GRIZZ’s English 2001 S10 Extra Cab 4.3 V6 Truck

[Grizz1963]

New subscribers appeared on Retrorides after seeing a YouTube clip on the Canta.

Commented thus:

As a owner of a Canta in the Netherlands, it's hilarious to see one outside of the Netherlands!! Can't wait to see more!!!

99 Precent of all Canta's are the same when it comes to wheels. Other things however get modded a pretty bit. Mine for example has a self made compartment in the back (will share pictures later if intrested), A audio system, A DAB+ Radio and a lot of other little things like LED bulbs! You mostly see them with 160CC and 200CC engines so your one is pretty rare to see. There are most common to see around Amsterdam and get used for everything like elderly people to teenagers since they are license free in the Netherlands!

If you want more information, feel free to ask!!

[Grizz1963]

Right…….

Where were we?

Kinda behind on the postings and updates by a few weeks due to various unforeseen circumstances.

So we got to this point, and I actually did record a bit of it.

Glued the bits of film together, more as a record of where this Canta has been for future reference.



I actually reported on these bits before, but had not thrown the YouTube video together and was not planning on doing one.

But I do know that some guys to enjoy the detail, in order to be able to comment and give advice.

So here you go……,,,


https://youtu.be/FifQconAICg


Sorry for those who do fall asleep along the way.


Better, up to date, update maybe later today.


.

[Palf70Step]

Nice work Rian. Love ur back up activator handle.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice work Rian. Love ur back up activator handle.

Thanks Bill, yes, they knob is missing, but I am sure a small threaded nut/knob will work if I manage to add a thread to the bit that is there.








BY NOW MOST PEOPLE KNOW I LOVE FREE CASH, OR STUFF.

It all translates into being able to do other things, buy stuff, or even give stuff away, things that make me feel good.

My younger brother “DOZER” retired after 41 years in the military Engineering Corps as a Warrant Officer, or Sergeant Major or Sargeant Major depending on where in the world you are.

We grew up in a time when fixing things, repurposing, or reusing was the norm, and hand me down clothes from two, three, four other cousins was the norm in our family.

Our father and mother both grew up on farms and knew the value of gathering wild fruits, foods, mushrooms etc, and they taught us these skills as well.

Of course not everyone cares for this sort of thing, and for many it is not good unless shop bought and issued with a “Use by” date.

Working across Africa in various war zones in Burundi, DRC and others, building roads, dams, homes, repairing ravaged infrastructure, my brother was able to often use the skills learned as a kid, finding fruit, vegetable and other things like wild honey etc. to supplement, to the surprise of his colleagues on these operations, their standard issue rations.

Back home at the Engineers base where he was attached, the old skills and pleasure of gathering “Free cash” or food etc continued.

With a very keen eye, he had long since identified quite a few Pecan Nut trees, both in the base, and on some of the village streets where he lives.

So every year during the season, he gets around and gathers all the pecans as the trees fruit, and then sits at home removing the shells.

These are the trees, hiding in plain sight.

They seem to also fruit at different times, which means he has a “harvest season”







Saturday he went over to the military base he retired from and got his first collection together.

He has confessed that the first harvest does get eaten mostly as they get shelled.

Then they collect and store them for use through the year.

Rusty, his one rescue dog keeping an eye on the goods.



Shelling and tasting…..



Because the Pecans are so freshly gathered, he and his son tend to dry and even lightly roast them in the oven before storing them.




I am actually quite envious of these Pecan nuts, as they are not that cheap to buy, and interestingly, as kids, growing up, my dad was involved in South Africa in some local farming initiatives, one of which was pecan nut production, and every year a large bag of unshelled pecans would find their way home to us.

Great memories.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Da1sycat

Great story, and you and your brother look a lot like each other. Interesting to see the blue skies yet doggo in his coat. I guess the temps vary a lot this time of year?

Thanks, as I often tell people, we were fortunate enough to grow up in an era when men were men and sheep were nervous…….

I think we grew up quite privileged, being taught the value of things and to survive somewhat.

Quote from my brother:

Damn!!! We look like "armgatte" (poor arses) with our worn “garage clothes” that is actually what we wear at home because sometimes a fart escapes upwards toward our brains and then we decide to do something spur of the moment. When we realise we are wearing our "town clothes" (Grizz in a suit and tie for work, me historically in my military uniform) that are now all dirty or damaged. Note Grizz's patented Safety Flip Flops etc!! Our teabags get dried, recycled, and then stored in a bottle with paraffin/white spirit/turpentine to be used as fire starters as I BBQ a few times a week and every weekend,(trick learned from Grizz's buddy Maritz in Cape Town years ago). Much cheaper than fire lighters!! Yes, free $$$’s is good, even if you have to do a bit of work for it.

I am always surprised that people see us resembling each other.

Rusty is an old man now, and being a Daschund has no real fur so even late Autumn is cold for him, as SA is headed into winter now.

[Grizz1963]

Sometimes the little things in life can get you down, like the weather screwing up days off work….

Then sometimes the little things in life can make a huge difference.

Like a remote body microphone to use while recording on my phone for the YouTube channel.

I am aware that often, walking toward, or working with my back to the camera, the sound fades, more than it should.

Yesterday, rain was a problem, though I was actually working…..

But the Amazon guy/girl/whatever had delivered an envelope some time early, really early.

So I found an envelope addressed to @craigrk in the porch, texted a pic and said he had a parcel 200 miles from home at my place…..

No, it is for you, came the reply.

So I finished my breakfast and opened the parcel.


Bloody brilliant.


iPhone remote Bluetooth clip on microphone.


This could be a game changer (less swearing under my breath I guess)

Will test it out when I work on the Canta next.

Anyone use one before?


Weather changed again later, but in between…… a nice optimistic pic.










Almost the weekend……

[Grizz1963]

Saw a 13HP for sale yesterday…….

VS this 11hp big block.

Worth it?

[CG]

So your saying the little car is OK to use on all roads, does that include the highways (motor ways)? I didnt think that car could hit those speeds.

I too think your brother looks similar to you. Its funny when you say he is an old man now. Im the oldest of four boys in my family, I wonder if my youngest brothers tells everyone Im an old man haha! Ten years age difference between us.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by CG

So your saying the little car is OK to use on all roads, does that include the highways (motor ways)? I didnt think that car could hit those speeds.

I too think your brother looks similar to you. Its funny when you say he is an old man now. Im the oldest of four boys in my family, I wonder if my youngest brothers tells everyone Im an old man haha! Ten years age difference between us.

Morning

I would not go on motorways, ever……

Even local “A Roads” which as 70mph local roads, not easily.

But town driving etc, yes.


I meant that Rusty, the dog is an old man.

My brother is younger than me, I am 60 and far from “old”

Deon worked at the same job/employer all his life for 41 years, so has managed to retire successful.

Me, no chance.

[Grizz1963]

Remember when I got this car, just how messy it was?

Once I had removed all the loose rubbish and rubble from it, the floor and mat was still in a condition that I expected it to need replacing.










So in my typical style, I rethought it all, and the hassle of having to undo the seat base, seat belt anchors etc in order to remove the mat, and to replace it with a new carpet.

Of course this makes no sense, except if you like polishing turds…….


So I pushed the car out, raised the front end up on some ramps and got going.


Sprayer nozzle on the hose to wet and wash it as much as possible, to see if any of the carpet pile could be revived…….



Followed by a hard brush and a lot of brushing and washing over and over……

Then Fairy liquid to aid the lifting process.

More rinsing and finally this result.

The carpet pile was revived, and once dried out, the colour returned to a uniform dark grey/black.







My old lodger John, the driving school instructor had come over for a few hours, to check up on me and have a few cups of tea and biccies.

He was amused by the car, and declined driving it….. thankfully.




Process was filmed by John as he is a sneaky guy with a camera.


https://youtu.be/Gn1lmnaA5W8


Another Job done and Canta standing drying out.





Weather looks promising today.


May get something done.


Fingers crossed.

[Grizz1963]

https://youtu.be/HlWoqFJbvTs

https://youtu.be/HlWoqFJbvTs

[Grizz1963]

Was looking for some old, cast off tubular headers for a thing I want to try build.

And just like magic…..

A set of headers made their appearance.

Still need to be packaged and shipped, so final cost to be established by that.

But, headers - Free.

Thanks.



Yes, I know what it should become, some more parts collecting, grinding, cutting, welding……

Hopefully a win.

[CG]

You sure find a lot of neat treasures just tossed out. Do people leave this stuff on the curb with free signs?

Ill be mowing our lawn later this afternoon for the first time this year. You're 8 hours ahead of me, you're winding down and we are winding up.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by CG

You sure find a lot of neat treasures just tossed out. Do people leave this stuff on the curb with free signs?

Ill be mowing our lawn later this afternoon for the first time this year. You're 8 hours ahead of me, you're winding down and we are winding up.

Tell you what CG…..

I can e here from South Africa, and the amount of wastage in the UK is incredible.

And despite the fact I may seem like a dick, often good stuff is thrown out in ares of depravity, where people are unemployed and on benefits.

Of course just mentioning it, makes me a racist a bad man, and a bunch of other things people get accused of……

I always have my eyes open.

As far as signs for free etc, none of that.

Just thrown onto the sidewalk and at some point it gets picked up by scrap men/women/whatever’s.

I see a $150 kids bike that will be used for a while and passed on to someone who needs it, keeping the money in Sallys pocket.

[Grizz1963]

Bank holiday weekend, or public holiday weekend

Lots of plans.

Failed

So the doors of the Canta are pretty much frames covered in moulded fibre plastic or something.

23 years of use and abuse have seen them scabbed up like this.



So they needed to be sanded back , possibly treated with a rust stabiliser or converter and then painted again.

I cleared the Rezin Rockit away so that there would be no flying grit on it, and masked the inside of the Canta with pull sheets.

I really do love the look of this car, from the rear and front.

The stance does do it for me.



Of course Mickey came around the moment he realised I was working.

At 78 he is taking it a bit easier now. But loves getting involved or in the way.



Grinder and fine 120 grit flap disc



Of course I knew there would be damage to the fabric, but also plan on renewing it all when the time comes, with new vinyl.

Ground back and treated with the VACTAN rust converter/stabiliser.







Once the VACTAN had dried, as it was hot and two coats were applied, it was time to paint the first coat of exterior use black enamel paint (it is good enough in this case, for this car)

I had bought this previously as there was no black Hammerite available, in the hope it would work well enough for most applications.

Mixed through and applied.

I was not impressed.



Thin coat all over the sanded and treated sections as well as the good parts, in order to get an even finish.



Good looking result.



By 4.30pm I shut shop and carried on with other jobs……

Later after 6.00 I went to check the paint and realised it was still wet……

Not a good sign.

Sunday it continued to be wet and come off on the fingers, even after a light touch.

Today, by midday it was still tacky and stuck to my fingers.

I am so unimpressed as I had more jobs to do, but cannot come near the car for fear of getting paint all over myself and my garage clothes.

Maybe I will be clearing all the paint off by next weekend.

Weekend over, not happy.

Video :

https://youtu.be/98TEXIFcKYU


End shows the paint sticking to my fingers.


.

[Grizz1963]

After weeks of rubbish weather and bad excuses, the Kings coronation weekend brought me a dry afternoon on Sunday.

So I removed the front engine mount and made up a plate to reinforce and support the whole thing.

And of course the mounting plate was bent so the BFH came out to play.





Cleaned the old weld off and prepped for welding.



Hole in the front chassis support to close up..



Plan was angle iron to wrap around……



But that plan ditched as it was going to be a fight to make it take up less space.

So 30mm x 4mm flat bar used instead.

Cut to size and prepared.



In place and clamped for tack welding to original mount bracket.



Once that was done, I wrapped up for the day and spent some time tidying up,the garden, planting various flowers, and a lavender bush.

Bonnie came to visit with Sally and of course George was growling like a lion, he had already attacked Bonnie as she came into the house…..

So she was consigned to the garden on a 21 foot or 7 meter lunge lead.

Happy dog, loads of toys and in company.



And a video

https://youtu.be/Lm13TLFdxIA

In case you cannot be bothered reading the words 😉

[Grizz1963]

Monday morning, being a public holiday, after the king got his crown, meant more time for small jobs.

Andy got in around 7.30am from a 13 hr night shift, grabbed a beer and went upstairs to FaceTime his wife and kids.

I had breakfast, then went to open the garage and unpack the tools we would need and get the Canta ready for a quick weld…. By Andy.

Typically, George was there to inspect and do the QC.



After tacking the new base plate, and the engine mount plate, they were welded up on both sides, with a double run on the inside.





Then I put it all back together, in position and Andy ran some welds all around.

Weirdly, a couple of holes popped up on the two sides of the thin chassis material.

Which he obviously closed up.






Followed by grinding back with a flap disc.



And then a TEST DRIVE

I have to say, it is completely different to before, when the engine was bouncing around.

And once the belts are replaced and tensioned correctly, along with the throttle cable, and as planned a conversion from hand controls, back to foot control pedals by mate Martin, I suspect this car will be a completely different creature.

It has also managed to be a bit more aggressive in the launch and take off stakes.

Leaving marks on the concrete and grass.




VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/vnTCbvl-V8M

After testing, and parking the Canta Andy had a beer, keep in mind, his clock is completely switched around till September, and I had a coffee.

Later I went back and masked up, and painted the new metal and welds black.


This is a small job, but suddenly it allows a load of other tasks to be initiated or completed.


Next stop will be to find some belts for the CVT and alternator in the UK, rather than importing at cost of shipping and import duties, from Europe as we are not in the same trade zone anymore.


Progress is Progress as Ta2Don always says.






.

[Grizz1963]

Small jobs, often we avoid them because they are awkward or easy to overlook.

Case in point, the rear light.

I knew from day one it was broken and managed to find a replacement UK Nova rear light. Slightly different, but intact.

The price resonated really well with me as well, as I support Help for Heroes being ex military as well.

So part of Sunday was spent doing house and garden jobs, including watering Mickey’s wife’s garden and seedlings, she has a lot. I also took my mower around and cut his Tetris-like lawn.

Then back to the Canta, where I knew a job had been waiting, the rear light replacement.

Interior covered in layers of fabric and Velcro, and all glued together, so I “removed” some of it to get in there.



Removed all the connectors carefully with long nosed pliers as they were corroded, and in an effort to be able to reassemble them, used some masking tape to lay them out in order.



Next job necessitated a Stanley knife and a prayer as the old light was glued in with Tiger seal or something similarly brutal.

But I got it out.



Old VS New.

Colours differ nd of course now I have two reverse lamps, so a bright red lightbulb in the fog light side, plus swapping the wires for the sides needs to happen for UK road worthiness.



Interior fitting done, hopefully not going to need to remove it again.





Fitted.



And final result.



It is a small job that took a while to get to, and then the cleanup etc took a bit of time, but I am very pleased.

Once again it shows, small jobs take a load of time.

VIDEOS:

https://youtu.be/TEXRBfVZAEs

And high speed.

https://youtu.be/2zziYzBXdr0

Thanks for checking in.

.

[Palf70Step]

Nice work Rian.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice work Rian.

Thanks Bill.

I am sure you will agree, doing a half-ass job takes as much time as doing it right.

So easy choice really.







Yesterday started as normal.

Two business meetings booked.

Then the lightening started to strike.

So 11.30 meeting, head office announces 7/10 marketeers are going into consultation.

3.00pm national business review meeting more bad news, group 1, 2, 3 called into different meetings.

Bottom line….. third redundancy action in 3 years.

I have been kept in my role and it will be made bigger and expanded, thank fcuk that I go to work every day and have been growing the last two years.

There is a lot to be said for getting out of bed and going to work every day.

Sadly, a bunch of people will be made redundant. Again.

I am getting real tired of this Sh!t.

Seriously.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to hear you are being kept Rian. Sorry to hear about the others.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad to hear you are being kept Rian. Sorry to hear about the others.

Indeed Bill.




Back to our regular transmission

I asked on a Dutch Canta group if anyone hed fitted other wheels or tyres to one of these.

Only reply was a guy who fitted slightly widder and very different scooter tyres.

Not sure what to make of it yet, but I think it looks OK.

[Grizz1963]

Still P!$$€d at the way this week unfolded, today was a loss in many ways.

But I guess in real terms it did deliver something intangible…… mind space.

Nick Wheeler popped in for a few hours chat and looking at various aspects of this little car (he accidentally called it a car) when I was messing around with a propane gas bottle and some V8 headers for something else that I went to make.

I also spent some time shooting the breeze with him.

Looking at a few of the small issues that add up to being the mess this car currently is.

The front disc brakes seem to work, needing to be serviced though.

Nick also identified the thread and size of the missing nut that is meant to hold the choke cable and knob in place.

So an old wheel nut was cut back to create a new one (to be fitted)




I also grabbed an old rag, and some petrol and wiped away all the sticky paint from two/three weeks ago.

Long overdue job.






Yesterday I had taken the day off work to also just get my head clear…..

I went shopping for work clothes, and then headed out to mate Darren’s over on the Isle of Sheppey.

A few hours with him and the guys in the engineering shop always clears my mind.

Like me, he is a bit of a collector and hoarder, but also just to move stuff on to other people…..

I scored a Lotus 7 type nose cone he insisted on me taking.

I only took it because I knew where it needed to go.

A while ago I got a non running, minus carburettor, V-Twin lawn tractor from @frankenhealey


This was the best option yet, compared to scratch building a new engine cowl.


Just a test placement.





Nothing else done.


Tomorrow will be better.

[Grizz1963]

Still P!$$€d at the way this week unfolded, today was a loss in many ways.

But I guess in real terms it did deliver something intangible…… mind space.

Nick Wheeler popped in for a few hours chat and looking at various aspects of this little car (he accidentally called it a car) when I was messing around with a propane gas bottle and some V8 headers for something else that I went to make.

I also spent some time shooting the breeze with him.

Looking at a few of the small issues that add up to being the mess this car currently is.

The front disc brakes seem to work, needing to be serviced though.

Nick also identified the thread and size of the missing nut that is meant to hold the choke cable and knob in place.

So an old wheel nut was cut back to create a new one (to be fitted)




I also grabbed an old rag, and some petrol and wiped away all the sticky paint from two/three weeks ago.

Long overdue job.






Yesterday I had taken the day off work to also just get my head clear…..

I went shopping for work clothes, and then headed out to mate Darren’s over on the Isle of Sheppey.

A few hours with him and the guys in the engineering shop always clears my mind.

Like me, he is a bit of a collector and hoarder, but also just to move stuff on to other people…..

I scored a Lotus 7 type nose cone he insisted on me taking.

I only took it because I knew where it needed to go.

A while ago I got a non running, minus carburettor, V-Twin lawn tractor from @frankenhealey


This was the best option yet, compared to scratch building a new engine cowl.


Just a test placement.





Nothing else done.


Tomorrow will be better.

[Grizz1963]

Not been able to pick up speed this weekend, including Friday that I had taken off.

Eventually got going around 11.00

Ran into a wall, despite high hopes for a few jobs to get done.

But got one done.

Choke.

Before………



After




Long winded video

https://youtu.be/KM_bFAgoLTk


Also noticed that I need to find some of this weird tubing for the heating system.



@frankenhealey will know that there are alternatives, the drive belt, as fitted is incorrect. Correct code is 704040



Little by little we will get there.


Weekend over.


Again.