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

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Cute Pup.

He is a nice dog for sure.

Jealous though

[Grizz1963]

I guess it had to happen some time.......

We all respond differently to life’s challenges.

Thank you all fo the support and patience while I dragged my butt on the Chevy truck resto by doing all sorts of other stuff and observing life around me.

Many of you have been willing me on to get back to the truck, but it has its own schedule.

So here is a clue.









Can you guess what it is yet??





Yup.......

Time to start back on the truck.

Bodywork and welding.

Lots of welding.

Bought the welder direct from Rally Design and collected it from mate Neil in Faversham last night.

Thanks mate.

Looking forward to getting the wire and dialling it in, then starting the cut, weld, grind boogie.

Unpacked it in the lounge earlier, remember who pays the mortgage..... it’s a lovely machine.

Can do both MiG and arc or stick welding..

While I was with Neil and looking at his car http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/garage/bit-bit-503826
He asked if I was interested in buying a Snap On toolbox.

Considering my tools have lived here the last two years........






The answer had to be yes please.

So tonight after work I took Prozac and headed down to Neil's place again, cash in hand,

After cleaning up the toolbox for me, we had to carry it between and over two Mercedes Benz’s

And into the back of this amazing little van.



Back at home......



Next up will be cleaning it up, cleaning the tools and packing the lot up.

And then.....

Truck time, inbetween living life as we know it.

In the mean time the six baby birds keep growing.



Thanks for checking in.

[Palf70Step]

That looks like a great welder Rian. Toolbox is good too. Looking forward to you getting back with the ole truck again.

[Grizz1963]

Got home late from London as the new improved train schedules have added 30 minutes to my commute.

Service sucks big time.

But got the regulator sorted and some pipe for the gas.

Then decided to make a small skateboard based trolley and brace for the welder and gas bottle after fitting the roll of wire etc.

Some bits added together.

Skateboard £1.00 at Bootfair.





Welded the gas bottle brace up.



Other side.



Get the idea?



Assembled.

Functional.



Parked away.




Next up some welding and fine tuning it all.

Thanks for stopping by.

[Grizz1963]

With my MoJo headed back to where it belongs...



One of today’s jobs, in order to get ready to restart this build, was to clean up every spanner, socket and other tool that is relevant to the truck..

So I unpacked it all.



And started cleaning with petrol, a burst and a rag.





1944 ex Military item.



Love the snail brand.




And soon it will be the next week.

[Grizz1963]

Scavenger alert

Have been looking for bits to make a welder and grinder trolley.

Today I had a meeting in Croydon about an hour from home.

As I drove into the hotel car park.....

HALLELUJAH....

SKIP !!!

Filled with old desks and other rubbish.



Did not even park the car.....

Reconfigured the rear, and Hey Presto.

We have some free steel.



Got home tonight and unpacked it.



Some nice bits of steel

Not ideal for what I have in mind for when I build the new welder stand, but hey, it’s free.

In other news...

Saw this this morning.

Someone knows the new fledglings are all out there.



Harley....... wish I could change what is natural for her.

Killer.

[Grizz1963]

Woke early, fed cats who decided they were not interested in what I put out, tried to go back to bed, ended up stripping bed, doing laundry, new bedding, you know, the stuff a single guy gets to do.
Then off to Asda to buy some stuff, beers included.
Back home by 10am and mowed the lawn, did some other odd jobs.

Popped around to the neighbour two houses down who is prepping his foundation work for a new extension to his house.
I needed some hose clamps (Jubilee clips) as I had lost the bulk tray I bought before.... yup, typical.

Thankfully Stuart is a biker and mechanic as well.



Then down to the garage to go look for steel for my new build, stashed behind it....

Oooops....

Jungle to be cleared first.



Hey Presto...!!!

No decent steel.



Back in the garage I looked at what I was soon to start addressing.

Speaker holes, cut in with an angry Badger by a Blind gorilla.

I had hoped to have some of Martin’s B pillar left to use as donor but it seems to not be the case.






Once done I dismantled the desk frame.



Cut n ground down some parts of it.

New Safety shoes in use too.



With the welder power lead, gas and power switches all being biased to one side, I decided to offset the gas bottle stand as well.



Harley as always.....

Security and QC.



Strange cat, fearless in the garage.


Trolley chassis completed, needs castors, and a top shelf to be created for welders and extras to lay on.

Will also add a bank of extension plugs for the grinders to run off.

Happy so far.




Bootfairs in the morning.

[Indian113]

Are you getting the Gas Conversion too? Nice Tool Box, should help on the organization.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That looks like a great welder Rian. Toolbox is good too. Looking forward to you getting back with the ole truck again.

I hope the welder delivers Bill.

A good welder can make life a lot easier.

Originally Posted by Indian113

Are you getting the Gas Conversion too? Nice Tool Box, should help on the organization.

Very pleased with the toolbox Ray.

I will just move the gas from my existing welder.

Just bought some 0.8mm wire today as well. My friend Neil recommended it.

[aggie91]

Welder looks like a good machine. I bet your happy to have a nice tool box for your tools. I get the plastic totes and stuff, but a paper bag, really?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Welder looks like a good machine. I bet your happy to have a nice tool box for your tools. I get the plastic totes and stuff, but a paper bag, really?

Hmmmmmmmm.....

Paper bag worked perfectly fine

Anyway, it’s a thing of the past.

[markeb01]

Wow you are just as busy as ever, and filled with interesting projects. Looking forward to more progress on the truck too! Good luck, Mark.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Wow you are just as busy as ever, and filled with interesting projects. Looking forward to more progress on the truck too! Good luck, Mark.

Thanks Mark, keeping busy keeps me sane.


Forgot to add in Neil’s Valiant last night.





Unpacked and modified my new welder tonight.

Extendable cable.



Fitted a large heavy duty earth clamp too



Still need to get some pipe for the gas bottle and a fitting for the regulator. Just where the old fitting and pipe goes in.





And lastly tonight, a few shots again.

[Robert Haas]

First thing most people do is weld up a cart for their new welder.

I designed and built this one for my MIG and plasma cutter.

Painted it Miller blue to match my Snap On Tool boxes

[Palf70Step]

Nice work on the welder configuration.

I used an old low-end Craftsman tool chest for the base of to hold my Lincoln and the Miller plasma cutter

[Indian113]

That is Some Real Nice Welding Safety Gear you wear! I like your Welding Cart, Good Idea.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

That is Some Real Nice Welding Safety Gear you wear! I like your Welding Cart, Good Idea.

You know me and my patented safety gear.

I will do a decent, double height cart in steel soon.


Forgot to post up in last nights post and got a double post instead.

Using 0.8mm wire and a reasonable feed allowed me to create a strong bond and penetration.

[realvc]

I wear gloves, long sleeves, boots and still smell burning hair when I weld. That is why I now wear a cap inside my helmet.

You South Africans must be really thick skinned. Very nice weld by the way.

Will you be making it to Arkansas this year on your Annual U.S.A. Tour?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

I wear gloves, long sleeves, boots and still smell burning hair when I weld. That is why I now wear a cap inside my helmet.

You South Africans must be really thick skinned. Very nice weld by the way.

Will you be making it to Arkansas this year on your Annual U.S.A. Tour?

Hi Vince.

Thanks for the reply.

I should wear more kit, but often cannot be bothered.

South Africans certainly are thick skinned.

Craig and I will be coming from St Louis, via New Orleans and then Illinois and Iowa and up to Kansas, and hopefully pop in at Clems in Fayetteville, if things go right, we want to pop in over at Ada to see Paul and Brandon too plus a few others....... maybe not enough time, but we will see what we can do.




Random other stuff today.


Decent Bootfair loot today.

Loads of random stuff.

Most I paid was £1.00 per item, like clogs or up to three items for £1.00



Call it rubbish, I call it therapy.

Some for friends here, some for America etc.

Friend Woodsie collects measuring instruments.





Racing pig. For my garage.



Miniature cards, blue bowl and another random item for £1.00

Hearts and coat hook given free, but I insisted on 50p



Small spiral drill 20p



Awesome vintage sign 20p



Miniature spoke shave..... 20p



Bottle opener for mate Craig 50p



Size 14 wooden clogs..... £1.00

To be made not planters for flowers soon as I drill drainage holes into them.



Vintage tea leaf measures for making a pot of tea..... needs a clean. 30p



Dutch cast metal toys 30p for both.

They are extremely tactile. Mine.




Badges 20p




Wooden Christmas decoration from barrel wood £1.00



And that’s the lot.

Also bought 5 soft toys for Wyzz to destroy and a TV lap tray for Joy. Toys 20p each, tray £1.00 again.





King Dick spanner for a certain Dickerr in St Louis, Missouri to possibly use as a door handle.

[Indian113]

I see why you want to check out Le Claire! There is a Town up river from Le Claire called Galena Illinois it is Full of Antique Shops don't know if we could do both in just one day though. September is getting closer everyday!

[Palf70Step]

Nice haul Rian. Thought the clogs might have been new welding shoes.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

I see why you want to check out Le Claire! There is a Town up river from Le Claire called Galena Illinois it is Full of Antique Shops don't know if we could do both in just one day though. September is getting closer everyday!

Ohhh man !!

You have no idea.

I wish it was more than a short break.

Look forward to it all.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice haul Rian. Thought the clogs might have been new welding shoes.

LOL.

Perfect spark traps.

Maybe not

[Grizz1963]

Weekend is over.....

Been a great one.

Some useless info.

Message from Dennis to Craig and I on Friday



And Dave the farmer who came to set up my telescopic sight with a cat called Cat at work.



Saturday morning I was up by 4am, thanks Insomnia.

Left home by 07.30 to go pick up friend Joy whose dog Wyzz was not impressed at being left behind.

Then over to Maidstone to pick up Kevin and then down to Wiltshire to pick up his converted camper van.

On the way there Kevin bought us a Buffet breakfast at Toby Carvery, thank you very much.



This Morgan Aero was in the car park too.

Not on my lottery list, but may make the owner happy.



Lowered, boosted power to around 190 bhp and a load of other camper conversions done....

This van put a massive smile on his face.



Once back home I dropped Joy off at her home as she had stuff to do and came home.

To get some garage time in.

All part of finding my MoJo again

Cleaned my new toolbox out, top to bottom, inside and outside.



One half cleaned up one half not, want to guess which is which...??



Done.

Very pleased with the three hours of my life I will never get back.



Then made a fire and eventually Joy made it over, as she had a load of things to deal with at her home.

Security cat insisted on checking the alcohol quality.



I did a decent mix of stuff including cheese and tomato toasted breadlies and sweet onions in foil.



Braai was great, as was the company.

She left at 11.15 and I went to sleep at midnight. To be woken at 05.10 by the song of tuna.

[Palf70Step]

Never saw the snail brand wrench, is that an European thing?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Never saw the snail brand wrench, is that an European thing?

I searched Google for Snail Brand tools.


Snail Brand tools of Saltley Mill, Birmingham, 8. Telephone: East 0173/4. Telegraphic Address: "Hammers, 'Phone, Birmingham". (1937)
1843 Business established
1886 Partnership dissolved. Thomas Smith of Hill Top House, Ward End, near Birmingham, William Smith of 21, Whittall-street, Birmingham, Thomas Smith the younger of The Laurels, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, trading as Thomas Smith and Sons of Saltley Mill, Adderley-road, Saltley, near Birmingham, Warwickshire, and 21, Holborn Viaduct, Middlesex. Manufacturers of Tools, Bicycles, and Bicycle Fittings.[1]
1889 Produce castings and finished parts for cycles [2]
1896/7 Directory: Listed under cycles. More details [3]
1897 Smiths of Saltley Ltd was incorporated as a public company to acquire the iron and steel working business of Thomas Smith and Sons of Saltley. Claimed to be one of the largest stampers in the country; made parts for agricultural implement makers and other engineering firms; had supplied the cycle trade for many years and recently equipped works for manufacture of cycles[4].
1922 Drop forgers and cycle component manufacturers; death of William Smith, chairman and managing director[5]
1937 British Industries Fair Advert for Snail Brand Tools. Manufacturers of Drop forgings, in Carbon and alloy Steel, and Duralumin, for all purposes. Heat-treatment by modern plant. Spanners, Adjustable Wrenches, Hammers, and Hatchets of all descriptions. (Engineering/Metals/Quarry, Roads and Mining/Transport Section - Stand No. A.621) [6]