fine, as it’s not far but if he gets hurt doing so I couldn’t forgive myself

I would love updates on him though we’re here for another few weeks yet x

George does go over the road, I’ve seen him and nearly clipped him myself coming home, he had a very stern telling off that night, I’m not going to lie, it scared me silly.

He’s not the biggest fan of getting brushed, wormed or even flea treated, but he will tolerate it until he’s had enough. And his trousers do get very matted sometimes and it can take a few days to get the mats and knots out as he only tolerates so much. I’ve had to just cut a few out before.

He hasn’t been home for me to do his flea or worming stuff or I would of to be honest it’s hard here, the eggs seem be so much stronger with all the other wildlife there is too x

Thank you for adopting George, it is the right thing for him.




I guess that kinda finalises it then.

Seems the cat I do not have, now has me.

[Grizz1963]

Remember this……





Sunday afternoon @nickwheeler and I restarted the search for the reason the heater blower would not power up.

It had stopped me in September when I went out on my road trip. https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...rip-grizz-2022

I needed to wrap up from under the dashboard, to build and tidy up from inside, till I could complete the dash and all the switchgear. And close it all in.

So on Sunday we started again, revisiting previous checkpoints, testing circuits we had checked before, all with the same outcome.

So…….

Electrons are invisible little bugggerrs.

The search is rarely easy.

So after chasing all options inside the cab and coming up empty handed, we started under the hood and opened the engine fuse boxes.

Chasing the wires from inside.



When Nick stripped back the wiring loom, he removed the air conditioner loom, electric windows, and a various other looms not needed anymore.

The aircon and blower unit both pull a big current and go via a 30 Amp fuse……. Aaaaahhhh, wait. Both are there, then tracking back inside a solitary pink wire was hanging around, and weirdly, one had been cut from the fuse box inside the cab, marked A/C
A bit more messing, poking, head scratching and it became apparent that the blower unit also fed from this ignition driven power via a relay.
So not pink wire, no blower.

We then tried to remove the 10A fuse female connector with the very short cut off wire for another 30 minutes before a thought popped out of my head, formed into these words….. “Could we use the wire for the electric windows and relay it with a 10A fuse, connected to the pink?” The electric window wire was cut off 15mm outside the fuse box, unlike the pink.
Nick agreed and after a lot of time spent on this small issue, he trimmed and soldered a join into it, leaving us with a completed, multi speed switched hot air blower.

RESULT !!!



While he soldered the repair in, I went through my 7 tins and tubs of odd nuts, bolts, fixings, plates and other junk, looking for some springs to use to create some return springs for the gas pedal.
Amazingly, in number 7, I found a pair of springs, origins unknown and cackled with pleasure.
Then using a washing machine drum securing bolt and spacer, I made up a spacer for the spring to hang below the fusebox that had just been re secured.
Nick made up and tacked a small hook onto the gas pedal arm.
Junk makes gold.



And a strong return spring resulted.

Perfect.



So still a few jobs left to get done before MOT can be considered.

Gas pedal stop to be created and added to push against the bulkhead,
Return spring on the clutch pedal, and reduce the plunger on the clutch m/c to drop the clutch pedal an inch or so.
I need to drain the cooling system completely, and refill it with antifreeze.
Bleed the brakes one more time to ensued the system is clean.
And finally set the handbrake.

I also ordered some new black wheel bolts for the rear that has chrome fitted at the moment.


How does that sound ?


MOT time?