Grizz’s 66 Chevy C10 Short Fleetside - BRICKIN’ IT 27/12/21

extra one

Been a while, but the MX5 kept me busy when I did have free time after work and with the nights drawing in and day starting later, it just seems there is less light to work by.

Which brings me to this lot below.....



About 7 months ago I got a PM via an American Van site offering me some 6 foot strip lights from a school, by a retired school teacher who is into cars, and campers.

So with a £40 courier cost to deliver the 10 lights from the middle of nowhere in Wales, they were delivered in April while I was in Africa on the Bike tour of a lifetime with my brother.

When I came back from Africa, life in general, a new contract job and an MX5/Miata all got in the way of fitting the lights to the garage, where I actually only have two 4 foot lights and a variety of odd lights plonked about the rafters.

So now we have winter, early darkness coming in, and with the Mazda finished, I can get back onto the truck.
Plans for the truck over winter includes preparing the bodywork for fresh paint, making up the load body floor with the oak strips I rescued and still have to clean up and prepare for fitting.

So today I started by pushing out the truck which has been stood the last month or so, as I did not need to use it and measuring and planning where the lights will be going.
I plan on fitting four strip lights per side of the garage, making for 8 of them on a 10X10 meter garage, should be reasonably light along with the white I painted the walls earlier this year.

First job was to cut some sections of wood that will be screwed into the sides of the rafters so that I can fit the lights behind and under my numberplate collection without losing any of the brilliance.

Typically though, the wind and pouring rain broke up my fun after cutting the wood to size, so I started up and reversed the truck.



When I started the truck there was some smoke.... oooppss.

I also noted that there was a small puddle of oil on the trucks dribble spot. In the past it used to drop a few drops of oil per week after a good run..... this was not good for me.

So the plan is to have the engine, and mechanics seen to by a proper American V8 mechanic (cue cash register draining noises) after which I will start the body work. (Ohh, and no, I will not be attempting the engine work, I suspect valve stem seals, possibly rings and header gaskets)



Anyone know a decent, reliable, affordable V8 mechanic ??

PM me please.

What colour is the smoke, I would do the cheap things first before handing over a wad of cash mate.
I nearly did exactly what you are saying, but mine turned out to be fully synth oil being stuck in the car....The more liquid oil was leaking past nearly every gasket and also giving me white smoke.

Been trying to get this job done for some time.

Lights in the garage for when I start doing the body prep on the truck over winter.

Up to now I had two 4 foot strip lights, but early this year, Euan "Moosevan" sent me 10 used 6 footers from a school that he had renovated. So now I have been getting on with that.

I have added some strips of wood to widen the rafters and wired them in today, thanks as so many times to Mickey from next door for giving an extra hand and keeping me company.

Result down the one side, the two short lights will be removed and fitted elsewhere.

I am also fitting four 6 footers down the other side.

Hi mate, thanks for that.

I think the pads are a great idea, but I will carry on with my perspex sheet and sawdust from the woodshed.

MX5 thread is more of a PITA than this one at the moment.

When soaked in oil, sawdust can spontaneously ignite. Do you want a firebomb under your truck? Cat litter can be used, another option is cement powder, as used by race marshals.
Ttfn Glenn

Thanks mate, will do.

In other news.

Looking the opposite way at the "electrics work bench" some of my bits and a 1960 plate with a bit of wear, thanks Don.

Been out all day in Canterbury with Nicola, doing a bit of romantic reconnecting, after I asked her out on a date this morning. (Nice to date your wife from time to time) We ate too much bad food, had a McDonalds coffee and late afternoon a light lunch of Baguette with Boiled egg, mayo and loads of smoked bacon. We also bought some bargains through the day and held hands while shopping...... Yup, it's nice.


Mickey next door just came knocking on our front door, pretty intoxicated..... (though he would totally deny it, I still love him to bits)
Just in from a job he did in London today flooring an upmarket office and reception area in high traffic flooring. He managed to convince the project lead that he needed some of the flooring for my truck, as an alternative to the oak strips I still need to create out of the white oak skirting boards he brought home from another office refurbishment job a while back.
I was looking at this old oak flooring a while ago but decided it was way too pricey.

Got to love a bit of free stuff.

So tomorrow when he is back to normal, he will unload the van and bring it around.

Nicola's black iPhone just added for perspective.

About 6 months ago I sent one of my number plate trading buddies, Herb, on Garagejournal.com a parcel with some random stuff including some number plates I thought he may like.
After he got the parcel and messaged me it was obvious he did like the stuff I had sent.

This week I got in from work and found a parcel from Kansas......

Opened it and was blown away by the contents.

Herb had collected very specific things for me over the last six months.

Firstly, a 1:24 model of my Chevy in red, as a recovery/wrecker with a Corvette behind it.

Just this week I had forwarded an Ebay Germany link to Nicola of a 1:24 model of a C10 Chevy in the hope that the hint would get me one for Christmas.





The other things in the parcel including a used US Army number plate...... perfect for me as I am trying to specialize in what I collect.

Thanks a mil Herb !!!