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

[grizz]

So my attempted purchase of those 18” Dodge Charger wheels failed dismally. 
 

So until I can find something that I actually like and want, I decided to look in my kitchen. 
 

Pretty much unused for the last 10 years, tucked up high in a cupboard, there were two stainless steel balti bowls. 
 

I had measured the wheel rim with some callipers and found that I needed 150mm. 
Coincidence?? Balti dishes are 150mm diameter 

A quick trip to the garage, Mr Grinder woken up, handles rough cut and removed. 
 

Back to the car, trial fit…… Perfect. 
 

I have ordered 20 “chrome” wheel nut covers from Evilbay, will grind them down to almost just the hex caps and glue on with clear Sikaflex. 
 

The actual bowls will get black Sikaflex. 
 

Just a simple, cheap and temporary solution. 
 

.

[93fxdl]

Grizz used to be indecisive, now he's not so sure

6 hours ago, grizz said:

I am not sure where this car will end up……

But the equivalent of the green in a blue…..😍

Ttfn glenn 

[Westbay]

21 hours ago, grizz said:

But the equivalent of the green in a blue…..😍

 

[grizz]

1 hour ago, Westbay said:

 

Thanks. 
 

Maybe more this direction. 

[Westbay]

I asked it for mirror finish but not sure ....

[grizz]

@Westbay This is actually very nice. 
 

 

[Westbay]

Zoom req'd...

[eddyramrod]

On 16/01/2026 at 09:44, Westbay said:

 

Rover Henley Blue, 1990.  Perfect.

[grizz]

5 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Rover Henley Blue, 1990.  Perfect.

I keep changing my mind. 

 

[93fxdl]

Since you keep changing your mind, how about colour shift paint? 

Just look from a different angle and the colour changes

https://ebay.us/m/CYJhAm

[grizz]

22 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

Since you keep changing your mind, how about colour shift paint? 

Just look from a different angle and the colour changes

https://ebay.us/m/CYJhAm

Not really my thing 

[grizz]

Those little jobs nobody else does. 
 

Done a few jobs
 

Watch this

 

3 min.

 

.

 

 

[grizz]

I do love a bit of before and after. 
 

Dennis’ Chevelle. 
 

 

[Westbay]

Now , that I could get excited about!    😍    very nice, well done Dennis !  

[grizz]

Small jobs continue. 
 

Have you seen the roof lining yet??

Picture below. 
 

Yup….. looks like a prolapsed, you know 😳

So the suggestion from Dennis in St Louis is to use a specific sequence to remove the whole inner roof shell and then stripping and cleaning it thoroughly, followed by contact adhesive, on fresh lining and the shell. 
 

PROBLEM lies in not being able to find any foam backed roof lining material here in the UK of the right width of 1400mm minimum in fudge or beige   
 

So I started to investigate alternatives. 
 

I once did a Mazda Miata/MX5 hard top roof liner in Skulls and Roses for Nicola. 
 

It came out really good. 
 

So I thought about what else was out there, then remembered that also have random stuff stashed indoors (as you do) 

 

Mexican or Serape blankets come in so many different colours and designs. 
 

I chose the less busy design to drape over the roof, just to get an idea. 
 

If applied well and tidy it could work. 
 

 

. 

[Schaefft]

That could work although there must be a supplier for a suitable headliner material in beige. Wasn't @dollywobbler's Fairmont headliner about the same size?

[Westbay]

https://www.fabricuk.com/86-car-headlinings

 

182cm wide....

[MrBig]

Just browsing number plates this morning and spotted this:

Buy Now

[grizz]

2 minutes ago, MrBig said:

Just browsing number plates this morning and spotted this:

Buy Now

 

Crowdfund or donate……

I am waiting  

That plate on the car is probably about 35% of the cars cost. 
 

Find something a lot cheaper and interesting to put on it. 

[grizz]

18 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

That could work although there must be a supplier for a suitable headliner material in beige. Wasn't @dollywobbler's Fairmont headliner about the same size?

I am not great at extended searches. 
 

But………,

 

14 minutes ago, Westbay said:

https://www.fabricuk.com/86-car-headlinings

 

182cm wide....

Thanks Tony. 
 

SNAP !!
 

Fil found this one as well. 

https://www.fabricuk.com/fabrics/511-extra-wide-vehicle-headlining-fabric-2mm-foam-backed-4-way-stretch.html

£17.00 per meter plus shipping. 
 

So £34.00 to start off, plus decent glue. 
 

 

[eddyramrod]

@grizz I'm not sure if you were here when I had my last Cadillac, but I used a double-bed mattress topper from Dunelm.  It'll be somewhere in here... 

 

[grizz]

16 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

@grizz I'm not sure if you were here when I had my last Cadillac, but I used a double-bed mattress topper from Dunelm.  It'll be somewhere in here... 

 

Hi mate

I don’t get what you’re saying about the double bed ? 

[eddyramrod]

I bought a quilted mattress topper; double was just the right size for my 1973 Cadillac.  As a cheap fix, it worked well enough, although sewing it into place was a pain in the back.  And neck.  And shoulders.....

[93fxdl]

Since it's headliner ideas time, how about firing one of these in whilst it's apart?

https://ebay.us/m/Ee9XDg

Ttfn glenn 

[grizz]

Last night 5.15 Pedro texted. 
 

Car undriveable. 
 

So I went to look and found tyre shredded, front spring broken. 
 

So we came home after I moved the car way out of the way and lefta notefor any potential farmer or electric maintenance guy. 
 

Losds of advice from various quarters had me, trolley jack and cordless grinder headed out this morning after speaking to Cliff the local mechanic. 
 

Got to the stricken car  

Reversed it up onto a block of wood 

Trolkey jack in  

Alloy wheel off

Cordless Grinder out

4 cuts

Spare wheel on. 

Drove to Cliffs Automotive 4 miles at 30-40 mph

Car dropped off for replacement of spring. 
 

Pedro said to just get it done. Which suited me with this chest infection that seems set on staying around. 
 

Mate PaulY also offered to come supervise on Saturday for replacing. 
 

But Pedro goes to site twice a day, so I am happy not doing the 7 mile each way ferry till Saturday.  
 

Just going to head out and get a part worn tyre fitted to replace the destroyed one. 
 

Then home to sit and feel sorry for myself 😉

 

.
 

 

[93fxdl]

Above and beyond seems to be your minimum status

Ttfn glenn 

We are not worthy 

[grizz]

30 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

Above and beyond seems to be your minimum status

Ttfn glenn 

We are not worthy 

Thank you. 
 

Life is good. 
 

Karma? 
An incredible mistress. 
She will kick or kiss your butt. 
Choice is always mine. 
 

 

£30.00 

Part worn fitted, balanced. 

30 miles a day,  @40mph max

Dont zoom.  

 

 

[grizz]

28 days and 500 miles later I thought a short video on my impressions of this 34 year old car, with the legendary 3800 Series 1 motor, would be interesting to share with some of you guys on here.

 

 

https://youtu.be/fer4D31_Q3g?si=ZG395ti7_-667BBH

 

 

I am sure to have missed some important points.

 

But feel free to add them in.

[grizz]

 

[Westbay]

Interesting 'real world' appraisal of your new motor.

Headling reminds me of a Ford Consul Classic I had during my college days, headling looked perfectly ok when windows shut, but, crack open the drivers window by about 2 inches and the headling filled up like a balloon ! great fun with 'new' passengers 🤣😇