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

[Grizz1963]

A small add on video I forgot to release previously.

Fitting the dash

https://youtu.be/fgSKmPN3DTw


Later.

[Grizz1963]

Seen in London today.

Battery assisted.

[Braunschweiger]

A funny vehicle, what are you going to do with it?
I would be afraid to drive with us.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

A funny vehicle, what are you going to do with it?
I would be afraid to drive with us.

Morning Harald,

This does not belong to me.

It was a courier in London, and I spoke with him.

Electric support, but pedal power.

Permitted on cycle lanes, and quite narrow, so possibly quicker than a car/van and bigger capacity than a scooter.

He said the biggest problem was rain, as it gets onto the pilot.

I post these things up, mainly because we all learn from each other and many guys have wider interests than one model trucks.

[Grizz1963]

In the mean time, Georges people have moved away.

He lives here most of the time but I still see him headed back there occasionally.

Sorry for him but hopefully he’ll get enough love and care here.

[Grizz1963]

Had an estate agent over to value my house last night.

Before I could make him a coffee, George claimed him as subject.

Poor guy did not know what to do.

George did.

[Grizz1963]

Saw this Canta advertised online in the Netherlands.

The seem to retain their value really well.

22k km on the clock.



Guess it makes it worth trying to do it justice in the repairs stakes.

Getting it to be a decent little car for someone.

[Bears63]

Good Lord, George is one big handsome fella!

[Grizz1963]

Nothing much to add at this point.

Just a short clip for those with spare time.

Update once some random work is done.

https://youtu.be/8p9dNB-I5so

More problems to be honest.

Time to move it on yet?

[Braunschweiger]

Well..... what can you say about this vehicle, except that I would be afraid to drive it on our roads in Germany. It may be calmer for you. But I'm interested in what you make of it.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Well..... what can you say about this vehicle, except that I would be afraid to drive it on our roads in Germany. It may be calmer for you. But I'm interested in what you make of it.

Thank you, I have no idea what will become of it, once finished.

Maybe a disabled vehicle for city centre use.

Never motorway use.

But hopefully I will improve it.




As suggested before

A wing.

Errrm…..

Naaaahhhh.

Needs a lot smaller addition, maybe a roof rack is a better idea.




The search continues for silliness.


Time to mow the wet lawn.

[Grizz1963]

So.

Canta Time.

Or is that lolloping with the LLAMAGHINI

Plan was to get it up on the ramps in order to remove the front bash plate, which had previously been bashed……

First job, get the cat out.



That was, George, no catalyst on this.

Then shove it onto the ramps, which kept sliding away.



Bit of a wrestle…..

Bashplate

Off.



So looking under the engine and body.

Exhaust tailpipe under the cab, missing.



Front wheel drive, CVT system.

Guess the Dutch got to know them well with the DAF cars of last century.





Cable from the cabin to engage forward and reverse…./.



Completely misaligned

Guess engaging forward and reverse would be close to impossible.

Closer inspection.

Yup.



Needed more open inspection space.

Front bumper in the way…..

Now I need a few of these panel clips (or whatever they are called)





And it is off.

Sticker inside shows 1999 as manufacturing date.





Remember the engine bouncing about in reverse?

And also the shift engagement cable misalignment?

Yup…..

Completely broken off engine mount.

Will need new steel welded in and mount base repelled…..

Then get it all back together, hopefully allowing easy shifter engagement.

This car has been abused with a capital A.








Finally, I got to a point where I could not do much more for the day and shoved the car back into its space under the carport.

More to follow as soon as I get my YouTube video edited and loaded.

Weekend over.

Short 3 day week for me, or even 2 days, as my car is in for a service on Wednesday while I wait and Thursday is hospital day. Yay…..

Have a good week, and thanks for checking in.



.

[Grizz1963]

For paint, though hitching the wagon in front of the horses right now….. as it would be one of the last things to do.

I have a different idea. (Nothing new though)

That is, if I end up spending a lot more time and money on it all.

I would need to go practice and get it right myself, or find a banger racer painter or similar kind of painter who wants to have a bit of fun……

This really appeals to my sense of madness.

[Grizz1963]

Well, I have taken 4 consecutive Fridays off work.

Theoretically to work on the Canta.

Rain and various other interruptions have caused chaos with the unwritten schedule.

Unlike the madness that was the Rezin Rockit, this was not, and will not become an obsessive build.

I think Sally is a saint for letting me get on with the Rezin Rockit build the way she did.

So the LLAMAGHINI build will be fitted between other tasks and also day job pressures and activities that continue to increase and demand more attention.

So mate Craig came down to collect some stuff from @pauly and from my place as well as a few other detours to collect various things on a monster road trip.

As usual, he slept on the couch on a sheet, under a duvet, with George the cat watching over him, because both my spare rooms were taken up by lodgers.

But, like when we do our USA road trips, we really do not mind where we sleep, as long as there is a shower or bath to be had.


So up early, before me, Craig started out reading and catching up on some corporate work, till I got up.

Then we packed his AMG ML Benz, which is a long way from the luxury cruiser it got sold as new, now rather a brutally powerful tow vehicle and large space to be filled with all manner of treasures.

After breakfast we headed down to the garage, first messing with the Rezin Rockit that he had not seen for a while.

Then switching attention to the Canta, Craig who also wants to own it, was fascinated by it all.

And helped with a few small fixes.

More in the video, linked below.




We did very few photos on the day, but at least we did a short video of our findings.

https://youtu.be/OkHouIXatdQ


Thanks for checking in.

If you like the videos, please LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE as it motivates me and the various collaborators.

More soon.

Maybe

[Grizz1963]

Took a few pics of some of the worst body damage today.

More reporting tomorrow.

Lazy evening here.


The gel coat or whatever is used to coat the body panels will need a lot of repairs.





From when it landed on its side down the road.





Brought it up to the house today for some more work and cleaning up.

Small for sure.



Later.

[Grizz1963]

New subscribers appeared on Retrorides after seeing a YouTube clip on the Canta.

Commented thus:

As a owner of a Canta in the Netherlands, it's hilarious to see one outside of the Netherlands!! Can't wait to see more!!!

99 Precent of all Canta's are the same when it comes to wheels. Other things however get modded a pretty bit. Mine for example has a self made compartment in the back (will share pictures later if intrested), A audio system, A DAB+ Radio and a lot of other little things like LED bulbs! You mostly see them with 160CC and 200CC engines so your one is pretty rare to see. There are most common to see around Amsterdam and get used for everything like elderly people to teenagers since they are license free in the Netherlands!

If you want more information, feel free to ask!!

[Grizz1963]

Right…….

Where were we?

Kinda behind on the postings and updates by a few weeks due to various unforeseen circumstances.

So we got to this point, and I actually did record a bit of it.

Glued the bits of film together, more as a record of where this Canta has been for future reference.



I actually reported on these bits before, but had not thrown the YouTube video together and was not planning on doing one.

But I do know that some guys to enjoy the detail, in order to be able to comment and give advice.

So here you go……,,,


https://youtu.be/FifQconAICg


Sorry for those who do fall asleep along the way.


Better, up to date, update maybe later today.


.

[Grizz1963]

Another Easter weekend entry.

Remember the scruffy Nissan Micra I had last year?

Thread: https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...niels-complete

It needed so much cleaning and remedial work, but once done, it made a huge difference.

Seats were a case in point.

From this…..



To this…..




Well, the seats in the Canta were clearly treated with as much disrespect as possible…….

So I decided to first clean out all the dirt in them, followed by a dry vacuum cleaning.

Both of them had a handful of dirt between the seat back and seat base, these seats are non-adjustable, so have pockets where dirt collects.

No idea how one can go to this level of abuse.



So once they were dry vacuumed it was time to get out the Vax Wet cleaner, an amazing tool, as previously proven with the Nissan Micra seats.

If one repeated the job a second time, I am pretty certain they would come up even better.



So ready for action.

I started with the fabric surfaces, and Vax machine.

Once that was done, I used an ammonia based cleaner for the vinyl sides and backs which were also damaged, due to the car being used as a mobile wheelbarrow for building rubble and garden refuse, plus the rest of the smelly stuff I had removed previously.

The result was worth the few hours spent cleaning up.

So I started with these.



And after the first round, this was some of the very murky waters it resulted in.



And for the lazy ones who prefer a movie……

All captured, along with some advice and description of how to get the results I got.

https://youtu.be/ZMS_avBneto

Of course there are different better ways to do stuff in everyone’s opinion…..


But this works well enough for me.


Next up of course…..


Interior.


.

[Grizz1963]

I am definitely treating you guys way too good.

Another update…….?

Bolloxx.


Saturday I brought the Canta up to the house, closer to everything.



More vacuum cleaning and hard brush action.



Interior looked like this….

So a bucket of warm water, some dishwashing liquid and a lot of wash, rinse repeat was needed.

This thing is as filthy as you wished your girlfriend would be.

Just really bad.













I think the best part of the job was the fact that it was a decent day outside, dry, warm and no wind.

Good for the morale when working alone.



So here is an example of what you start with and what you end up with…..

Start



Wash, disassemble where possible…..



Clean up all the parts



Reassemble and grin.



Add wax based furniture polish……



And repeat for the whole interior.

Clean glass, repeatedly till you can look inside.

Wait for interior to dry.

Then wipe down all surfaces with polish and grin madly at the transformation.









Seats back in.





Of course the floor carpets look like absolute Sh!t but that is a job for another day.


More in the next report tomorrow ……


Starting to feel this now.


Happy Easter.

[Grizz1963]

BY NOW MOST PEOPLE KNOW I LOVE FREE CASH, OR STUFF.

It all translates into being able to do other things, buy stuff, or even give stuff away, things that make me feel good.

My younger brother “DOZER” retired after 41 years in the military Engineering Corps as a Warrant Officer, or Sergeant Major or Sargeant Major depending on where in the world you are.

We grew up in a time when fixing things, repurposing, or reusing was the norm, and hand me down clothes from two, three, four other cousins was the norm in our family.

Our father and mother both grew up on farms and knew the value of gathering wild fruits, foods, mushrooms etc, and they taught us these skills as well.

Of course not everyone cares for this sort of thing, and for many it is not good unless shop bought and issued with a “Use by” date.

Working across Africa in various war zones in Burundi, DRC and others, building roads, dams, homes, repairing ravaged infrastructure, my brother was able to often use the skills learned as a kid, finding fruit, vegetable and other things like wild honey etc. to supplement, to the surprise of his colleagues on these operations, their standard issue rations.

Back home at the Engineers base where he was attached, the old skills and pleasure of gathering “Free cash” or food etc continued.

With a very keen eye, he had long since identified quite a few Pecan Nut trees, both in the base, and on some of the village streets where he lives.

So every year during the season, he gets around and gathers all the pecans as the trees fruit, and then sits at home removing the shells.

These are the trees, hiding in plain sight.

They seem to also fruit at different times, which means he has a “harvest season”







Saturday he went over to the military base he retired from and got his first collection together.

He has confessed that the first harvest does get eaten mostly as they get shelled.

Then they collect and store them for use through the year.

Rusty, his one rescue dog keeping an eye on the goods.



Shelling and tasting…..



Because the Pecans are so freshly gathered, he and his son tend to dry and even lightly roast them in the oven before storing them.




I am actually quite envious of these Pecan nuts, as they are not that cheap to buy, and interestingly, as kids, growing up, my dad was involved in South Africa in some local farming initiatives, one of which was pecan nut production, and every year a large bag of unshelled pecans would find their way home to us.

Great memories.

[Braunschweiger]

A good trait, the nut thing is great, he seems to be living a happy life.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

A good trait, the nut thing is great, he seems to be living a happy life.

He is living a good life.

Unlike his older brother (me) he is very risk averse.

So has a successful retirement, and a good, if boring life plan.

I do envy people who can do the same job all their life (I have for over 30 years, but redundancy and country moves mean a lot of changes)

I doubt either of us would change what we have, or do not have.

Originally Posted by Da1sycat

Great story, and you and your brother look a lot like each other. Interesting to see the blue skies yet doggo in his coat. I guess the temps vary a lot this time of year?

Thanks, as I often tell people, we were fortunate enough to grow up in an era when men were men and sheep were nervous…….

I think we grew up quite privileged, being taught the value of things and to survive somewhat.

Quote from my brother:

Damn!!! We look like "armgatte" (poor arses) with our worn “garage clothes” that is actually what we wear at home because sometimes a fart escapes upwards toward our brains and then we decide to do something spur of the moment. When we realise we are wearing our "town clothes" (Grizz in a suit and tie for work, me historically in my military uniform) that are now all dirty or damaged. Note Grizz's patented Safety Flip Flops etc!! Our teabags get dried, recycled, and then stored in a bottle with paraffin/white spirit/turpentine to be used as fire starters as I BBQ a few times a week and every weekend,(trick learned from Grizz's buddy Maritz in Cape Town years ago). Much cheaper than fire lighters!! Yes, free $$$’s is good, even if you have to do a bit of work for it.

I am always surprised that people see us resembling each other.

Rusty is an old man now, and being a Daschund has no real fur so even late Autumn is cold for him, as SA is headed into winter now.

[Grizz1963]

Sometimes the little things in life can get you down, like the weather screwing up days off work….

Then sometimes the little things in life can make a huge difference.

Like a remote body microphone to use while recording on my phone for the YouTube channel.

I am aware that often, walking toward, or working with my back to the camera, the sound fades, more than it should.

Yesterday, rain was a problem, though I was actually working…..

But the Amazon guy/girl/whatever had delivered an envelope some time early, really early.

So I found an envelope addressed to @craigrk in the porch, texted a pic and said he had a parcel 200 miles from home at my place…..

No, it is for you, came the reply.

So I finished my breakfast and opened the parcel.


Bloody brilliant.


iPhone remote Bluetooth clip on microphone.


This could be a game changer (less swearing under my breath I guess)

Will test it out when I work on the Canta next.

Anyone use one before?


Weather changed again later, but in between…… a nice optimistic pic.










Almost the weekend……

[bigmoe]

Have you found a source for Canta parts? I see in your pictures the drive belt is sitting pretty low between the sheaths and could use replacing. A worn belt will reduce your torque out of the hole (like starting out in second gear) and will take away from top end speed. Both clutches will have some replaceable plastic wear parts, some visible in your pictures.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by bigmoe

Have you found a source for Canta parts? I see in your pictures the drive belt is sitting pretty low between the sheaths and could use replacing. A worn belt will reduce your torque out of the hole (like starting out in second gear) and will take away from top end speed. Both clutches will have some replaceable plastic wear parts, some visible in your pictures.

Hi Mate,

In this day and age, you can have and find anything, the price is the issue.

With the advent of BREXIT the UK left the European Union, so everything is now taxed, even the shipping, which means prices are silly.

Fortunately, I am patient, and have a few acquaintances in Europe and The Netherlands who may be prepared to deliver bits for me.

Regarding the belts, it is missing the alternator belt etc, and what is fitted as a drive belt does not at all seem to be correct. Fox that, I do have a friend who may have access to the right belt equivalent here in the UK.

A used back door, with the glass that I need is around $250 plus excluding taxes and shipping, so for the rear glass I am investigating plant machinery glass.
It may not have the right codes stamped on it, but will be safety glass.