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

[Grizz1963]

Started my long weekend with a trip over to Gravesend to see Andy and pick up an old Post Office petrol can for myself, and one for Paul Y.
The one for Paul was left with Martin when I went there to give him a hand with his cab, as Paul will be there tomorrow.

While I was with Andy, he offered me some more imperial tools, and a nice old Post Office toolbox.

Life really is good.



So after 90 minutes and a great cuppa tea, it was off to Martins place and eventually home after 9pm.


Also in the mail this week was this rather special bit of kit.

Anyone know what it is meant to do?



Tomorrow is a load more yard work and then at 5pm the fire gets started...... Yup, it's BBQ time.

Bedtime now, I hope to be out back with the pressure washer by 07.00

Loads to do this weekend that really needs doing.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Started my long weekend with a trip over to Gravesend to see Andy and pick up an old Post Office petrol can for myself, and one for Paul Y.
The one for Paul was left with Martin when I went there to give him a hand with his cab, as Paul will be there tomorrow.

While I was with Andy, he offered me some more imperial tools, and a nice old Post Office toolbox.

Life really is good.



So after 90 minutes and a great cuppa tea, it was off to Martins place and eventually home after 9pm.


Also in the mail this week was this rather special bit of kit.

Anyone know what it is meant to do?



Tomorrow is a load more yard work and then at 5pm the fire gets started...... Yup, it's BBQ time.

Bedtime now, I hope to be out back with the pressure washer by 07.00

Loads to do this weekend that really needs doing.

Score on the tools and I will refrain from answering about the last pic as I was privy to it's purpose via our chat earlier in the day...
Cheers Mate! Hope tomorrow is enjoyable from waking to sleeping... Cheers...

[Bomp]

Deck and house looks fantastic.

And you're holding a fancy schmancy belt buckle? lol

[flashed]

Tube bender ?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Score on the tools and I will refrain from answering about the last pic as I was privy to it's purpose via our chat earlier in the day...
Cheers Mate! Hope tomorrow is enjoyable from waking to sleeping... Cheers...

Hard and long day Don, but great.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Deck and house looks fantastic.

And you're holding a fancy schmancy belt buckle? lol

Thanks Greg, takes time and commitment to get it and keep it that way.

Originally Posted by flashed

Tube bender ?

Nope, answer below.

Well, firstly, the answer to the question.... Think Camel Toe, think Camel Foot.

Yes, this was an extender for my side stand on the bike. They need it.

Fitted to the 1200GS on Saturday morning early.



I had a few plans for the weekend, most of it yard jobs and house maintenance.

Typically though, things are never simple.

While I was cutting the grass at 08.30 Mickey from next door came around with this on a sack barrow, he was going to throw it out, thankfully he told me before he did, so I laid claim to it.

Already planted up. Pepsi can For size perspective.



I did actually have some truck time too, mainly finding bits I previously hid from myself.

Mostly, I had Harley squeaking and getting in the way, she loves the garage when I am down there.

And she loves the truck still......



Later Martin and Andy cam e over for a BBQ, which went as well as it always does. The wings were great.

Today was early Boot fairs, then I went off to another friend, Kevin's place where Martin was collecting 30 concrete paving slabs, soon he will have no grass in his yard.

I have known Kevin for about 13 years, family friend and bike buddy.

He was doing a significant enlargement of his patio with sleepers and some serious trenching needed to be done as well as a load of soil removal. So I was there by 11.00 to get going.



The trench averages at 900mm or 3 foot deep.

Then we had a load of sleepers to measure and cut into threes.



Leaving us with this pile of short sleeper sections. A bit like Adult Jenga.



Much sweating, swearing and digging went on, we had lunch at 16.00 which consisted of left over BBQ, coffee and a few Kit Kat choccies.



And still we carried on.

By 8pm we had run out of gravel for the foundation.
I had also managed to break the large shovel we were using.

Anyway, tomorrow it's back to part two to finish the sleeper wall if the weather holds out.

Kevin was a happy man.

I did not realise just how incredibly unfit I am, well, I did, but this sort of job reminds you.




Tomorrow is a public holiday in the UK, so there will be time.

[clemdaddy]

Hello Rian! It's Kim. This looks sooooo good. I'm already planning brownies for you in October!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Hello Rian! It's Kim. This looks sooooo good. I'm already planning brownies for you in October!

Hey Kim !!!!!

Great to hear from you.

YOUR BROWNIES ROCK !!

Sooooo looking forward to spending time with you guys and all the cats (and the dogs down at the shop)

I am very happy with what we have managed to do this weekend.
You know I need a lot of distraction right now, and brownies and digging trenches can do that.

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Hello Rian! It's Kim. This looks sooooo good. I'm already planning brownies for you in October!

Kim if you make him enough brownies, he will do anything you ask .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

Kim if you make him enough brownies, he will do anything you ask .

YESSSS...!!

And happy to leave a dollar in the cookie jar when Clem and I dive in there at some ungodly hour.

You are a spectacular cook, and we all know this as fact.

To be honest, I think all of us would do whatever Kim asked us to do....... Just ask Clem.

[Grizz1963]

Back at Kevin's by 09.00 today to carry on with digging the rest of the trench and build the wall. Well, the building and spirit level are his department, so I could blame him if it looked poop, but it did not.

Only one boot-fair today, being a public holiday, but got an almost new shovel for £3.00 to replace the one I broke last night.

Kevin's son Jonathan came over to help a bit as well.

While they went off to buy some more bags of gravel, I turned all the bricks into hardcore with a lump hammer.



When they came back, Kevin and I carried on with the wall while Jonathan disappeared indoors.

About half an hour later........

This presented.... Well worth the wait.



Another long day, but by 17.00 this was the view.

Next up the rest of the garden bed comes out, the old paving gets lifted and the floor gets dropped another 100mm, then new paving and a set of steps up onto the lawn.

Turned out great so far.




Last night chatting with Dennis in St Louis, he showed me his truck progress.

The man is moving right ahead.

I do look forward to seeing this completed.







Maybe he can rob one of the engines from one of his sons Sprint cars.





Thanks for checking in.

[uber cool]

Rian, that is so weird. this weekend i laid some used rail sleepers in my garden and smashed a load of bricks upto to use as hardcore!

[Chevy Apache]

Nice work Rian looks like these sleepers are catching my job for the weekend

[Chevy Apache]

Nice work Rian looks like these sleepers are catching my job for the weekend

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by uber cool

Rian, that is so weird. this weekend i laid some used rail sleepers in my garden and smashed a load of bricks upto to use as hardcore!

Then you know how much sweat it generated.

I prefer real sleepers/ties.

Originally Posted by Chevy Apache

Nice work Rian looks like these sleepers are catching my job for the weekend

Your truck seemed happy carrying a load too.


Mate Kevin and I both have the same model 1200GS motorbikes, in fact he has a brand new one as well, but the older one is used by his son.

Last week, before the gardening saga, we placed an order for two Odyssey Extreme Gel batteries for our bikes as he could take delivery at work for us.

Last night he came over to drop mine off.
When I wanted to pay him for the battery, he refused the money saying he wanted me to accept it as thanks for the digging I did over the weekend. With little choice, I now have a "Free" battery for the bike. Thank you Kevin.

He also brought me this perfectly proportioned locking toolbox with two keys for the truck bed. And yes, I almost always have a phone with camera in my pocket.

It is ideally sized for some bits one may want to carry along, and will fit neatly inside the bed.



Another big Thank You.

Little by little things are coming together for the truck.

[Palf70Step]

That box will be a great addition to the truck!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That box will be a great addition to the truck!

Thank you Bill, I am very pleased with it, as it will be useful.


Though it is not my truck, Dennis my friend is not an IT type, he has better stuff to do with his time.

Thought it was still worth posting up,here.

Remember these bedsides Dennis was going to fit to his NASCAR themed truck?




He was going to move the wheel opening forward 6 inches to fit the race truck chassis.

So when he started to work on the bedsides, he found a bit of filler..... Then some more.

And then this.........

What sort of knob turns out this sort of work and then covers it with a shiny coat of metallic paint?



Not a lot to be said for the previous owner and body man who did this job.

Seems he has the truck those came from, on sale for $22k it will be interesting to know the quality of workman****.

Bedsides are now in scrap pile.

[ibrown50]

It's unbelievable the "standards" some people work to, surely it would have been quicker to repair it properly!!. That definately beats my hex wrench check link

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

It's unbelievable the "standards" some people work to, surely it would have been quicker to repair it properly!!. That definately beats my hex wrench check link

Here is the link to the seller of the truck those bed sides came from.

Be interesting to know how the rest of the truck compares to that panel

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5576133073.html

Thats the sales link to the truck.

Wonder if its a documented build?

Was tempted to contact the seller and then ask him if restvof truck was same as panel he sold on.

[flashed]

That is unreal ,what a bunch of shoddy work.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

That is unreal ,what a bunch of shoddy work.

Indeed...... I say bring back Crucifiction.


Unusually, I slept late today, after a cat chorus at 05.00 and then another at 06.00 so I fell asleep just when I was going to get up at 06.00 but that was great, my body seemed happy with that.

So when I got up, it was pull stuff out the garage, get the new battery fitted to the bike, I have not ridden it for about 8 months, crazy I know..... But that's life.

Happy to have it out again. MOT next weekend.



Then cut the grass and did a few other yard jobs that need doing.

Paul Y was coming over today to use the blasting cabinet to clean up some parts he will be having plated etc.

When Paul came we had a cuppa tea, some serious discussions and then down to the garage where we discussed how to build a practical carport in front of the garage.

Opinions, views, advice, suggestions and knowledge of UK building regulations for carport X welcomed.



Then we both got started on the real jobs of the day.

Pauls results were good, he had a pile of stuff, some small bits and some large to clean up.



I needed to replace the brake line junction over the rear axle as I had bought a new one, but never fitted it. Once that was done, I decided to remove the fuel line that was still in place on the chassis.

When the truck got fitted with its relocated tank, the idiots (builders) in charge added some ally pipe and rubber hose junctions to get the fuel from there to the motor.

So I went down to the industrial estate just after 3pm and got a roll of 20' in 5/16" copper pipe and rubber pipe although I only needed 10' so I now have a load spare.



Straightened it out to the pattern of the originals.



New fuel filter as well.



Fuel pump end of the new line.



Rear end where I finished the brakes, and of course new pipe, filter and tank in position.



I did not do a lot today, but I am happy these little jobs are done too.

Bootfair weather promises to be good tomorrow.

[Grizz1963]

After spending some some good time on the truck on Saturday making up a new fuel line, Sunday was a more relaxed day.

Fitted a new Odyssey battery, took it for a brisk ride. And realised just how much I still enjoy this bike. It may be big and bulky, but once you ride off, it does change.

Then washed it.

MOT next Saturday.



Also tried to get mate Martins pot blaster to work, after removing damp glass media, tried kiln dried sand..... Fail.

I want to do my cab at home, on the driveway.

I know MacQuigly did his chassis beautifully, so there has to be an answer.

So need to figure out what I am missing. Pressure, media, brains??

[Grizz1963]

Called Real Steel American parts yesterday at 9.30am to order my new transmission seals and some gaskets for when the timing chain cover gets replaced.

Today when I got home from work.....

Tadaaaahhhhh!!!

Parcel had arrived.

Next stop, rebuild transmission, refill ATF and get reunited with motor.



Little jobs all coming together.

[Palf70Step]

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Agreed Bill.

Just need to find time between other parts of life going by.

[Grizz1963]

Life continues to get in and out the way over here at Grizz Towers.

This weekend I had some plans for the garage......

Never happened, but I got a new MOT on the bike, cut neighbour Mickeys grass, watered all their garden plants and had a haircut.
Some other tasks like resanding all the paving I previously cleaned made short work of the day.

Sunday I spent some time at a bootfair and another 6 hrs cleaning the rest of the paving.

After this I tried to get Martin's blasting pot to work.

FAIL......

MacQuigly has used one to great success, so there is still hope.

It either trickles as weak stream of sand or blows clear air....... Or every now and then it does what it's meant to do, clearing old paint fast.

So half a bag of kiln dried sand looks like this.....



Resulting in this after about 20 minutes of trying to get it to work.



Advice...???


In other news, Mate Dennis ended up spunking $850.00 on two new bedsides in Kansas City, and then promptly cut them up today......



He has had to move the wheel arch forward to get it central and also to fit the NASCAR chassis he is using for his build.

Balls of steel.



More later.