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

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday I splurged out on an early Christmas prezzie for Nicola. She is always so good at bargain hunting and spending pennies, not pounds, so when she mentioned that she really wanted a Radley Messenger bag, but could not justify it, I told her to just get the bag...... she still searched the web, Ebay etc to find the best price.

[img src="http://www.radleycollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/radley-signature-away-day1.jpg" alt=" "]

[img src="http://icemaidencakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Radley-Bag-Cake-Detail.jpg" alt=" "]

In the end we went to Blue Water, to the Radley shop and got her a different over the shoulder bag to what she had planned, but it does not come with the Radley dog tassle (Your girls, wives n women will know) so I decided that I would make her one in wood.

One very happy woman.



Started by Googling the shape of the dog and drawing one on paper...... then cutting it out with scissors.

Next up, found some wood, cut a sliver off it.



Followed by copying the design onto the wood.



Then onto the bandsaw, and again I realized, wood is unforgiving, with metal you can weld in some metal, with wood, if it is gone, then its gone.

Cut out the shape.



One dog cut out..... next up, hand sand and shaping.





Lastly a leash and collar made up from an old neclace out of my spares box.




I guess the most important thing to mention is that Nicola called me a "Clever Bear"

Looking forward to winter kicking in so that I can start working the wood again.

[Ta2Don]

Thanks for the Preview of the doggie for Nicola's new handbag...

Thanks for the goodies...


Cheers Mate!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Thanks for the Preview of the doggie for Nicola's new handbag...

Thanks for the goodies...


Cheers Mate!

Always a pleasure Don.

About 6 months ago I sent one of my number plate trading buddies, Herb, on Garagejournal.com a parcel with some random stuff including some number plates I thought he may like.
After he got the parcel and messaged me it was obvious he did like the stuff I had sent.

This week I got in from work and found a parcel from Kansas......

Opened it and was blown away by the contents.

Herb had collected very specific things for me over the last six months.

Firstly, a 1:24 model of my Chevy in red, as a recovery/wrecker with a Corvette behind it.

Just this week I had forwarded an Ebay Germany link to Nicola of a 1:24 model of a C10 Chevy in the hope that the hint would get me one for Christmas.





The other things in the parcel including a used US Army number plate...... perfect for me as I am trying to specialize in what I collect.

Thanks a mil Herb !!!

[Ta2Don]

Nice score on the compressor...
Helping your mate Martin...

Da Bears won today… Early BDay present to me!!!

Cheers Mate!

[Grizz1963]

Fetched the compressor last night in mate Jon's VW T5 van.

What a heavy bit of kit, nearly killed the two of us to get it in the van, so we left it in the van last night and tonight after work Jon and Martin, along with myself got it out using a coupleof sections of pipe and a pait of scaffolding boards.



Too dark for pics in its temporary resting place.

So I just took a few pics of the plates on its various parts.

Seems it was built on 12 November 1973, so 40 years old.



1.5 bhp single phase electric motor



Air filter...... Made in England too.




Name says a lot.




Plans include getting some trolley wheels under it, cleanup and repaint, service.

Then use it for painting the truck and other jobs.

[mjh1965]

I will have to start my own thread Rian but I would rather spend more time on the truck and less on the internet ( only joking ) as you always find time to do great threads and come and help me a true friend thanks martin

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

I will have to start my own thread Rian but I would rather spend more time on the truck and less on the internet ( only joking ) as you always find time to do great threads and come and help me a true friend thanks martin

Ready for your thread Martin…
Cheers from the Colonies!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

I will have to start my own thread Rian but I would rather spend more time on the truck and less on the internet ( only joking ) as you always find time to do great threads and come and help me a true friend thanks martin

No problem Martin.

You forget your own unselfish help.

I do not know many people who would tell an invalid customer to come to their home over a weekend so that they could repair a wheelchair lift while perched up on a carport he is building.

Shout if you need me to come remove that engine when you get an engine crane.

[Grizz1963]

Had yesterday and today off as annual leave and today moved a lovely leather clad chair and large foot stool over to my stepson, Tom's father's home for him to put in his bedroom.

The truck obviously did not feel the load.

Tom asked to ride in the back on his new chair, but of course in this day and age it could get you locked up for years..... So when we got there he got to test drive the chair in the back of the truck.






After dropping him and the chair off, Nicola and I went off to Hempstead valley shopping centre for a walk about, and coffee and cake.

She thoroughly enjoys watching people trip over their feet and walk into stuff when the Redneck Express comes by.

Parked to one side of the carpark, as the truck takes up a bit more spae than most modern family cars here.



As always, the smiles per mile ratio far outweighed the miles per gallon delivery.

This truck really is one of the best Bucket list things I have ever done.

Thanks to my wife

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks cool!

[markeb01]

I am always amazed at the variety of your adventures. That finished Saab and scooter are very cool. It would be interesting to see the supercharged car finished. I’ve never seen a Saab with a chopped top before. That must have been a ton of work.

Don’t have any info on patch panels, but the following link will show you what the inner structure looks like up close, starting at post #19:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444502

The pictures may take a while to load as Imageshack is sacrificing their paying customers while all their focus goes toward a new upgrade. If a “missing picture” box with an X in it appears, right clicking and selecting “show picture” may cause it to load:

FYI if all of the gaps are not closed up, the repaired fender is just going to rust out again some time in the future as the openings create a compost heap in the inner brace.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I am always amazed at the variety of your adventures. That finished Saab and scooter are very cool. It would be interesting to see the supercharged car finished. I’ve never seen a Saab with a chopped top before. That must have been a ton of work.

Don’t have any info on patch panels, but the following link will show you what the inner structure looks like up close, starting at post #19:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444502

The pictures may take a while to load as Imageshack is sacrificing their paying customers while all their focus goes toward a new upgrade. If a “missing picture” box with an X in it appears, right clicking and selecting “show picture” may cause it to load:

FYI if all of the gaps are not closed up, the repaired fender is just going to rust out again some time in the future as the openings create a compost heap in the inner brace.

Hi Mark, thanks for the reply.

I always love the peripheral stuff that goes on in people's lives, and expect you guys in the USA to also enjoy the weird and wonderful, so am happy to post up stuff I see.
Things like the scooters and Saabs are part of the sellers story, so to me, firt into the story.

Thanks for the guidance.

Looks like there is a certain amount of making it up as I go along when I get to this repairing.

[bj383ss]

Rian,

I have both my front fenders off right now. They both are rotted real bad. I will take some pictures of them for you. The fenders are real easy to get off by the way. You only have to take the cowl extension off to access all of the bolts. My driver side inner fender brace has some rot also.

I also recomend http://www.topbananaparts.com/. I just bought my rockers and floorboards from them. I plan on getting the fender patches as well.

Bret

[Ta2Don]

Nice days work mate...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Nice days work mate...

Thanks Don.

Wish it paid the mortgage though.

[markeb01]

Mind boggling! Man you do impressive work!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Mind boggling! Man you do impressive work!

Hi Mark,

Not sure whether I should laugh or cry....... Having you..... The Alchemist and Master of all things detailed and perfectly finished make such a comment, Thank you very much.

I said to Nicola earlier that a friend had made some nice comments on FartsBook about the bits I did today and she said that the same way I was gobsmacked when I showed her your diorama before, people sometimes see my woodwork bits.

[McMurphy]

Those really do look good sir!
The Grizz logo, is that a brand, as in super hot branding iron?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Those really do look good sir!
The Grizz logo, is that a brand, as in super hot branding iron?

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the reply and compliment. I still think you guys are the masters, I just mess with wood as I do not have the metal working skills you guys have, though that will have to change when I have inspected my truck in the next day or two and ordered the patch panels I will be needing, as I cannot see myself making up repair panels from flat sheet metal at this point.

The Grizz Logo was kindly made by a guy called Shep, who frequents www.ukgser.com which is a BMW GS motorcycle forum I play on.
He completely randomly sent me a PM and asked if he could make me a brass heat brand to mark the stuff I turn.... of course I said yes please, as it was always something in the back of my head.

Drew up some artwork and had a friend who is clever on PC's etc do a vektor pic that he then fed into the work machine cutter and he produced and posted me the brand.

Here is a link to my wood turning thread on Retro Rides's "Readers Other Modifications" section

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/...gain-16?page=1


As delivered:



I just use a pair of long nosed pliers to hold it in the butane flame of a weed burner I found at the tip, as it loses a minimal amount of heat and thus heats up fast, not wasting gas.





Used it on the inside and outside of the Electric Cigar Box Guitar I built about two years ago as a challenge.

BUILD THREAD LINK: http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/...having-youtube



And a pic of Harley, the security cat stuffing her face. She loves the woodwork shed and garage.





Always checking if everything passes security.




Right, the garage calls.

[TJ's Chevy]

HAHAHHAHAHAHHA!!!! My cats are the same way! lol!

[Grizz1963]

Had another day leave today.

Filled it with all sorts of yard jobs, and went to the farm to see if Charlie had some bits of weathered fire wood for me to make stuff from. Followed that with getting the truck out and doing an inspection.......

Came back with a few bits off his firewood pile, and a couple of longer bits of old oak.



My favorite piece once cleaned up was this former top of a gate post.

Not sure if it will become a candle holder, table lamp or possibly a large mantle clock as it is a good 300mm high.



Next up and interesting bit of fire wood. Sanded it and cut the top and bottom so that I could work with it.
Belt sander, hand sanded and then mounted inside this old wooden tray, it will be good as a tealight holder on someone's windowsill or a shelf.



Next up I made Charlie the farmer (remember the combine harvester last year) a doorstop for the farm house.

Handle from some rope I plaited from one piece and thenfed through two sides of the hole I drilled in the lump, and fixed internally in the holes.





I still have some more pieces to process, but need to think of the best stuff to make to maximize the effect of their scars etc.

[Grizz1963]

When I bought the truck, I knew it would need a complete resto and repaint to get it looking the way I want it to be.

I originally had a colour change in mind to a traditional mint green and white combo, or a real farmer brown green colour with off white detailing. But within a week of buying the truck, I knew it would stay the "in your face" red that it had been painted 10 years ago before leaving California.

I also knew it had some rust, and that is was very little for a 47 year old vehicle.

However, I was surprised at the rust when I started looking around under the truck.

There are a few holes that will need new metal welded in after surgery, and then some dents and scrapes to fix. All of these I am prepared to give a go, however, I will be buying and importing some steel patch panels.

I am happy to hear from anyone who has experience in using the panels that are available in the market from the likes of LMC, Top Banana and others, which are best for quality and fit.

Below are a few pics of my fenders and also the front, bottom corners of both doors.

Passenger door underside. The fender on this side seems fairly intact, but I may just bite the bullet and replace that whole side while on the metal work and paint.



Driver side fender corner...... this is bad, it is loose, and the inner support is rotten as well.
I suspect you could pull the whole bottom off without much effort.



Inside view...... made me want to cry. I will get the whole support for this side, rather than patching it up. The passenger side seems totally solid.





Drivers side lower door front corner. I am happy to make up path panels for the two doors as they are out of sight.



As mentioned above, please do add any comments and advice you may have for me regarding repairing the rust.
The trucks sills and cab corners are completely solid, and there are small bits of rust on the inner fenders just behind the grille and front support.

As can be seen in this pic.




==================================================================================================== ======



The other thing I looked at today was the placement of the rev counter my buddy Tim gave me in August.

I did not want to fit it till the truck was painted, but realized that placing it and wiring it up will not stop me from the paint and prep. I plan on going for a satin black dash, or satin black and red combo.

My question is this......

Where do most people place rev counters?

Sensible, practical, visible etc.....

Here is mine, just held in place or placed in position to get and idea.

Opinions, advice ??



Somewhere in the left hand corner.




Over to the right ??




Looking forward to ideas etc....

Thanks, Rian.

[McMurphy]

OMG I love that MG grill !!
Any idea what year/model that came off of?

Your wood stuff is cool too LoL sorry not meaning to be a total cad

[Grizz1963]

Thanks to Martin putting ideas in my head, I spent quite a few hours today with this view.

The view did actually make me smile a few times, looking at the woodwork shed, and thinking I was really lucky to have a wife who has encouraged me to create these spaces where I can work and play.



Next up I completely dismantled the search light and started to polish the bits.

Being rather old meant that the degeneration and much stuck to it is quite significant.
I started polishing by hand but after about 45 minutes realized this was going to be a machine job.






Just this bezel ring took well over an hour, and had me using my favourite bad words.

Now you could see the before and after difference. At this point I did wonder why I had even started this or why I would want to finish the job.



Unfortunately the buffer is quite small, and easily stopped by pressure from the work piece, so it was slowly slowly...



Quite a lot of pitting, but I will look for a decent wax polish.



And the under side.
The rest will get polished tomorrow or the next day, and then reassembled.




That was all for today.

Looking forward to finishing it, and dummy fitting it, hopefully it will work out.

[Ta2Don]

Just thought I'd log on to say Hello Mate!
Great job on the wheels for the Compressor...

…also had to share this, it belongs to my State Health Dept. Inspector...


Cheers!