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

[Grizz1963]

Etch primer.








And more.






So what next……?


Off back to Oklahoma to a big, BIG scrapyard to search for a few things.

[Grizz1963]

A mile from Andy’s building site.

https://youtu.be/QfHeb35NnZc

Great views.

[Grizz1963]

So for anyone interested in this intergalactic build.


Yes, I am travelling back and forth to get things done here….


Next step was painting the outer edges of the rims in Cream.


SURPRIIIIISE !!!









[URL=https://app.photobucket.com/u/niknakpix/p/93f47532-31b9-4132-b00f-0246d9e2fdeb][/URL



And then as an afterthought.

Whatcha think?

I like.

[Grizz1963]

Forgot to show the alloys wheels on.

Bit of a Marmite look.

Well, a lot really.








Sorry to the CDO gang for being out of sync.


.

[Grizz1963]

Happy Labour Day from the Lakes of the Ozarks Gas pump girls.



No, I got no boat.

[Grizz1963]

What next…?

Indeed, and when you have @nickwheeler over for a visit and to check up and in on various progressing jobs…..

Not saying a thing, kinda says a lot.








Amazingly simple trick, use recycling bags to wrap the wheels before masking off

I also use old, large T-shirts when I paint wheels with the tyres attached, to prevent overspray on the rubber.

So I guess colour next.

[Grizz1963]

Real time road trip update.



I had lunch late in Hannibal.



cooked by Holly in the kitchen, and served by the delightful Savannah




















LIFE IS GOOD.

[Grizz1963]

So back to the chainsaw build.


When we were at Tom’s yards, I saw a pile of hacksaw frames, walking around there was a lot of chain lengths scattered, hanging and laying about.


So I asked Tom how much for the one rusty frame…… “You can take it” he said after I told him the plan.


Next job was to find the right size chain, not easy. As they are mostly large link, or wire chains for animals.


But I found a short, damaged length. Asked Tom how much…… “That’ll be a Dollar to you” was his reply.


Back home, mid washed off them.





Into the workshop, in the sandblasting cabinet, cleaned the,links, then cut to size.





I chose not to weld it together, but just to tension it as a blade would be.

Given two coats of satin clear to retain the look.





Job done.





Gave it to Dennis when I got back, he loved it and hung it up in the gas station.





Perfect.

[Grizz1963]

Out with the copper paint.







Copper Done……




Only problem……

I ran out of paint, only three wheel centres done.

So ordered another two large cans off eBay, delivered after I left for the USA.

Optimistically Offered up to the car……

In the shade.

This colour loves the light.

[Grizz1963]

The highlight of every trip is stopping by at Ethyls in O’Fallon for wings and a few beers……



As always served by the unstoppable institution that is Kelly.



She also helped me get some bottle caps for a buddy “PistonPopper”







Bryan came to have a few beers as well.

Always great company.















She also dropped me a sweet message on my FB page: I'm so happy you came by to see me before you left! As always, it was a pleasure to see you! Xoxo Kelly.

[Grizz1963]

Saw this on my road trip, in Hannibal





Back on it soon.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday afternoon, while fighting the urge to go sleep after my return flight from the USA trip https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...p-grizz-sumore

I went to see the wheels.

Remember that I only had enough paint for three wheels, so ran out before getting no 4 done.

Ordered the same item from Ebay “DEEP COPPER” as what I had got from @Redratbike and expected the same, or a slight variation in colour, maybe from a batch difference.

When I sprayed one of the centre caps as a test……….


Errrrrmmmmmm…..?


FAIL.


So it seems (without investigating) that the manufacturer has radically changed the colour at some point.

The paint from Redratbik was stock he had bought for a build and not used, so in both cases, nobody to blame.

Just enough to P!$$ me off, and force me to repaint all four wheels.


I actually liked the first colour, but original plans was a decent contrast, and the original colour blended more.

Now I have a contrast, lets see if it works when the time comes to do the lace paint on the roof.




So………..


200ml originals vs 400ml extras bought off eBay




Centre cap.

Contrast in differing light.






And of course the huge difference in colours.





Knowing that I could not match the original colour, I had to go ahead and repaint the original three wheels.

After all , I had paid for the paint.





I will take a few more pics of the colour in daylight, though it seems to be a bit cloudy today.


.

[Grizz1963]

@nickwheeler popped in yesterday afternoon to check up on me, we chatted colours etc.

Had to clean my house as it needs a clean and decluttering (read rubbish bin emptied) so he declined helping with that.

Being preoccupied with the whole jobless potential scenario, I was and will be for a while, not completely in the room.


Back to this car briefly.


New colour out in the light.





Alongside the car.









Suggestion from Nick is the copper lace over a black background.


My plan is a cream base, like the wheels rims edges are, note, they are not white, and the copper lace paint over the top of that for a dark on light contrast.


But there are more important things to deal with before that happens.

[Grizz1963]

Unmasked the wheels this morning early before work.

I think I like that, a lot.

Better contrast than expected, and to be honest, the cream works better with the copper than it would have with the original,colour.






Later in the day I also sprayed all the surfaces with two coats of clear lacquer

Not sure if the photos will show it, but certainly works for the naked eye.



After work I needed a walk to unwind from the day.

“Bat Ears outta hell”



Calling Australia.

Trenching monster.



Amazing how therapeutic this dog is.

[Grizz1963]

Kinda forgot to mention the most important welcommback from America.


George the cat I don’t have.


He also had another human born at his real home last week, so I suspect a longer tenancy is in the offing.


Become a bit of a shadow.


I like that.






.

[Grizz1963]

Micra Build will stop for a while.


But I removed the roof strips yesterday.


Not sure when I will get back to it.


Got sh!t to deal with for now.


Later gang.

[Grizz1963]

Seen passing outside my house.

[Grizz1963]

Possibly the most inane thing done to/with my S10 truck to date.

On my USA road trip I bought a sticker that really resonated with me.

I like/love animals a whole lot, and I love my 🇺🇸 road trips.

ROAD TRIP REPORT HERE: https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...rip-grizz-2022

Sticker applied.





Nothing special, but a reminder and it makes me happy to fly the Stars n Stripes.


.

[Grizz1963]

I still need to figure (find out) what wheel bolts for alloys, these wheels need.


Not got any.


I think they are longer than standard and may have a specific collar.


Contacted @mercdan ‘s favourite insurers.

Quoted £275.00 for comprehensive cover…. Said to be best combo to cover this car.




Sounds like a lot of bollloxx.



Anyway, took the wheels to town.



Loaded,





Stretching….





Balancing act.





Yup……… looks decent.





Back home.





Simple mock up, well…. Placed side by side.


Typically, George, the cat I don’t have, was waiting for his dinner.





This cat is no fool.


.

[Grizz1963]

Plan yesterday was to get reacquainted with the Rockit.

Ended up pushing the Rockit out, cleaned the carport and pushed it back.

Went to Sally to help her in her garden.

The last two weeks have been hard with the redundancy, some jetlag, doing the day job as if nothing was wrong, I then got invited last Friday to interview on Wednesday for my own job with presentation and CBI .

So sleep, even after Wednesday’s interview has been lacking.

Being knackered yesterday I just was not feeling any of it.

Last night I managed a decent night for the first time in a while.

Today……. ?

Let’s see what happens.

[Grizz1963]

Mate JB Math shared a great pic of his Godzilla powered Cobra.



.remember the counter chair I got for Dennis In Iowa?




He ordered a new seat surface and fitted it.



Impressive for sure.


Now it will fit into the Gas Station.


The road trip keeps giving.

Yesterday Dennis needed to cut down a massive Oak tree that partially overhangs the workshop.

Remember one of them ended up on the roof last year during a storm.







Mate Jessie sprang tomthe rescue…..


50 Ton will do the job.








Seems the tree is now awaiting a future bonfire.


Problem solved, we hope.

[Grizz1963]

Weekend saw me clean the carport and rearranging stuff.

Great way to get started.

Except, I did not get started. Instead I did other jobs, like helping Sally in her garden, and a few other house jobs.

Sunday I decided not to go bootfair, unusual, but also evidence of my state of mind currently with the redundancy bollloxx hanging about.

So I used a foot pump (small compressor power switch seems to have died, along with the compressor) to pump the Rockit rear tyres, both were at 1 Bar, and got them to 3 Bar.

Sat around for a bit, then headed out to buy another pair of trainers, as the last expensive pair give zero support when walking the fields. Followed by some food shopping, stuff sure has spiralled from a price point of view.

Lets hope new trainers are better.


As I got home, @nickwheeler arrived, bringing Hotrod magazines and staying a couple of hours to chat.

Of course we drifted down to the garage.

Various discussions around both cars.

Including the right wheel nuts to be bought for the alloys.

I found one in my stash……



So we decided to lift the car, remove the steel and try the painted and tyred up wheel.











I am still liking the direction this is headed.


And discussed an added bit of paint with Nick.


He is a lot more “conservative” than I am.


Have a good week all.

[Grizz1963]

Ordered new chrome (obviously Chinese quality) nuts for the painted alloys.



Should look decent till the first wash, or rain or wet road hits it.

Still, worth doing.

[Grizz1963]

So I am back on UK time, after the USA Roadtrip.

The job situation is currently up in the air.

I interviewed for my own/old soon to be revamped and not mine, job, last Wednesday.

No idea if I will stand a chance, despite past successes and track record.

These days it seems the process decides.

Anyway, seems the winners and losers (everyone gets a prize, even if it stinks) will be informed next Tuesday.

In the mean time, I just keep doing what I am paid for.


Back to the UK and Roadtrips.

Adam, Dennis’ son, wife Hanna and son Tripp, along with her mum and husband Ginger and Clark came over last weekend to spend some time in the UK as tourists.

AirBnB was their choice, near Paddington.

Of course the country ended up in all sorts of turmoil with the death of the Queen and subsequent actions, including cancellation of tours of Buckingham Palace etc.

So they were somewhat left to their own devices to entertain themselves and a one year old.



Yesterday I took a day vacation and hired a 9 seater Ford Tourneo van, 10 years old and a bit rough around the edges, but for £110.00 including some diesel it seemed good enough as other local companies could not help

Mickey next door gave me a kiddie seat to use, though they brought theirs along as well.

George loved it.



Said transport.



After a late start, dictated by Tripp, they took an Uber from Paddington to meet me at Rochester, plan was originally to take a train.

From there we headed down to Dover, our target.

Clark wanted to see the white cliffs and we managed to get some of that done, visiting the lovely Battle of Britain memorial.

Memorial is a lovely place.









Planes.







Clouds really enhanced the pics and mood.





From there we headed to Dover Castle.

A venue one really needs a whole day for.

Great mix of very old history and more modern (1945-ish WW11 era)

We only got there at 3.00pm and did one short tour of the underground hospital, then decided to pull the plug on being tourists and headed back to Chatham for an early dinner.





Return trip was uneventful.



Group pic of course.





And inside of course.

Tripp charmed all the staff, a lot like his grandfather Dennis.







Food as always amazing.

Affordability is certainly something offered here, along with service and being welcomed as family.



After dinner, the tourists took the train back to London from Rochester.

I returned the hire car, and discovered Tripps entertainment centre under the seat.

Ooooopppps.

And of course an overnight postal delivery was impossible, as the postal,service is striking tomorrow and Saturday.

And Adam and co leave at midday tomorrow.

So Clark took a train to Lewisham this morning and we met up to give him the last part of the puzzle.



All in all, I was really pleased to have a day off work, and more importantly, spending it with friends

Life is good for sure. .

[Grizz1963]

I forgot to post these pics.


Dennis had ordered me a super cool zip up hoody.


He felt the legend on the back was reflective of me…….


It was not delivered in time when I traveled there, so he sent it, along with some models along for me with Adam.







On display, pretty rare, collectable,

I just like them, from mate the late Ray, his wife Eve wanted me to have these.





So the Roadtrip just keeps giving.



Back in St Louis, Dennis was fitting a newly painted door to the race truck transporter yesterday.





That was until son Adam’s best mate since school, and all round great, not just good, guy, Tyler and he returned from Indiana where they had fetched Tyler’s dream-bucketlist car.

A 1960 VW Beetle.

All of 1100cc aircooled power.

For a guy in big displacement cars and trucks, including his “little” S10 4.3 liter, this is an interesting departure.

But we know about itches.







And typically, Dennis was straight in there to get it running.





Looking forward to seeing what Tyler does with this car.