GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[Palf70Step]

Good to hear no issues getting it re certified/validated (or whatever you folks call it). Good to see the ole S10 getting in its miles.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Good to hear no issues getting it re certified/validated (or whatever you folks call it). Good to see the ole S10 getting in its miles.

Ministry
Of
Transport Test.


It really is a full, safety and roadworthiness test, mandated by law for every vehicle over three years old.

Can be pedantic, but it ensures a reasonable standard on the roads.

Thanks Bill.


I tend to drive it whenever I can.

Company car is great but lacks a bit of soul.





For those reading the random stuff.

Sally made two more of these river glass gifts.

Really like this one.

Bits of pottery added as found.


I am now looking for a few broken tiles or delftware style plates etc to make some fake materials for her. (Cement mixer, sharp snd and spin for a bit to crete river style wear.

Sadly, no bootfairs now.





And her first one.




Friday morning very early I woke to a weight on my chest.

Seems George, the cat I do not own was plotting to smother me, or something.

[Just call me Sean]

Those tires look much better.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Those tires look much better.

Agreed,

And if the rears are a bit wider….

And as tall, it could work.

[Palf70Step]

You guys did alot. Looks like you'll have your space back soon since the car won't have anything left.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

You guys did alot. Looks like you'll have your space back soon since the car won't have anything left.

Lets hope it works.



Rezin Rockit Donk anyone?




And the graphics moved up slightly on the hood.



And then the quickest, dirtiest colour change.

I like some orange, but this is too much right now.

However, masking and added detail could work too.

And the pig was moved to the side of the hood.



Long time before any of that happens though.

[Grizz1963]

Being Awake since 03.20 sucks.


Stripping the MX5 donor - Part 2


When we started stripping the donor, @nickwheeler told me that getting out the wiring loom and the dash etc out would take longer than the engine and gearbox.


Keep in mind that neither of us had ever stripped one before, so a lot of mini-dead ends, fighting parts, and trying to remove parts that maybe did not need to be removed.

Like the exhaust down-pipe to where the catalytic converters been cut out.

So Nick landed by 9.45 and a coffee and chat later, we were going at it.

I had opened the shop by 08.00 anyway and moved some stuff about already.

It was a long day really, and pics all look the same, but we were busy all day and again, some jobs were a nightmare.




Including setting fire to the car, what a stinker that was too.

ECU hidden in the footwell behind a rusted down footplate, and all the fasteners rusted to hell.

Captain Grinder to the rescue.



Speaking of useful tools.

The strip light did duty all day for us, lighting up the interior as we went along.



I managed to get the steering wheel, airbag etc off without hurting myself.

That’s a lot of clever stuff right there.



Nick kept reminding me, we were fortunate that it did not have to go back together there.

And we took a brief respite to go offer up the clocks to the Rezin Rockit dash.

Looks like it should work.



Then back to the struggle, which was real.



Marking the loom clearly as we went along since starting to remove it all the day before yesterday made a ton of sense.

As does plugging as much of it back together again before stashing it away.



Eventually leaving us with this lot, plus the engine loom reattached to the engine etc.

This pic taken by 4.30



By 5.30 this was the scenario…..

Time flies when there is a lot to do.



6.15pm

And having gone back like a drunk wanting to get one more kick in into the guy on the ground, Nick and I had pretty much run out off stuff to do and it was getting cold again.

But we went back to remove the wipers, arms and motor as, if you recall, I had removed the screen and 3 original wipers months ago.

I still need to figure out if I can run the final car through MOT without wipers if the screen can be folded down onto the bonnet, in effect leaving it without a screen.

So by 6.30 this happened…………..



Leaving us with this.




It was a long, rewarding day.

Tools packed away, coffee, warm up and more chat, planning and scouring Kitcar Solutions website for bits I will need next, like a pair of rubber gearbox mounts.






For today I have to remove the fuel pump, sender unit and raise the rear to get the propshaft out.


Then swap around all the piles of car, parts, scrap before Christmas.


The MX5 fuel tank seems inaccessible so another plan will be made.


Not removing that rusted rear subframe.






Later gang.




.

[Palf70Step]

I like it!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I like it!

Thank you Bill.

So far, so good.

Long way to still have a chance of screwing it up.




You heard of Jack-Chitt before?

Meet Jack-Oil.



When lifting the engine out the MX5 I had to cut the front as the hoist did not lift high enough.

So Nick suggested it may need a service.

Tiny sideways hole……

So I screwed a silicone tube nozzle to the small funnel tip……l..

250ml later, filled.




Lets hope it can raise to full height today.

[Palf70Step]

I recently did that to all my floor jacks and engine hoist/crane/cherry picker also. Makes a huge difference when the units have fluid. Keep at it bud, you'll be rolling before ya know it.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I recently did that to all my floor jacks and engine hoist/crane/cherry picker also. Makes a huge difference when the units have fluid. Keep at it bud, you'll be rolling before ya know it.

It has failed again through the day.

Kept at it today, not made the target, but super satisfied.

Happy New Year.

[Just call me Sean]

Did you bleed the jack after filling it? Unscrew the valve one turn and pump the handle repeatedly.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Did you bleed the jack after filling it? Unscrew the valve one turn and pump the handle repeatedly.

Not when I did it, but yesterday I did it.








HAPPY NEW YEAR………….




HOW LAST YEAR ENDED.






HOPEFULLY, Today will see the bracketry made up and welded in place.

With the body test fitted

[Grizz1963]

So the 1st of January 2022 dawned like this…..





With another good days weather promised.


Loads on the agenda.


Hopefully a few jobs would be done by 6.30pm.


Write up as soon as I catch my breath.


Insomnia unfortunately results in being knackered by the end of a day like this.


@nickwheeler and I struck a great pace and just kept moving forward.


.

[CG]

I just wanted to chime in and let you know I still check this thread a few times a week to see what you are up to.

I hope 2022 is a great year for you ... Keep up the fun and interesting thread!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by CG

I just wanted to chime in and let you know I still check this thread a few times a week to see what you are up to.

I hope 2022 is a great year for you ... Keep up the fun and interesting thread!

Hey CG !

Thank tou very much for posting and checking in.

I love reading about Vladimir in Russia and Steve in Australia, so alwya hope that my random stuff generates interest, or amusement for the guys and girls on here.

Copy and paste is easy when you add in some personal, and specific observations.

And my S10 which is still,a,joy to own, gives me pleasure daily, driving or just looking t it.




.
.
.
.
.
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………………….. So eventually we got to this point.

Body hoisted up.



Pulled over.

@nickwheeler grinning like an expectant father.



And about 30 minutes after touchdown, which was absolutely without a fault, we added the set of RX8 seats and the rollbar and the @glenanderson screen frame.

Also realised this rollbar needs to be remade as the seats need to move back about 150mm from where they are.

Still, it did not stop Nick and I from trying it out for size.



Also tried out the speedo clocks.

Running as much as possible of the original Mazda MX5 loom and instruments

However…….

I will possibly be looking for a loom donor for the Instrument binnacle section have it all reach as the loom is tightly made to size.

Plan is to fit the clocks like in the pic, central, facing the driver, and that may call for 18” of extra loom.

Know anyone with a scrap MX5 with that part of the loom available to remove or donate to the build?




Next up, a look at the engine fit in the engine compartment.

This is it, without ancillaries.





Adding in the original Mazda radiator and air intake gives you this.

PROBLEM………

The slimline cooling fan from the donor, does not fit into the space available.

So another plan and solution to be made.




And then next up.

MAF AND AIR FILTER PLACEMENT.

Safe place to fit it, back here.

So it needs a section of pipe to connect it.

Clever guys………. QUESTION: Will a lengthened section here, affect performance at all?





And finally……….

Took a positively underwhelmed Sally to see what had kept me busy today.

And walking down there, the current stance, lowering and look ROCKS.

I love it.


As it stands, no fluids, screen, extra bits, loom etc.

The front crossmember is 5” above the ground and actually the sump may be 4.5” above the hotizon.


Current look.





And then you add my bulk to it.

Sure, it is a cheated pic, using leverage I managed to get the front down real low.

Not far from the original vision.


Whatcha think team ???







Loads if work left to get it to the next phase.

Brackets, links, supports, wiring, Rivnuts, holes, fittings, lights, steering, pedals……….

The list goes on and on.


Chuffed as a Chuffed thing tonight.


Tomorrow its me and Mr Grinder and the donor again.


Yup, realised we need more parts removed.



.

[Palf70Step]

Very nice progress Rian.

[Just call me Sean]

I don't see much room for the steering shaft.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Very nice progress Rian.

Thankfully.

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

I don't see much room for the steering shaft.

It is there, should be an easy fit Sean.

[Palf70Step]

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Absolutely Bill.






Got home today from getting the Focus serviced.

Mickey shouted over the fence…… “Got a parcel for you”

So he hoiked a 19 pound box over the hedge.

It had a Home Office pass tape on it, so I guess inspected and passed.



Dennis had sent me a parcel with some treasures.

I actually only got to unpacking it at about 8.00pm and it made me laugh out loudly, tears in my eyes.

Generous yes, and crazy for sure.

Just reminded me that family is a lot more than blood.

Karma is a strange mistress, but I love her and know she balances the books at all times.

Unpacked the parcel, T-shirts for me and Craig and Sally from Clem in Arkansas and Dennis in St Louis.

I sent some cash to Clem’s Tuba Trucks Toy Drive via Dennis’ daughter in law Hanna on Paypal (you see we can all be kind and contribute to worthwhile charities) and in return I got a T-shirt.

Also included was some Oatmeal cream cookies, an all time favourite, and what had me laughing loudly was some of Roger Orf’s hunted smoked deer sausage.

The sausage was wrapped in bodyshop panel paper and masking tape to keep the wrapping together.

Just perfect.



Then parcel no 2 in a Rural King bag delivered a hoody for Sally and I each.

Way too generous.



And then, for the Rezin Rockit a pair of high end, 5 point racing harnesses.

Simpson.



And one for the passenger.



So there you go.



Karma bucket overflowing.


Life is good.

Roll on the weekend.

[Palf70Step]

I link Pintos. Yeah, I am weird, but both of mine were great rides. 71 (eventually with a 302 instead of the 2.0L 4) and a 1976.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I link Pintos. Yeah, I am weird, but both of mine were great rides. 71 (eventually with a 302 instead of the 2.0L 4) and a 1976.

I like slightly off centre stuff Bill

But have to remind myself that I have a half done C10 in my garage

[Grizz1963]

This week has been a bit (very) busy with admin stuff, targeting and target lists and general day job stuff.

However, I do want to ask all the IT geniuses out there, why would an XL spreadsheet on Teams only allow one person at a time to edit it. (No need to reply)

Spectacular inefficiency again from the bosses, they give you a rally car with one wheel missing and expect you to win the race.

Seriously.



Anyway.

While waiting my turn to go in and edit the list, I was angry enough to pop to the garage and grab the new rear shocks.

15 minutes later I closed the garage.

Job done.

Old



New




Little wins ehhhh.




Today I want to go make up the drilling template for the screen support and scuttle and get the holes drilled in the body and steel that I welded in upside down on Sunday when @nickwheeler came over so we could create the supports and framework from which the steering and dash will be grown.

It was a good day for sure.

Once the scuttle is drilled, the template needs to be reverse marked onto the underside of the glazed Land Rover screen which then needs 5 holes drilled in order for the threaded bar or cut off bolts to be fitted in there and then Tig welded in place at Nicks place or possibly here as fitting studs for the screen.

I also need to start thinking of removing the seats again so the body can be lifted and the underside painted black, either with underseal or some regular black gloss paint to get it looking uniform. Of course I already have a load of regular black paint…….

Remember this messy underside?





Onwards as @pauly says.

[Grizz1963]

RESOUNDING MONUMENTAL FAILURE AT THE GARAGE.



Carefully measured out and drew in screen base size.

Measured 5 holes on scuttle top and drilled first pilots with 5mm HSS bit, managed to snap it on hole 5 due to corder hand drill and my cack handed position over it.
Replaced the bit from my stash of smaller bits and finished hole no 5

Then up to 8mm as I was headed toward 12mm to allow ease of fitting and some movement space once the studs are welded on.

So started hole no 1 again, using some cutting spray from the drill press.

And suddenly I was skating on ice.

Tried the other holes, changed bits and Fail after Fail.


I recall when cleaning and preparing the angle iron for welding the sparks were of the type typical of harder steel.

Maybe the angle iron was from some structure that was built to resist corrosion or have a certain strength.

In the end I walked away, defeated.


I guess next step will be to go find one of those clever coated drill bits in the hope it will penetrate the steel.


Frustrated as can be right now…….


Fun?