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

[White knuckle Garage]

I knew u did a lot and seen a lot but man that's a great trip Followed the whole trip

[65sub]

That was one hell of a trip Rian. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Palf70Step]

Great rehash of your trip. Wish I could have made it to Clem's event to see how the other side of the world does their trucks. Thank you both for the great review of the colonies.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Great rehash of your trip. Wish I could have made it to Clem's event to see how the other side of the world does their trucks. Thank you both for the great review of the colonies.

Been on the edge of my seat for this epic adventure...

Bill, in the event you decide to make a trip north for Clem's throw down, he holds it the 3rd Saturday in October and Clem never fails to amaze...

[ibrown50]

Rian, Martin, thanks for sharing. I've enjoyed every instalment, my wife even read the Gas Monkey part!!
It's been great fun, no idea what I'm going to do in my spare time now,I'll have to get back to work on my truck

[dwcardfan]

Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Thanks for taking us all along with you on this great trip .We love to travel in our Malibu convertible all across this great country and it seems those of us over here take it for granted .It takes guys like ya'll to make us see how lucky we are to have these wide open places to see .So far we have driven our Malibu thru some 44 states thus far and want to get to the rest someday .I still hope we get to meet in person one day but til then I will follow you as you build your trucks and other projects .
John

Originally Posted by White knuckle Garage

I knew u did a lot and seen a lot but man that's a great trip Followed the whole trip

Originally Posted by 65sub

That was one hell of a trip Rian. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Great rehash of your trip. Wish I could have made it to Clem's event to see how the other side of the world does their trucks. Thank you both for the great review of the colonies.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Been on the edge of my seat for this epic adventure...

Bill, in the event you decide to make a trip north for Clem's throw down, he holds it the 3rd Saturday in October and Clem never fails to amaze...

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Rian, Martin, thanks for sharing. I've enjoyed every instalment, my wife even read the Gas Monkey part!!
It's been great fun, no idea what I'm going to do in my spare time now,I'll have to get back to work on my truck

Originally Posted by dwcardfan

Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.

I do appreciate it.

I am glad I could share. We do not all get the opportunity to travel. Some have other priorities and some have responsibilities.

I am fortunate Nicola makes me do these things.

For those in withdrawal...........

CLICKY LINKY:

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/inde...topic=106063.0

That is another bike road trip I did 2 years ago.

You may enjoy it as well.

Back to the truck soon.

[flashed]

I will check that link out later ,about to start work in a few minutes.

[Grizz1963]

Funny how life is..... Twists and turns, ups n downs.

Anyway, after winning the award for the USA road trip at the end of last year, I was approached by a contract company to work for an American company in the Non Hodgkin Lymphoma market in May, so in June I started what felt like a dream job.

Friday we were all called in and told the Americans were closing down the European and UK operation through no fault of our own. Today they confirmed we were all being made redundant and as the team was up for less than two years, there is no payout or benefit to be had. So I guess I am out looking for a new job again. Timing sucks, but hey...... Not much we can do about it.

Tonight Nicola and I decided to go see a movie, a good way to redirect your attention. Bridge of Spies with Tom Hanks. Good movie.

When we got back, I popped around to Mickeys place as there was a parcel waiting for me that was delivered through the day.

Going by the box, I told Nicola it was her Christmas present......

She was not impressed.



Remember what I always say about Random Acts of Kindness???

Well, Dennis Jones a friend from Missouri knew I was looking for a hood ornament for my truck some time ago, last week he sent me a message asking for my address.

He had found me a patina'd one and wanted to send it, along with a T-Shirt representing his business and some fire proof working gloves and other working gloves for,mate Martin and I.



You see, despite the ups n downs......



We have a great life and much to be thankful for.

Thank you Dennis, you are a kind and generous man. Karma will kiss your butt whan you least expect it.

PS. I will get back to the truck when things allow me to.

[Palf70Step]

Nicer stash.

Sorry to hear about the job. Hope you find something soon.

[flashed]

That really sucks about your job but you will find something better .

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Bummer about the job situation. Could their timing have been any worse? Just after your vacation, and just before Christmas. I feel for you.

Hopefully, you find something (better) soon!

[clemdaddy]

I know that a better career move is on the horizon. You are a killer salesman and when you put the word out, it will happen.
Hope you find a little bit of time to get out in the shop and take a vacation from your vacation.

[realvc]

Rian, so sorry to hear about your job situation.

It's never easy to deal with these type things but you seem to have a good and positive attitude. I agree with Clem that there is a better job out there for you.
Prayers for you and Nicola and for a job that is way better.

God Bless you bro.

[dwcardfan]

So sorry to hear about the job. I know you will find something soon.

[Ta2Don]

You got this mate… Prayers...

[ibrown50]

Rian, gutted for you mate and like Johnny said the timing sucks. But I know what great bloke you are, believe me something better is just round the corner.

[uber cool]

So sorry to hear about your job, what a knock after such a high on the road trip. I guess that's life as they say! Knowing you you'll bounce back pretty soon. But still not nice at this time of year. But think positive thoughts for 2016. We must meet up next year maybe at one of the swap meets and me and Mark will come down to Kent and see you and Martin.

[clemdaddy]

Morning Rian, Pete and I are heading out to Eddies salvage today to check out some stuff needed for an upcoming build. We're looking for a big steel bed off a welding or service truck. The thought of going back made me think of the day that we roamed around Eddies with all the guys, picking up parts and exploring his place… made me smile. We'll get you a few Ford parts maybe… NOT.

Have a good day my friend, hope you get a little shop time, enjoy the good stuff in life and make one of those crafty little doodads you're famous for.

[chad64chevy]

Rian, so sorry to hear about your job situation! I could only echo what everyone else has said, you will find a better job! I know to many times life has thrown me lemons but you just got to keep moving! you sir are a wonderful person and I know this will not keep you down

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nicer stash.

Sorry to hear about the job. Hope you find something soon.

Originally Posted by flashed

That really sucks about your job but you will find something better .

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Bummer about the job situation. Could their timing have been any worse? Just after your vacation, and just before Christmas. I feel for you.

Hopefully, you find something (better) soon!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

I know that a better career move is on the horizon. You are a killer salesman and when you put the word out, it will happen.
Hope you find a little bit of time to get out in the shop and take a vacation from your vacation.

Originally Posted by realvc

Rian, so sorry to hear about your job situation.

It's never easy to deal with these type things but you seem to have a good and positive attitude. I agree with Clem that there is a better job out there for you.
Prayers for you and Nicola and for a job that is way better.

God Bless you bro.

Originally Posted by dwcardfan

So sorry to hear about the job. I know you will find something soon.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

You got this mate… Prayers...

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Rian, gutted for you mate and like Johnny said the timing sucks. But I know what great bloke you are, believe me something better is just round the corner.

Originally Posted by uber cool

So sorry to hear about your job, what a knock after such a high on the road trip. I guess that's life as they say! Knowing you you'll bounce back pretty soon. But still not nice at this time of year. But think positive thoughts for 2016. We must meet up next year maybe at one of the swap meets and me and Mark will come down to Kent and see you and Martin.

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Morning Rian, Pete and I are heading out to Eddies salvage today to check out some stuff needed for an upcoming build. We're looking for a big steel bed off a welding or service truck. The thought of going back made me think of the day that we roamed around Eddies with all the guys, picking up parts and exploring his place… made me smile. We'll get you a few Ford parts maybe… NOT.

Have a good day my friend, hope you get a little shop time, enjoy the good stuff in life and make one of those crafty little doodads you're famous for.

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

Rian, so sorry to hear about your job situation! I could only echo what everyone else has said, you will find a better job! I know to many times life has thrown me lemons but you just got to keep moving! you sir are a wonderful person and I know this will not keep you down

I hate this bloody iPad.

Just posted replies to all of your comments and it lost all the entries.

Anyway, thank you all for your concern and comments.

[Grizz1963]

All sorts of stuff going on in the background since I got back from the USA, so to much truck action.

In the mean time, the truck continues to fight me every nut and bolt I try to move forward. I think it is called "LIFE"

Remember these two....?



Lower control arms or Wishbones.

Well, they needed to be refurbished with new parts, including the ball joints and pivot arms.

It's a two man job ideally, and we previously did Martin's set here, they came out perfect. So had no reason to think my pair, including the replacement unit from Ian Brown and my trucks original passenger side would not just screw together.

So we did the drivers side..... Perfect !!

Then we did the passenger side and it ended up self destructing on the outer thread on one side. Grrrrrrrrrr!!!

Once we pulled the unsuccessful one apart, we checked them against each other...... Note the difference in width.



And one very mullered thread. Which meant that I needed to find a new used LCA.

I tried around the UK, but of course there are no trucks being broken over here like they are in the U.S.



I believe I have one sourced. We just need to arrange logistics, shipping etc.

Did I mention that this truck is fighting me every step of the way....??

I decided that because the truck is getting so much new stuff, the $24.00 for a pair of trailing arm bushes was another thing that needed doing. Replace the 50 year old units while the truck is in bits.
Getting the old ones out meant unbolting the trailing arms from the chassis, and then one needs to burn the old ones out.



Thankfully I have a butane burner that I use for the branding on my woodwork stuff when I turn or build items.



Once burned out, petrol cleaned the channels and made sure they were ready to receive the new bushes.



New ones fitted.....

Next problem, getting the trailing arms back up and threading the bolts through.



I decided to kick Martin out by 8.30 as he had more people to see and more stuff to do.

I will use the Jack later in the week to lift both arms up and hopefully get the bolts seated, or else I will have to unbolt the rear of the trailing arms and then refit the front, followed by the rear.



Felt good to be back under the truck.

Hopefully I can get back to doing some stuff again.

[chad64chevy]

I remember back when I did mine I had to bend the tabs that the bolt goes thru out just a lil to help with the install! since the new bushings were a lil thicker! when to tighten the bolt it will pull it back in some, a lil love from a hammer will help also!

[flashed]

You have luck like mine but it does get better.

[NevEno]

Here it is!