GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project~”

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by buffydores

Are there different regulations for blinkers over there? Usually backup lamps are the clear lenses on the bottom with clear bulbs. Blinkers are on the outside. Do y'all require orange blinkers?

Hi Cameron,

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, we have completely different regulations here.

A full yearly MOT test to check all aspects of Roadworthiness on all motor vehicles over three years old, a bit of a con really, but you cannot get your car legally road taxed or insured (another massive con) over here.

In England, the person is insured, and most moving traffic violations are translated into “Points” with 12 points being a loss of license to operate and drive or ride. They usually come in multiples of three points, ie. speeding at 77mph in a 70 zone would be 3 points etc.

Unlike the USA where my friend Dennis in St Louis usually just says Choose a car and bring it back when you are done. I used to have the same rule when I lived in South Africa where the car is insured, so friends and family could have a car or bike on the old proviso of “You bend it, you mend it”

2016 Road Trip pic probably says it all.

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...2018-humdinger



Blinkers are amber/yellow and have to be sperate from the brake or tail lights.

Side lights, or park lights are differently managed too.

Cars mostly have to have fog lamp/s out back too and not having them means a fail notice till repaired.

All of these are failures on the yearly road worthiness test.

So relocating the blinkers to the reverse/backup light space with an amber bulb works.

I am planning to fit a set of slimline LED spots under the rear bumper, either wired into the harness or on a separate circuit.

[Grizz1963]

Randomness first.

Dennis sent me a few pics.

Firstly his step son Bryan’s first deer kill of the season..... now delicious Jerky.



And a truck he was invited to work on for a friend this week..... pretty.



Remember the 2018 Road trip?

@CraigRK is a keen Coca Cola collector.

He had found a Coke lighter, rare as a rare thing, then found another for sale in Hannibal that Dennis sent over with my lowering shackles and it included a very cool salt n pepper set.



Dennis has been fitting the inner metal to the dummy gas station.

Not easy, but getting it done.



With the snow and cold weather he has had to get other jobs done.

Outside signs going up.








Saturday night dinner with Joy and her cat Mitzi, a good looking boy, loves to sleep in the draining rack. No idea why.




One of the plates I got from Andy in Oklahoma in September, 1963, my birth year.



And back in the U.K........

Another small job I got done today.

Before



After.

[Grizz1963]

Slow start to my day, the cold and damp, chilly and breezy weather slowing my motivation a bit, well, a lot.

So eventually made it to the garage by 13.30

Decided to give tinting the rear glass in the tailgate a go on my own.

Reversed the truck tint into the garage and then started to get the tailgate glass out, exposed and ready for tinting.




Glass measured 1550mm X 480mm


Cleaned and ready.



So cut it on the folding table Martin got me from his mums house, date stamped 1960 on the underside. Beats throwing it away.



Small jobs, they all take time, some more than others, even the planning of the execution of this.

Added a steel ruler to the one end, to weigh it down when I got to removing the backing sheet.



Stretched



Then removing the rear backing film.

One needs an octopus realistically to manage all the sides and getting it all sprayed wet before application.

Even my tweets held onto a tab.



Film applied.

Not looking good.

But there is hope, in the form of a squeegee

Much rubbing, squueegeeing and swearing at the wind.




Done.

Far from perfect, but at less than £10.00 for the rear and side glass, I am happy with the results.



Prozac the Van that can looking on.



Last photo taken specifically for the guys in America to illustrate the reverse lights being reused as indicators with yellow/amber lightbulbs.




Once that was done, I did the front wheel lettering.

Another small job done, never made it out to the shops.

Need to go shopping tomorrow and find myself some waterproof slimline LED reverse lights to mount under the bumper.


Thanks for checking in and all your comments and advice so far.

As for all the stalkers........ 🤔🦃

[Grizz1963]

Bought some back up or reversing lights for the truck, mainly for getting down the side of my house in the dark, as I always reverse it down to the garage as doing a 5 point turn on the grass would destroy and mark it, done once already a few weeks ago.

Had really good reviews from about 5 guys with American cars and trucks who fitted them.

I will not be adding fog lights too, as they look rubbish and we’re never fitted originally.




Then just need to find the original reverse light between the ones cut on the loom, and ensure the reverse switch on the steering column actually works, or else fit an over ride switch to turn them into rear facing spotlights.

Off work today, so certainly out with the Blazer to go shopping and for a decent drive.

Later.

[Grizz1963]

My day off on Monday netted me quite a lot of miles in the Blazer.

After adding another 20liters of fossil fuel to its belly, we were off.



It was the first time I have driven it enthusiastically since working over the front and rear suspensions with fresh parts.


CONCLUSION......??

This truck now really handles well for the behemoth it is.

Entering and exiting roundabouts with confidence inspiring ease, I found myself grinning and speaking to it while cautiously pushing it harder and harder.
On the open road at 60-70 miles per hour the steering is dead still and true when let alone.

Eventually got home around 3.00pm and reversed it to the garage, then walked over to fetch Prozac back.

Noticed the DIY front spoiler, nice n low.



Got indoors and found an envelope from Gulfport Mississippi. Postage, again as always, eye watering.

Thanks to Bill Palfreyman for the Antique Truck plate, never seen one before.

But even better...... was the repair sections for the Blazers dash radio surround that’s been butchered at some point before.

I will address this when the weather is more dry.




And a photo from a friend.

Nope,

I don’t know either.


Captions welcome.






.

[Grizz1963]

Right guys,

Time to test your combined opinions, knowledge and advice.

The Blazer only has two speakers in the doors.

I however, have in my stash some random stuff, speakers, Subwoofers and who knows what else.

So when the Radio/CD/Memory stick plays tunes, they are fine for just listening to.

So tonight when I got in from work and after feeding the starving cat, I went down to the garage to dig these out

Question is, do I connect the JVC sub box and have it under the dash, resting on the hump, or do I build a sub box in a vintage suitcase and mount it behind the rear seat for the big speaker, which may need an amplifier??

These are what I have .

Speaker. No idea about specification







And specification.




Thank you for taking the time to reply, if you do.

[Hammered 77]

Rian, just my opinion, in the back,

Rick

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Hammered 77

Rian, just my opinion, in the back,

Rick

Hi Rick,

Thank you

It seems to be developing a life of its own

More in a bit.

[Grizz1963]

Popped in to Ricky’s place a few nights ago to drop off the polisher and parts for his shop, and to have a coffee, chat, and check out his stash, in fact gawping is more appropriate to describe it.

Those that recall will remember he donated the rubber Chevy mats for the Blazer.

A few random pics, but it is only a small part of the random stuff he collects,

I felt right at home.

Tank he dipped himself.



Brilliant creation of space....

For his cars, in the sliding door to his office.




Ricky collects a lot of cans, tins and if you have anything interesting that is headed out to the tip, remember he collects them and would probably love them.





Not for sale.







He also did offer these to Dennis who collects Shell stuff too, so soon off to the USA




Later.

[Grizz1963]

After all the feedback on the various forums by some knowledgeable and not so people, consensus was to walk away from themSubs I had stashed, however, also suggested was using the side panels where the red carpeted panels went in and finding some smaller speakers.

Step up 6x9’s from my stash, these were in the Taunus Transit when I had it. More than enough power for my needs really.



Also from the Transit pile, well, shelf was a couple of rolls of good quality sound deadening to go into the Blazers sides to reduce boom and distortion.



This morning at about 09.00 Mickey popped in for a coffee as he saw my car on the drive, he also brought along my LED reverse spotlights.

Once he left I opened them.

Rather bigger than expected, but the Blazer is not exactly small.



Found a new switch in the garage.



Tonight after work I quickly offered them up to the rear before dark.



Jury’s out.

While in the garage, I was rooting around to try find a hooter that I had on the C10 before.

Did not find it, but happened upon these drum pedals, bought very cheaply at Bootfairs over the last two years.

I think this one is spot on the right shape and look for the Blazer.

Opinions?




And the one that will be fitted to the 66 when I get back on it.



And then lastly, a message from Rods n Sods.......

Karma or Life being Good?

This continues to come together.




Maybe there will be a whole orchestra in the back of the truck.

And regarding the Sub wooofer...... if I build a removable box in the vintage suitcase, with a fixed plug point so that I can remove the case and sub when the space is needed, it could work OK.

[Grizz1963]

Posting this here and in general section in case someone has an answer.



“They all leaked from the factory”

The words of my very good friend Dennis in St Louis who used to work for GM in the 70’s and early 80’s

So I live over in England and my 79 Blazer certainly leaks as much as anything that may leak. Which means LMC and the other suppliers are not just up thr road.

My question is this.......

What is the consensus on what foam seal to fit between the fiberglass cap/canopy and the body?

Some original GM part or use an alternative type of high density type foam to seal it from leaking ??

Thank you.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Rian, I had a Dodge Ramcharger in the 70's they were the Dodge answer to the Blazer. It leaked so I bought some roll of rubber gasket material. I tried the foam but it collected water and then it seeped moisture in. If you can't find it you might take a Bicycle Tire Tube and put it between the top and body.

Thank you Ray

I will investigate various options. Possibly over the weekend.

Dennis used to build these for GM.

His advice.


I don't think you will find a aftermarket seal that will work.Even the factory ones fit like ****. Once you take the roof off you will see why it's so hard to get them to stop leaking. The main problem is getting the seal to stay in place while you get roof back on.

You will need a couple of buddies to help you. It has to go down and forward at the same time while someone is inside lining the bolt holes up making sure that the gasket don't fall out

I was thinking of making some kind of cross shaped carrier to then lift it all hydraulically on my own.

REMEMBER THIS THING ? https://youtu.be/vfTC9wyQKK0

Will see how it all unfolds.

[Grizz1963]

Looking at where the water is getting in the most likely culprit is the vertical and forward horizontal seal, it seems they are often not reseated when the roof is removed.



The rear window corner also is really rotten, but the water gets in just behind the door.




This morning while looking around the canopy to see what seals were in place, I saw the typical signs of an unloved, and owned by less than considerate owners, car.

Various and missing fasteners.







While investigating, I found this little plate, different fasteners again..... Phillips screw and 7mm hex head screw.

Question is, what is it for??



Weird little connector. But where to clip it in?



Does it possibly power this interior light for the canopy??



Constantly getting to know this Blazer more and more intimately, just some stuff seems weird.

Later.

[Grizz1963]

Small jobs, Small jobs, Small jobs make the difference at times.

The little details often are forgotten.

Remember these?



Joined the party with Mr Grinder and Mrs Flapwheel in hand, followed by some hand sanding to get the edges less lethal, then Brasso and Autosol.



And offered up, bent to fit the curve on the drivers side where I managed to burn the plastic item when welding the sill previously.



Then over to the passenger side, while it was raining and cold, I decided to carry on anyway.



Sill Removed, and showed some surface rust under it plus old paint and loads of glue, so petrol, scraper and clean up.



Resulting in prepped, masked and ready steel sill.



I used the heat gun to warm up the sill and then primed it and continued to add some heat to keep the air dry around it.

Left it sitting for an hour while getting a sandwich, coffee and catching up on forums.



Two coats of white again heated, covered against the weather, happy with the way the paint landed and covered.

Keeping in mind this will mostly be unseen once I add the new stainless steel sill cover plates with double sided tape.




And finally unpacked and a final blend in.

Happy.



While I was busy with the paint, I got a visit from Richard who had driven up 90 minutes from Hastings to check over the Blazer and to collect a load of components from his lock up nearby and deliver it.

Part of the improvement in sounds in the truck.

More later.

[Grizz1963]

Another rubbish night, but the rain seems to have gone.

So I started slowly, went digging through my collection of stickers, looking for something to cover the MX5 on the sill plates with.

Nope, nothing that works.

So went to the garage and managed to peel off the plastic outer skin, then petrol ⛽️ on a scouter and a few minutes carefully removing all the residue. Polish up again and hey Presto.



Then into the back of the garage to my stash of tapes and adhesives.

Brutal double sided tape and some scissors to create strips to adhere to the leading edge.



Tucked in completely under the door seals, and then pressed down.

Fixed.

I think we have a winner here.




Going to head out with the Blazer now for a drive as the MOT expires on Tuesday and the DVLA has not yet responded to letter and documents I sent off late on the 14th November


Need to go find a better alternative to the reverse lights I had bought, they caught me out with their size.

And offered up to a suggested alternative fixing spot, it is very wrong.



Looks like the rain has lifted too.

So it could be fun.

[Grizz1963]

I just got this response from Bob Heine on Garage Journal

Of course I have seen something like this before.

And time to head to EBay

Originally Posted by Bob Heine

Rian, they sell number plate frames with LEDs aimed as backup lights. I expect the light bar alone is also sold somewhere.


https://www.summitracing.com/parts/u...UaAicCEALw_wcB

Bill Palfreyman has also posted a great alternative that I may be heading for.

[Grizz1963]

So yesterday Richard dropped off some, well, a box full of car audio bits.

12” sub
Tweeters and their drivers
2 Midrange speakers
2 Chanel amp
Amp for the Sub
Cables.

I added my two Pioneer 6x9’s to that lot and just laid them all out on the floor.





This morning, after doing the sill plates, I cleaned up the pieces and then just laid them out in the rear of the Blazer to get an idea.

The Sub is massive, and will need a deeper box than the side panels offer. So some work or thinking to do.

I am thinking of mounting the Amps inside the red panels, and then boxing the sides for Sub, 6x9and midrange speakers.

Not sure it will work, but hopefully there will be enough space and air volume for them all.


Drivers side.



Passenger side



After all the playing around, I moved the cars off the driveway and took the Blazer out front to go shopping and also look for a decent place to try get a few nice photos......



Drove around Medway area, went shopping and got some food for the week.

Also took a microwave beanbag and some masking take to see if I could mount and place the camera phone on the dash and do a short film (well, it was longer but I edited it back to this bit) of the truck on the road.
Kinda failed as the masking tape let go at one point and the camera filmed the roof lining till I pulled over and shoved the lot back onto the seat next to me.

Good fun though.

CLICK VIDEO LINK.

Grizz?s 79 Chevy Blazer quietly through Medway...

Now the truck is parked up till the DVLA return my documents and tell me what next in order to get a new MOT certificate.

Have a good week.

[Grizz1963]

Had a couple of questions on how I do selfies when working alone before, explained that a timer and stuck inside a roll of sandpaper with a rag to hold it upright works easy.

Getting a video done is as easy, Beanbag, Camera, masking tape to keep it all together and then just edit the long film down to where you want it.



Another bit of frivolous spending on the Blazer.

Classic tone hooter and a nice push button for less than £15.00



Right, back to the backup or reverse light issue.

Another example recommended by Bill in GulfPort was this design and item.



Small enough to fit in places.









Photophuckit account renewed tonight, I get really peeved at these companies holding us to ransom but the contribution the forums and friendships generated here, make to my life and threads worthwhile.




Now we can post up pics again.


.

[Grizz1963]

Back to the Blazer

Got home tonight and stepped through the front door in the dark, onto a parcel.

Bugggerr!!

Opened it up, and a gift from a complete stranger.

Mark or Captain Slug on VZi had sent these from his personal collection, came of a K5 he used to own.

Not correct for the 79 but I am pretty chuffed. They came off his ex army Blazer.

I will try to remove the army paint.




Note the difference?





Also bought a 2 LED inspection mirror on a telescopic handle.

Have used a non lit one before, works well.



Looking forward to,the weekend to getting some,time to get onto all the email jobs left to do.

[Grizz1963]

Amazingly, two months and 41k views on Retro Rides, and of course more on various other forums.

Thank you all for the generous contributions to this truck that thankfully is “Not a Project”

In a way it does not seem that long that this thing has cast a shadow on my driveway.

Waiting for the DVLA tomatrialise with new documents (through the mail slot) so it can get a new MOT) and by the recent reports on here, it seems their turn around times are impressive.
The Blazer has a slightly different issue, but it will be good to get the paperwork sorted so that I can get on with jobs and enjoy it..

Today I have some house and Christmas jobs to deal with, including making a rather large wall mounted spice rack with a slightly complex design.

Some small truck jobs, like fitting the new horn, cleaning the badges and looking at Google on ways to fit and wire the sound components.

Reminder.


Rough as a Badgers Butt.

But would you?

V8 Auto



Current look.

Prozac the Van that can looking on.




MoJo thoroughly enjoying this truck.

[Grizz1963]

No truck time today, despite having the greatest intent to get on and do a few small things.

Ended up at B&Q for some wood this morning.

Needed to make a Christmas present that had been .



IKEA to the rescue.





Mocked up, Catscan done and approved.

Figure it out yet?



Mocking up,for size.

I had planned to use some coffee bottles as Pasta and rice containers so needed to work around these measurements.



Weather continued to get worse.



IKEA towel rail to the rescue.



And of course completed.

Need to wrap it all up, seperately.




Of course none of this would be possible without Harley, and with the weather as it was, she was a bloody pain today, getting under my feet the whole day.



Looking forward to a much better day tomorrow and getting back into the Blazer.

.

[Grizz1963]

Fake news.

Front Grille badge for the Blazer, Jimmy in another world.





I was working at home this morning, and heard my door knocker, why not the bell?

Went down and had a small lady thrust her signing thing at me “Sign that, you gotta parcel”

So I signed that, took my parcel and headed back upstairs back to my admin, forgetting about it till the corporate stuff was done.

Then I opened the parcel.

Remember these renditions??


Been looking at potential simple 80’s style graphics and at this point the winner seems to be this one.......

Who owned one of these in the Day???




Inspired.



So when I opened the parcel, sent to me by Euan “Moosevan” I just had to laugh out loudly.


Harley did her usual Catscan as the Euan has a house full,of creatures too, and animals smell this.

Approved.



Also in the box was this little box.



260mm of bright LED. Reverse and Fog Light goodness.

The size of the license plate recess and plates are 300mm so this will fit in there just nicely



Thanks again to Euan, for generosity and also solving two problems.

Looks like my weekend has some work to be done.


Thanks for checking in.

[Grizz1963]

For any British readers who may know.


Another random to some, question.

Police and License plates.

My Blazer is a 79 model, meaning it has to wear a white up front and yellow out back, license plate.

I am also a believer that these are safety items, acting as reflective surfaces at times.

However, I like the style of plate in the photos below as it fits the size of recessed hole pressed into the bumper out front and the number plate mount out back.

Once I add in the reverse light bar that Euan sent me, I would like to mount that up high above the plate to protect it and keep the rear reasonably clear.

So, who has actual experience or real knowledge about current opinions from the police and ANPR brigades?

Is this a big transgression or seen as fine as the plate fits the hole and cameras can still read it all??

Thank you all.

What I currently have.



Random pics off the interweb.

[Grizz1963]

Had a vacation day to burn off today, or lose it.

So I spent about 5 hrs at my desk, catching up with some hateful admin and record keeping tasks in my office.

It was cold outside, so worked well being stuck indoors.


The sun was shining indoors though.

My little Klingon seemed happy in the sun.




Happy cat, next to me in the office, under the electric sun.




Once done with my admin stuff, coffee, shower and then onto the phone with the DVLA to enquire about the Blazers paperwork status.

A lovely lady named Fran checked my details then put me on hold for two minutes and came back to say the paperwork should be with me in 3-5 working days.

Perfect timing for Christmas then.

MOT in the new year.


In the mean time I have the vinyl Euan sent, on the windowsill waiting for some sun to straighten out the strips before applying them to the Blazer.

.



And got distracted last night by mate Martin......

Personal plate?




Weekend tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

Well, that did not last long.

Was out for an hour down at the garage.

1’C out there and a decent chilling breeze.

But before I came in, I played with the extra BHP stripes that Euan had sent me.......

Too cold for Blu-Tac (Prestick or whatever name you use) to stick to the truck, so went to Masking tape.

This is just the first try, and there could be other options.

Number 1



Number 2



Number 3



Currently my favourite as the truck is actually quite big, so the single straight line is a bit lost

I am also thinking of another one inch stripe in black or red to use as accent, or these finer pinstripes I bought years ago.



And the only “sticker” I plan on adding to the truck, if you do not count go faster stripes.




Now headed out to The Isle of Sheppey to see mate Darren at Unit Engineering about a laser and some stainless steel cutting.