|
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Struggles with Photobucket that I cannot figure out means some pics are not uploaded from the weekend.
Anyway. It was cold out. @nickwheeler sat on his butt most of the day (and that is a bad thing in the cold as moving about generates heat) He started by deleting a couple of wires from the loom……. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5476.HEIC Not long before this was the situation. Airbag loom removed along with plugs. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5473.HEIC And then it just got worse as we decided that cleaning it up would mean tidy space and less wires to bend and force under the dash. It also released a few inches of wiring to enable placement of certain parts like fusebox just that much better. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5446.HEIC Looser fit with the new position of heater motor and the box I welded up for the matrix. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5482.HEIC Another job I got on with was removing the headlights and buckets, which were also rotten beyond recovery, so the grinder was called into service, again. The placement of the radiator means the original buckets really are in the way, so a bit of clever thinking once I get a new set of buckets, will be needed, as well as some trimming. Different sizes. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5475.HEIC Originals. Beyond salvation really. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5477.HEIC We eventually closed shop around 6.00pm as I had offered Nick and Sally dinner. Leaving the car looking worse for wear, but actually we knew that a load of invisible work had been done over the weekend. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5484.HEIC After dinner Nick took the wiring loom with him to go remove the door plugs and most of that part of the loom as well. A few loose tasks set aside for this week, like getting the gear shifter extension made up. Day job is a bit busy, and evenings are cold. Another small job I need to get to is making a dual bracket for these guys to mont over the fender. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5479.HEIC Roll on the weekend. Progress….? |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Photobucket continues to frustrate me, but at least I seem to have found a way to support my random rambling with phots, using the web based home, vs a mobile app.
Money seems to continue to haemorrhage from my wallet. Important stuff, current and earthing. @nickwheeler said so. 😉 https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Various nuts n bolts, think sheet metal, firewall, trays etc. Gloopy silicone, gutter sealant etc for various sealing and joining jobs. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds ‘The last few weeks have been quite full on with day job work keeping me busy and away from home (Covid home working was good) and knackered at night. Tuesday evening I was angry about some dumb stuff at work (seems it makes me more productive to go unwind a bit) so an hour in the garage gave me progress. Shelving offcut. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Bit of measuring, cutting. John, the short term lodger is a biker, car guy and driving instructor, and enjoys coming to the garage. I did not realise he had taken some photos while I was busy focussing. David the other lodger (Electrician contractor manager at Grain power station) who has been here a year also came down to check if I had lost any limbs yet, and promptly proposed to close down my site for all sorts of H&S infringements. So different these two guys. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Bit of folding, https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Some holes drilled, bolted to the fender, and we will have the mounting bracket for fuse box and relay as illustrated before. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds This was one of those jobs that the wiring loom unpicking has made easier by adding maybe 50mm of play to it. Small steps, all take time. I look at this bracket and kinda wish I had some record of time spent overall like @blackpopracing has on his build. https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...glia-shinyness That is the way to do it. My Teardrop trailer build was about 360 hours all told, years ago. Crazy how time adds up. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
One other job I got done this week was to find out the thread pitch of the MX5.
Then tracked down a Mazda specialist 10 miles from home, who sile me a soare shifter for £5.00 (plan B would be cut and weld) He then introduced me to an engineering shop aro8nd the corner from where his workshop is. So we started with this……. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag.../IMG_5482.HEIC Guy was the guy I spoke to, and he measured the thread and pitch, said they had the correct tap and die to make a male and female extension. Using 15.9mm steel stock, and set as 200mm or 8 inches he offered to do the job for £15.00 or about $20.00 @nickwheeler and I had agreed that there was no way I could buy materials and produce for that sort of money afterwards when we chatted. Order placed late afternoon, and collection arranged for the next day. They are open for small challenging jobs, interestingly, Guy has built a kitcar before, so understands the challenges. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds While waiting for him to confirm the job, I saw this…………. Evidence of an engineering shop that has been there a while, despite being clean and very modern. Made me smile. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Yesterday morning I had a hospital appointment for myself at 09.00 and afterwards before 10.00 I stopped by at the engineering shop to collect my stick. Lovely finish. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Back home in the evening I had to go test it out. REMEMBER……. There is a rubber fitting to go around it, bolted into the yellow piece of MX5 tunnel, and then a leather boot, sheath, or whatever you want to call it. Feels good in the hand when making Brum Brum noises like @pauly Doing the maths……. More than 1 inch below the tunnel, and shifter knob takes up 2 inches, leaving the actual stick being about 5 inches or 150mm long. Neutral. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds First gear……. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Second gear, fourth and reverse are all the same. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Small steps, but Progress nonetheless. Looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully more stuff getting made, attached, tested. Bleeding all over. Perfect. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Message from Nick Wheeler yesterday.
He had taken the whole wiring loom with him on Sunday after dinner. I've been destructive too: https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds The body loom no longer has any airbag, window, central locking, stereo, headlight aim or air conditioning wiring. It looks a lot less intimidating, and is much more malleable. Quick bit of checking yesterday showed the base plate of the gear lever needs replacing. However, the question is how to remove the old and fit the new. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Also tried my Paul Walker memorial knob, more gears than the gearbox actually has…….. Sounds about right for this build. Tongue firmly in cheek. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Got home and my neighbour where George the cat actually lives, delivered a parcel. @pedalcarjoe Ernie had sent me a new, unused auto dimming welding helmet. Thanks mate. Mickey next door had previously broken one I let him use. No idea how, he is heavy handed. Ernie also included some very cool stickers. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Today being Friday means weekend, and hopefully some progress. Kettle is on. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Well…..
What do they say about the best laid plans and all that? Corporate work kept me busy in the end, and in the end…. ultimately I popped out for half an hour to fetch a pull wagon chassis for mate @craigrk from Uncle Bob the hoarder. He had agreed to selling it to Craig for £10.00 what a surprise. Sally popped in to show me the new doggy acquisition at Uncle Bobs, a rescue from a flat in Maidstone. Meet Bonnie, I was smitten. Instantly. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds So my total days productivity was condensed in this. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds The bed may be,widened, as will the track, to be used to drag stuff about at his new home. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds The afternoon weather also absolutely sucked, which was just as well, having to deal with a load of corporate Bolloxx and colleagues. Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot easier to actually get on with stuff and also better weather. Fingers crossed. Loads left to be done, made, created, tested and laughed at. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Rained a bit overnight.
Nice day out now……… https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Should get a few bits done today. . |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
John the lodger took his V-Max trike to a friends house yesterday.
Came back in the afternoon with @craigrk ‘s wheels that will go onto a yet to be built, garden wagon that can be hand towed or behind a garden tractor. The rims need some bashing, and they do need two hubs. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Being disabled, losing a leg etc certainly does not mean unable or unwilling Next thing he came down with a 160cc proprietary engine that had been fitted to a kart, and abandoned by its owners. I had offered £10.00 for it. Worth a try at that money. @nickwheeler had his own opinion on it, which may prove to be correct. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds I have stashed it in a dry corner of the carport for now. Future fodder for the barstool racer. More Rezin Rockit time today. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
You know those days…..?
Loads planned, loads done, not much to see….l? Yes, one of those. Nick came over by midday. During the week he had rebuilt the loom into something lighter and more flexible With its ancillaries Looks a lot less threatening now. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Scrap from the loom totalled up to 3kg https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds I had spent some time being a nice boyfriend, and then time doing little jobs like cleaning the paint off the chassis where to chassis numbers are punched in, not very clearly. Spray painted over it in black. Then made up a complete new plate that will be attached elsewhere too, much more legible. After that I started working on bringing the heater matrix, box and blower fan together. Nick carried on with the pedal box, clutch master cylinder relocation, minimal space but got it perfectly fitted. BIG FIDDLY JOB, TRUST ME. Carrying on with the easy stuff, the heater box needed some thinking too. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Cut, fold, fit. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Starting to resemble what it will be. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Also made and welded a support and holding bracket inside. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Front strap bracket made using @nickwheeler ‘s Riv-Nut tool. Absolute magic. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Finally did the last trimming on the blower unit and then bonded the parts together. John the lodger was on hand to pump out the Soudal Crystal glue/sealant for me. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds The actual holes for the heated air to be directed into the footwells will be made one final fitting of the blower, wiring loom, ECU etc has been decided. More in a bit. Coffee. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
In-between making coffee and doing cosmetic stuff, Nick was beavering away.
First big win was getting the clutch master cylinder into the bulkhead after trimming a bit from the brake system brackets, and the mc base. Minimal when you look at it, but a ton of work to make it fit and look right. You can see it fitted in the last photo. Firewall clearing continues. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds I hope @nickwheeler comes and describes what happened here, he is more capable than me. Suffice it to say he hoped that this amount of adjustment would save on some fabrication….. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Errrrrrrrrrmmmmm……? NOPE ! Buggerrr !!! https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Resulting in the whole assembly coming out once more, and Nick taking it all home to remake. Similarly for the throttle cable where the beautifully made cable ends needed to be remade possibly 0.5mm bigger holes to fit the cables. I guess that is the kitcar boogie, two steps forward and three steps back. I ordered a gearbox shifter boot on Friday, yesterday, less than 24 hrs later……l DELIVERED. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds LOADS OF LUBE…….. Fitted. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Removing the brake master cylinder and trying to make its rusted, seized parts move, failed. So now we have another brake system part to find. But it will potentially see the whole braking system being new and rebuilt. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Eventually we ran out of jobs to do. John caught Nick and I sitting going through next jobs and tasks. @pedalcarjoe Ernie likes a happy photo. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Closing shop at 18.30 felt early, but was a good time. A rubbish night, netting me 4 hours sleep in total, sucks. Also hoping to take delivery later of Sally’s new fence panels after the storms destroyed some. Thanks for checking in. Breakfast next. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
What a day.
Guess that’s what a day job is about. In between meetings, clients etc, I also raced around doing about 55 miles to go get stuff in various places and dealing with a hysterical friend whose best friend (long term cardiac issues) was found dead at home yesterday. Anyway……. Back to Sunday. I started earlier than usual, more brackets, fine tuning and fitting for the heater blower done. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Also made a clever little spring loaded seat for the fan unit to sit on, along with that bracket. Then a small tab for the front end as the exits still need to be decided and planned, then cut and fitted once the dash is built. Around lunch time @nickwheeler got here after spending the morning in Rochester Cathedral. He brought gifts….. made these overnight, clevis, lengthened clutch actuator and some squirty things….. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds For the screen washer, new Cortina items (I think) https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Also brought this tool. I had never seen or used one. But I needed it as I had managed to create a use for it. Spectacularly tactile and a true lifesaver. Nick was telling me (I forget the make) he had bought it to work on a Russian airplane and his them boss was blown away seeing him extricate himself from a wing structure to report that he had repaired a load of faults, using it. 10 virtual beers for the guy who identifies what it is and used for. It fixed my problem in less than 5 minutes while Nick was making up a braided hydraulic line. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds While I carried on with other jobs, Nick sorted out the brake and clutch pedals and assembly. The recessed tray for the blower in the transmission tunnel was sealed and bolted in, blower set up to allow for spacial planning. Also edited the gear stick hole a bit more. It still needs a gaiter to either be made up, or even an existing one to be edited to fit. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds More in a bit. About the proverbial hitting the fan, thanks to Karma. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
So the thread file was used to tidy up the gear shifter thread, as I had managed to damage it slightly when removing a very tight collar from in and miscalculated my hammer angle.
Fixed now. Right…… Back to Sunday and the Kitcar Boogie. You know the one, two steps forward and three steps back. It had become time to fit and fix the windscreen frame so that ECU,,relays, fuses and wiring loom can be fitted and fixed, as well as heater pipes, controls and then the firewall plate and its embellishments. But Karma had other plans. When @nickwheeler had done the pedalbox, actuators etc, it all went together relatively easily, as if he had been dealt a bonus card. So I cut and prepped the bolts that became the studs to be welded into the Land Rover screen that @glenanderson had donated to the build. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds I drilled the holes for a tight fit, cleared all the galvanising away for welding, magnet placed and then Nick tacked them all. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Trial fitting the 5 studs showed one hole needed a 3mm sideways elongation. No problem, I did that while Nick welded up the studs. Perfect. Errrrrmmmmmmm…. Nope. FAIL. Though we did not know it at this point. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds So next step was get the Nyloc nuts in there and tighten it down with a high density foam sealing strip. HA HA HA HA HAHAHA. When we assembled the support, I will take the blame here, the angle was welded in the wrong way around, and despite drilling, noticing it all, I had forgotten. Look closely at my KING SIZED COCK-UP. Can you see the problem yet? https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Yes, no way a nut and socket will be going in there. Space is tight, very tight. So a variety of options were considered, including a tungsten carbide bit to whittle away 25mm of each holes obstruction. In the end I drove to Aghabridge and saw this display when I got there. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Explaining my dilemma through the medium of a few photos, Karma smiled and an engineer found me some 15mm pipe with 11mm inner diameter hole, cut me some and sent me on my way. FOR THE TOTAL PRICE OF FREE. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds From there I went to get some replacement M10 bolts and extras for the firewall work that still has to follow. Hopefully this will come together on Friday when I have a day vacation. More to come. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Many of you will realise I am the pretty one in this build.
Nick is the brains. But rarely, I come up with a goodererer idea. Case in point, fabricating or making up a switch or valve for the heater to turn it off started out as a complex thing, cables, levers, brackets etc…… you know the drill. Then I suggested why not just add a simple tap into the mix. On/Off £12.00 of the Queens English Pounds vs a load of faffing and fabrication. Mounted on the side panel under the dash. Ladies prerogative when feet are freezing. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds While at Car Builder Solutions I saw this Cod-piece. I need a used one from a scrap car, the one in the donor was completely torn and rotten. Quite phallic in a dark dungeon kinda way. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Spent £82.00 inmthe end. Including full,size headlight bowls and chrome trim bezels. The ones with the cut awy backs are specific for Land Rover Discovery. Got home and did a bit of assembly. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Later, after walking Bonnie the dog, Sally popped in to say hello before heading home. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds So I showed her what it looks like, have to say it works for me. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Because there was no Sally for dinner, I managed to stay down there till 8.45 doing some little cleaning up jobs. More about that later. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
So where were we.
Cleaning up my act. Monday evening after work I ended up in the garage because Sally was knackered and had gone straight home after walking the dog. So I started on some nice, easy win jobs that ultimately need doing. Cleaning, Flap Wheeling, Scraping, Masking, HEATING And Painting a few pieces Clutch MC and reservoir ready. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Pedal box. Manky as hell. Needs new rubbers. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Flap wheeled. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Better. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Dirty Big Donut. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Much happier with them all uniformly painted. Have also ordered a £64.00 new Brake MC to fit. Heating each part before painting when it is 7’C outside meant slower going, but it beats sitting around indoors. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Came in after this lot. Happy so far. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Remember these bonnet/hood latches that were seized up and rusted away.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...8DE0E7EA70.jpg Well, thought I would try open them, if they broke….. hey, meant to be, if not…. Money saved. I really like their design and they suit the car. Bench vice, spanner……. Cleaned up the steel bits with a small “Knotwheel of Truth” @pauly ©️ and painted. Used some Autosol to try polish up the handles a bit. Not great, but improved. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Halfords wheel silver paint. Hook tab shows condition before when removed from the bonnet/hood. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds AND REASSEMBLED Saving myself a bit of cash, plus I could not find new ones in the usual places. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Cleaning stuff is certainly therapeutic as they are small wins that take time and makes a difference. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
So the screen, or is that scream?
Removed the studs. Bought longer units, cut some spacers. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Tried them, should be fine. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Then decided @nickwheeler would love this look. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Done. And yes, no paint where the new studs will be welded up. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds While I was on the cleaning up run, I decided to buy a nice new, working brake master cylinder. £64.00 delivered.. Hope to rescue to reservoir from the old unit. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Work today. Vacation tomorrow. Saturday spoken for. Sunday has opened up again for a bit of poking and shoving. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Once again, you guys are making some great progress. Definitely some setbacks, but ultimately undaunted. And your effort to clean up and paint the parts makes a huge difference. Your bonnet hold downs came out very nice. I have studied the ones on my Jeep and tried to come up with something that will resist the weather better. I have tried to find them reproduced in stainless steel, to no avail. I think I may soak them in phosphoric acid to remove all of the rust and provide a little protective layer, and then just try to keep them well protected with a finishing wax.
|
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Godzilla is alive.
My friend JB sent me a short clip of his first start up of his 861bhp Cobra with Godzilla 7.3 liter motor. So I called him at 4.00am Oklahoma time, he was driving to gym, before heading to work. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Video: https://youtu.be/k_1Rm5qlsOA Should move along nicely. Work owed me some time. Planned on getting a few things done at the garage, but ended up distracted by a few friends randomly popping in for various reasons. So got some tools and wood together and went over to Sally’s house to fix her fences that were damaged by the recent storms. Time flies, but by 5.00pm as I was leaving, she got home with the dog in tow. Dog is really unwell, vets had nothing to say, gave some meds but thats it. Sally likes the new fences and some changes I made. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Bonnie the pup does not look sick, but totally listless and not interested in food, play or anything. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Friday today. Vacation day reserved for the garage. All day, so maybe a bit of progress. Later. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Another day in the garage, having the day off helps.
@nickwheeler and I were busy from 11.00 to 18.30 with a load of fiddly jobs. Some necessitated fitting and removing between 5 and 15 times…….. let that sink in for a moment. After removing the original studs welded to the screen, I prepared the parts and started again. Some gentle cursing, but eventually mad laughter and almost a high five. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds I repainted the screen in position late in the day to get its second coat on. Also the glass fixing strips. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Remember the kitcar Boogie? Still dancing. Pedal rubbers came, look great. HOWEVER…… Brake master cylinder came too….. not right. Everything is the same, except mounting face and lugs WTaF ?? https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Lovely. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Another great job Nick got on with was creating the earth straps for the engine and also the dash supports. Brings new meaning to the term “over engineering” but, plastic cars can be pigs for earthing. Threaded bungs he made, drilled, welded into the chassis, then all bolted together, gearbox mounting bolt for the engine. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Some Heat shrink in size large needed. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Of course all this gets disassembled once the fuel tank and exhaust are built in. Maybe after that a final body bolt down. Maybe. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Along with the other jobs he was doing, Nick was wrestling with copying all the holes, mounting points etc in the firewall.
Most of the complex stuff sits to the drivers side. So making up the template was done section by section and then stuck together one by one. Patience of a saint…… Saint Wheeler. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Eventually part 1 was done, and Nick was jubilant as a kid at Christmas, came charging in where I was painting trim pieces to show me. Bloody nice to see that piece together. Much more to come. Happy Chappy. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds One of the reasons for now making a full,new aluminium firewall is the stupid hole cut in over the transmission tunnel. More cardboard added here to get is covered over. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Cut around and filled. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Screen frame in place too. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Just before closing up, with the cardboard template in place, a selfie. Today I will go add a couple more holes, for the main ECU wiring loom and the heater hoses in the centre and to the right. Then transfer the wibbly wobbly cardboard template to some thin Chinese ply I have rather than a single sheet of hard cardboard which I do not have. Once that is completed and CHECKED AND CHECKED AGAIN, @nickwheeler can CHECK IT AGAIN before transferring to the aluminium sheet and at that point I will cut it out and add the holes for all the mounting points etc. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds LASTLY…… BONUS PICS. NICK INSISTED WE TREAT OURSELVES TODAY. SO I ASSEMBLED THE HEADLIGHTS AND WE TUCKED THEM IN, USING JUST DUCKTAPE TO HOLD THEM AND BALANCE FOR THE SIDE LIGHTS. LIKING THIS A LOT. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds And semi-side view. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds It has taken a while to get here. But keeping in mind it is a weekend build………. Chuffed as…… |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Today was a total loss, timewise and financially, and it is not yet over.
Bonnie the pup is back with the vets, being kept in hospital till Monday. Already just the initial bloodwork, drips, antibiotics etc are making my eyes water. Unexpected expenses are a pain, but we love our animals a whole lot, so it will be as it is. Looking back to about September last year….. Never anticipated going this far at polishing this turd. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...001(1127).HEIC And today we are this far down that rocky road. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds So I cleaned up the aluminium that was left over from the Grizz Pod Teardrop Trailer build 12 years or so, ago. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Cleared some more holes and prepared the ply that will become the master template with all the correct holes, cutouts etc for the aluminium https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds And then did the basic cutout. Loads of holes etc to be made. Also cutting to fit nice and tightly. The fenders and firewall are a curved piece, so one needs to keep to the flat surfaces. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Getting there. More tomorrow. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Today I will probably only get into the shop around 11.00 as Sally stayed over, as the dog issue had her emotionally tired out yesterday.
So a late, lazy breakfast, maybe bacon and eggs on toast…….. Then get the shop open and get going on the rest of the firewall template I started yesterday. If the day does deliver as planned…….. Wishfully, this tool may get rolled out (see what I did there) https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds A nice finish will always be a nice finish. And an early-ish one too. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
After last weeks sand storm from Spain, dropped a load of Sahara sand on everything here, I washed the truck early this morning.
Nice. Clean suits this truck. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds . |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
So the pup has parvovirus, Sally had no insurance and it seems these residential vets have no scruples. Dog has cost a serious lump of cash and still alive.
She is collecting Bonnie at 7.30 this morning from the “after hours” vets. Lets hope she gets better. Part 2 of the plywood firewall template fine tuning and fit started at 12.00 Some may ask why it needed to be done. Well, with the amount of holes and bolts in it, plus wanting it to be very neat, it had to be more accurate than a patch panel under a rusty MOT failure. Eventually happy with the tidy, tight fit. There is a 1.5mm tolerance on all the holes. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Then transferred to the aluminium sheet. A lot of cutting and drilling ahead. @nickwheeler had brought his electric shear for a tidy cut on straight lines. Curves I attacked with the small power file and hand tools. A lot of hand tools used all day. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Cut out, filed to shape. Starting to look like it should. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds And first loose trial fit. Starting to look like it should work. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Amazingly that photo was taken at 16.25 after starting around 12.00 Hard to believe how time flies when you are fitting and removing repeatedly. You know those tools you buy, knowing the concept is good but never actually get to use? No Well, part of this build has been the car fighting back, a lot But…… Yesterday, one of these tools came into play, a few times. Meet Mr Dodgey, around a corner drilling attachment. Worked a charm. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds More about that process in a bit. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
Remember the Bead roller?
Me neither. In the end in order to stiffen up the bottom edge of plate, Nick put a return in there. 17.15 now…… time flies. Quick, efficient and functional. Start with glazing pliers to pull back the planned section. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Then some supported hammer work. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds And tighten it all up with some dolly work. And just like that, no more Rolf Harris jokes. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Next up 101 holes for all the retaining bolts and Nyloc nuts. Measure, mark, punch, drill, grind back burrs, try all holes……… https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Holes all holed. Long way to go yet. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Because the sheeting was from a build 11 years ago, surfaces were damaged. So a belt sander with used belt was run over the surface. Followed by me on sandpaper to get even consistency, and Nick on Scotch pad duty to get it looking more brushed than scrapped. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Followed by loads of cleaning with thinners and panel wipe……. Standing back, waiting for it all to dry and the new surface to appear. A few silly grins, a mini-high-five and then time for commitment, well, we really should have been committed a long time ago. I opened the Polyurethane adhesive and spread it generously on the old, holed firewall. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds Nick had the pleasure of slipping the new plate in place while I took a photo, unfortunately I was a tad slow, so just imagine his manic grin when laying the plate against the adhesive, never to come off again. More holes, a ton of parts and bolts fitted. Some clamps to reinforce some load bearing areas’ drying tightly. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds And looking down, so much tidier. A whole day spent on doing it right. https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds So at 19.30 we shut shop, came inside and I cooked some rather nice chicken thighs with Cajun and plum sauce on rice, along with a celebratory beer for Nick and my usual rum and Pepsi. A long day, but great results. Nick ticked the job list off, we are over halfway, but being held up by the fuel tank that is not yet made, and a few other issues. But we did agree, it would have been easy to just throw this all together in a week, but at this pount, this is a great little build. Monday morning and it is Back to reality. Later gang. |
Re: GRIZZ’s ‘79 - 2WD BLAZER Challenge over in London, England. “~It’s not a Project
I feel that well managed aluminum is a fix for almost anything. And that is a sheet of well-managed aluminum.
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:28 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com