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

[Grizz1963]

I am spoiling you all.

Way too many pictures for those who don’t read words and way too many words for those who take the time to read them.

Still, sitting at Sallys house after delivering the free BBQ I collected and cleaned yesterday and getting a load of her older plastic garden furniture collected after she was given a used hardwood set from her uncle who died…….

Using her fast broadband and uploading photos at a decent pace makes sense to catch up on the last weeks activity.


So on to the next update.

Had the car a week now and its been valeted once, washed once.

I always think that washing a car gives you a good feel for the damage and things that need attention.

I will be honest here, I did not read the advertisement properly. And I am not one to zoom into pictures like so many people do.

Quote from the ad:
“Big scratch along the near side where she didn’t quite squeeze through a gap with a skip lorry, inside door handles and dashboard are sticky, it’s a bit scruffy here and there. But well worth £700.00”

So when I collected, I realised just how big the scratches and dents were. “Buyer beware“ springs to mind. Seller was 100% upfront in everything they declared. But I didn’t zooooom in.

Despite the ugly scratches, yellow skip paint, grey primer and bare metal, the car was worth the money and effort I had put in.
In my world cosmetics are less important than mechanical issues. The seller had told me when I bought and paid for the car the day before, that if I was unhappy, he would refund me. I bought the car because I liked them and the car.

So on Friday after collecting it, and after washing it the first time I looked at all the damage closer.
Varying degrees of damage, from hedge or shrubbery “parking”damage and scuffs through to scrapes, gouging and dents on the passenger side doors, rear wheel arch and lower rear passenger door sill from the dumpster/skip.

So I fetched some G3 polishing compound and a coarse rag and set about to polish out as much of the scuffs, scraped etc.

Pictures don’t do it justice really.

But trust me, an improvement.

On the rear arch some surface rust was sanded back and i then used Vactan paintable rust converter on that exposed part. Followed by some paint from the almost colour matching paint.
All the gouges and scratches plus worse damage in places were painted over.

Drying time 20 minutes and hardened by 24 hours.
I will wait a week and then run water paper at about 2000 grit or whatever over the rough patches, followed by G3 compound and finally some of the same polish I used on the Astro and front half of the Scenic.

I am not going to repair any dents but if someone has a pair of complete colour matched doors to GIVE me, they can be fitted.

The one trim piece on the rear door is deeply gouged too, so needs replacing outright or maybe I will spend £22.00 on a small aerosol can of matched paint to try repair it.

Unfortunately some pics will seem out of sync. ​

But they are different as I progressed with the polishing.

Sorry.

[Grizz1963]

I am spoiling you all.

Way too many pictures for those who don’t read words and way too many words for those who take the time to read them.

Still, sitting at Sallys house after delivering the free BBQ I collected and cleaned yesterday and getting a load of her older plastic garden furniture collected after she was given a used hardwood set from her uncle who died…….

Using her fast broadband and uploading photos at a decent pace makes sense to catch up on the last weeks activity.


So on to the next update.

Had the car a week now and its been valeted once, washed once.

I always think that washing a car gives you a good feel for the damage and things that need attention.

I will be honest here, I did not read the advertisement properly. And I am not one to zoom into pictures like so many people do.

Quote from the ad:
“Big scratch along the near side where she didn’t quite squeeze through a gap with a skip lorry, inside door handles and dashboard are sticky, it’s a bit scruffy here and there. But well worth £700.00”

So when I collected, I realised just how big the scratches and dents were. “Buyer beware“ springs to mind. Seller was 100% upfront in everything they declared. But I didn’t zooooom in.

Despite the ugly scratches, yellow skip paint, grey primer and bare metal, the car was worth the money and effort I had put in.
In my world cosmetics are less important than mechanical issues. The seller had told me when I bought and paid for the car the day before, that if I was unhappy, he would refund me. I bought the car because I liked them and the car.

So on Friday after collecting it, and after washing it the first time I looked at all the damage closer.
Varying degrees of damage, from hedge or shrubbery “parking”damage and scuffs through to scrapes, gouging and dents on the passenger side doors, rear wheel arch and lower rear passenger door sill from the dumpster/skip.

So I fetched some G3 polishing compound and a coarse rag and set about to polish out as much of the scuffs, scraped etc.

Pictures don’t do it justice really.

But trust me, an improvement.

On the rear arch some surface rust was sanded back and i then used Vactan paintable rust converter on that exposed part. Followed by some paint from the almost colour matching paint.
All the gouges and scratches plus worse damage in places were painted over.

Drying time 20 minutes and hardened by 24 hours.
I will wait a week and then run water paper at about 2000 grit or whatever over the rough patches, followed by G3 compound and finally some of the same polish I used on the Astro and front half of the Scenic.

I am not going to repair any dents but if someone has a pair of complete colour matched doors to GIVE me, they can be fitted.

The one trim piece on the rear door is deeply gouged too, so needs replacing outright or maybe I will spend £22.00 on a small aerosol can of matched paint to try repair it.

Unfortunately some pics will seem out of sync. ​

But they are different as I progressed with the polishing.

Sorry.

[Grizz1963]

So……..

Next job is a log of smoke and mirrors.

But it works for me.

And for now……. That’s just fine.

Buffing etc over, I proceeded to add two coats of the almost matched color paint.
Filling some of the grooves.

A weeks wait shoukd see it really hardened enough to go over with water paper, compound and polish to improve the matching.

Abra Kadabra !!!

MAGICAL DIFFERENCE.

NOW ZOOM IN ON THAT…….

I am liking it.

.

[Braunschweiger]

You have a good hand for it, even without seeing pictures it will look great.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

You have a good hand for it, even without seeing pictures it will look great.

Thank you my friend.

I enjoy it.

Just so disappointed Photobucket is not working.

[Grizz1963]

Do I like it?


Do I love it?


Do I sell it?


Do I keep it?



Do I need it?



Do I want it?



NO, I LOVE IT, (for now ��)



So two weeks after buying it, £100.00 spent on it, including the train fare and many hours used up fettling damage and cleaning every shut line, the scuttle and engine bay, interior, plus catching up on 19 years of “neglect” in places like the sunroof etc. that had no use or attention since day one.


So 400 miles/two weeks later and getting to know it a bit better……

How do I feel about one of the many impulse car buys I have done over the years?

Keep in mind, literally a minute before I messaged the seller, I had tried to motivate someone else in Manchester to just get on a train, drive, cycle, hitchhike or walk to buy and collect it before thinking that it really did offer as much and more than Prozac the 2000 1.4 petrol Berlingo I had bought for £250.00 years ago. So the £700.00 advertised price to me was equivalent to what the Berlingo had cost way back. I have a good friend who is paying £760.09 per month for a three year old BMW.


Driving and living my first 400 miles with the Scenic has been a really pleasant experience so far.
The 106bhp 1.5 liter diesel engine, used in many other brands including Mercedes Benz, is pleasant, quiet and the 6 speed transmission really well designed to compliment the engine.
Inside, getting into the car, seats are higher than most sports cars and even things like Ford Focus or Fiesta for comparison. This alongside the raised driving position, large front and side glass makes it awesome to use. Add in the glass sunroof and your feeling of space and openess really increases exponentially.

A few things I have noticed about it will not stop my enjoyment or it’s functionality and includes 1.) Aircon- Doesn’t. 2.) Rear windows Don’t work predictably. 3.) Radio occasionally changes stations R2 to R3 (I will not be going any further trying to fix any of these problems) Beyond that, its an awesome car. Just brilliant. Done two small, “van jobs” so far



So the reserve light, indicating 62 miles or 100km left to go, came on on Wednesday. I carried on driving it some more and went to fill it at the local serviced Gulf station and insisted the guy fill it after the first click off and it took another 5 liters of diesel. Totalling £86.10 for 57.5 liters diesel.


This is a clever car and I am still getting to grips with it’s onboard computer etc. So I zeroed the trip meter and noticed it showed 47.5 mpg for the previous 400 miles. It also showed at the tanks full point, a range of 600 miles or 1000 kilometres.
Unlikely for me to reach that as I drive reasonably briskly. But that would have resulted in the indicated 47.5mpg.


Does it sound like I have reason to be happy??


I think so.


Some pics of course.


Next to it’s spiritual predecessor at a bootfair and a sunset pic.

.

[Grizz1963]

So??


Going down the pan?


Or exciting anyone else out there??


Bought some paint yesterday



What could go wrong?


Colour matching?


I always stop to say hi to the staff at the Turkish restaurant. Nice people.


Manager offered me a coffee, which I accepted and sat out on the sidewalk with, watching the insane world go by.


Did I mention that Life is Good?


AI may also have made some suggestions, thanks to a creative member playing around with it Thanks @Dick Longbridge





.

[Grizz1963]

John, one of my former lodgers was in Cyprus with his son and daughter. He has a high limb amputation but removes the prosthesis when out in the waterpark with the kids. Managed to slip on his crutches when going to use the toilet and broke his humerus (upper arm bone) high next to his shoulder, and damaged his stump badly enough not to even be able to now fit the prosthetic to his stump due to swelling and pain.
Not an ideal situation to be when you live on the first floor once back home.
His daughter started driving this year, zero mechanical knowledge except where to put petrol and lock car up.
She took the car to a family owned garage about a small puddle of water seen on the floor.
The result was a quote below.
So John asked me to go look and verify the list.
I am not a mechanic. But I went over to where his daughter lives.
Looking at everything listed I struggled to find most of these faults that had passed an MOT in February.
But, I am not a mechanic.
Ultimately I suggested replacing the winter tyres up front as I could not find the quoted Damage after looking twice. But a tyre company will have a better chance to identify it. Also, winter tyres in summer are not ideal.
One brake disc was scored. Brakes work fine.
The rest of the faults were beyond me.
Brake fluid was full, radiator fluid topped up by less than 500ml in the reservoir.

On the way out, I stopped at Morrisons to buy John a bottle of Caramel Vodka for John as he likes trying different things.

When I got back to my Scenic, I found it had been hit on the rear fender/bumper and the hitman/woman/idiot was parked next to me.

The damage to my car doesn’t look like much because plastic bounces back, but it was clearly enough to fold around his bumper.

I was parked distinctly centre in my spot.

Really pissed off, I left a bunch of PostIt notes on the car including some nasty comments and left.

Insurance companies are not interested in paying or settling disputes, and the idiot that must have felt the impact could have been a 6’8” testosterone filled ham head.

Just angers me that the whole world has evolved to this.

If you recognise the car……. Pass the message on.

[Grizz1963]

Still no photos.

But Craig and I are headed to St Louis end August 23rd onwards.

[Grizz1963]

Cracking day out over at Grizz Towers today.

Compressor was loaded and lashed down, and some of the 'Grizz Pile' in the form of Biscoff biscuits which cash and carry had on their 'clearance' shelf. Those that know Rian may know the story, but I always associate these with him.



The rest of the Grizz Pile was modest. Some of the carpenter's pencils that I'd bought ten of for £1 at a car boot, and a couple of number plates.



Got lucky, they were all new to him so a score. Again, car boot finds at the right price.

So off I went on what was a wet day.



The official handing over of the goods ceremony was performed. This is a solemn time honoured tradition which we, of course, took with the utmost seriousness





Cups of tea and coffee followed along with some good chats and a test drive to listen out for some knocks that had appeared on Prozac II (don't think it's got a name yet?).

The bastard only went and took my to Uncle Bob's place.



I fell in love with almost everything there and wanted to take it all home and do something with it, but thankfully I don't have space for 34 tractors....

This little beauty however....



Once back at HQ we pooled our pile of compressor odds and sods and managed to fit and seal two new connectors to the manifold and the final testing of the compressor took place.

As expected, it fired up and reached pressure without issue. The only other work it required was a tightening of the switch cap as I hadn't done that for whatever reason.

One fully working compressor rescued from the tip, cost to fix £0. Value = priceless.

Thanks again Mr Bean, it was a generous donation and created a good excuse for a catch up and a natter with Rian :thumb2

Life is, indeed, good.

[Braunschweiger]

Yes, you always need these things, a compressor is worth its weight in gold.

[CG]

So no pictures since June. Is it a photo bucket here on the 67-72 board issue, or photo bucket everywhere you post?

I watch your YouTube, but still enjoy your pics.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by CG

So no pictures since June. Is it a photo bucket here on the 67-72 board issue, or photo bucket everywhere you post?

I watch your YouTube, but still enjoy your pics.

Evening

I honestly don’t know.

I have not tried uploading for some weeks.

Photobucket is the problem.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Yes, you always need these things, a compressor is worth its weight in gold.

Totally.

I need it on the front of my house.

[Braunschweiger]

I use a small photo resize app, where I select the pictures to be resized from my photo gallery and upload the resized pictures to the forum, maybe you want to try it, I do it all with my smartphone.
I use this.

[Grizz1963]

Being the preamble to the 2024 trip, I am busy getting a schedule together for @CraigRK and I

We have decided to revisit quite a few friends that hr last saw in 2019

I also have 24 days compared to his two weeks.

One of my wishes or dreams is to head down to Louisiana and do some fishing and hunting.

Inspired by Keith and Tara

Take a look.

https://youtu.be/kA4rHhgcXEg?si=G7AZRGgDIQyZwjVk

I have never been down there and don’t know anyone but I have an extra week to go and get there.

I have spoken to Clem and Kim in Fayetteville and space is booked in their AirBnB Rockhouse205
Spoke to Andy in Terlton Oklahoma, he has new toys and 200 tons of gravel to move down a mountainside to build a swimming pool. JB now has a new oil job in Wichita, Kansas and managed to find a garage for his daily where he is living near work and is waiting for us and may visit us at Dennis’s house for lunch too.

Not sure if everyone who reads this know what a Purple Heart Medal means. But I called long time friend Steven Hansen in Jonesboro last night. He was awarded two of them. Now headed toward his mid 80’s this past year has brought him a broken pelvis, Encephalitis, (learning to walk again) falls, sutures and a general slowing down. But he is game for Louisiana. It was great talking to him, his spirit as strong as always,,despite his body saying different things.

So a few pics to whet the appetite.

I am certainly excited.

Craig is too.

And Dennis.


I made some spicy chicken wings this morning just to warm up for the USA trip.

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

One of my wishes or dreams is to head down to Louisiana and do some fishing and hunting.

I made some spicy chicken wings this morning just to warm up for the USA trip.

(A) You should definitely head down to LA. Lots of nice folk. Plus NOLA is one of the most unique cities in the US. Great food too.

(B) Have you tried the fry/air fry then throw on the grille after method for your wings? Need to make sure you don't dry them out too much, but the char flavor is a nice touch.

Definitely missing the pics like the others......

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

I use a small photo resize app, where I select the pictures to be resized from my photo gallery and upload the resized pictures to the forum, maybe you want to try it, I do it all with my smartphone.
I use this.

Thank you Harald

I do upload at full size.

It takes time with slow broadband

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

(A) You should definitely head down to LA. Lots of nice folk. Plus NOLA is one of the most unique cities in the US. Great food too.

(B) Have you tried the fry/air fry then throw on the grille after method for your wings? Need to make sure you don't dry them out too much, but the char flavor is a nice touch.

Definitely missing the pics like the others......

I have a week that could be LA.

So it may happen.

However, I do prefer to connect and meet up with people when I travel.

Hotel/motel is fine but you don’t get a feel for local life like you do when you spend 24/48/72 hours with friends.



I never fry foods in deep oil.

Don’t have an air fryer. Don’t want one.

So I have to wait for Ethyls for twice cooked wings.





I have collected number plates for a very long time.

Mate Fil @sparkplug knows this and keeps an eye out for cheap/free and unusual plates for me.

Last week when he brought the free Compressor the plates that accompanied it included a pair of Thailand plates and my first Utah plate.

I have been to Thailand and even then I didn’t manage to find a single plate.

SUPER CHUFFED.

So a massive win thanks to Fil.

Last weekend he texted from a bootfair to ask of a £1.00 UK plate was of interest. Of course it was.

Into the Grizz pile.

[Grizz1963]

Speaking to Dennis via Messenger over the weekend as we often do, he mentioned that “my truck” was back home waiting for me.

He has been busy rebuilding this car.

Friday night fun in Missouri……

Motorway shenanigans.

First time @CraigRK visited Dennis took him out to the motorway in this. Perfect introduction to ‘Merica.



https://youtu.be/c5S1_2gxv5E?si=PeTfKcf7bByfNixw


So currently he is building this car.

Loads of new parts, new engine etc.

So our chat went like this.


Looking forward to this year’s trip.

[Palf70Step]

New Orleans is always a place to visit, especially for events like Mardi Gras. It is an experience for sure. Good or bad, but an experience for sure. I'll be up north during your visit, but if I am back while your in Nawlens, Ill drive over to meet ya.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

New Orleans is always a place to visit, especially for events like Mardi Gras. It is an experience for sure. Good or bad, but an experience for sure. I'll be up north during your visit, but if I am back while your in Nawlens, Ill drive over to meet ya.

Thanks Bill

Will be in touch.

[Grizz1963]

More chatting with Dennis as we do pretty much chat every day.


Looks like @CraigRK and I are on our way.


Hopefully Dennis can join us for part of the trip like we did New Orleans and Oklahoma before.

​​​​​​​Getting excited already

[Grizz1963]

Last year I spent only two out of 22 nights in a motel.

One night on a 1000 mile turn and burn trip to collect a car in a $75.00 motel.
Video introduction shows what 800 miles and a terrible night of not sleeping looks like.

https://youtu.be/PPX48CXeXfI?si=ON_nc1Gg4UNKjckB

Second motel was a $90.00 night iirc and so different.

But in the morning when you head out all is forgiven.

Some motels also allow a broader clientele.

[Grizz1963]

Two rubbish nights of not sleeping much.

Was going to skip bootfair then decided to go.

Glad I did.

Best buy was a roll of emery cloth for 20p

Priceless stuff. Also has an indefinite lifespan.

Four different recipients for the stuff. Elefarts VW toys, sign and Stanley bladed knife for Craig.
The rest for me and various other people.

All the sockets and extensions were 10p each. Perfect to toss in a toolbox.

Great therapy again.