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

[Grizz1963]

Bonus

Eureka Springs classic car parade yesterday with Clem Johnson

https://youtu.be/lG5UW0XIoMU?si=8WunJp-b1p-N79Kg

[realvc]

Eureka Springs is a neat place in Arkansas. I had to turn around at that post office on the corner from where you were, when delivering there because the truck I was driving was too big for the narrow streets and corners. There used to be signs about how big the RVs and trucks could be to go into town.

Nice parade, thanks for sharing,

[Paul Y]

Looks like another wonderful set of experiences Grizz.

Enjoy!

P.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

Eureka Springs is a neat place in Arkansas. I had to turn around at that post office on the corner from where you were, when delivering there because the truck I was driving was too big for the narrow streets and corners. There used to be signs about how big the RVs and trucks could be to go into town.

Nice parade, thanks for sharing,

Yes, it was not a town built for modern times.

Pleasure sharing.

Originally Posted by Paul Y

Looks like another wonderful set of experiences Grizz.

Enjoy!

P.

I has been Paul.

Thank you.

[Grizz1963]

The day I have feared for the last two years came today.

I have lost my job in another restructuring. Not much I can do about it.

Will worry about it nonstop now but do nothing while in America..…. I will be told formally next week when I get back to work.

But will just have to get my Sh!t together when back and go find another job.

Yup….. Sucks.

[Braunschweiger]

Nice crap and finding out about it while on vacation wasn't very nice.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Nice crap and finding out about it while on vacation wasn't very nice.

Thanks.

They were only going to inform me next week.

But we do talk as a team, so my calendar showed a big meeting and two sub meetings.

I saw my name in a sub meeting…….

2+2 = 4 for sure.

Called the contracts manager and asked her…… she was embarrassed, but told me.








Road Trip stuff…..



Sunday was Baseball day for the whole extended family.

Never been to a game.

Interesting.

But before that, I got to chat to Andy, a racing friend of Adam.

He is busy training his 8 year old son in a scientific way to drive sprint cars.

This sort of dedication and drive always amazes me over here.

Everything he does is for Ryder’s racing career.

Neat truck too…… video to follow.


Well…….

Video loaded fast.


https://youtu.be/ISvar3LNsPI?si=-WZog15LBJEDsJOR




.

[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



.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

The day I have feared for the last two years came today.

I have lost my job in another restructuring. Not much I can do about it.

Will worry about it nonstop now but do nothing while in America..…. I will be told formally next week when I get back to work.

But will just have to get my Sh!t together when back and go find another job.

Yup….. Sucks.

Sorry to hear that Rian. Enjoy the rest of your trip and good luck with the future hunt.

[Grizz1963]

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


More random observations.


.

[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.




.

[Grizz1963]

A day in Eureka Springs, Arkansas with Clem

Quite the tourist trap.

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