The Swiss Chris Ford F15

Keith Webb · #1 01-02-09, 08:59

Bit of a red letter day here today - the F15 moved under her own power. Even drove her a little distance without any trouble - brakes are good (they should be!) changes gears easily, and the gearbox is nice and quiet, relatively speaking.

Still quite a lot to do before Chris comes, but at least he'll have his new toy.

zemsi · #2 01-02-09, 19:12

... jjjjjiiiiiipppppiiii

Excellent Keith! A shame I missed this historic moment. But there will be another when a Swiss first drives her after 67 years

As Bob would say, only about 35 days to go and she is going to be deflowered by my Swiss Gear Polisihing abilities as seen on Keith's Coroway 2007 DVD

Greetings
Chris

Keith Webb · #3 01-02-09, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemsi

... jjjjjiiiiiipppppiiii

Excellent Keith! A shame I missed this historic moment. But there will be another when a Swiss first drives her after 67 years

As Bob would say, only about 35 days to go and she is going to be deflowered by my Swiss Gear Polisihing abilities as seen on Keith's Coroway 2007 DVD

Greetings
Chris

The gears are so far completely unpolished as they are all new. Perhaps you should practice on another blitz first.

cliff · #4 01-02-09, 21:05

Where's the photo's of this historical moment then?

Mike Timoshyk · #5 01-02-09, 23:18

Congrats on the F15 movement. Being from the birthplace of the Ford Blitz it is good to hear another has been resurected.

cheers

Mike Timoshyk

42 F15A
42 MB
52 M28

sth65pac · #6 02-02-09, 11:22

Cliff,

Dont you know????

Keith is building suspense for Year of the Blitz II I am sure that the F15 will feature in it..

If it doesn't I will want my money back

Not long to Corowa; Time is against me & my F15A, but I will be there. Unless someone has a float for free the old girl is staying home.

Chris: LEARN DOUBLE CLUTCHING NOW>>> so you don't end up with a set of spare teeth in the bottom of the box.

Ian

Keith Webb · #7 02-02-09, 11:38

Quote:

Keith is building suspense for Year of the Blitz II I am sure that the F15 will feature in it.. If it doesn't I will want my money back

Well, as you can imagine the business of restoration is dirty and all-consuming so all I have is a series of still images.

Here's one I took this evening after fitting the front shell - a fiddly procedure with the splash panels in the way of everything it seems.

Still a lot to do. Hopefully will fit the spare wheel carrier (Aust type) tomorrow. I'll put it on with the spare on the drivers side for Chris in European conditions, not that I expect him to use the spare. (Does anyone ever get a flat in Switzerland?)

zemsi · #8 02-02-09, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Does anyone ever get a flat in Switzerland?

... hmm, never had a flat tyre in my family or friends. We have very clean roads with no stones etc

The only flat tyre I've had so far was in Invercargill NZ, when a stupid horned Kiwi tried his tyre stab abillities at my car before piercing all 4 tyres of his former girlfriends car. That was the only night I parked my car on a public road, next to my backpackers. Shit happens...

sth65pac · #9 03-02-09, 10:45

Great to see its more than a myth.. It is looking good;

Looks like all you have to do is the wiring, headlights, clearance lamps, rear lamps, indicators, fit some chairs, windscreens, knobs, dash, doors, tray, a coupla fuel tanks, brush guard, canvas top, new tyres, tac plate, bridge plate, number plate, only 41 days to Corowa....give or take a few.

She's getting there though. I am very pleased for you.

Chris, practice that double clutching...

Ian

Keith Webb · #10 03-02-09, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by sth65pac

Great to see its more than a myth.. It is looking good;

Looks like all you have to do is the wiring, headlights, clearance lamps, rear lamps, indicators, fit some chairs, windscreens, knobs, dash, doors, tray, a coupla fuel tanks, brush guard, canvas top, new tyres, tac plate, bridge plate, number plate, only 41 days to Corowa....give or take a few.

She's getting there though. I am very pleased for you.

Chris, practice that double clutching...

Ian

Yes, that's most of it - also the rear body is being welded to repair some rust before painting and fitting.

Today doing some fiddly stuff like installing the drivers toeplate and throttle linkages which seem to fit really well.

zemsi · #11 03-02-09, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sth65pac

Chris, practice that double clutching...

... hmm, well, unfortunately I can only practice double clutching in Aussie. All European cars have nowadays a synchronised gearbox (or how you call it)

I can do the double clutching exept changing gears downwards from Gear 3 to Gear 2. That's the most tricky one for me. When I drove Max's Ute from Yass to Corowa and back I could nearly do the double clutching.

However, with Keith's new gearbox I should change gears like a little goodess

hi, hi, hi

Keith Webb · #12 03-02-09, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemsi

I can do the double clutching exept changing gears downwards from Gear 3 to Gear 2. That's the most tricky one for me. When I drove Max's Ute from Yass to Corowa and back I could nearly do the double clutching.

However, with Keith's new gearbox I should change gears like a little goodess

hi, hi, hi

Just as well the gears stand up to a lot of polishing!

The trick is to let the truck slow to the right speed because of the large gap between third and second gear, and also be relaxed about it. If you're stressed it's much harder.

cletrac (RIP) · #13 03-02-09, 19:34

I've always found that shifting gears without using the clutch works best on non-synchro trannies. It's mainly a matter of matching the engine rpm to the tranny rpms.

Keith Webb · #14 03-02-09, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by cletrac

I've always found that shifting gears without using the clutch works best on non-synchro trannies. It's mainly a matter of matching the engine rpm to the tranny rpms.

Good. Then I can remove the new clutch I put in?

Actually it is a good way to do it, but it takes experience, practice and a real feel for the vehicle - and not a little courage if you've never done it before.

Keith Webb · #15 05-02-09, 11:41

This is the sound of Swiss Chris driving his CMP in the mountains...

Sound

zemsi · #16 05-02-09, 19:53

... and that's my smile

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #17 05-02-09, 21:10

Jeeez Keefy, you are a Wally. Great find.

Bob

Max Hedges · #18 05-02-09, 21:50

Chris there are two of you smiling in the photo does this mean you are going to use the blitz as a honeymoon vehicle?

Max

zemsi · #19 07-02-09, 09:14

... probably Max, if I take back a Aussie Jillaroo as well

Keith Webb · #20 07-02-09, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemsi

... probably Max, if I take back a Aussie Jillaroo as well

Well you'll have the perfect chick magnet.

cliff · #21 07-02-09, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Well you'll have the perfect chick magnet.

No I have the perfect Chick magnet. Her name is Princess and she is my Assistance Dog and constant companion.

Max Hedges · #22 08-02-09, 10:33

Chris I'll have to have a talk to you when you arrive I think you've got the wrong idea about Aussie Jillaroos.

Kathy

Keith Webb · #23 08-02-09, 10:57

I put the body on today.

What chick will be able to resist you in this Chris?

zemsi · #24 08-02-09, 16:50

... I don't think that any chick could resist me

And Kathy, that's the image we have in mind when we think in Europe about Jillaroos

cliff · #25 08-02-09, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemsi

... I don't think that any chick could resist me

Princess could not stop laughing when she saw this one!

Max Hedges · #26 08-02-09, 21:32

Chris it's not the Blitz that attracts the Jillaroos it's the Jackaroos, did you notice them in the photo, and I'm sure the Jillaroos have changed since that the photo was taken, by the way it takes more than a raincoat to be a Jillaroo.

Kathy

maple_leaf_eh · #27 10-02-09, 05:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliff

No I have the perfect Chick magnet. Her name is Princess and she is my Assistance Dog and constant companion.

Funny, I never knew loving old trucks were a registered disability.

Out of curiousity, if she is a service dog (as we call them in Canada) what does she help you with? I've seen many blind and low vision service dogs. A lady at work had one so she because she could not hear fire alarm frequencies. Some people have them for calming in social situation. One lady in Ottawa kept a small monkey for that reason, but the bus drivers refused to let her ride the bus, which made her doubly anxious.

cliff · #28 10-02-09, 05:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Funny, I never knew loving old trucks were a registered disability.

Oh yes it is a mental disability

Princess comes into her own when I am by myself at home. As I cannot hear people come to the door she will come and get me. She also is trained to turn lights on and partially trained to pick things up for me as well. As I can still walk a bit I have really neglected her training a bit but as she is also a companion dog I guess it does not matter.

New dog laws for Blind, hearing and assistant dogs are due out here in Queensland this year as only Blind dogs are covered at present I only have the anti-discrimination laws to help me if someone objects to Princess coming into a shop with me.

Howard · #29 10-02-09, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemsi

...that's the image we have in mind when we think in Europe about Jillaroos...

Ummm.... Chris... I don't know how to put this... Those girls would last about 15 seconds on a cattle station! (I would last about a minute & a half)
Most Jillaroos I have met could kick-start a Kenworth.
And bight the nuts off a bulldozer.

sth65pac · #30 10-02-09, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

I put the body on today.

What chick will be able to resist you in this Chris?

Keith,

The truck its looking fine WITH a body

Great work. Is completion day next month??

Ian