♻️ Grizz’s ~~ ASTRO Van 🚙 Renault SCENIC 1.5dci 🚙 1966 Chevy C10 🚘 1991 Oldsmobile 88 🚙 1999 Škoda Felicia Cube Van 1.9d 🚐

[grizz]

Story of the paint 

 

Wilkinsons, A shop that now only exists online and as a brand in another’s stock as far as I know, was selling off cans of paint. Maybe8-10 years ago. 

All the weird colours nobody else had bought or wanted. 

Of course its a dead heat between me loving a bargain at £1.50/can and quirky unloved colours that are perfect for two occasions….. when you need any random paint to cover a surface or when your demented genius sees an opportunity to score a few crazy points. 

 

With the cheap £10.00 mower, that now has at least 6 solid hours of my time and materials in it and clearly has cost more, but isn’t worth any more than before, I had one final thought. 

 

Buy some stickers online and apply them to make it go faster. 

Till I realised that I could possibly copy the online designs using more of the same, matched colours. 

 

So I created a bit more madness. 

 

Part four coming soon. 

 

 

 

Will it be an improvement? 

 

You tell me.  

 

 

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[grizz]

Sarah has really liked the final outcome of the mower. 
 

Good result I guess. 
 

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[grizz]

Tried to upload bits for a video.

 

Failed.

 

So stuck with a few photos instead.

 

Original plan with caking even more lipstick on the purple pig was to buy some stickers online.

 

But I decided that £10.00 in stickers would be a lot more expensive than spending two hours hand painting copies of stickers using spray paint from the same cans……

 

#Follow me for more great financial advice

 

I split some masking tape to get myself some guidance lines to paint along as the WHY SO SERIOUS? Sticker is clearly “hand written”

 

Then I found a very thin paintbrush and used a plastic cup to capture some paint from the spray can.

Allowing it to dry a bit so it’s not as runny as directly out the can, allows you to paint on a slanted surface.

 

A few coats of green.

 

Then coffee, biscuits and a 25 minute chat with a guy in South Africa about the beach buggy in Johannesburg that I really liked.

 

Also, some research to find a basic Joker mask or demented  smile to copy.

 

More paint, black, Red and a bit of purple to correct the eyes where I had used too much black.

 

Finally I pulled out some green vinyl to create some go faster stripes down the sides.

 

I guess I’ll try stopping now.

 

 

Before giving the mower to Sarah, I want to drain the engine oil.  Not sure if it has an easy access drain hole. Failing this, I will pump it out the top with a vacuum pump and replace with fresh oil.

Air cleaner filter wash out with petrol.

 

Oh, and start it up one more time.

 

 

The £10.00 mower 

 

There you go.

 

Changes

 

 

.

[93fxdl]

If there isn't a drain plug just tip the motor over and empty through the filler.

If you want the best life from a mower clean and paint the underside, rotting grass is really corrosive.

An easy life extender is to fit a hose connector to the deck so you can wash the underside by connecting a hose with the mower running 

Final suggestion, sharpen the blade

Ttfn glenn 

[grizz]

4 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

If there isn't a drain plug just tip the motor over and empty through the filler.

If you want the best life from a mower clean and paint the underside, rotting grass is really corrosive.

An easy life extender is to fit a hose connector to the deck so you can wash the underside by connecting a hose with the mower running 

Final suggestion, sharpen the blade

Ttfn glenn 

 

Bunch of great suggestions. 
 

Thank you. 

[grizz]

OK. So I lied.

 

Part 5 next. Final edition/addition

 

So I checked the oil level when I brought it home and wanted to change/top up the oil.

After my 11.00am coffee I headed down to take a look.

Almost dry dipstick, no sump plug, so I syphoned the oil out as my little pump didn’t really want to play ball.

Filled the oil up.

Petrol washed the very dirty air filter followed by ammonia based cleaner and drying it.

Reassembled it all.

Then cleaned up all the faded plastic with Auto Glym bumper and plastic finisher.

 

Took it off the work bench and started up first pull.

 

Perfect.

 

One more photo on the driveway and put it away in the garage. 

 

I believe Sarah is happy with it too. She was going to buy her son a new mower.

May have saved a few £££’s

 

Two minute video for you all. 

 

https://youtu.be/uDePG1HxLuo?si=C5DMYYrxCnqpdxIn

 

 

Now what should I build next.

 

 

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[grizz]

This is many of us. 

[grizz]

£1500.00 plus collection 250 miles away…….

 

So cheap. 
 

.

[grizz]

£1500.00 plus collection 250 miles away…….

 

 

 

So cheap.

 

.

 

 

Of course the fact that I was watching this just before I fell asleep last night, and these are featured among the list of 12 old cars that are seen as bulletproof that should run “forever” now adds to the itch. 

 

The fact that I don’t seem to keep many cars longer than it takes to get them to the next level, with a fresh MOT before looking for the next charity case, except for the Astro, into its third year of ownership, though I would sell it to someone who needs it more than me, means I can see a small vision for this. The seed of it’s basic theme, which was possibly planted by @craigrk 

It’s a theme that I have loved for a long time. But never had the balls to execute. 

In this case though…..😈😈😈😈

 

 

Watch this short video. You could change your religion by the end of it.  

 

 

 

 

More photos below. 

 

 

Yup…… 

 

 

I don’t know either. 

 

 

Random wagon photo of what I believe is a brother of it. 

 

 

 

 

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[grizz]

Dinner tonight. 

 

2 kg pork joint in the oven, potatoes and some of  Sarahs Brussels sprouts was amazing. 

 

Obviously enough food for the two lodgers, Polish Robert and Pedro. 

 

It was good. 

 

The neighbor commented earlier about my footwear in the garage. 

 

I guess he doesn’t know. 

 

.

[grizz]

Modern cars ehhhh……

 

Then I realise my daily is an 05 model, soon to resort under the 21 year old moniker. 

 

Came out of Morrisons after food shopping yesterday.
I’m pretty certain this is not unusual or vandalism.

 

The rear wiper arm, knurled bush and attachment all disintegrated.  

 

Any simple solution , cheap source of replacements out there?

 

An outright delete is at the end of my tether but the rear glass gets very messy in the rain, so I prefer to find a solution.

 

Any advice on other model part interchangeability appreciated too.

 

I actually posted this here because I did look online and found possible replacement parts. Bet you the knurled pot metal bush is not included. 

 

 

Life ehhhh ?? 

 

 

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[grizz]

And of course said replacement part. 
 

8% of cars cost

Maybe 15% of cars online value 

But less than 1% of cars worth t me. 
 

Life ehhhh?? 

[grizz]

Bought

[grizz]

Wooohooo. 
 

Delivered. 

[GlenAnderson]

That knurled metal bit will be part of the new/old wiper arm. If you undo the nut it should pull off the drive splines.

[ruffgeezer]

We used to have to put cardboard over the rear screen and grind them off on the Xsara Picassos that were also encumbered with this stupid fucking idea.

[grizz]

5 minutes ago, ruffgeezer said:

We used to have to put cardboard over the rear screen and grind them off on the Xsara Picassos that were also encumbered with this stupid fucking idea.

Kinda expecting that. 

[grizz]

17 minutes ago, GlenAnderson said:

That knurled metal bit will be part of the new/old wiper arm. If you undo the nut it should pull off the drive splines.

I  hope so. 
 

If not, pliers…..

[comfortablynumb]

You can get wiper arm pullers relatively cheap @grizz

That is, if you've not resorted to violence yet..😁

[grizz]

30 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

You can get wiper arm pullers relatively cheap @grizz

That is, if you've not resorted to violence yet..😁

Violence first. 
Safety second. 
 

When in doubt, use a bigger hammer. 
If that fails, you’ve got an electrical problem 

 

.

[grizz]

Done. 
 

Corrosion is always a pita. 
 

But it is fixed. 

[grizz]

Hmmmmmmmmmm…….??

 

 I think it would fit down my side alleyway. 
 

 

The 1991 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight (Delta 88) was a large, front-wheel-drive sedan with dimensions around 196.3 inches long, 72.6 inches wide, and 53.9 inches high, featuring a 110.8-inch wheelbase, offering spacious interior room for up to six passengers and ample trunk space (around 16.0 cubic feet) with its conservative American styling and powerful 3.8L V6 engine. 

Key Dimensions:

• Overall Length: 196.3 inches (approx. 16.36 ft)
• Overall Width: 72.6 inches (approx. 6.05 ft)
• Height: 53.9 inches (approx. 4.49 ft)
• Wheelbase: 110.8 inches
• Curb Weight: Around 3,248 - 3,303 lbs
• Cargo Capacity: 16.0 cubic feet
• Ground Clearance: 5.6 inches 

Other Specs:

• Engine: 3.8L V6
• Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
• Seating: Up to 6 

[GlenAnderson]

Running one of those “for ever” will be a good deal harder this side of the Atlantic. That said, Rock Auto and the internet probably make Hoo no less remote than parts of rural US. 

[grizz]

Dimensions as you know, are my biggest problem.  

 

So if this width includes rear view mirrors, we are good, because AFAIK the mirrors do Not tuck in like the Astro. 
 

my extreme maxim available width is 82 inches. 
 

Key Dimensions:

• Overall Length: 196.3 inches (approx. 16.36 ft)
• Overall Width: 72.6 inches (approx. 6.05 ft)
• Height: 53.9 inches (approx. 4.49 ft)

[Westbay]

11 hours ago, grizz said:

Dimensions as you know, are my biggest problem.  

 

So if this width includes rear view mirrors, we are good, because AFAIK the mirrors do Not tuck in like the Astro. 
 

my extreme maxim available width is 82 inches. 
 

 

Key Dimensions:

• Overall Length: 196.3 inches (approx. 16.36 ft)
• Overall Width: 72.6 inches (approx. 6.05 ft)
• Height: 53.9 inches (approx. 4.49 ft)

Does this help ...

https://www.autodata1.com/en/car/chevrolet/astro/astro-43-i-v6-192-hp

[grizz]

48 minutes ago, Westbay said:

Does this help ...

https://www.autodata1.com/en/car/chevrolet/astro/astro-43-i-v6-192-hp

Thank you.
 

I can measure the Astro as it’s outside my kitchen. 
 

But what I can’t establish is if the Oldsmobile dimensions online are outside edge of mirrors or body line. 
 

ALSO……..

 

 Google suggests the mirrors can be folded back, like the Astro, it would mean slimming down the car to get it down here. 
 

With the Astro, I tuck one mirror back before reversing down there and just keep the drivers side mirror two inches off the wall. This means the passenger side is about 3 inches off the fence posts that obviously protrude as well. 
 

Also……. There is actually two gentle kinks in the fence if you look closely. 
So you also have to manipulate the vehicle while reversing. 
 

First world problems ehhhh.  

[Westbay]

A quick search for door mirror info/replacement suggests that they are power mirrors , so far so good, but, they may both fold together which is not so good ...

What you need is a friend in USA to ask ... 😇

[grizz]

Just now, Westbay said:

A quick search for door mirror info/replacement suggests that they are power mirrors , so far so good, but, they may both fold together which is not so good ...

I believe there are two options. 
 

Manual and Electronic. 
 

The seller is home Friday night but I like to check my facts myself or through guys like you. 
 

Bit of a team effort again. 
 

 

.

[GlenAnderson]

If you back up fast enough it’ll go in. 

[grizz]

1 hour ago, GlenAnderson said:

If you back up fast enough it’ll go in. 

 What Dennis suggested as well. 
 

You guys know stuff.