GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[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.

[Palf70Step]

The 66 is way better, IMO. That is why better than the wagon, but still waiting on the 66 (?) Rebirth.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

The 66 is way better, IMO. That is why better than the wagon, but still waiting on the 66 (?) Rebirth.

Not yet Bill, but it will.

In the mean time……

Tonight.

https://youtu.be/OjvMTS1Ka9s

[Palf70Step]

Different kind of English humidity there Rian.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Different kind of English humidity there Rian.

We had a week of snow and below freezing here.



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.

[Palf70Step]

Glad you found a cover Rian. Enjoy the holidays. I am sitting here wondering if I need to bear teens (like negative numbers for non-southerners) to see if the Nissan will start. So far, waiting till tomorrow seems to be the winning choice

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you found a cover Rian. Enjoy the holidays. I am sitting here wondering if I need to bear teens (like negative numbers for non-southerners) to see if the Nissan will start. So far, waiting till tomorrow seems to be the winning choice

RIGHT…..

Christmas has come and gone Bill.

Did you get much done ?

PS: Merry Christmas.

[Palf70Step]

Nissan did start, sorta. Replaced battery and now it's even gooder. Had a check engine light for a long time now that didn't effect anything and wouldn't clear. Well, 1 mile after the new battery, light if out and so is the code. Guess it was a low voltage to something that caused it, but I am happy now. Son heading back to north east Texas this morning, so it should get to normalish around here. We got another day of cold for us, then back into the 60s/70s for the week. How's your white stuff doing over yonder?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nissan did start, sorta. Replaced battery and now it's even gooder. Had a check engine light for a long time now that didn't effect anything and wouldn't clear. Well, 1 mile after the new battery, light if out and so is the code. Guess it was a low voltage to something that caused it, but I am happy now. Son heading back to north east Texas this morning, so it should get to normalish around here. We got another day of cold for us, then back into the 60s/70s for the week. How's your white stuff doing over yonder?

Down south in Kent where I am it is decent, around 8-12’C

Further toward Scotland etc it is less pleasant.

Headed to see Craig 200 miles from here tomorrow morning, he has my free labour till Friday.

Stables , workshop and house all need work, including some mechanical stuff.

I have a crazy stupid idea to come over and do an LS swap into a 70’s or very early 80’s Chevy wagon or maybe 4 door sedan…… in 10 days. At Dennis’ place near St Louis.

I will need all the help I can find.

[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.




.

[Grizz1963]

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.

[Palf70Step]

Good to see ur tonneau. Like you looking forward to seeing how it fits. I am getting ready to get back to mine now that the holidays are over and weather has wRmed up some.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Good to see ur tonneau. Like you looking forward to seeing how it fits. I am getting ready to get back to mine now that the holidays are over and weather has wRmed up some.

I fitted it today, and despite the cold weather making it a slower fit, got all the studs clipped.

I went back out four times to look, gloat and touch it.

So pleased.




HA…..

GUESS IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

I always refused to put water out for George, 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.

[Grizz1963]

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.

[Palf70Step]

Looks great Rian. Thought you were going to have to wait a while longer because of temps, but I know your glad you didn't.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looks great Rian. Thought you were going to have to wait a while longer because of temps, but I know your glad you didn't.

Happy Birthday Bill.


Hope it is a great day for you.


I could and should have waited, but was excited.




Some awesome badges landed in the post for the car.

Thank you very much mate, hugely appreciated.

Need to prep and paint them.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Happy Birthday Bill.


Hope it is a great day for you.

Thank you sir. Simple times today with the wife and an old truck.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thank you sir. Simple times today with the wife and an old truck.

Perfect day by the sounds of it.

[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.

[Palf70Step]

Glad you have another mate (or is it master) with George. My neighbor's cat keeps me and my shop under guard. She let's most of the critters and other free roaming cats know that is HER shop. She says very little to me except to hollar when the bird feeder is empty. Guess she needs her mates also.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad you have another mate (or is it master) with George. My neighbor's cat keeps me and my shop under guard. She let's most of the critters and other free roaming cats know that is HER shop. She says very little to me except to hollar when the bird feeder is empty. Guess she needs her mates also.

That sounds about right Bill.

Molly was like that.

George is much more laid back.

He was down at the shop today, watching 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?