GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[Just call me Sean]

The lug nut looks correct, it holds the rim. The cover in your picture doesn't look correct, it is supposed to screw to the threads on the lug nut to hold the cap on.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

The lug nut looks correct, it holds the rim. The cover in your picture doesn't look correct, it is supposed to screw to the threads on the lug nut to hold the cap on.

Thanks for the heads up.

I will just have to order some in.

[Grizz1963]

Chilly day outside today.

View from London this morning, photo credit to Aaron French.



Sally was working all day from 07.00 so it was up to me to entertain myself.

Had a long chat with @craigrk about travel, cars and other things including the snow that started falling, quickly adding a lovely blanket on amongst others, Lil his 47 Chevrolet



Once we were done, I showered and headed out to fill the car up and get some food.

Then home, watched a bit of recoded telly, got very bored very quickly.

Also surfed the web, and dug around on EBay.com to look for wind deflectors for the truck.

I have never had them, or wanted them on a car, but these trucks actually seem to suit them.

Got to look closely.



Hardly visible on the truck that looks like mine.



Finding some for sale, I realised that I would be doing without them for the foreseeable future, based on the price of shipping.

Take a look at the fine print.



So thought what could I do, as it was raining intermittently and playing outside was not ideal.

Ahhh yes, we have a Chevy S10 , still waiting for its front grille to be completed and returned. Patience needed there.

Truck is on the driveway, so what can be done, that won’t have me wet in a hurry.

[Grizz1963]

Cuppa coffee, cookies.

Out of the house, brrrrr... chilly fresh.

So the key to keeping busy.



Every time I look up under the truck, I am amazed at how clean it is.

Keyway.



Not too impressive



I had been warned that the underslung spare wheel on these trucks could have a failure of their wind up, hanging mechanism.

So I decided that was a dry job I could do today.

20 years under the load bed would make most of us look a bit tired.

Wonder where this gravel could be from, Missouri, Norwich......





Washed and scrubbed.

Amazing, as a 16” wheel, how tall it actually is against the wheelarch.

[

Cold and wet, carried down to the garage and used a heat gun to dry it and warm up the steel.

Quick bit of a sanding and a wipe down, followed by primer, more drying with the heat gun.



Inside of the rim painted, did not bother with masking this side.



While waiting for the paint to dry naturally, I went up and crawled around again and greased up the cable, spring and mechanism with lithium grease.



After a coffee, I went to check the pressure, certain to be low.

Correct.



Pumped up to prescribed pressure.



And back to the truck.

Much better.

Fitted.



At least this made me feel that my day was not completely wasted.

Weekend over, again.

[Palf70Step]

Nice job on the wheel. I did not realize that any US trucks came with a temp type spare. I have never had nor seen on in use. That aught to keep it for another 20 years of hanging under there.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice job on the wheel. I did not realize that any US trucks came with a temp type spare. I have never had nor seen on in use. That aught to keep it for another 20 years of hanging under there.

I think a lot of them here may have it as a specific thing.

I would prefer to throw a full size wheel in the back.




While doing the spare wheel refresh I looked at the rear bumper again.

The truck actually has facility for a specific tow ball mounted on the step.

I have no idea on what size it needs to be and what fittings it takes.







Hard to read but it says “REMOVE FOR TRAILER BALL”

So ine removes the whole rubber cover. And I assume you fit the ball through a hole.



And on another of the pads there was this: “350 LBS TONGUE LOAD MAXIMUM”

[Palf70Step]

I gave up on bumper hitches. Of course I tend to pull things with mine, so having a frame mounted receiver means I don't bend the bumper when I try to pull tree stumps or other big items. Otherwise they work great if you are doing smaller trailers.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I gave up on bumper hitches. Of course I tend to pull things with mine, so having a frame mounted receiver means I don't bend the bumper when I try to pull tree stumps or other big items. Otherwise they work great if you are doing smaller trailers.

I am hoping that my small garden trailer or the teardrop will be within it’s capability



Post man dropped by today.

Small parcel.

After all the various opinions and input on here and elsewhere, I decided that a white front placement lamp and an amber indicator would satisfy the jobsworth, anal and anyone else whose farts don’t smell.

So I ordered a set of “Switchback” lamps on Friday evening.



Tried them out, and impressed no end.



Once the colour matched grille is back, I will reassemble it and the clear lenses.

Should look good.


In the mean time I have also investigated colours for the ZQ8 wheels, they are often Silver, Anthracite and rarely gold with machined faces.

I really like this look.

Not sure how it will look on the truck I have.




Think about it.

[Grizz1963]

So when I was wanting to test the new Switchback LED lamps, I found that not having driven the truck for the last 10 days or more, the battery was almost dead.

Interestingly, dash lights came on, ignition made a Krrrrrrr ! Sound, and ultimately after fetching a second set of jumper leads, as the first fancy set were not able to bite the terminals, I got it jump started from the company car.

This resulted in a new 75-60 battery for £79.00 after a 10% discount.

Note the side terminals, so no throwing just any battery in there.

I have no time for tired, dead or lazy batteries, so replacing was the only way.

48 hr delivery will be good to see.



While I am still waiting for the shop to call back about the push fit fittings I ordered two Fridays ago for the side repeaters, I decided screw that, and found some on EBay that should be here by 08 February.

Then I can wrap that job up too.

In retrospect, should maybe have gone there first, but I do like supporting local business.

Cheap enough.



That’s it for now.

[Grizz1963]

When I bought the truck, there were a few little things I wanted to change.

Not one of them was necessary, just a personal itch to scratch.

Aesthetically I really wanted to get rid of the amber position/indicator lights.



So I mentioned that I was looking for a set of clear indicator lenses to buy, preferably not in the USA

Next thing, Simon Mayes from Essex offered the set from his truck as he was going to convert his to smoked lenses.



So these arrived, £25.00 posted.

Pleased as punch.



Also on the cards were the amber side repeaters, to be done once the light fittings get delivered.



After much thinking and consideration due to all the various opinions being raised, I bought set no 3 of lamps, LED Switchbacks, clear driving lights most of the time, and amber indicators when needed.



I was getting quite excited at the thought of reassembling the front end.

In other news, I need to get a tow ball to fit the rear step.



I may have one in the garage. Photo from 8 years ago when I fitted this one to the C10, which has subsequently removed.



It may just still be in my garage somewhere to be found, if it fits the hole, we are sorted on this.

[Grizz1963]

So part two of the new smile on the S10’s face reported.

Ross took the grille and the paint that the seller had supplied when I bought it to go paint it to body colour for me.


This morning I had to be in a shopping centre, so we met in the carpark and he responsibly handed it to me, before heading to work.



Massive improvement on where we started with the 20 year old grille.



Stainless central bars refitted.



So from this when removed..........



To this finish today.

Centre bar refitted, and looking at it outside, I was again pleased.



Grille refitted.



Clear indicator lenses fitted.



Headlights fitted.

BUT..........

Wrongly placed, will need to go redo them tomorrow. Missed a side tab that would seat them fully squarely.



1/4 front view.

[Just call me Sean]

Looking good. It's going to look really nice when the new rims are on.

[Palf70Step]

Very nice work on the front end Rian. Looks great!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Looking good. It's going to look really nice when the new rims are on.

Thanks mate, Looking forward to the wheels once the lockdown allows for them to be collected 120 miles away.

Right now te police will hit you with a $260 fine for being 5 miles from home without a valid reason.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Very nice work on the front end Rian. Looks great!

Thanks Bill, actually even better tonight.

Report later.

[Grizz1963]

Sleepless nights.........

Usually work or backache causes it.

Not last night.

Observation within minutes of posting on an S10 group on FB and showing mate @craigrk summarised below.

Had me wonder whether I would get it sorted.



Woke to this....

Photo taken while @pauly and I spoke with him herding his wild bunch over a muddy field



Day job kept me busy from before 08.00

Been thinking also where would I find a low level canopy to fit the truck.... something like this.






Around 11.00 I made a coffee and took it out to the truck.


Headlights fitted.

BUT..........

Wrongly placed, will need to go redo them tomorrow. Missed a side tab that would seat them fully squarely.



So with the drivers side light refitted and the passenger side still to be done, it became obvious how wrong it was.



Challenge if course was to get too lower tabs in, and push the two tabs through the holes in the front panel and slide home the two sliding retainers

Note the space, battery clamped in place......

So how do you get dozen into this slot without removing the battery?

Using the handle of a long steel fork, I twisted it so push/force the wiring and its sheath away, then gripping in a death grip with some extra long rat nosed pliers, I slipped the hole over the pin and then slid the slot down it. Home dry.



Job done, much happier, I think.



So I had to wait for the new battery to be delivered, then I could test the lights up front.

I also got onto another small repair job.

Specifically a redneck repair.

Unlikely to be guessed.

[Grizz1963]

Remember this.....??

Armrest come backrest when you go three up front.





So I removed it today.

Removed all the old manky, sticky foam and backing sticker in the kitchen.



This truck was originally a Missouri truck, so rather than use some flat sheet metal, I thought one of the license plates from Dennis seemed a better idea.



Cut and bent to fit the interior, and this will support the inside of the armrest.



And then glued in place using a couple of G-clamps, backing plates to keep it all in place a 5 litre jug of water, earmarked for the radiator flush and recharge, but perfect to keep it all tight while the glue dries overnight.



I am sure that this will make the armrest feel solid, rather than squidgy when I do use it, either as a rest or as a pivot when getting in or out the car.

Refit some time tomorrow when it is well dried.

[Grizz1963]

Perfectly timed delivery when I walked up to the house.



Unbolted the old battery.

Removed it.......

Found a puddle, and a small rubber mat.

Not good.

Anyone got a good battery tray to sell, or am I making my own ? Done it before for the C10 relocated battery



Plan is to remove the battery and tray sometime, clean up, weld up and seal and paint the tray.

After fitting the new battery of course the best part was starting the engine up, and testing the lights, and indicators.



Happy to say that they really look much better in real life.

Money and time so well spent.

Indicator.



After 11.00pm methinks its bedtime.

Thanks for checking in and all your comments.

Later.

[Palf70Step]

Requires a special flasher unit I believe Rian. Adding the LEDS to the older Chevys seem to do this on most all them. I do NOT have a model# or what not for ya.

This may work though

https://www.amazon.com/1998-2004-Che.../dp/B00KQUXTXO

NOTE: Heard this was the place to check
https://www.superbrightleds.com/blog...rflashing/275/

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Requires a special flasher unit I believe Rian. Adding the LEDS to the older Chevys seem to do this on most all them. I do NOT have a model# or what not for ya.

This may work though

https://www.amazon.com/1998-2004-Che.../dp/B00KQUXTXO

NOTE: Heard this was the place to check
https://www.superbrightleds.com/blog...rflashing/275/

Went shopping in the truck today.

Big grin all the way.

Bought some resistors. Fitting tomorrow if weather and Sally permits.

Also got a toot and thumbs up on the way home.

Perfect.

[Grizz1963]

I do Continue to be amused by this truck and finding little tweaks, not looking for my to do, they just pop up.

And I have to respond.

Seems like a reasonable visual illusionary idea....





Solution.



Promptly followed by this bright idea.



Will be interesting to do this as I did Prozac the Berlingo, and also the Non Project Blazer before with success.

So what can we do today?

[Grizz1963]

Funny the stuff that catches ones eye on FB Marketplace

I was genuinely looking for a random full size spare for the A10



Busy work day, but made some time for myself,

First job took about 5 minutes.





Pleased with the result of that.

Later some more stolen time between meetings, foregoing lunch.

I wanted to black out the B-pillar as part of tinting the door glass to create a large expanse of black.



So ordered a piece of Matt finish black car wrap vinyl @ 200mm x 500mm for £2.88 including postage from eBay, that is CHEAP.

Rolled up for delivery, it did not look promising at all.



Cutting the strip in half, then taping it up, I traced the profile by just rubbing it against the B-pillar and the took some scissors to trim it back (the offcuts are being used on Sallys Corsa rear door mini pillars.



Once trimmed right back, a decent rub down to shape the vinyl on the curves.



And finally all done, next was the passenger side, again done between meetings



Tonight @craigrk sent a message to show what he had done as a test sample.

Thanks to @peteh1969 for the work so far.



I am liking this as an alternative to the existing badges.



Weekend plans??

[Grizz1963]

Overnight, this happened at @craigrk towers.



@peteh1969 had made it into a 3 piece clip together print.



Resulting in this.



Now needs to be built, glued and finished off.

Then painted and mounted, at least until Andy in Oklahoma can get around to possibly creating a cast and making some cast metal ones.

All the test runs are saved.......



Then added to a small bottle with some acetone and melted down to create a colour coded “glue” to set the parts together.

Some of that gloop that Craig made earlier.





Snowing outside, so I have a few things that I could do indoors.

And a lot of coffee to drink.

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday, between little showers and a chilly “Beast from the East” wind on the drive, down the side of the house, I started with some more of the lights and wiring.

First job was to identify what the two empty sockets on the rear lights were for, indicating or markers.

Turns out they are red side markers, so I added a pair of amber push fit bulbs in.

Also took the pair of chrome finish amber bulbs. @phila had sent and added them to the rear as they now sit in the space the reverse/backing up lamps were before.

Wrapped them up again as the weather promised a mess.



Next job in the garage was to cut down the old amber and new clear side repeaters and mash them together to make a new unit.

I was not going to drill the buckled holes bigger and also was not going to risk losing the wires into the abyss that is the fender spaces.

White replaces black



Cut them up, ground them to shape and also skimmed the new push fit fittings to fit inside the white tubes.

Before and after.



Back to the truck and found this ........ must have been some cowboy who added the side repeaters, holes are terrible, and then the drivers side wire.......

All there was to work with,



Passenger side...... all of this.



Having cut both old and new lenses up, this what I was left with, sexy glue next.



Then the challenge of the day, rain, chilly breeze and a small electric soldering iron.

Note the two separate shrink sleeves and a large to fit over both.

Trust me when I say, first time around, I managed to seal both, in-insulated in the same large sheath.



Sealed them up in a bit of plastic each, after finding the passenger side which previously was temperamental, now completely refused to work.

Job for another day.



Next up off with the front end....... again.

Rain was not helping, and neither the chill running down the alley.

I managed to find the two lives, soldered the resistor in, incorrectly, having to remove it again.

Gave up, job for another day, screw it, indoors to warm up.



So what I should have connected was A&C but of course I did A&B because I am not too bright on electronics.



And then @paulf sent me this useful,diagram, just when I got indoors.




Unfortunately the cold he cut through my 4 layers on the drive and when I went to bed at 10.30 the chicks came home to roost, causing a spasm that resulted in me taking pills and sitting upright in a chair till 01.30 when I crept up to bed, but too scared to fall asleep in case of another spasm, I eventually dozed off at about 5.30

Trust me, it is less fun than it sounds.

[Grizz1963]

Marmite.

Chalk n Cheese.

Give and Take.

Wheels from other brands.

Still have the hots for a set of these, I see they come as low as £120.00 for 4 with or without tyres.



So with the 5x120 size here, a lot of non-GM wheels will be needing spacers to place them right in the arches.

Yesterday afternoon around 5.00pm I saw some 5x120 BMW 20mm spacers with a 72mm centre bore on Marketplace for £20.00 including 9 bolts about 10 miles from here.

The S10 uses Nuts, not bolts, so missing one was fine, and these can be used for trading again at some point.

Contacted the seller to say I was interested but could only collect today if I went out for some hardware, and that he should sell them if another buyer came up.

“Where do you live, I am headed out for some food shopping in a few minutes”

Told him where I lived, and he said he would run by and just drop them off on the driveway en route to the grocery store.

So half an hour later I traded, a pack of Haribo Mix for his kids in the car and some cash for him. Saved me 20 miles driving and specific planning.



Nice way to end my day........; now to find something interesting to fit for winter wheels. (No, absolutely do not need them, you are right)

Went to bed late, woke too early, by 05.00 so sat chatting with Dennis in St Louis about life and the 66 NASCAR C10 Truck build that is progressing.

Later he went to bed and I went down for breakfast.

Pleasant surprise outside.

Rain had stopped, thankfully, as I had a few plans for today.




Plan one for today was to fit the resistors over the LED indicator wires.

One on each side.




Front end disassembled again, easier every time as you learn your way around this truck.



Outside was 3’C and shady, plus there was a brisk breeze, cutting through 4 layers, that was less than pleasant.

This is the mess I found.

Remember the wiring on the Blazer? That was certainly worse, and I got that lot tidied up.

Tried to get the soldering iron warm enough to undo the joins the cowboy who did the original wiring “modifications” had done was fun, it actually did not get warm enough.





Mate Martin had given advice remotely as well, as he speaks electrics in his sleep. But a bit of a struggle for my little brain overall.

@craigrk suggested I remove all the mess and use some of these plugs units.

So I ordered them off eBay for delivery next weekend.and will solder in new wires and connections.



Reassembled. Amber bulbs fitted temporarily.

https://youtu.be/jyv9UAEtv4Q



After this I came in to warm up and also had a delivery.

One more small job left to do a bit later.

[Grizz1963]

Been a bit busy with the day job.

Small jobs.

This one took about 6 minutes in total.

.






I hear @pauly clapping now.



And they are ready to be off to Hampshire



And in their place will be a set of original manufacturers specification lights.

Personal choice yes.



Remember how pitted my battery tray was, lots of holes rusted through.

Reached out to Robert, they guy selling me an original steering wheel, and asked if he maybe had one in better condition.

He went through his scrap pile nd found this one, needs a bit of cleaning and painting, but looks better than mine.








Saw this truck for sale on FB today.

In case someone needs one.

145k miles and £6750.00



And so that is all for today.

Bit by bit.