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

[Grizz1963]

Hi all,

I have been on here a while, my 1966 C10 Fleetside is linked in the signature below.

My name is Rian and I moved to England in August 2002 from South Africa where I was born and grew up.

I like to tinker, and I love cars.


A lot right now will be COPY AND PASTE.

This is the story of........


A 1979 Chevy Blazer.

Rough as a Badgers Butt.

But would you buy it?

V8 Auto




Comments, opinions and suggestions welcome, feel free to add advice, and pointers, and if you know of spares etc...... let me know


Loooong story.

I took that photo in June 2016 when I saw it there while looking at a house with Nicola my ex wife and good friend before she left me.

I loved it then, but never went back, when I did it was gone.

Seller who had it now has been playing with it with his dad (seller is 50+) the last year or so, but had made its MOT (English yearly roadworthy test) test last year and is a driver. But only just.

It certainly is a 40 year old truck, but in the back of my head it could still be a donor for a body swap if all else failed.

All the “Dirtina” as a friend called it, is gone.

Paint is flat and ugly, rust repairs suck, and at least one large hole in the floor (which can be welded up again)

I am certain there will be lots more revealed over time.

Report

Yes, it was parked there for 13 years growing fungus and moss on its glass fibre rear half.



Waiting for insurance company guys to open up so I can speak with a human.



THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A PROJECT........




I ASKED AROUND ON SOME ENGLISH FORUMS AND GOT VARIOUS REPLIES.


MOSTLY SUPPORTIVE.

Friend Disasterbus (Kerry) said: Personally I don't need it, it's too wide for my drive so I've nowhere to park it, I already have too many cars, I don't have the cash to spare, I don't have the skills to weld it up, I can't afford to run it, it doesn't have 4 seats and it simply isn't practical.

So, following that rational review my decision would be.......

Hell yeah, get it bought, get it home and worry about everything else later!!



It will fit my drive, just.

I have loads of space to park it.

I am selling Prozac, so need a car.

I have cash to spare, banks are not making it worth my while.

I have a new welder.

I can’t afford to run it, or maybe I can.......

It has four seats, technically 5

The rear converts to flatbed truck, tailgate drops, rear roof comes off.




Where do I deliver it???



So, if I were to buy this car.....

It’s name has already been given by DarrenH on here.

Tippex.


Guess why?





Quick video around it.

CLICK LINK.

https://youtu.be/sLldCzEizgo





Yup, it is a big thing.



Driving force.

And yes, aircon has been removed. No concern to me.



So now you have a better idea of what I am looking at.

Love the electric rear glass, operated from dash or with key in tailgate.



I have been looking at another vehicle to replace Prozac.......

Absolutely no reason to escalate my private motoring costs at all but the itch is always there.

Now we know that I have the 1966 C10 Chevy truck in “kit form” in my garage, and it is patient and I will get to it, in my own time.

Yes, really.

When I am ready.


Mate Martin gave me a heads up on a 1979 Chevy K5 Blazer in 2wd form last week (Thanks Mate #sarcastic mode) which I then went to see on the way home Friday night and again for more than two hours on Saturday afternoon. I have no interest in 4x4 cars at all.

Turns out that I saw this car in June 2016 and still have a photo I took at the time as I really liked it then.
But of course life, death and taxes plus a divorce got in the way.

I also started a question thread here: which has generated a lot of comments and opinions, all valid of course and much appreciated as I am the KING OF DITHERERS when it comes to this sort of thing.

Below a quote from Disasterbus with my responses to his points.

[quote author="@disasterbus" source="/post/2450544/thread" timestamp="1538210550"]Personally I don't need it, it's too wide for my drive so I've nowhere to park it, I already have too many cars, I don't have the cash to spare, I don't have the skills to weld it up, I can't afford to run it, it doesn't have 4 seats and it simply isn't practical.

So, following that rational review my decision would be.......

Hell yeah, get it bought, get it home and worry about everything else later!!
[/quote]


It will fit my drive, just.

I have loads of space to park it.

I am selling Prozac, so need a car.

I have cash to spare, banks are not making it worth my while.

I have a new welder.

I can’t afford to run it, or maybe I can.......

It has four seats, technically you can fit 5 people.

The rear converts to flatbed truck, tailgate drops, rear roof comes off.


Where do I deliver it???



And no, it still was not enough motivation to get me to just randomly hand over cash. Even a half an hour on the phone to @kevfromwales had me thinking it’s a great idea. Yet I woke this morning wondering if this little Berlingo that has been running and performing faultlessly for 19 months as an adjunct to my company car Ford Focus for when dirty jobs needed doing, really needed to be replaced with a Big, Dirty, Nasty Fossil Fuel Guzzling Monster that would be costing me pretty much 10 times as much to run and own than the Berlingo.

Not the car in question, though it is American too.




Prozac stood in the background, truly Kicked to the Curb, looking on as I fawned over the bid smelly beast for hours.




Tailgate too drops, turning it into a cavernous skip on wheels.

Love the electric rear glass, operated from dash or with key in tailgate



Inside the rear bench can fold forward or be unbolted too.



Folded forward access via front passenger seat.



I spent about 30 minutes under it, and the only rust was this hole in the corner by the drivers footwell.

The rest of the underside is shockingly rustfree.

Fenders and hood, conversely are rough, rotten but absolutely functional.

This does not scare me. Couple of hours cutting, welding, undersealing and job done.





Where your wallet goes to get raped.

Current miles

[Grizz1963]

Well, it’s raining outside.

The Blazer has been bought and brought home, a name to be decided when it’s made me smile more.

Did a 10 mile motorway drive this afternoon. It is very comfy cruising at 70mph indicated with more oooommmfff left to do overtaking in the fast lane.

Thank you all for the input, motivation, goading and sensible logic arguments put forward the last 12 days that saw me inside and under it three times trying to make up my dithering mind.

Prozac passed its MOT today as well, so a good day in all, albeit with an empty wallet to show for it all.


So..........

How does it feel?

This thing is at least 4 inches wider than the C10, which I used to reverse down the side of the house in one uninterrupted, if tight run.
This thing I had to readjust four times to get down past the house.

It is huge. Believe me.

I went down to the garage 20 minutes ago, just to go look at it again, and to start it up, and to sit in it, looking around, feeling it.

Then I burst out laughing at myself.

After which I proceeded to climb into the rear, going between the front seats, like a kid would..... yes, it’s that big.

Then I sat in the rear fold down bench seat that is actually a three seater, with seat belts, and again started to chuckle.

I saw where the rain comes in between the body and the fibre glass rear canopy, this is a known flaw, even from the factory 40 years ago..... so I may address it some time.


I did realise there are a few little things that can, but do not have to be done to and for this truck to make it nicer. But nothing has to be done, except for driving it and enjoying it. That’s the plan, honestly.


HAPPY ???

ME ??

HELL YEAHHH !!!


After buying it and doing the paperwork, Lee the owner agreed to drive it over home for me, and have his dad pick him up, his dad lives 4 miles from me. He has some spare wheels, seats etc for it.

But no Towbar, he removed and tossed it recently, so I need to find one........


First gas stop and certainly will not be the last time.



I drove ahead and then pulled over and stopped at a roundabout as I wanted to get a nice in motion photo of the Blazer passing by.

Not perfect, but you get the idea.



QUICK VIDEO OF THE ARRIVAL

Thanks Lee.

CLICK LINK.

https://youtu.be/cuhMP80xs8Q


After he went, I then took the truck and reversed it down the tight drive alongside the house.

Parked up awaiting attention.





Thread to be started some time for those interested in following this one.

Later guys

[Grizz1963]

Few things......

Yesterday, Lee and his dad John came around by 12.00 to drop off the wheels and extra seats (originals) for the Blazer and also a dash mat, though the dash on this truck is unmarked and not cracked.

They were down at the garage for a while and we chatted cars.

John, who owned the Blazer and recommissioned it, told me about all the other stuff he had done to it over time, and reckons he could have as much as 200 hours into it. He certainly replaced quite a lot of stuff, that one does not always think of when recommissioning a car. And I am glad it’s all done already.

Just add fuel and drive.

Sounds a lot of time invested, but then you will see in a bit, what I got done over 4 hours late afternoon once I eventually made it to the garage for real, in fact I was busy for a minimum of 3 hours and have a bit of sheet metal to show for it.

A set of four alloys, which will be for sale, immediately as I like the steels on the truck.



Rear bench seat.......

Excellent condition. Getting stored for now.



Front seats, actually are the same height and in good, if grubby condition.

Weirdly, I still prefer the colour of the ones fitted to the truck.




Part of my time wasting in the morning was ironing 17 work shirts, doing laundry, cleaning house etc, a mans work is never done.

Then I pulled the Blazer forward from the garage and turned Prozac around and drove it head first into the property, I always reverse stuff down the side of the house.

And then a few pics, the left side of Prozac is lined up with the right side of the truck, just to show how much wider it is.



Yes, that is really how wide, though a bit of an optical illusion I guess.





By 2.00 pm Caleb who had looked after the cats came back from his two weeks in Europe, to collect his stuff as he had found a temporary job in London and a place near work to stay.

MY USA ROAD TRIP FOR 2018 REPORT: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...2018-humdinger

Once he had packed up and we had a coffee and catch up I took him to Rochester station in Prozac, for a guy claiming to live a gypsy life, he has a lot of stuff to carry. Van worked perfectly, again.

After dropping him off, I Reversed Prozac back and saw this in the mirror, made me smile.



By now it was 2.45 and I had a quick coffee and sandwich, then headed out to the garage to start looking at the “bit of rust” that I had seen and been shown when buying the Blazer.

I am under no illusions and was expecting more rust, randomly.

So there will be no surprises, rather pleasant discoveries of good sheet metal to work with and attach patches to.

Harley was looking on and I left the house.

Did she know something I did not??




More later on the closer inspection and smiles.

[Grizz1963]

Insomnia Sucks.

Waking at 04.00 on a weekend sucks.

Waking to this does not suck.

Insomnia sucks - YouTube

Garage time today.

[Grizz1963]

So on to the rust I knew would need to be addressed, not for MOT reasons, but rather for waterproofing and because I knew it was there.

So I undid the sill plate and removed that and folded the 40year old carpet and underfelt etc out the way after removing the door seal and rubbers.



Closer inspection showed that despite my expectations, it is another as bad as expected.

Clearly not a desert or new car.



Felt my butt being nudged and it was security cat wanting to inspect, Harley, she has always loved a new car and has to check them out.



Found some good fresh steel plate in the C10 cab, then washed the floor, scrapped and poked and actually hammered the rust before drawing music lines out where I felt the new metal needed to be let in.



Cut and measured the first replacement section.
Offered up.



Further cutting and shaping to get the angles and fill right.
Only good metal to good metal.



Edges on both sides of the patch panel cleaned up, ensures a much better went.



Then grind back the paint and rust on the floor in preparation for transferring the patch panel pattern.



Also some Vactan planned for the pock marked shallow damage.

Some welding and some rust converter planned here, worked well on the C10





Next up will be transfer of the pattern to the floor before cutting the rot out, followed by welding and primer.

[Grizz1963]

Sharpie in hand, time to trace the patch panel out.



While all this was going on, Security cat had decided to get comfy, on the job.



First welding job was to do then30mm upright for the side kick panel, they rust out in the bottom corner and you need to replace that steel too.

Easier to weld in some metal, than another fold, if your steel is not that wide.



Technically the outside, and awaiting weld through primer before it all gets welded in.



Inside



And in place.



I will probably only cut the floor and weld this in by next weekend.

Unless I get time, which is unlikely as it’s another week from a dark place.

Later.




[quote author="@shielsy68" source="/post/2452958/thread" timestamp="1539042120"][img src="http://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/shielsy68/b6b28177be48.jpg"]

i was bought a pair

[/quote]

[Grizz1963]

Some more ideas spinning around in my head.

Found this case last week Friday, thrown out on a sidewalk.

Yes, I don't know either but knew its potential purpose even before I bought the Blazer.





Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what its to become?

And at the opposite end of the spectrum, a pic sent to me by Disasterbus.

I do like it.

But not £100 k much.





Tail lights.........

Lexus style........

Just so bad.



Changes underfoot here too.

Bedtime.

[Grizz1963]

Well, funny how stuff works .

I was looking for a pair of original tail lights for the Blazer to replace the not so sexy anymore, Lexus style units fitted.

And then next thing I know, I am chatting to a guy called Martin, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire.....

He has this: 1975 Chevrolet Blazer. http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...evrolet-blazer

Which currently looks like this.....





Looks a bit like my floor.



Panels





But a lot more pain.

Life has got in the way over the last few years for Martin too.



Stepping back.....

It looks challenging.

But it will all get fixed, when it gets fixed.





In the mean time he has this to keep him busy.






Some may see it as a mountain too high, but I see this as motivation.

My Blazer seems to be in a better place.

[Grizz1963]

So last night I had an hour after getting home from work.

Primed the first patch panel and proceeded.



Then moved the truck so I could work on both sides.



Proceeded to cut.

No going back now.



And then we had opened a can of worms, or maybe not.



Despite what it looks like, 2/3 of this section has strong steel in it, and a large hammer and sharp screwdriver could destroy the structure more.



From the underside there are chalk marks, I missed them when inspecting the truck.

Not that it would have stopped me.



Conversely, the passenger side looked perfectly fine








At this point, the truck is still not as bad as expected and this rust is a day job

A couple more odd shaped patch panels, and we will be in business.

I am still,happy with my purchase

[Grizz1963]

Call it a confession if you want.

It’s more about recording stuff as the truck is right now.

I know many people will recoil in terror, but many (I do hope) will say, it’s not that bad at all.

I guess we all have different perceptions and opinions on the same things......

I bought it because I saw enough value in the sum of its parts and a fun car that will cripple you financially on fuel costs alone, were it a daily.

However, this is not a daily.

It’s a toy.


The fenders are available as replacement reproduction items, not cheap, but probably cheaper than patching up what is there.

So unless I find the cheapest of the cheap, in a set of ex-desert or dry state fenders to just bolt on, it is not even going to happen, till these do self destruct.

For now they are just fine.











The hood has rust in all the same places they rust, currently expertly covered in a very thick layer of filler, and Dulux home enamel paint, or something.



I had my friend Joy around last night and before showing her the truck, told her she best make all the right noises of approval or else there was no dinner for her.

She made all the right noises.

Next....!!

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@westbay" source="/post/2453528/thread" timestamp="1539244193"]You have a welder, you have the right approach and you have friends in America (for spares) ... Now what's the problem ! ...[/quote]

Thank you mate.

Agreed.

I think that for a 40 year old truck this is still very much a “good one”

Not sure why it lasted this long, but thankful regardless

At least less of a mess than this one.





Looking at various options to polish this turd

These graphics are the ones I seem to be drawn to.

Over the hood or over tbe roof.

Ideally not a colour change from the white it has now.

Of course its just toughts right now.

Starting with plain white on Smoothies.



Randomly different.



This style really works for me.









Of course I love this.









Really Really like everything about this van.










Lastly this.

Subtle. But maybe too subtle.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks to @littlepixel we have a quick photoshop of the truck.

Not entirely the way I want it, but lovely nonetheless.

Its as close as I could get to it right now with minimal cash spent.

Remember this is not a project.




I will certainly look at other colour combos too.

I have a hankering for brown wheels and some autumnal graphics on the white or a beige background.

Lets see what transpires.


Another one of those questions I do like to ask, in order to maximise my own responses and actions.

The sum of us all, is a lot cleverer than one of us.

So, yesterday evening I had the front end up on my low Snap-On 3 ton (I think) jack and saw the different looks available.

I was measuring up the front suspension for @PaulY as he said he may have something that could fit the front end, to replace the parts in there at the moment.

Pics to follow.

So the question was posed by a lawyer friend in St Louis, Missouri, yes the truck has eyes on it all over the globe it seems.
“Are you leaving it that low? “

I need to get it a lot more driveable, despite it actually being good as it is.

What height then?


Off-roader



School run



Gangsta




While crawling around under the truck, I noted the transmission was a TH400 as mentioned by the seller, seems that is a good thing.




So, on to the suspension, or what is needing the attention.

Amazing engineering tool an oxyacetylene torch can be.


Drivers side.





Passengers side.





Shocking shocks all round.






This needs to be addressed.

Soonish.

[Grizz1963]

Pthere you go...lol


Anyone interested in more of this Blazers evolution??

[Wikid61]

Bravo. I have a much rustier '81 2wd to revive. The coil springs can be replaced w/a pair of 3/4 ton w/one wrap cut off to net a 2" drop & firmer ride.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Wikid61

Bravo. I have a much rustier '81 2wd to revive. The coil springs can be replaced w/a pair of 3/4 ton w/one wrap cut off to net a 2" drop & firmer ride.

Thank you for the reply.

Do you have a thread on your 2WD?

Seems they are not that common in the USA

Ohhh, and I was in your backyard in September.


All too soon, we were in Amish country.











Street name, indicating county/State lines and motorway.







Another state.



Headed for Oskaloosa.

[Wikid61]

BLIMEY! Small world. I stop at an Amish owned store & purchase food every now & then. And this trip to Oskaloosa I was there last fall several trips to purchase (3) 455 Buick, (1) 500 Cadillac & (1) 472 Cadillac engines. The 472 is likely going into said '81 Blaze. No build thread yet. But have made purchases of gas tank & sending unit, front brake overhaul kit. As a well as a PST front suspension kit. It was OG black w/a Highland interior. Amazing that your travels lead you here.

[Wikid61]

1970 El Dorado 500 motor in the foreground. The floor boards are SWISS CHEESE in all but the trans tunnel.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Wikid61

BLIMEY! Small world. I stop at an Amish owned store & purchase food every now & then. And this trip to Oskaloosa I was there last fall several trips to purchase (3) 455 Buick, (1) 500 Cadillac & (1) 472 Cadillac engines. The 472 is likely going into said '81 Blaze. No build thread yet. But have made purchases of gas tank & sending unit, front brake overhaul kit. As a well as a PST front suspension kit. It was OG black w/a Highland interior. Amazing that your travels lead you here.

If you look at my road trip reports you will see that miles and geography does not stop me.

Been inside at Gas Monkey Garage for three hours visiting, managed to help for a day on a SEMA Truck (Boosted Bertha) and various other places I could only dream of.

This year I got invited to Kelderman Engineering in Oskaloosa, and also spent some time with my friend Ray and his wife Eve in Monroe, Iowa.


Looks like you have loads of good stuff stashed away though.

Over here everything is a battle and very costly to get.

Price you see, then add international shipping, taxes, and import duties on it all.

We pretty much work on double the price.

And to import a car over 40 years will cost an additional $3000.00 to get it on your driveway. Newer stuff is even more.

Originally Posted by Wikid61

1970 El Dorado 500 motor in the foreground. The floor boards are SWISS CHEESE in all but the trans tunnel.

Looks like you have space......

If I had more space here...ll

[Grizz1963]

Took a pic for Lee, my lawyer friend in St Louis last night while checking the trucks vitals, oil, water etc.....

Can you see what is wrong?



Just connecting the dots again.

Been looking at potential simple 80’s style graphics and at this point the winner seems to be this one.......

Who owned one of these in the Day???




Inspired.



Also this....




After work I walked down to the truck, as I seem to do every day.

Is this a good thing?

So I took a few pics of the paint.

For those who may be thinking it’s sacrilege to paint it or change things.

If you,look in the gas filler neck, it seems this was an orange truck in the past.


Anyway, welcome to 30 grit textured paint, it is right up ther with wood chip wall paper.



Fender




Roof





Side panel......

30 Grit anyone?






And lastly the hood.




So that concludes all the unpleasantlnes of this 40 year old survivor truck.

Still happy.


It is worth more than the sum of its parts.


Paint? Satin white with graphics??

[Grizz1963]

Well

Its not really a challenge.

The clever guys who can do this stuff have already done it. Repeatedly

I took two sets of pics earlier in the garden.

Suspension as it is now and one on the jack, raised to “Stock height”
Which is where I am headed.

I think for the moment, this is where I am headed.



Based on this.



I like the simplicity and chunkyness of this design.


However


The front and rear start and end may need to be on the samelevel or completely different.

I still like the idea of some simple bonnet action, subtle and either connected to the sides or seperate, in a U shape or L shape accentuating the slight raised area.
The tailgate also can do with a symmetric or asymmetric design.

I like the rear canopy black with shaded side glass, but also wonder if it can look good in white as it is now.


So below are a few pics to work with if you are interested in habing a go.

Thank you all for helping.


Low and “broken” as it is now.



Difference between now and future wheel arch height.

“Broken”



“Fixed”





Raised slightly as it will be once I get done.




Rear 3/4 view for the adventurous.




Tailgate.

Glass can be blacked out too.





I await your replies.

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@colonelsponsz" source="/post/2454130/thread" timestamp="1539436592"]I've mucked about with @littlepixel's original....the front fender is all wrong on this rough mock-up but there's a way of getting the ribbon to run over the shoulder and onto and across the hood - it might mean taking the upright onto the hood about midway over the wheelarch?

[img src="http://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/colonelsponsz/535055599c61.jpg"]

[img src="http://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/colonelsponsz/9499e5ec05de.jpg"]

[/quote]


Quick bit of randomness.

The last few weeks at work have been hectic.

Culminating on Friday in a marathon training, plractical and learning session. I was up at 04.00 because this sort of thing stresses and kills my head.

Headed to Cobham for the day by 07.00 and finished there at 5.45pm

All in all, it seems the boss and our trainers are still happy to let me loose amongst our customers in London and outskirts.


On the way back I stopped in at Craig and his family, Lorraine was doing steaks and desert, what’s not to like.

When I got there, she had just got home from scouts with their daughter and Kyle, their awesome son (I rarely like teenagers) was in the garage, painting up a a contraption Craig had designed and built to change the way the dogs access the house in winter.



While I was there, Craig worked on getting my 5500 photos from my old mobile and the 2500 onnthe new one into a saved file and will then try create a new super file for my iPhone

I left their place at about 9.30 and headed home, before I left, I noticed their daughters Halloween protector was outside her bedroom door.



Weirdly, also on the agenda last night was a chat with Mr Tiki whom I had not chatted with for a few weeks.

He was having some family time too.

Love the angle grinder inspired brazier





Back to the Chevy Blazer.


The playing with designs continues and a few more came through, I do like bits from ever one I see.

Do note, the rear glass has been shortened.





This was the surprise, and I also like the subtle reference to the year of manufacture



Yesterday, like most weekends, I had a load of other stuff to do.

One of the jobs was to cut back the access to the garage by another two wheel bins worth.

Now you can drive up and down that part without hugging the hedge in order to avoid the trees branches that overhanged the drive.

Less camouflage but more easy access.




It’s 04.00now, but been chatting to,Dennis since 03.00

He went to a car and Hotrod show and sent me loads of great pics.

I will only put this one up and say that he said it was a blast.

[Grizz1963]

Awake since 03.00

Insomnia sucks.

But 90 minutes later I just remembered that I did this short walk around for a certain friend in the USA who,asked about the motor in the truck.

CLICK LINK

https://youtu.be/rkdj0tMFBEM


Back to yesterday.

Once I had done all the yard and house work, it was time to take some photos of the truck formthe photoshop challenge of creating some designs to possibly use on it when the mechanical side meets my expectations.

http://forum.retro-rides.org/threads/recent/206591

Thank goodness for my Snap On low level jack, bought used years ago for £25.00 or $30.00 it certainly makes life a lot easier.

Up she goes. Or is it a he??



Made safe-ish.



I knew what was there.

Just not how much of it there was.

The rust is really weird, it seems to attack some parts and leaves others completely untouched.

Some hammer, chisel, and screwdriver action helped me find the starting points.



Flap wheel action.



When I had cleaned up the whole inside panel at the expense of one 40 grit flap wheel to tear off the thick layers of underseal, and a scotch wheel on my cordless drill on the lower spot welded seam, it became apparent that these inside panels were only spot welded every few inches, with drainage incorporated.
So I decided to remove the majority of the 900mm by 90mm strip, but to leave enough of the strong material to plug weld my repair and then randomly “spot weld” along the top and bottom of the patch, in order to allow drainage as before out of the sill area.
Before that I wire brushed the inside, applied Vactan rust converter and used one of my hot air guns to speed up the drying process before welding in the patch.

At this point it was 4.30 and progress had been much slower than planned, but of course I had all the yard work and a run to the gas station with four jerry to show. I had no idea how much gas was in the truck when Lee the seller delivered it for me, as he had told me he drove it basically between £10.00 to £20.00 fills, and never filled it up unnecessarily

Only the rear primered with the Weld through stuff as the front would get worked a bit after my ****tty welds, upside down with a large mask in that space had me swearing a lot, a really big lot of swearing, including blasphemy, which I never do.

Once prepped and ready, Mr Welder came out to play.





Bit of grinding will be needed to just top the welds and then primer, seam sealer at the top and finally some fresh underbody seal.



Mickey had come around earlier when I was cutting the trees back and had asked if I would let him insure Prozac for both of us and then we could share it, I had to be really nice to tell him no, not happening.
Not sure he understood.

He came around later around 5.30 to check up on progress and was impressed with the welded in plate.

He even took a pic of me crawling about.



At this point I was about to start on the outrigger patch panel that has aspects in all sorts of directions.

I had got some thicker steel from Craig on Friday evening that was going to be just right for the patch panel there.

More bending, hammering, cutting and swearing plus a bit of head scratching coming.

[Grizz1963]

So much for more sleep, got another hour in.

Got up to feed Harleyat 07.00, who was asking since 05.00 to be fed, only to then lick the gravy off the wet food and walk away in disgust. Cats.

Was planning on getting the underside of the truck finished today before heading out.

Rain had different plans by 07.30 so it’s on hold for the moment.



Back to last night before I shut shop to get ready for my “Meals on Wheels” from Joy.

Craig had given me some nice thick folded steel plate, part of a high end gas BBQ construction that I had eyeballed on his pile of stock.

It’s the same gauge as the outrigger, so would be just fine, if I could incorporate some of the bends.




So in with Sharpie under the truck, some cardboard and scissors, lay out, mark out, cut out and transfer onto the metal.

Leaving me with a stightly oversized panel to trim back and fit once I cut away what is left of the outrigger.

Folding vise.



Once you copied the template, cutting and folding goes easy.



Happy??

Yes, very happy.



Because the outrigger is angled in some planes, it looks cockeyed, but is meant to be so.

I need to just infill the little gusset piece before offering it up a last time and cleaning off the metal, getting primer on the hidden side and adding the Vactan rust converter stuff that I still don’t know if it makes any real different, but I am happy to just add into the mix to the insides of the outrigger where I can reach.

Amazing how long it takes to do every piece.



Seems not too bad........





Now if the rain would just go away and let me get this little job done.


Later guys.

[Grizz1963]

I gotta hand it to you all.


This truck is bringing my head and enjoyment back to where I can recognise it as a positive influence.

After work.



Before shower last night.



This morning it was raining, so I could not get out in a hurry to get the non structural outrigger cut and welded in.


Prepared




I also had to get to take some stuff including a bunch of numberplates from various people including Andy in Oklahoma, down to Faversham fo Neil who had helped me buy my welder from Rallyart before.

I have to make up some new inner panels for the rear of the truck as they are missing too.

Amazingly, 6 foot long and 2 foot high.

I had contacted my regular carpet guy, Shane, to see if he had any useable offcuts to cover the panels and also a spare piece of 6x6 foot carpet for the rear floor.



Got to Neil’s place and we exchanged gifts, he had made me a California black plate wall clock.

Thank you mate.



He also gave me a bunch of registration plates for my collection.

The small,Belgian plate will,head out to Moscow, Missouri for Dave to put in his restaurant.



Also from Neil.

Love this small set.



Then we went out to his garage to look at his Valiant, a lovely car, awaiting its engine transplant.

And he offered me some red, very RED show carpet, thin, lightweight and perfect for the use I had in mind.

Thanks mate, perfect.

[Irish1941]

I meant to give you this link a while ago.
https://www.us-army-military-shop.de.../K30:::68.html Most of their stuff is GM but some is reproduction so watch what you are ordering.
They might have some of the odds and ends you need.
As for the interior panels, I might be able to help you out. I made some up for myself and members here & could maybe do some kind of blueprint for you.