GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[Grizz1963]

Went out and messed with the truck today.

Took a few more scenic pics too.

If you guys are interested, I will post them up on here.



Dennis started the 850bhp NASCAR motor for the first time last night.

Fired right up.

Sooon.


https://youtu.be/-IAJCo3DlfI


More soon.

[Palf70Step]

That engine sounds like it has a tad bit more oomph than my 250. I do like the looks of the Cragars on your truck. Hope you get to feeling better soon so you can get back at the toys.

[Just call me Sean]

I have a stupid question. Do boats have the steering wheel on the left side over there?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

I have a stupid question. Do boats have the steering wheel on the left side over there?

As far as I know, on the right, unless they are centred

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That engine sounds like it has a tad bit more oomph than my 250. I do like the looks of the Cragars on your truck. Hope you get to feeling better soon so you can get back at the toys.

Cragars, as mentioned before are 16 seasons old.

Tired, really tired wheels, tyres are all cracked too.

Contacted the spinal surgery clinic today. 10-12 weeks before the they will come back to offer an appointment





WEEKEND PICS


AND IN A BIT.......


GUILT FEELINGS AS RESULT OF PULLING IT THROUGH MY XXXXX



Thames and Essex behind the truck.






Juiced up again.

[Grizz1963]

And now I guess a post many, including me have waited for.

It felt really bad being to mechanically unsympathetic.

First time I ever tried this sort of thing.

First two attempts done in a straight first gear, the rest, as per @pauly instructions.... put it into D for Devil and try again.

The concrete of the driveway is incredibly coarse and then of course one is on the lawn in moments.

VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/XKjYFTcGac8


Maybe if I can find a slightly better surface than all these private spaces it could be more impressive.

Or maybe I should stop while I am ahead.

[Grizz1963]

Few more that failed to upload.









Also great progress on the wheels

Met a guy on an S10 FB group who offered me wheel nut caps for postage.

Almost the same for postage as the new, wrong items were on Amazon.






And another beautiful cold sunset.

It was even better in real life.






Tomorrow we have @forddan68 over for paint detailing and lunch.

Maybe even get the windows tinted if weather permits.

Oh, and its Friday.

[Palf70Step]

Truvk came our real nice Rian.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Truvk came our real nice Rian.

Little changes, constantly Bill.




In the mean time.....

Last night this happened.

No idea how, but the brain dead lodger came home and managed to toss his electric bicycle against or on the truck bonnet.

No idea how, and of course it would be my fault in his world, as I happened to own the truck.

To date he has not taken responsibility for any of his screw ups.

Some are not published yet.



To say I was pisssed is an understatement.

I just told him to get out of my face nd go to bed when he offered to paint it over for me.


Seriously?





Weekend over of course.

[Just call me Sean]

That sucks.

[Palf70Step]

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

That sucks.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Totally.

But it could have been a shopping trolley into the door at a grocery store.

Though dumb, I doubt it was on purpose.

[Grizz1963]

So after Dan and I had dealt with the truck I still felt the stripes need to be replaced, as the tailgate pieces were damaged, both from age and when they were fitted.

So yesterday I went out and took a wheel to get a better idea on the colour match of the wheels anthracite and the stripes.

I was shocked at how close the match is , and the stripes are metallic as well.





Lodger came home with some clear and hardener as well.

I still don’t want him near the truck, but thought if I just fill the scratch and chip in with clear, it oiled at least halt degeneration somewhat.



However, hearing the feedback (no idea on costs) of chip repairers, I am now intrigued as well.

Need to investigate more.

[Grizz1963]

.

Today my back made me scream like a girl just as I got into the truck, well, I tried to get into it.


No more burnouts I think was the idea.


OK.........


So I lied.


https://youtu.be/1vTUmoU3kCY


So indoors we have a new pile after the final burnout on the Cragars.





Sweet skinny assed Mickey and the luckless lodger changed the wheels for me as I was truly crippled with pain and pinched nerves in my back.

I have called the GP surgery to ask for help, got told to call again at 08.00 to see if I can get an appointment.

Fingers crossed. I am screwed right now.



So bloody skinny, 76 and nothing stops him.





After fitting the wheels, I checked the nuts were tight and added the centre caps and wheel nut caps for a few photos.







And of course lastly.

A very happy guy, this has taken a while to get to, and to be honest, we are not yet home dry, but soon as the caps land from Katy, Texas, we are in business getting the centre caps secured.



Happy Chappy.

[Grizz1963]

Popped back to the wheels guys this week.



I had decided that it may look better with the centre caps, matched to the anthracite of the powder coating.

I am hoping that the code can be translated to a paint code.



Random pic of the van (Whole side panel has been replaced with fresh metal now.) that the Cragars are headed onto, if Darren can find a full set of wheel adapters.



Ever heard of a blind spot??

Ever reversed into something that was not there......

I did.



Thankfully hit the rubber of the rear step only.

So pleased, would hate to replace the tailgate.

And then today, the previous owner sent me a wad of old paperwork and MOT certificates to continue adding to the trucks history file.




And right now, rather than the end of the weekend, we are almost at the start of a 4 day long weekend.

Enjoy it.

[Grizz1963]

Random posting.

More for the record, as I do intend to get something done about it at some point, a good repaint for one.

This colour is quite fragile, and will mark easily.

So just the front bumper seems to have its fair share of scratches, and a ding in the steel bumper itself.

Corners





Front





And the big ding.





So it will be either a Dent specialist or maybe a paint shop.

What is the general experience and opinions?

[Grizz1963]

So. Yesterday’s little trip was in the S10.

I find myself using it whenever I can find an excuse, though it is a bit of a pain with my back right now.

I was really chuffed to have Sally along for the ride as well.

She is a good girl and good company, always putting up with my random flights of fantasy.

Roads were absolutely easy at 10.00am





First time ever........

Red lights.... allowing the escort vehicle to follow through on two mobile homes.




Sally on camera duty of course.

Headed under the Thames River.

https://youtu.be/5oqKdiroTOI


And through the other side.......




Headed for Dagenham, with Waze guiding us through some industrial estates.

Into a residential area

Clearly up and coming.


Question is..........


What did the truck have to collect?

[Palf70Step]

Looks good Rian. Hope you can get the back issued cared for soon.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looks good Rian. Hope you can get the back issued cared for soon.

Thanks Bill,

I started on Gabapentin yesterday, have taken two days off as it gives me blurred vision and dizziness plus sedated me.

Surgery may be a way off, as out]r health service is so overrun.

Regarding the wheels, Imam pleased with them.

The Cragars unfortunately were well beyond their best by date, and real tired.

[Grizz1963]

Random update.


So every year around this time, Dennis and a gang of friends and family head down to Mexico for 10 days of resort holiday, seeking the sun.

This year, with COVID-19 etc, they decided to go to Arizona, which is still reasonable, with a day booked in at Barrat-Jackson Auctions to see some beauties.....

They got to see expensive stuff being auctioned, ate some good food.

However...... this has been the week.



I saw this Gen1 S10 on FB.

Crazy?

Of course, but love it regardless. Marmite for sure.



Spring is here.



Mickey is fetching a shed for someone tomorrow

He came to swap license plates....

No, he was just getting up.




I had told him I needed to get someone clever to wire in a trailer socket for the S10

He came back with this quick fit kit.

Had to explain that it made him the devil.




In the mean time, I have started on some meds for my back that has me stoned and gives blurred vision.

Fingers crossed.

[Grizz1963]

So, I was going to ask the question in a thread of its own, inviting the knowledgeable and jobsworths...... nothing wrong with them, one just needs to choose the level of risk you are prepared to take on.


In the ongoing dilemma of spending £300.00 of my hard earned, and safely stashed English pounds, which are about $420.00 of those American Dollars we love to spend on our toys.....


I may have come to the crossroads of spending, having to decide if spending the cash on a vanity style personal plate as shown below is worth it, or does one stash the cash.


Another question for the Legal, MOT and Police types on here, is whether firstly, an American style plate as shown below, is permissible on an IMPORTED TRUCK which this is, with space for an American,license plate.

OR

Does one stick to the English style, as fitted at this moment, with a slight edit on the top line of two, so it reads S10 0 and TRK on the lower line.

As my one mate suggested, as long as the Dartford tunnel ANPR cameras, and police patrol car mounted ANPR cameras can read and interpret it, surely, the fact you,are in a bad mood and did not get laid for a week, should not really come into the argument




I have sent an email to States-Plates whom @pauly recommends to see if they would be prepared to space the second 0 a 1/2 space from the first one and the T which would optically allow you to read it as S10 0 TRK as shown.




All such silly, vain stuff, but hey...... it beats betting on horses, and crack cocaine and $5.00 hookers.


Or does it?

[Palf70Step]

I like your American style (I guess that's how you describe it). They seem to fit the truck better. If you do stick to the English style, definitely seperate the zeros so it looks S10 instead of S100. Hope you are feeling OK. Keep going bud.

[Just call me Sean]

People do "Euro style" here, so I would think "American style" would be neat there.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I like you American style (I guess that's how you describe it). They seem to fit the truck better. If you do stick to the English style, definitely seperate the zeros so it looks S10 instead of S100. Hope you are feeling OK. Keep going bud.

I have emailed plate maker in France.

Nobody in England makes American style plates.

So it ends up being around $75.00 for a set of plates.

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

People do "Euro style" here, so I would think "American style" would be neat there.

We love changing styles here.

The police hates it.




American style plates part 2


So what we are saying, is that these should work.

I would go with a set of these “show plates” in this style.

And hopefully they will be acceptable.







Any experience from anyone using this specific style plate with law enforcement in the UK ?




As always, thanks for the input.

[Grizz1963]

Few random pics.

Remember the Fiesta I polished formSally’s son?

He turned 21 on Sunday,.

Added some side skirts to the car, for his birthday.

Now how do you drive this? Could not go over a cigarette packet.



On Sunday, I also had to get to a shop and then the post office to get some emergency English PG Tips tea to a friend in Holland as the Retro Rides Gathering had been cancelled of course, so he could not stock up on his favourite brand.

When I came out, this CBR 600 was parked on the side of the building.

Absolutely immaculate for a 13 year old bike.

Some vehicles just seem to have the right genes for not aging.




After this I drove down to Rochester and stopped for a few random pics of the truck.


Rochester Castle.

Note that it has 3 square towers, and one round one.

Thanks to Oliver Cromwell



Rochester Cathedral



Castle.




Rochester marina.



And Rochester bridge, much better pictures available online.



Then home.

Mate Darren and Tammy came over later, around 3.00pm and as always it was great seeing them.


Darren collected the Cragar wheels and tyres for his Dodge van build.

All in.



All too soon, the weekend was over.

[Just call me Sean]

Pretty sure a paint shop can color match anything.