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

[Grizz1963]

Today I had to go buy a new suit for work, as the ones sat in the dark wardrobe over the last 14 months seem to have shrunk quite a bit.

As have all my shirts.

Truth be told, I just got fat.

Painful price of food and lack of regular exercise pleasure, £170.00 for a neat suit.

I also popped into a card shop next door and got `Sally a card and a little dingly-dangly Unicorn plaque she would like.

So I went to drop it off at her place as a surprise.

When I came out, one of Sally’s neighbours was tossing a load of stuff into a skip/dumpster.........

So I walked over to take a look.

Result.







Came home, put the batteries on charge.

It all works.



Some idea of what the reciprocating saws cost.




Later I went up to speak to the neighbour who the wood came from.

He had a pile of granite coping or paving stones.

Next thing he came and delivered them

Perfect for when I redo the garden and driveway.




Free money really is good fun.

[Grizz1963]

Sunset was rather nice after scoring all that junk$$$



A £3.00 bootfair photo of Dungeoness got lit artistically as well,



Yesterday I did get lucky.

And then got lucky again.

Had to go to the GP to see a specialist nurse this morning.

Decided to revisit the skip on the way home.

Yup......

Long aluminium ladder in the skip. Door Knocked and checked.

Yes, take it. Surplus to requirements.



While looking, just over the edge at the top layer in the skip I pulled a nice piece of ply, to beused for the raised sandpit for Harry, Sallys grandson as a part of the lid/cover. Again, I don’t need to go buy a sheet of ply.




I also found a metal garden leaf rake, unused, for Sally and brand new, unused Samsung Sound Bar and Sub Woofer for the telly. If it works as we had rain last night, great stuff as I do not have one. Could never justify buying one tbh. Hopefully I can figure how to mount it.





I would love to know the value of the stuff pulled out.

Free cash for sure is good.

[Grizz1963]

Ordered some new plates for the truck, new number.

Wanted “Show plates”

Soooo P!$$€d

My request.

Note to seller
Hi there As previously discussed by email. Can I order these “Show Plates” with the following number on it and in the following format.
1. Using a legal Motorcycle font
2. Pushing the digits together to form one unit or “word”.
3 Placed on the top line or centre of the plate if possible
4. Black border around if that is part of your price.
Plate to read GRZ733
Please contact me if any issue with making this plate.
Thank you very much Rian.

I suspect the reply will be that they only do legal and that I should have read their conditions.


To all the twitchers, jobsworths, officers and the rest..... Thank you.




Later another knock on the front door and my favourite courier handed me a shoe box sized parcel, not expecting anything.

Custims declaration, and then reading the detail.... origin Ireland.

Sender @quackrack1 or Alan as we know him, had sent a parcel to me, most of the contents aimed and for @craigrk who is a serious Coca Cola collector.

I do love this community.








And for me.........

Rezin Rockit lookalike and a bottle of home made jam. PERFECT.





After the wrong license plate issue, I decided to order a set of American style “Show Plates” from a UK based company, rather than going the usual States Plates route in France. Brexit may see their prices rise even more.

The special offer on a pair of plates saw me paying £30.00 for the plates.

I ordered from their Facebook page, known as Europl8 but website as per pic below is www.pressedplate.com

Amazing real time communication, establishing my needs and offering the make changes if needed.

Owners car outside his new industrial unit.



Once that was done, a quick coffee and then down to the garage, I have felt the withdrawal recently.

So I carried items one at a time, piled upright and ready to use.

Mate Kevin had dropped a bunch wood recently, to use as firewood or in some build.

Sally asked me to build a small, raised sandpit for her 2.5 year old grandson, Harry to play in with his diggers and motorbikes (he is motorbike mad, and I keep looking for a cheap 50cc quad or offroad type bike for him as he will outgrow it so fast)



Sally came just as I was about to assemble the basic frame, so I gave her the power drill to screw the screws in, as my back was getting to grumble, and the screws were all halfway in.

She squealed and then just got on with it, with me just guiding her and and adding some weight to the powered drill screwdriver

Floor will go in today when the rain stops, and I will make a removable lid, I contemplated a hinged cover, but removable lid makes more sense.



Slow day, slow weekend, bootfair tomorrow.


.

[Grizz1963]

.

DVLA (DMV in the USA) has never disappointed or even peeed me off.

Yesterday that changed.

When I bought the private plate for the truck, the system stated to wait till the V750 paper copy came , and to then change it online, fit new number plates and inform insurance, toll gates etc.

So Friday I changed the number at the insurance company, and proceeded to try do it online....... nope.....this was the system response.



It seems there could be a specific meaning to the letter B in the box, as it asks for that specifically



So in the end after two tries, I went onto the online chat.

Ultimately, the not so chatty operative on the other side of the screen told me I should not have informed the insurance before completing the online changes.

Ohhh, but it declined me, then he replied that I need to do the processing via Royal Mail and send in the completed V5c and V750

So I ask you, What the Actual F@&£ ?


I am amazed, so they send you a document and then you need to send it back.

This efficient system so far, since buying the plate on 24 April, will now take another 2 to 4 weeks to process before I can actually use it.

I am both amazed and really pi$$£d all at the same time.

In my opinion the DVLA has certainly dropped the ball on this one.



After all that, Sally and I went to the garage to carry on with the raised sand pit for Harry.

Not too big, nd raised so that grown ups can join in, but as it will be on the patio, the lid will serve as a cover to keep local cats out and as a table top to use it when she is out there in the sun.


Frame for lid.





Floor in ally plate.












Bootfair today was hard work, my back really was not happy, and halfway through I walked back to the car with the stuff I had bought and actually sat in the car for about 7 minutes to wait for the sciatica or whatever, to release and then did the rest of the field.

Photo lies, it was really busy.



Short video below for the Americans.

CLICK LINK.

https://youtu.be/FZq85ycbm6I

I only made two purchases.

A bag full of used and new pan]t and papering brushes for £5.00

I know what some peoples first and second responses are..

The used large ones are actually cleaned very well and I checked them all.

Secondly, for me to pack away tools and work, close shop, and drive between 5 and 16 kilometres (3 to 10 miles) in my car, for even one brush, would actually cost me more than the £5.00 paid for the lot, and once I have used the brush, it would look the same after I washed and cleaned it.

And then 4 rolls of Ducktape for £7.00 the seller actually gave me £4.00 in change back but the honest guy in me (he is a real idiot) told the seller and gave a £1.00 back.

Again, cheap enough and my last roll is almost finished.





Next up, I am off to the garage to use one of my new brushes to paint the first coat on the sandpit/table.

Weather looks OK today.

[LT7A]

Aha, now I am understanding your post from weeks ago about the number plates. I asked about it and you said you didn't understand my question. Our license plates are manufactured by the State in which we live (now geographical, not mental or otherwise :) We can't get them from private manufacturers. So there are not multiple websites or options for us.

Glad for your recent acquisitions at no cost. It is amazing what people will simply throw out. My neighbor, good guy, smart guy, was telling me they were having some stuff picked up to be hauled off as junk. Offhand, I asked what kind of stuff. Books and a bunch of other things he said. I said I'm an avid reader so he said to come take a look. Oh my, I took three handtruck loads to my house including about 35 books, some excellent quality automotive speakers and this! An ancient engine tuner. Even if I didn't want the scope, the metal cabinet on wheels is so cool. I'm still kicking myself for the stuff I didn't take.

Sorry, tried three times to get my photos to cooperate. You get the idea.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Aha, now I am understanding your post from weeks ago about the number plates. I asked about it and you said you didn't understand my question. Our license plates are manufactured by the State in which we live (now geographical, not mental or otherwise We can't get them from private manufacturers. So there are not multiple websites or options for us.

Glad for your recent acquisitions at no cost. It is amazing what people will simply throw out. My neighbor, good guy, smart guy, was telling me they were having some stuff picked up to be hauled off as junk. Offhand, I asked what kind of stuff. Books and a bunch of other things he said. I said I'm an avid reader so he said to come take a look. Oh my, I took three handtruck loads to my house including about 35 books, some excellent quality automotive speakers and this! An ancient engine tuner. Even if I didn't want the scope, the metal cabinet on wheels is so cool. I'm still kicking myself for the stuff I didn't take.

Sorry, tried three times to get my photos to cooperate. You get the idea.

Love that machine.

Ohhhh I know the pain of regret at not collecting more of items.

Hence my wood pile size.


Number plates and ownership and allocation in this country is a major pain.

[Grizz1963]

After the bootfair I carried on with the small sandpit.

Painting the inside gloss enamel black to just help protect the wood really.
Once Harry outgrows it, Sally can turn it into a herb garden or something.



Some lively green on the inside and underside of the lid.



And some spare beige on the reat outside.




Last year my £20.00 bootfair bargain table saw eventually burned out in a spectacular puff of smelly electrical smoke.

Since then I kept an eye open for another close or up to 30 miles away.

Most were tired and missing parts, like the fence.

As time went by, I realised it is just luck to find a cheap, good one.

So at this point my budget had moved up to £100.00 which is still well below retail for a midrange, semi-professional machine.

Yesterday this came up.





So agreed to buy it at the advertised price of £100.00 after asking if a cheeky offer would be considdered.

Drove over in the truck.

And spent an hour with the seller.

Incredibly nice guy.

Owns an older Ford Thunderbird with big block motor and straight pipes and a pair of Cherry Bombs, and loves American cars.

Told me a very sad story that is a warning to us all.

He lost his 42 year old son in March.

Short story: car up on scissor jack, he crawled in underneath to fix something. Jack collapsed and he died of a traumatic brain injury.

So he is winding down his construction business

Moral of the story. BE SAFE OUT THERE ALL.

Saw is immaculate. .



Came home, unloaded saw with help.

Tyre tread looking funky with name on tread.





Did more stuff later.

[Grizz1963]

Just a quicky.

I suspect there will be some who feel that this is an attack on them, but if it is, Then £80.00 says it is not.

Told to check these guys out, I did.

I am surprised.



So it looks like a quick road trip up North over the weekend in the Focus.

I have set the optimistic target at £80.00 plus my time and a flask of coffee and some biccies from home to recover these mini motos on my own as Sally declined a romantic drive with me.

Just need to see if she is working on Sunday.

[Grizz1963]

I received a load of GMC Sonoma spares from Steve who sold me the alloy wheels after Craig collected them for me.

Started to unpack them.

Some will fit my truck, but some are specific to the GMC and will go to worthy GMC owners when genuinely needed to repair other trucks.

Firstly a bunch of plastics, dash bezel surround, radiator cowl plastics.

Packed away



Two sets of GMC headlights.



Half a box to unpack still, another days job.



Found a treasure in the box.

Not sure how complete t is, and wha else it needs, but perfect for the truck if I can make it work.

Parrot mobile phone box.





Job for another day.

[Grizz1963]

So yesterday was a significantly irritating and stressful day at work, and I actually spent most of the day on the desk, so walked away a few times.

Cutting some wood and creating a 120mm step and a name tag for Harry.

Also added some colour to the sandbox top, by accident.






Today was take 2 or a groundhog day.

Thankfully the Hermes courier broke the monotony of the desk bound stress, listening to, shall I say b0llox on Teams.

And my new, American style, pressed steel plates arrived from Europl8 on Facebook.

He also sent a couple of car, air fresheners and a couple of options to complete the look.

The truck was built and sold in Missouri in 2001, so I could add the names or leave it plain.

I also had the digits offset a bit to the right, in order to be able to add a pair of Stars n Stripes stickers or enamel badges to them.


Really pleased.







And of course, just a quick measure up.





Now just to wait for the DVLA to switch the plates about.


.

[Grizz1963]

As some of you know, I collect and trade license plates.

Some of your plates are on display or awaiting mounting.

Every now and then though an offer to trade some of my more valued (even gifted of collected from your scrap pile) plates.

This week these were offfered for a slightly tougher trade.

I certainly wanted Michigan plates.

And I wanted specialist plates.

So I needed to rummage through my collection of motorbike plates.

To find some old and new. From the UK and South Africa.

I really wish I had a modern UK plate as well for the collector, Mr Pink.

His offer.



I kinda put these together knowing they came from friends and scavenging but I would say its a very fair and balanced trade.



In the mean time.

These guys await collection.





Soon.

[Grizz1963]

Right.

It seems that there are quiet people, and then really quiet people.

Imagine registering in 2011 on a forum, and doing a total of 20 posts in 10 years, including a couple of owners threads. Thats a quiet person,

Then there are others, much more recently registered, and higher post counts, and looking back at histories of chat, clearly some clashes. ‘Nuff said.

So imagine my surprise after posting up that I had bought the two little Mini Motos 250 miles away and was looking for alternatives to getting them back to Kent when a message came through from someone asking about them. I replied to him by PM and gave my number, asking to be contacted...... still not heard from him. Not impressed.

Then the next day, a message from a very Quiet guy @pegasus stating that he could possibly help, and if it was of value, to contact him by mobile, signed with his real name.

So I contacted him, half an hours chat and a plan agreed.

Introduced him to the seller and let them arrange the collection, rather than getting in the way.

Plan was that Matt collected from Phil, then keep the bikes in his van, till he and I can meet up

He works the corridor that includes Leeds up North and runs down to Leicester and Birmingham

I will take a day leave and drive the 165 miles or 260km up to meet Matt, possibly for a coffee and the bikes, then head back down South.

So after the collection yesterday, Phil the seller sent me a pic, just a teaser.



Happy me.

This morning, chatting by text with Matt I took a quick pic of the truck.




Later he reciprocated with a welcome deluge of low down pics.

And a name for the one bike, as always, these things happen randomly.









Kiss my what ?



Named as Easy Rider.







So there you have a it.


I am looking forward to seeing Harrys little face when he gets his bike.


.

[Grizz1963]

When I used to work a larger area up to Oxford, Cambridge an across to Essex and down to Southampton and Bournemouth, I constantly moved stuff around for people.
Hitting the Buy it Now button on EBay was easy as I knew I would be there again within a week.

So when I got contacted by @pegasus it was almost like Dejavu speaking to myself years ago.

Talking to him it became apparent that he certainly is a car and bike guy.

Having built himself a wicked Nissan Skyline and various other cars over the years.

He lives near Leyland in Lancashire, definetly don’t state Blackpool like what I did initially. But what do I know ehhh?

Current bikes include the following.
98 Honda VTR
98 XV1600 Custom Chopper
02 Ducati 900SS

@pegasus Matt is currently on the lookout for a good 1968 to 1972 VW Beetle and @disasterbus and @jabbo could have a lead.


Looking forward to meeting a like minded guy in the next two weeks.

[Grizz1963]

Remember the driveway needing to be straightened?

Well, so does the side grden, as it is taking up too much space and scratches are not attractive.

So climbed in, albeit slowly and cautiously, and cur back the side hedge and then the shrubs I want to keep.





Maybe not that hard to believe, but a whole wheelie bin there.



Mickey had removed the picker]t fence from his fish pond as he had to redo it all, and offered them to me.

There is a lot more to make the next week or so.

Using some of the wood rescued from the neighbours fire wood pile.







Also on Saturday, I removed the license plates from the truck, in order to replicate the placement of the holes on the new plates.

Looks like a lot of plates.



Sunday was wet and miserable.

So eventually at 1.30 we went out in the truck to some shops.

Sally needed paint for her home and I needed a study table for the new lodger, expected on Friday.

Electrical engineer.


One more thing.......

We went back to the truck twice, once to drop some shopping off behind the seat, and once to leave, obviously.

And both times I just grinned madly at the fortune of having this truck.

I do love it.

[Grizz1963]

Doorbell rings, look out front window to see a large panelvan on the sidewalk, and a hug box leaned up against the porch.

Go downstairs, open door, yup, large box.

Sign for box, drag it through to back yard.

Opens box.





New lodger lands on Friday from Guernsey, Channel Isles.

His transport for 6 miles to work till he finds somewhere closer. Yup, you heard my thoughts.

Lets hope he stays a while longer.


Over to Sally’s to fill her crack, in the upstairs ceiling.

And thought its time to take a pic of another loser.

Parked here for years.



Dinner soon.

.

[68Timber]

I didn't know MG was still in business. Intervention?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

I didn't know MG was still in business. Intervention?

All sorts of interventions


Brand got sold to the Chinese a few years ago.


Go check it out one Google , badge engineered Chinese cars.


Would I buy one? Nope


Would I drive one, rather than walk..... of course.

[Grizz1963]

.

So this morning early I decided to quickly cut the broken ends off wood that Sally and I denailed yesterday. As I wanted them ready for the weekend to make more picket fencing.

Dragged my new to me Delta saw out on the drive and then proceeded to top n tail the wood.



Last bit that need cleaning up.



Long lengths sorted.



Short cut bits sorted.



I carried the saw back into the garage. It was neither that heavy or awkward but clearly my back did not agree because by the time I got inside the house my back was objecting. A lot.

Thankfully I had an appointment at the osteopath today. She usuually hurts but helps.


While I was at the Osteopath today my phone (on silent) went mad. Twice.

Once done I looked and missed calls from @glenanderson and @pauly
So I called Gen and it turned out he was reversed up my drive and rummaging for timber, of course there is a load of it.

He was picking up the super heavy complessor that came from @craigrk in Leatherhead for Paul and some V8 parts, tools and my digital torque wrench, along with a heavy duty rubber mat for the load bed in Woody his C10 truck he is building currently.

Glen will be headed cross country to pick up and deliver Land Rover parts and a rear diff that will end up in Bexley. So quite a trip.

My back was absolutely knackered from the osteopath and hurting it this morning so Glen managed to load everything alone.



And ready to rock n roll.



Next stop Essex at Chez “y”

[LT7A]

Dang, sorry about your back. I'm glad that you continue to keep doing what you can and seeing your Osteo. I liked what you said about coming back to your truck and being so happy each time. Not everybody gets that. I kind of feel sorry for people that don't occasionally turn around and look at their car after parking it. I know that this thread is for you to show your stuff, but I snagged something from the curbside that I think you would appreciate. I was visiting a buddy and his neighborhood was doing a garage sale for anyone who wanted to. And others just put free items out by the curb (kerb?). I would have grabbed it regardless, but was particularly pleased to see the US stamped on it. I don't know which era it is from.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Dang, sorry about your back. I'm glad that you continue to keep doing what you can and seeing your Osteo. I liked what you said about coming back to your truck and being so happy each time. Not everybody gets that. I kind of feel sorry for people that don't occasionally turn around and look at their car after parking it. I know that this thread is for you to show your stuff, but I snagged something from the curbside that I think you would appreciate. I was visiting a buddy and his neighborhood was doing a garage sale for anyone who wanted to. And others just put free items out by the curb (kerb?). I would have grabbed it regardless, but was particularly pleased to see the US stamped on it. I don't know which era it is from.

Thats a lovely thing.

I have a couple of new ones in the garage, but know which I prefer.

That “logo” looks like a C , wonder if it is of any value in understanding where it is from.

I have probably been slowed by 85% with this back beating me up.

But it is improving slowly.

I have a taxed company car that I can use 24/7 yet the truck gets used as much as possible.

[Grizz1963]

He managed to evade all systems and slip into Essex and beyond.

First stop was at @pauly towers to drop off some stuff and pick up some tools for me.



And then he was off again.....



As always, good to see stuff going where it needs to go. (Off my site)


Today I only have about 2 hrs as other priorities have taken the rest of the day, as well as tomorrow.

So is it a bit of hedge trimming, or make some space in the garage?

Rain seems intent on making is a bit indoorsy.

[Grizz1963]

.

MINI MOTO ROAD TRIPPISH THING, PONY EXPRESS........ THURSDAY.


Just confirmed.


I am leaving home (Rochester, Kent) at 06.00 sharp on Thursday morning to go up to meet @pegasus at the National Motorcycle Museum at B92 0EJ at 09.00 sharp (traffic****ery excluded) to collect the mini motos. I also am collecting a bunch of bulky stuff in Essex on the way back, so space is limited.

So space available for a human or cargo on the way up,( Ford Focus wagon that cannot be abused) between these points, and in the time frame only, if anyone needs to move stuff.

PM to make contact.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Thats a lovely thing.

I have a couple of new ones in the garage, but know which I prefer.

That “logo” looks like a C , wonder if it is of any value in understanding where it is from.

I have probably been slowed by 85% with this back beating me up.

But it is improving slowly.

I have a taxed company car that I can use 24/7 yet the truck gets used as much as possible.

Thank you. You can probably go ahead and be happy with the ones you have, mine is dented in enough that it probably has lost half a gallon of capacity or so, haha. I did some digging, and it was stamped USMC on the bottom and manufactured in 1978. that means it's vintage if you put it on ebay, haha.

I'm always surprised at the amount of comings and goings at your place. You are quite the clearinghouse for tools, parts, and projects.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Thank you. You can probably go ahead and be happy with the ones you have, mine is dented in enough that it probably has lost half a gallon of capacity or so, haha. I did some digging, and it was stamped USMC on the bottom and manufactured in 1978. that means it's vintage if you put it on ebay, haha.

I'm always surprised at the amount of comings and goings at your place. You are quite the clearinghouse for tools, parts, and projects.

I still like your Jerry Can.


I guess that my part in moving stuff is just who I am.

Too many people just cannot be bothered, and I am different.

And If I can help, why not.



Quick update for those interested in randomness.

Sandpit for Sallys grandson headed out.



New lodger, so have two now.

Both are day to day/week to week lodgers as they have differing situations.

One is sorting some stuff out.

The new one, since Friday is an electrical contract manager, but he works 6.5 miles or 11km from here, so is looking for a place to stay, closer to work, and alternately, a job in Vietnam, where his wife and family live, or in Saudi Arabia where contracts are much more lucrative.

He was a bit nervous about leaving his expensive bike unsecured here.

So I created an anchor for him.





On Saturday afternoon Sally and I visited friends for a birthday BBQ/Braai South African style.

No Vegans were hurt or eaten.

Steak



Beef sausage, ribs



Ribs ?



All of it.



An amazing day, which included live music and great company.

While I was there, I bought myself some biltong from “Biltong Cottage” which is their Facebook online business.

Today I could not stop myself.




So a good weekend.


I was also looking out for an Extang Blackmax tonneau cover for the S10 but it seems they have been discontinued.


What a pity.

[Grizz1963]

Dennis in St Louis has been building this 1966 C10 on. Modern NASCAR chassis for a while.

However, he is now hitting it hard, in order to get out and drive it.

The weekend he went out and drove to Mittler Brothers factory.

He was very good friends with the late Mike Mittler and did the bodywork for their racing trucks.

His C10 is built and based around a 2015 truck.

From this.



To this.

Not finished yet, and the cab will get paint soon.