GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[Grizz1963]

………………and then I ground to a halt.





I had hoped to finish work early (flexi-time) today so that I could get a start on the final chapter of the bushes.

Then work kicked me in the nuts, hard.

When it gets busy I just need to keep going, so by 4.30 it wound down.

Also realised that I will need to disassemble some of the work I did before.

Too many obstructions and retainers.





I will try find some time tomorrow, but we are planning a bit of a run out in the S10 that has not been out much lately as I have spent a lot of time at home.

.

[Grizz1963]

Went down to Whitstable yesterday in the truck with Sally to see mate Martins new home and garage he is building.

Threw an accrow (spelling?) extendable support in the back for Martin to use to support his main steel girder if he ever wants to hoist out an engine or something similar.

Again, truck made me grin madly, both for the drive as well as for using it to do even a simple job.



Last bootfair of the year sucked.

One item worth £2.00

But……..

I have been looking for a horse riding spur for a few years on my USA travels and generally when out and about.

Usually overpriced for me at around $20-30 a pair.

Todays one was worth adding to my random pile of weirdness.



Home by 08.20 from bootfair, hoping to see mate Kerry, @disasterbus who was popping over to drop some random stuff off that he had collected over time for me.

When I got here, the first thing I saw was a pile of stuff on the driveway, and no Kerry, somhe had been and run as he does not like to leave his animals at home alone. I totally get that.

Still need to carry through and sort through all the treasures.






I am sure we will meet again soon enough.

So unpack and carry through treasure, sort through solid wood kitchen shelves etc mate Kevin dropped off yesterday (firewood and shelving)

Then get back to Rezin Rockit for bushes part 2.

[Grizz1963]

Seems Photobucket feels I am loading too many photos for the contract I have.

So it is not loading my photos.

At the tariff I pay as it is, I am not going to have them extort another $xxx or whatever it is out of me. They get about $xxx/year from me.

As far as I know I am on the intermediate tariff which equates 25000 photos.

But for now it seems pics are on hold

[Grizz1963]

Remember this…….?


Damascus steel, hand made, in America.

Had a message from my friend Jon Hall custom Knives to say the weather had forced hime back into the forge and to start making knives again.

My custom kitchen knife is taking shape.

Not sure if I will want to use it or just look and touch it.

Such an honour.

And of course I do love people who are skilled creators.




Layer upon layer of steel.





On Saturday Sally and I took the truck out for a run down to Whitstable to see mate martins new home and under construction garage via some shops.

What a pleasure, as always, to take the truck out.

Silly grins abound.





Thankfully the recent fuel shortages have not impacted my pleasures.

[Grizz1963]

Looks like deleting the Photophukit app from my phone and reinstalling it, has allowed me to upload.

I still do not understand how my 25000 photo option is near capacity.


Anyway…….

So where were we?



Back to the hydraulic press and removing the old rubber.

Old vs new.

Bottom end.



Kinda screwed up on the first top one I did.

Not realising the outer sleeves had to be re-used I was pretty rough on them till I woke up.

Rough as a rough thing, but I cleaned them all up and cleared the very rusted inside and outside bores plus the cuff.



Once cleaned up, you need Fairy Liquid or any slippery dishwashing liquid to help slip them in, vice or press needed again.



Lower arms needed a lot of remedial work too.

Also top and bottom ball joints were well and truely beyond their best…..





And I still need to understand why there are screws in the bottom of the ball joints.



This rebuild has certainly turned into a restoration as @westbay Tony pointed out to me this week.

The plan was originally just a quick throw together but I am realising more and more that it may well end up being a decent car once completed.

Here’s to Vroom Vroom eventually.

[Grizz1963]

Out of sync now.

Thanks to too many pics.

Remember the home made spring compressor?

One bit of advice is to have a long enough shaft to allow full decompression

The Ford has a cup/ridge to finally get over when you get to that point.







Second one was easier as I knew what to do.



Sure these look at least a coil to high?/



Another job I have been looking forward to for many months was to remove the mangled remains of the disc brake dust shield.

So I removed the hub and got that off too.

Discs are pretty rotten too.






And to finish on a happy note, this tome of year, with winter creeping in at a fair pace, the sunrises are again pretty.




Day job is also keeping me really busy every day with somewhat extended hours at the moment.

So progress is limited to quick early morning or late day spurts of activity.

.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks again to Tony @westbay and Cliff down at the local garage…….

Cliffs welcome at the garage reads thus:



Anyway, Tony had searched a variety of options for the brakes and posted them up.

Cliff, being an oldskool mechanic suggested I at least try dismantle and then see if I could rebuild the front callipers that look pretty far gone..



The rear drums, and probably shoes and hardware will need a load of attention too.



So I still need to try disassemble the brake callipers and see if I can get away with seals and nothing else for about £12.00 or if the next level around £40.00 including pistons will work.



Random item search, I have almost a full set 12/16 of these wheel nuts, a few are damaged and scratched badly.

I really want to use them on the steel wheelz I plan to use, hoping they are going to do the job correctly.

These are them.



Question is……….


What were they originally fitted to, in case someone knows, or does anyone have between 4-16 to sell that are in decent condition??

I am planning on knocking all the studs that are still left in the hubs, out and replacing them with longer items as the spacers and adapters will need a bit more stud to safely mount the wheels.

PM please if you have or know anything.

Thanks.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday I met my postman about a kilometre from home up on one of the farm roads.

He drove next to me while I was doing my exercise walk.

Told me he had delivered a parcel for me, through the letter slot in the front door.

International delivery he said.

I knew instantly what it was.

Vladimir, in Russia had told me in one of our Whatsapp chats that he had put a small parcel in the post for me.

So when I got home, the shape gave it away.

Russian License plate for my collection.

Even better, it falls into my preferred group of different, unusual etc as it is a temporary plate for moving vehicles from one city or region to another.

Thick laminated, and flexible so it can be tied on with string.



Also included, some working gloves for the garage, a Lenin Lapel badge for my weirdness cabinet, and then a necklace for Sally, so nice in this community that people feel the need to acknowledge the others in our builds.

Also in the parcel……..


A horse decoration form the 1800’s that Vladimir found while treasure hunting in a field.

Being a Horse decoration, this may possibly become the keyring for the Rezin Rockit.

Horsepower and all that.





Life is good.

[Grizz1963]

Popped into Kevins place today on the way home from getting a haircut.

His build is really getting on now.

Not bad for a retired well over 70 and never built a car, kinda guy.

He is so energised and excited right now.






Love these castings.

Still to be attached.





Then back to meeting 4/5 for the day.

My butt and back hurts.

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@westbay" source="/post/2702311/thread" timestamp="1634628750"]Going back to the brakes ...and while the wallet is open ! ... what state is the master cylinder in ?[/quote]


LOL…..

You and @pauly make a formidable spending team.



Other side.






Speaking of brakes, having seen the cost of rear brake drums at around £100.00 per pair, I will need to find out if anyone in the Medway are can stick them on a lathe and clean them up for me.

Happy to reuse them if the can be cleaned up.

So I took the remaining complete unit apart…..

Greasy.



Had thought that part of the brake lining was missing as the other side looked like this.

Nope, that is what the look like.







Was chatting with Tony @westbay earlier about the price of the drums.

Looked at the price of shoes……

Crazy.

£13.00 for 4 includes shipping.

How??




Hardware/fitting bits are more than the shoes.

Guess I need to order the shoes if I can find a machinist.

[Grizz1963]

DIY CITY……….

Having spoken to mate Darren last night to find out if there are any engineering shops I can use to get the existing drums skimmed, he suggested I come to his shop and put them on one of his lathes on Sunday and start by just cleaning them up as they could pe perfectly servicable under the rust and greasy residue shown.

So Sunday will be a bit of DIY and hopefully we get the drums recovered to full function.

Shoes for them are surprisingly cheap/affordable.

[Grizz1963]

Been to work this week.

Not dressing in the usual work from home clothes or my favourite garage outfits was a bit weird.

Days are getting shorter too, so finding pockets of time for the build or my 6km farm walks gets more difficult. Before breakfast, lunch time or between Zoom and teams meetings.




This was todays attempt at stealing time from myself.

Knotwheel of Truth @pauly (tm)



Oooohhhh…..







Then after the wire wheel, this was the result.

Needed more sanding.





Using the new Dewalt cordless tools felt good, justifying the purchase.



Finished.

Brake shoes can do the rest of the finishing.




Happy with the result so far.

Resuscitated

[Grizz1963]

I really wanted to paint the drums and Callipers ORANGE to go with the polybushes………

But patience being one of my absolute virtues, that has been wearing thin lately, I did not want to wait to find Orange, so ended up at three shops that all had Red, Black, Silver in VHT Paint.

So by the time I got to Aghabridge at the local industrial site I declined the colours they had, then as I had my hand on the door, I turned around and asked for a can on Simoniz VHT in Red.

I may still regret this move, but waiting for Ebay to deliver a can at £15.00 including the postage vs £9.00 for this can……. May be a false economy.

Lets see if I can live with it.

Blanked off the insides of the drums with my loyal CAD plugs.



Shiny wet paint.



And drying.



Once I order the front callipers, pads and shoulder bolts, they will get painted red as well to match.

I really hope it all goes together as I am currently only on Black and Orange, with the Red now added.





Stopping in at mate Kevins workshop yesterday

He was super excited as he had been given a pair of 60’s VW Beetle front indicators to use as rear indicators on the rear mudguards

They need some work as there is some rust under the chrome.

However, I also know that the older 50’s Beetles have smaller units that may look a bit nicer and daintier on the rear fenders.


Question is………….


Does anyone have decent, complete a set of the older units to sell or donate?

Please post or PM me.








Also rescued from Kevins bin, these flaring tools, said to be rubbish.

If anyone wants to collect them, free of charge, or pay postage, they are available as a joblot to any masochist out there.




Friday…….

Weekend soon.

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@grizz" source="/post/2702767/thread" timestamp="1634973674"][quote timestamp="1634972234" source="/post/2702766/thread" author="@kevins"]There are no seals they rely on the seals in the wheel bearings, to change these you need a slide hammer to get the shafts out and a press to get the bearing and retaining ring on, fortunately bearing kits are only around a tenner.

I'd do both if I were you.[/quote]Time to scrap this barsteward of a thing.

More tools I do not have. [/quote]


So it looks like I am way too committed to this thing.

Maybe I should be committed, or get on with it.

Just spent some more cash.

From the £49.50 per calliper, this is where that ended so far.

Brake lines and hardware will add to that of course.





I really dislike working with dirty parts, even if they are broken, non functional, or getting replaced.



As a bit of Zen searching last night when I realised that this thing has thrown me another curved ball, I thought wasting a bit of fresh petrol, maybe a liter in total, I would at least clean up the rear drums and their parts.



Result.



Next one.

Dry, no leaks, but it will have to be done while I do the other side.



And done.




I have decided to step away from the build for today, if I can get it right, and do the hedges and garden beds for the last time this season, hopefully.

Maybe cut the grass too.

Oh, and see Sally.

Nice day out.

[Grizz1963]

Another job that I will hopefully get to soon.

The floor was modified and repaired before I got the car.

I am wanting to reinforce, and possibly paint it once done, to match the rest of the fiberglass, to either white, or maybe mask it all and go black on just the floor.

A bit ugly right now.



Using some of this impressive fiber filled resin stuff, I filled all the little holes after prepping them and carefully countersinking those (2) I had not gone through completely.



Next step will be a careful rub back with a flat soft block.

So that the holes are filled and ready for whatever treatment I decide to give it.

Paint, wrap, stickers……. We still need to decide a route for final decoration.




DHL texted early this morning to say they were delivering the front callipers and hardware between 2.54Pm and 3.54pm

Looking forward to masking and painting them before fitting over the weekend.


I have next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off work, so will certainly be spending some time down at the garage.

Kettle is on if anyone wants to come help or hinder.

[Grizz1963]

Day job is really getting in the way right now.

And of course shorter days mean that by 6.00pm time is up.

Yesterday was a long, busy online day, loads more to do this week.

I have about 10-15 hrs of online training to do, 14 modules, each with a 10 question test at the end, and pass mark 90%

Still, Mickey knocked at about 4.30pm as I never even heard the couriers deliver despite being here.

Happy to say……..

We have parts.



And some of these.



Of course shiny and new is lovely.

But Red is better.

More later.

[Grizz1963]

So there I was doing my daily brisk 6km walk.

Coming back down the last 0.5km I pass two ladies walking an old Labrador, and a cross bred “Labradoodle” that has always been aggressive, goes for anyone that he sees or passes.
I always go down and greet him and make a fuss for a few moments, as I really love animals and want him to feel it as well.
Yesterday I was trying to set a new target time for the walk, so when Milo the dog went off barking and lunging at me as usual, I gave him a wide berth and kept left.
As I passed he lunged and bit me on the upper thigh, hard.
Thankfully he seems to have hit the rear pocket of my tracksuit pants.
I was livid, and wanted to destroy him immediately.
I went off at him, and clearly scared the living daylights out of his owner and the other lady, Labrador owner.
I was going to report it to the police in my anger, and pursue his destruction.
In the end I calmed down, and later one of my other neighbours popped around to hear what really happened, small village mentality.

What does one do in this situation?

The owners husband, interestingly has not come to see if I am OK, or apologise.



I was on training meetings till 4.30pm and after that I grabbed a coffee and went down to the garage to try finish painting the chassis that I had spent a part of my lunch break getting started earlier.



So got going again by 5.40 with the Hammerite.



By 18.10 it was pretty much dark, and I had turned on the garage lights earlier so that I could finish the painting on the upper side.

I also ran out of paint, perfectly when I finished the upper side.




Went to look this morning, not too bad a few spots to touch up where covering is not complete.



Weather is turning, so lets hope it dries nicely before I flip it over.

Then we are ready for partial reassembly.

[Grizz1963]

Mickey is heavy on tools.

Currently has my wheelbarrow and making sure it doed not come back as taken.

On the way home from getting milk and bread this morning I saw these thrown out down the road.

Knocked and asked if I could have them.

Home owner helped me load them.

Free cash again as I knew I would have been buying a new wheelbarrow soon.



Life keeps giving.

[Grizz1963]

Got the chassis flipped onto its side today.

It is not light, despite appearances.



Used the new paint I got this morning.

Done.

And I am happy with it so far.



Will get Mickey to help me lower it carefully tomorrow.

Slow, but progress is still progress.

[Grizz1963]

Courier rang my doorbell at 8.45 last night.






Guess we are in the braking game now.


Loads of little pinging springs to go everywhere.


Ohhhh……


Best part, I have three days off work.


Kettle is on.

[Grizz1963]

Spent a large chunk of time over at Unit Engineering in Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey yesterday recharging my manliness batteries.

Went to drop off the three remaining bags of blast media that I never used on the chassis, and tomspend time with mate Darren and some car guys.

Also went to convert the CAD pattern pieces into 6mm steel plate.





Darren just bought in a 2.5 meter bed folder.



Amazing how it folds the steel like it was some toilet paper.

https://youtu.be/eS7U8hZX_OM

Effortless.



Done.



I will trim the plate to fit both in length, width and height before welding it all together.



Triangulated gusset goes at the rear, against the chassis.



Total overkill, but hey….. it is what was there.

Suddenly windy and chilly today, 2 T-Shirts and a hoody weather now.

.

[Grizz1963]

Not much done over the weekend, really rubbish weather, rain etc but was busy, and also rested a bit which was nice.

Last night I thought I would sit in the lounge and assemble the front brake callipers while Sally watched her guilty pleasure “Gogglebox”

I can’t abide it and don’t get it.

Anyway, I ran into problems moments after starting.

One pad went straight in, the second one got gently stuck, and despite trying a few times, I decided to put it down as it was dark outside and the light indoors not ideal.

So the question is, do I file a minimal sliver off the edge of the backing plates that seem to stick, or am I missing a trick on the reassembly ?

I am not good at force. As @nickwheeler would attest to.



It has to be a simple solution, surely.

Looking at the original calliper again, I just realised that i never added the thin plates that fit behind the pads.

This may be the solution.

Along with possibly checking to see if the pistons want to go a bit deeper into the calliper.



Could it be this simple?

Will head down to the garage a bit later when it warms up.

After all, three days vacation means some real garage time.

[Grizz1963]

I was headed out to go buy a few bits needed for the work planned today.

Just as I was about to leave for town.

The doorbell rang, I was out back, and thought it was Mickey next door, shouting at him to come around back, it turned out he was actually on his rear patio too, so I went around and found a cool guest out front.

The one and only Nick Wheeler (I do have surname envy)

Perfect timing, had he arrived 10 minutes later I would have been down the road in the truck.

So we had coffee, cookies, chat and then made our way down to the garage and started to address the brakes.

First problem identified was that the back plates are cut by guillotine in the factory, and a small bit of filing back, saw them slip in as expected.



Nick had pre-emptively brought his brake pipe flaring tools and some pipe for us to give making pipes a go.



Man on a mission.



So Nick showed me how to make one pipe, and then it was my turn.

How I like to learn.

Despite having made up all the nines for the C10 a few years ago, this tool is different and pretty foolproof.





Then add the hardware (remember it all only goes on one way if you want it to work)



The tool even shows you Operation 1 and then 2 to do the different sides.



Of course if you overdo the pressure like me……

Oooopps.



Cut off and start again, thankfully I had cut the pipe a bit longer than needed.

Next job was to do a second brake hose mounting plate.

Where do you buy something that is not for sale out there?

Grab some plate, copy it, cut to shape with tin snips, drill holes, file nd tidy, fold tabs etc.





Then time for a break, made some lunch, and then headed down to

The local motor spares shop, got the 500mm brake hose identified, and ordered one for tomorrow. Followed by the industrial estate, bought some shoulder bolts to replace the ones I hd bought from Rally Design as the ones they sent were the wrong thread pitch.
Followed by a visit to Aghabridge for some brake line fittings, some of which, along with the shoulder bolts, Nick will be trimming back on his lathe at home before we can fit them.

Back at home we refitted the drivers side calliper and then the pads, plates, pins, springs and R-clips followed by brake pipes and hose.

Pretty chuffed at this point.



And once turned aside the refit went quick.



One more coffee, a discussion about wheel adapters, wheel nuts, studs and lowering and then @Nickwheeler left for his next appointment which he can tell about.

A great day, thanks to having help and brains on site.

[Grizz1963]

Todays first job, after having had a lovely holiday breakfast of two fried eggs between slices of toast will be getting into the rear of the garage and removing one strip light I know is fitted to the rear wall.

Once I remove half the C10 parts and load bed stacked in there.

Realised that it is pretty much dark by 5.00pm now and by Christmas it will be 3.30pm when play will be halted outside.

So fitting the strip lights this morning before heading out to go collect the brake hose ordered yesterday is my plan.

Remember when I had less clutter.

These lights actually never ended up working.




So hopefully by 11.00 the carport will have three strip lights up, if I can keep my shiit together and not get distracted

Day 2 of vacation. .

[Grizz1963]

Saturday night after finishing late again we went out to a pub for dinner.

Excellent all round.



Mixed grill was my choice and a sticky toffee pudding for desert.

Perfect.



Back at the guest house by 9.00 and bed before10.00

We were shattered from three days of nonstop work.

Sunday morning alarm clock was Dinky.

Looking for breakfast.



Out the AirB&B before 08.00 and back to Craigs for breakfast of toast and coffee.

I also wrote off my garden shoes and planted them in the tree.

Only to get a text from Craig later to say his daughter found them and objected to them.



Craig had wanted to show me the loft all weekend.

I kept declining.

On Sunday I went up.

What a bonus space.

Most will be converted to playing and relaxation space for his 9 year old daughter.





Oh and later more creepers removed from the walls.

This stuff will s beautiful but destructive.



We left by 10.00 in order to get home at a sensible time.

Stopped for a toilet and coffee break

Price of fuel is steep per liter.





Headed back up on Friday after work to belp get the stable block down on the ground.

I may be off the Rezin Rockit build for a bit.