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

[Palf70Step]

Good to see the Astro is ready to go for another year. Looks like you are getting like how I was in Okinawa, which one of the 3 to 5 cars will I drive today. In most cases it was the one that would start.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Good to see the Astro is ready to go for another year. Looks like you are getting like how I was in Okinawa, which one of the 3 to 5 cars will I drive today. In most cases it was the one that would start.

That’s so funny Bill

The story of many a car nut.




Managed to find some smoked/clear side repeaters of unknown parentage for the Caddy.

Next job will be to find a set of clear front indicator lights as well.




Won’t be everyone’s taste.

Should work.



Loads of rain again today so a bit frustrating.

[Braunschweiger]

Take a look at the VW Polo 6N type, if I'm not wrong, some of them should be identical.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Take a look at the VW Polo 6N type, if I'm not wrong, some of them should be identical.

Thank you

I just need to find some.

Eyes open 😏

[Grizz1963]

Changed the front fender accent today between rain and wind sessions.

I think this is a better option than the one I had on before.

The square on the rear should have been different so I think I will address it when the weather improves.







Weather really screws with the progress.

In other Christmas news…..

My old S10 was seen out in the wild doing what gets done this time of year.



Yes its a screenshot.

Not my truck.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday I was busy sharing information on FB about the Astro van when a guy, Michael, from Denmark reached out via Messenger.

Small time farmer, Blues guitar and harp player in a blues band.

More importantly, an awesome blue Astro van, used in summer as his gig bus. During winter it is dry stored and the Volvo comes out.

Funny how I never met a stranger in my life.

Look closely, pop out side windows, super cool louvers.

And the wheels are my taste.




Later in the day I washed the 206 CC as I really wanted to polish and detail it.

Rain interrupted plsy, sadly.





https://youtu.be/eUDojOVAtFU?si=cSK4esVQZ7BeBjtq

Hopefully the weather would change.

It did not….

[Grizz1963]

Sometimes I see stuff that makes me smile.

Tonight a trench cleaner over thr street.

Should be done yearly.

Not done.

And the council it seems are only clearing one side of the road.

Crazy.

https://youtu.be/l7WP3jjdBpw?si=Jxwvyftd5aozIjYG

Should just be thankful that I get to see some of my council tax used on something worthwhile.

[Grizz1963]

Cleanup time
Remember the day we collected the car?
Pretty, green, kinda dull inside and outside.



So I had to wait for the weather to give me a window of opportunity to was and detail the car.

Washed on Sunday. Ran out of dry time.



So yesterday I cleaned and buffed the glass.
Inside rear glass was the worst
Washed glass then dry cloth buffed till the difference was noticeable.



Much better. Glass is damaged from years of snow and frost scraping when you look really close enough.



Then started on the hood/bonnet, trying to get the lacquer damage corrected as much as possible.
Followed by the rest of the car.
Hand polishing allows you to get intimate and identify all the marks and correct some of the damage that does not need a PDR specialist.



Once all the paint has been polished, buff off the powdered polish followed by getting onto all the black trim.
Body rubbing strips, bumpers and then mirrors, glass trim and in the case of this convertible the roof seals as well.

Half and half, showing the before and after.



Big wide mouthed toad.

Suits the name “La Petit Crapaud”



Getting into every possible groove, and hidden dirt trap.

Makes me feel better.



Final result, it feels as smooth as it looks.



Now, if I saw this on a sales lot……
I would be interested in buying it.




A few hours of focusing on this makes a big difference to my day.

[Palf70Step]

Great job on the cleanup Rian. She just glistens on her lilly pad.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Great job on the cleanup Rian. She just glistens on her lilly pad.

You had me chuckling here Bill.

I do like clean stuff.


Rained all day yesterday.

Rain again today.

Not ideal.

But the rain does make a good judge of my effort.







I guess all this rain means I should just go out and go shopping for ridiculous stuff for Sally to wrap up and hand over at Christmas.

And yes, not a fan.

Prefer to buy stuff that I need when I need it.

Christmas is every day.

[Grizz1963]

Well.


First real use of the Caddy yesterday.


Company car collection was on Tuesday.


Now I am officially unemployed as garden leave came to an end on Sunday 10th.


With the 206 CC off the road on SORN till January and after its service, it was the first time I had to rely on the Caddy since its new MOT and ECU for real world use.


Reliable as expected

I drove it about 10 miles to a not so local shopping centre and parked in the underground garage. Forgot to take a photo of it between all the shiny, if dirty moderns.
it certainly is a small car, relative to everything else.


A really pleasant drive as it was when I fetched it from @Zelandeth and again made me grin.


Some shopping and socialising with strangers later, I headed home.


Happy and content.

Got home to three small parcels

Including these from @shampooefficient

Next job, see if they fit and apply





Now I need to get back onto getting tyres ordered and bought for the 16” alloys I bought for it. And finally fitting them.


Though I do really like the simplicity of the steel wheels and mini centre caps.


In other news, I had ordered some 2.2 Ohm resistors off eBay. Delivered in under 48 hours.


Once again surprised at the cost including postage

Made the mistake of thinking it was cost per unit.






Now I seem to have many or is that much resistance.





Just need to wait for Martin to have a job nearby so he can come do the necessary work for fooling the Peugeot into believing it has airbags in the seats, then I can fit the new interior. George the cat has taken them over as his new bedroom furniture.




Last thing …….



Saw this map, including a reference to my kingdom ��








​​​​​​​That is all.

[Braunschweiger]

You did a good job, the convertible sparkles too.
I'm now too lazy to switch from summer tires to winter tires,
so the steel rims with all-weather tires stay on.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

You did a good job, the convertible sparkles too.
I'm now too lazy to switch from summer tires to winter tires,
so the steel rims with all-weather tires stay on.

Thanks

You know as well as I do that if we put the work in the result we will get is good.




A good, if slightly chilly morning on Mud Island.

Rain stopped overnight.



Last night I got home as the Caddy turned over to 114000 miles or 183465 km

Almost run in for a 1.9 SDI



Then this morning I quickly fitted the £5.00 delivered side repeaters.
Easiest job ever.

Pop out, unclip, twist fit, repeat.



And fitted and working.





I think that works.

.

[realvc]

I'm still here every day just don't comment very oftern.

Everything you have done to your fleet up to this point is just fine with me.
Keep up the good work.

I need you to finish some of my projects.

I was trying to figure out where the exhaust pipes and mufflers are on your Astro van.
When it was on the lift at the MOT I couldn't tell.

Thanks, a lurker in Arkansas.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

I'm still here every day just don't comment very oftern.

Everything you have done to your fleet up to this point is just fine with me.
Keep up the good work.

I need you to finish some of my projects.

I was trying to figure out where the exhaust pipes and mufflers are on your Astro van.
When it was on the lift at the MOT I couldn't tell.

Thanks, a lurker in Arkansas.

Hi Vince

Twin muffler setup.
Under the seat and
Exiting about in line with the filler

Not easy to identify .



https://youtu.be/9WubHv51_gE?si=1Vob3xIEYk_oVOfl


May show in this.

[Grizz1963]

Not much happened this week.

But I was asked by Aaron my one current lodger if I could take him and another guy to Rochester for their Christmas party.

Thankfully I had not got rid of the small jump seats yet, so refitted one and ran them to town.

Function over form wins this time.



When I got back, George was waiting for me. Tucked up like a hovercraft.
Impressive whiskers for sure.

It is coming up for two years that he has lived here.

Still thankful he chose this house to move into.



First time we met

https://youtu.be/n0mWn5PbP-M?si=43dcmBIMRCJzfuT1


This morning we had another great sunrise.

Looking out of the kitchen window, the van again made me chuckle, just because it is a nice and good looking thing. (Till the next pretty lady rolls into view. Long roof V8 Americans look out)



Peugeot 206 CC went into the garage yesterday to have cambelt and waterpump replaced as well as a general look over for any issues.

I need to find a sensibly priced source for some 195/55 16 tyres to fit on the Caddy’s alloys that are still waiting to be fitted.

And just like that it’s almost Christmas.

[Grizz1963]

I do feel at times that I am spending more cash than I should.

At 104k miles or 167k km there is no recorded history of the Peugeot 206 ever having had a cambelt or waterpump replaced.

So in order to protect what still is a nice car, I took the chance on driving it home a month ago on 25th November and pretty much parking it out back till the 20th which was the earliest day I could get it booked in for a going over and service.

So I took it to Cliffs

They have been there a very long time

From this building



To a modern workshop he had built a few years ago.



So next job of course dismantling and replacing parts.









Original plastic waterpump and cambelt looked good but seem to be original.






Underside looking surprisingly good for a 21 year old.

I will try get myself motivated to clean up a d treat the underside with some rust restraining/preventing type gloop.






Coolant, antifreeze drained and replaced as well.

Collected from Cliffs and parked up at home on SORN till 2024 as a convertible for Christmas just makes no sense to me.

Pleased its done now for peace of mind.

Next up.

VW Caddy alloys and new tyres.

[Grizz1963]

So at 17.45 tonight we had our 2023 Medway Christmas Tractor Parade.

Windy and around 11’C or 52’F outside. Not bad for beyond mid December.

Unlike USA automotive parades, there was no Candy thrown out at the kids along the route like I saw at Eureka Springs in September this year.

I heard 45 vehicles took part. Count them if you want and let me know.


Enjoy a bit of English Paradeing.

https://youtu.be/mgSN0BH4Q2Q?si=BVNFNDhyVp0EmhdV




AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE EUREKA SPRINGS PARADE.

ENJOY.


https://youtu.be/lG5UW0XIoMU?si=fRp9VhhDjlKR25Bv



MORE REPORTING LATER.

[Grizz1963]

Final part of the prize puzzle……..

Won with the Peugeot.


Ooooofffffftastic with sweetpotatofries.


And a taaaaallll a Bacardi and Pepsi Max.





Sweet potato fries with loads of mayonnaise







And a Bacardi and Pepsi Max.





Merry Christmas all.

[Grizz1963]

Peugeot video

Slightly out of sync.

https://youtu.be/fcFWqhQJLUA?si=61dcSx1HmdX11JXs





Merry Christmas to all the readers and followers.

And a special thank you to everyone who takes the time to contribute and write actual replies on the thread or YouTube channel.

Here’s to a great 2024 for all of us.


.

[Grizz1963]

Clean start for 2024.

Here’s to all having a good new year.


https://youtu.be/pBgbB00N6ZE?si=R0MvSJFRhZufQ2Dp

[Grizz1963]

Not done much the last few days.


But today I made a sticker with a Sharpie for the cambelt etc.



Really wanted to use a printed style sticker that would look better.






​​​​​​​Still good to keep records.

[Grizz1963]

For all those of us wishing for a good new year……

May 2024 bring us all we need and most of what we want.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead.

[Braunschweiger]

I also hope that your wishes come true.

[Palf70Step]

May things work out well for you Rian. Happy New Year.