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

[Grizz1963]

Not much done with the Rezin Rockit recent;y, day job, weather and other jobs getting in the way.

In fact hit a bit of angle iron which slowed me down for the time being till I figure out or get advised on how to deal with it.

Started off by getting up inside the passenger A-pillar and removing the rear view mirror.



Then over to the drivers side.



My back has been fighting me really badly for some time now and I have been referred for spinal surgery, but I am stalling.

Slithered in there, upside down




Looking up the A-pillar and toward the window frame, you can see there is a length of angle iron incorporated in the frame.

This needs to be dealt with, in order to figure out how to remove the frame.



Managed to get out of that upside down position, had gotten the one rear view mirror bolt unscrewed, then used a long screwdriver to lock the 10mm bolt in place and rotated the mirror around it, as there was no way to get spanner’s in there.

Done

If you look carefully at the bonnet of the car you will see that it had started to rain, made me chuckle as the carport roof was always planned this way.



Finally, managed to get one of the gutter bolts unscrewed from the frame.

The second one on the other side ended up just spinning, so will get done when I can rope Sally or Mickey in, to be my extra hands.



I actually gave up with trying to get it undone.


However, there will be more challenges, as I see as you can, there is angle iron running down from inside the A Pillar.

If anyone has previously removed one of these screens, please let me know how the easiest way would be.

Thanks.

[Grizz1963]

Nice sunrise.



Dennis updated his NASCAR race truck build, it is now on its wheels, all wiring, gauges etc done.





Back to the Rezin Rockit saga.

Mickey popped around early morning to drop off this puppy.

I just got back from the shops, armed with a pack of 5 14 TPI blades for the reciprocating saw .

Next up a coffee, then hit the garage for a bit before it gets cold and dark again.

Never planned on using one of these on the Rockit.




Kinda excited.

Thanks @glenanderson

[Grizz1963]

Not sure where to post this flashback from 2016 in Illinois.

What a flashback.

And a great visit for Dennis and I to Thomas and Chris.

Trip report: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...2016-best-trip

Eating Pumpkin pie, operating the single post lift, soda pop, drunk like it should be, from the bottle.

What a great day it was, 2016...... how time had flown.


Digging out treasures in a condemned building, being broken down around me.

But I do love a bit of rummaging and rescuing treasures.



Mrs H&S , Chris making sure I don’t fall on my head, or get the John Deere digger bucket on my head.



And still one of my favourite items from my travels, after I restored this special, staggered valve cover, it has always lived indoors and been a talking point




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[Grizz1963]

Made it to the garage a bit late, did not realise 3.00pm had come and gone.



Got going with the grinder to grind away the two remaining gutter bolt beards, not as quick or easy as expected.

So it was dark by the time tat was done, and rather than climb in with the saw, I thought it best to wait till I have time available in the daylight.

Grinders in



Looks like I will have some reaming and filling to get done later, along with all the other holes that will still appear.



Good time to test the dried beef chilli snap stix. Or sticks.

They were really good, looking forward to the rest coming out.

[Grizz1963]

So....... @glenanderson and team


No going back now.


Went and got the 14tpi blades and then got caught short by sunset yesterday


So today I stole a bit of time from work to get out in the daylight, having started my day early.


So I used a knife to cut some of the silicone out between the screen frame and body.


Then straight in.





Whoooopps........ no going back at this point.




Used a lump hammer and cold chisel to first chase it down after cutting the angle iron reinforcing in the A-Pillar, then chased it up and wriggled it out the top.



Looking from the rear.



Then around to the shed after cleaning it all up, and fetched the frame @glenanderson has restored for his Land Rover to offer it up for size.



And tilted back the way I have always visualised it. Along with the roll bar tilted back the same way, it should look good. IMHO





Opinions ??


Any advice?

[Grizz1963]

Just something random I saw earlier on tonight.

I still dream of having Anti-Social Thuggery going on in my life one day.

And though these are miles apart, the video just resonated tonight.

Did not know where to post it up.

https://youtu.be/81TfyqyGncA


Hope you enjoyed, though it is merciless in its pure assault, there is something primeval and visceral to it all.

I can imagine watching it from the sideline without breathing.

[Grizz1963]

Got a message from Huddersfield this morning.......

“Hi Grizz, found these..... if you want them, they are yours for postage”

Well, first item....... I knew exactly where it would go, depending on its size when offered up to the front bumper on the Rezin Rockit.

But I can pass on this one if needed.



Second item......

BULLS EYE !

I have had an idea to build a tallish fake Visible gas pump for years, using an obsolete 47kg gas bottle, a compressor tank and a fire extinguisher to create a tower.

Finding a decent, large diameter clear plastic tube, pipe, call it what you like, has been a bit more problematic as I have never seen anything like that in my travels.

However - nothing stops me from creating a clear tube, using 2mm to 3mm thick Perspex or similar, turned into a tube, bolted together and mounted.

So the second item on offer was of much more interest, as it can be incorporated as a lamp, like the one I made for the carport.

Spin aluminium and it can be painted any colour.



Inside already white and reflective.



There are many many styles that were available in the 1920’s nd they are monsters for their time.

Different styles of visible dispensers existed too.

Some examples.







And a few examples of the evolution.

Different to your typical modern forecourt of course.




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[Grizz1963]

Time for a real job again.

Hooked the trailer, lights not working, only indicators.

So got my spare tailboard and zip ties......

Ready.

Off to @craigrk then Guildford tomorrow to fetch a bunch of steel storage cabinets for the carport.




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[Grizz1963]

Last day of work for the year.

Sucked a bit as customers were tired too.

Anyway, got an hour in during daylight, and before the chill and sideways rain told me to get indoors.

Still, happy with the little jobs done.

Started off by finding some potential steel for the windscreen supports.

Cut in half it should do the job.



Then the next job was to pry off the wiper arms.

Two screwdrivers do the job easy.



All off.



Next job was to get the motor and three actuators out.

First and second one was fine, thinking no 3 would be a doddle..... it was not.

Had to dismantle the glovebox/cubbyhole and part of the blower system.



So, dismantling, why do you have brass screws, mixed with dome headed gutter bolts, randomly.

Mr Angle Grinder and 1mm blade came out to sort two of them in the end.



And then needing to pull away the rotten dash panel to get to more of these.

Why would you use 6 screws to attach a simple plastic tub?



There will be more tearing apart and removal of rotten wood.

Getting the blower out the way in order to be able to unthread the wiper modulator was another pita as it was screwed in with a set of long 3mm bolts with double nuts holding it.

But I got it out, and then the modulator way.

Refitted the blower as I want to keep them for the Land Rover window next.



Next up will be drilling out all the poppers around the rear of the tub and filling the holes, plus filling the wiper holes and some of the holes in the dash.

Current status.



Also found an old rusted sign, see if you can read what it says, or tries to say.



Meant to look like GRIZONA

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[Grizz1963]

Sooooooo......

Lockdown Tier 4.

Thankfully I got to fetch and load the steel cabinets I had agreed to collect from the @craigrk offices on the 19th, weeks ago.

We agreed to get there early in the morning, get them loaded in the Galaxy and trailer, plus a load in Craig’s ML55 AMG and on his bike trailer.

So I stopped for a coffee as I had got there quicker than anticipated.



Galaxy swallowed two of the 6’2” cabinets, they are a meter wide and 480mm deep, so two fitted with ease.

On the trailer another two 6 footers upright, and a 4 footer.

Quite tall to bomb down the motorway, not sure it did my fuel consumption any good.



It went fast with having this little glider trolley to run them out.



Once the three extra 4 foot cabinets (which are for sale) were unloaded at Craigs storage unit, I left to bring the cabinets, and some upmarket office chairs home, including one for Sally for her sewing corner as she uses a dinning room chair, planning on going back to fetch the rest that were now on Craigs drive as an interim solution. This plan failed as it was 3.30-m when I got home. So we decided to finish the job in the morning.

Best part of this trip?

A take away coffee and Brioche French toast eggy bread with bacon and maple syrup from Mrs K.



Looking at the prices of these roller shutter door cabinets, and the fancy ergonomic office chairs, I would say that my carport value just increased by about £2-2.5k

Crazy.



Now the big job starts......

Sorting through all of my carp to create some order and get the cabinets sorted.

Perfect holiday job.

[Grizz1963]

My county had over 660/100000 cases.

So locally this was last night.






I was asked elsewhere about the cabinets.

There are three more in the Galaxy, one medium and two shorter ones.



Sally hates a photo, I wanted to show the cabinets in perspective.



Need to figure how to get some of my green and red colours on them as well.

Gutters tomorrow, they are overdue.

[Grizz1963]

“Nothing new under the sun”


Saw this on FB Marketplace this morning, for sale.

A 1969 Jeepster.

Front screen looks curved for a moment, but look at the slope rear wards compared to original Jeeps.

The rear end found itself slopes down as well.






So maybe my slanting screen is not that clever or new.


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[Grizz1963]

MOT Station pics, as expected





Happy

Happy.

[Grizz1963]

HIT AND RUN TRUCK COLLECTION.

In the end, I capitulated and decided to just pay the road tax and not mess the seller around, risking my deposit.

So off we went.



And on and on the road went.



Made it to the sellers place, played a pretty good game of remote hand over, electronic fund transfer etc, then two old guy from the same area of South London touched base, comparing notes.



Good byes said, Mickey headed home on his own, I headed for the local gas station with a thirsty truck with empty tank.

55 liters meant there was some distance left in it after the previous owner had put some gas in for the test drive.



On the way home I did a detour to drop off some air tools for @pauly to use on Woody his C10 that he is quietly getting on with.

Paul took a happy new owner pic for me.

Freezing cold out there.



Then headed home.

Stopped at my local gas station, and missed out taking a pic of the signs on the gas pumps that say: “DO NOT TOUCH OUR PUMPS”

But the ladies who fill the cars and trucks soon make you forget that, with their friendly approach and service.

Real old skool



So 85 miles and the consumption at presto much mostly motorway speeds around 70mph.

27mpg or 10km/l

Happy for sure.



Sunset outside at the gas station.






Then back home, 2’C outside meant I just reversed up the drive, locked up and went indoors.

Grinning.

Happy yes.


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[Grizz1963]

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Ps. I do have a video as well.


Not sure if i should post ?


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[Grizz1963]

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So the video, taken. By @PaulY after I delivered some air tools to him en-route after collecting the truck.


Paul sent me an accompanying message which read something like “Nice Truck, but you get 1/10 for effort, not even an attempt to smoke they tyres”

So here is my limp attempt at joining the traffic on a wet, cold road.

https://youtu.be/ZppLk-f7nBs

Maybe a better attempt next time.

No need to break it.


HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL.

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[Grizz1963]

Gutters up.

Next job, fit the drainage pipes to the rear of the garage, fitting them agains the side of the garage.





Ohh, and it seems to work well.




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[68Timber]

The carport turned out great! Stay safe.

Edit it add - that Lexus drift car is insane. The things the younger generation are doing... There's a similar build here in Alternate Tinkerings where a guy has dropped a 70's Cherokee body over a Trailblazer SS. It's hackery and too cool at the same time.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

The carport turned out great! Stay safe.

Edit it add - that Lexus drift car is insane. The things the younger generation are doing... There's a similar build here in Alternate Tinkerings where a guy has dropped a 70's Cherokee body over a Trailblazer SS. It's hackery and too cool at the same time.

Thanks for taking the time to post a reply.

Much appreciated.

Carport still needs a few touches, like lights etc.

I love body Swaps with unlikely codices on there.



Not a lot done today.

Relaxed a bit and spent time chatting to various people around the world/

Then went down to the garage.

When I fought the roofing, there were two 3.2 meter lengths of “free” roofing sheets that get used to protect the order.

So I stashed them against the hedge for future use.



Failing to source some truck body sides left me little option but to use these as a temporary solution.

So I cut one in half, then the other in three and screwed them up on the outside, under the gutters I fitted yesterday.



Tight fit.



Looking from the inside, plan is to add a a strip of decking to the bottom to hold it all together and make the edges safe.



On the left side, the plan is to cut out some doorway, and to add a door post, again to,make the edge safe so idiots like me don’t cut ourself by accident when coming through.

Also a frame over the top that will allow for some kind of door or draped weather proof curtain.

Masking tape gives an idea.



Once the light bars are fitted it should be very light in there.

Photo taken around 3.30 pm with the weather overcast outside.



And lastly, looking from Mickeys side.

There will be a short section by the doorway added when I cut it away from the existing sheets.



Pretty pleased with how it has come out.

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[Grizz1963]

A serious post on here, related to this build.


Remember Fil who took the trailer up to Ayr in Scotland to fetch the Rezin Rockit for me.

He posted this posting today on the BMW UKGSER.com site in a reserved chat section.

It made me quite emotional and touched me in a way few people manage to do.

Originally Posted by sparkplug

Cracking work as always Rian :thumb2

Wasn't sure where to post this, so I hope you don't mind it being on your thread.

When we were over at Grizz Towers during the epic Rezin Rocket™ delivery adventure we were treated to the usual generous hospitality and showered with gifts.

One of which was a sign which I kept trying to find the right spot for but it somehow never was quite 'at home'.

I've been volunteering for a while with a local café which is open to all but which provides free food through schemes like Fareshare to anyone who needs it as well as having peer mentors always available for a chat for people recovering from alcohol and substance abuse.

It's very sad to have seen the number of people needing assistance with being fed rise to the point where it can no longer be a free for all, come in, help yourself approach. This was great for people who didn't want to interact with you because such a large proportion of them feel ashamed to be in a position of need.

With demand now far exceeding supply (it used to be the other way round just six months ago) there is now a queue and everyone is limited to a certain amount of food (measured by weight).

Anyway, I'm digressing from the point....

The point is that while helping out this morning it suddenly struck me that I knew exactly where that sign would find it's home.





People were forever asking if there was WiFi and what the password was because it was too small to be noticeable. Now the sign will attract attention to it.

Within minutes of putting it up I was approached by a former drug dealer who had come off his bike and got severe brain injuries six years ago.

He'd been going to the café in the early days to help his recovery and is now a peer mentor there. He's turned to writing to keep himself busy and mentally healthy. He told me how being able to use the WiFi in the café had been his lifeline for doing this and how even when it was closed due to covid he was able to sit outside in the cold and connect to get his emails.

He said that he loved the sign and that he hoped it would help others to find that lifeline too.

Must say I came home feeling pretty good - and all thanks to the inestimable generosity of Grizz. :clap

[Grizz1963]

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S10 Question.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=816014

Thanks.

[Grizz1963]

Today was phone call upon phone call.

Messenger message after Messenger message.

Insurance quotes, logistics, research.


Then put to the carport.

Into Mickey’s and my woodpile, digging, measuring and sorting.



Then made up from 100mm, 50mm and a 45mm decking board, left over from last year when we rebuilt the deck, a 4.2 meter long plinth, painted it grey and left it out 5o dry, though the weather is not ideal for drying.



Levelled out, and added some sharp sand, the strip behind the single brick wall.



And finally, added and compacted the blocks, left over from the summertime build. Yes, the rag to blunt the edge is a rag, long since decommissioned.



So next job is to secure the sheets of roofing with another length of decking board, a door post for it to screw into, and then moving the grey plinth into position, so that the cabinets can be fitted onto the raised section, with the roof sheets tightly against the rear of them.

Op at 06.00 in the morning, then off by 07.00 to collect @pauly for a recce and mini road trip.

Maybe it will be interesting.

[Grizz1963]

[quote author="@redratbike" source="/post/2648759/thread" timestamp="1608833324"][quote author="@pauly" source="/post/2648689/thread" timestamp="1608810965"]Weather?

4degrees.

Check

Wind?.

10mph so it feels like 2degrees?

Check.

Driving to the wilds of Essex to lie in a muddy wet cold field and spend Rian’s money?

Check.

Yup. Sounds like a road trip.....

P. [/quote] To pick up an mx5 engine and box [/quote]


I rarely get the chance.......

But in this case, a complete miss.


90 miles each way, picking @PaulY up halfway, armed with his super bright LED torch and a ground sheet.

No MX5 bits in sight anywhere.

But, after an hour, a handshake to confirm an agreement.


Now I just need a trade plate.

[Grizz1963]

So when meeting up with @pauly yesterday, he also brought me the replacement mirrors and a set of lowering springs, donated by @kevins to the Rezin Rockit build

Thanks Kevin.



A full set of green Lexan windows for mate Darrens Ford Popular that I managed to find a few months ago.



To be collected.



In the afternoon, I carried on with fine tuning the rear of the carport where I am fitting a large doorframe to make the sharp edged steel safe, and to break the wind a bit.

Needs to be completed.





Some work today before going to lunch. In my bubble.

[Grizz1963]

Some of you will know, because of inner circle privilege (rofl) that I may have spunkied some cash on a new car.

Keep it to yourselves for now inner circle. Please.

Thought a Christmas teaser was appropriate here.

I will be selling the Galaxy as soon as I have moved the registration plate on it, to the new car.

The Rezin Rockit can keep its own thread because it is a silly, fun thing.

Picture of what a 21 year old, 38500 mile belly looks like on the MOT ramps an hour after I bought it.

Guessing and replies on a postcard below.






MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL.


THANK YOU FOR FRIENDSHIPS ANF SUPPORT THIS YEAR.


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