Martin's mi-STRESS, 1965 Long Fleetside C10 "Rebuild in ENGLAND"

[ibrown50]

Martin, really sorry to hear about Bow, it's very sad news. I agree with everything above, (having also left the vets in tears) your dog is part of your family and their loss is really painful, but often people who've not had pets don't get it. Hope this new year brings you luck and prosperity. All the best for 2017

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Martin, really sorry to hear about Bow, it's very sad news. I agree with everything above, (having also left the vets in tears) your dog is part of your family and their loss is really painful, but often people who've not had pets don't get it. Hope this new year brings you luck and prosperity. All the best for 2017

Martin, we have spoken about this too.

I agree with Ian.

I am very stoic on stuff like this and did not even cry when both my parents died........ yet, if this stupid cat, Harley who makes me smile and grimace in equal measure had to clock out, I suspect I would be devastated. People do not get pets if they do not get them.

I always got on well with Bow and as you know he thought he was a puppy and would happily sit on my lap, given a chance. He was also a bright dog, possibly more than his master so my advice, like with human loss to you is to love and enjoy him in his absence, not easy but smile when you think or speak of him.

As for 2017...........??

Let this be a great year for all of us.

[clemdaddy]

So sorry about your pup. It seems very unfair that a true friend and creature of innocence can have a short time for us to share. And brother do we ever get attached to them in that short time.

God speed buddy

[flashed]

Im so sorry for your loss ,I have been petless for years now and miss them terribly .Just know he is in doggy heaven with no more pain .

[mjh1965]

Thanks guys for your kind words . I just hope one of the last photos I took of Bow was him telling my Labrador he had to spend more time outside with me when I work on the truck



Well as for working on the truck , I went down to pete's in Brighton and collected my sway bar a few weeks before Christmas. While I was there he spoke to Steve Lang who brings part from the states to order me some new outer rockers. I know I sold a set I had to Ian . Note to one self don't sell parts till you are sure you don't need them . So I went and collected them as they had just arrived . So weather permitting I can get this truck back on track .

My sway bar





The rust on my cab after blasting .









The only good part is I have done the job already on my old cab .

[JJ's Sierra Grande]

just catching up on all the threads after a long Christmas break. Know exactly what you mean about leaving the vets in tears. Your story made me think of my old girl whos been gone for 4 years now and smile with watery eyes. condolences to you, they are our furry children and some people don't get it that's for sure. All the best for 2017.

[Chevy Apache]

Great pic of your dog.
And more new part so more truck time

[uber cool]

wow martin, just read your recent threads, as a dog owner too that was tough reading. Are you and Ryan going to the Essex meet in March?

[mjh1965]

Thanks Andy and yes we are going to the swap meet on Sunday 5th of March . I think there are a few guys going that are on here so it should be a good time to catch up with some old friends.

[Paul V]

Sorry to hear about your loss, unless you are a dog / pet owner no one really understands.

I lost my best friend Jake the boxer dog last year, watched him die right in front of me, one of the hardest things i have ever had to go though.

Funny thing is he hatred the traveling in my C10 but refused to go anywhere without me so used to suck it up.

Again sorry for your loss.

[mjh1965]

Well what can I say, things have been a little hectic. Life getting in the way of truck build , that and the inclement weather we usually get . The trouble with the carport is , its ok to store the truck but not big enough to work on it .

Well with the weather changed and some work I promised Sally I would do over the winter months now all finished . That and work being very busy so only being able to do her bathroom at the weekends . I am now free to get back on the truck .

So after I had turned this



Into this





Well let's get on with the part you came to look at the truck . With my new outer rockers waiting to go on . Saturday morning I didn't have to work . So Saturday morning I pushed the truck out of the carport so I could work on it . I must be getting older as its getting heavier .

First I cut off the old rocker panel .







Next I finished the repairs on the floor and cleaned up the inner rocker



I also repaired the end support and patched it up







I then test fitted the outer rocker in place .



That was it for Saturday morning. Next is so test fit the door then weld the rocker in place . I will obviously need a hand hanging the door . That's were doing the bathroom will have got me some brownie points . Sally has already offered to help me with hanging the door .

That's all for now I am just glad to be working on it again

[Palf70Step]

You did a GREAT job on the bathroom.

Truck work looks good too.

[Grizz1963]

I have been updated on the bathroom for some time, and I can only say.....

WOW !!!

That came out lovely.


Well done on the rocker work and getting Sally to help with the door.

[clemdaddy]

Very good progress in just a half days work. Glad you are back on the truck buddy and look forward to more.
Sally should be proud, as nice as her bathroom looks.

[Ta2Don]

Glad to see you back after it mate! Bathroom looks great and so does the truck work!

[realvc]

It is great to hear from you Martin.

The bathroom looks really nice and the so does body work on the truck.

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

You did a GREAT job on the bathroom.

Truck work looks good too.

Thanks Bill , Sally thought so too

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Glad to see you back after it mate! Bathroom looks great and so does the truck work!

Thanks Don . It's good to get the time to work on it again

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

I have been updated on the bathroom for some time, and I can only say.....

WOW !!!

That came out lovely.


Well done on the rocker work and getting Sally to help with the door.

Thanks Rian . It won't be long before you can work on yours again . I know like me you have had lots of distractions. Getting Sally to help with the door is easy doing the bathroom to earn the brownie points was the hard part

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Very good progress in just a half days work. Glad you are back on the truck buddy and look forward to more.
Sally should be proud, as nice as her bathroom looks.

Thanks Clem I am glad to be working on the truck again . There will be more updates soon .

Originally Posted by realvc

It is great to hear from you Martin.

The bathroom looks really nice and the so does body work on the truck.

Thanks Vince , she was very happy with the end result.

[ibrown50]

Great to see you back on the truck Martin and it's always handy to have a nice bath to get into after a hard days graft on your truck, you can get so dirty I agree with Clem thats really good progress for half a days work

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Great to see you back on the truck Martin and it's always handy to have a nice bath to get into after a hard days graft on your truck, you can get so dirty I agree with Clem thats really good progress for half a days work

Thanks Ian , but I think I would have to have a bath at mine, before Sally would let me in her bathroom .

I had to make a start on the truck again with the way you and Bill are putting the boys down south to shame .

[Chevy Apache]

Nice to see your back at it with the truck must be catching

[MacQuigley]

At the rate I'm going you'll soon catch up! The motivation is bring sucked right out of me right now.

The Vette's not helping as its pissing me off trying to get it registered and of course I decided to do a "little" to it which a always one thing has lead to another etc.

That said the hood is coming along. Should get more of that done this weekend.

Anyway keep up the good work and maybe one day we can all get together somewhere. Would be nice to d that to celebrate our 60th's or maybe 65th's!!!!

[mjh1965]

Well today I had a choice go to a local car show , or get some truck time in . The reason for this , it was a Bank holiday over here in the U.K. So an extra days holiday off work for me .

Well the truck won , being a very warm and sunny day, it was time to get the rocker welded on .But first I needed to get my door gaps nice and tight .

The Door gaps









With the rocker all welded on





So next will be to get it in primer , then start the other side .

[MacQuigley]

Looking good Martin. Wish Id had the space to assemble it all like that before welding up. Would likely have saved me a load of time yet to come!

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by MacQuigley

Looking good Martin. Wish Id had the space to assemble it all like that before welding up. Would likely have saved me a load of time yet to come!

Thanks Bill . Its great having the room , but unfortunately I don't have any room inside to work , now the cab is on the chassis. So any truck time is weather permitting .

[ibrown50]

Nice job Martin, the door gaps look great. Good to see you using the bank holiday on the truck I'm thinking about using a repop fender on my drivers side rather than repairing the original. Yours looks to be a decent fit.