Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Keith Webb]

Good to hear your engine is looking good inside Tony!

In my younger days I pulled many flatheads to pieces for reconditioning while working for Hughes Auto Spares and fortunately never had any trouble with the bolts inside the water pumps apart from occasionally having to hammer on a slightly smaller socket when the head was a little too corroded to fit the correct one. The water seems not to get down into those threads.

Good luck with the rest of the engine, enjoying this unfolding thread.

[Private_collector]

Does anyone have any information on ball park prices fetched for good quality CMP Tool Box, the type that mounts immediately behind the cab, in line with the spare wheel carrier? I know I have seen a couple or these go on ebay in last couple of years, but for the life of me I do not recall how much they sold for.

Any input welcomed, gents.

[Robert Farmer]

Tony, have a look at this page
http://www.southerncrossmilitaria.com/whats-new.html
Scroll down near the bottom of the page.
Robert.

[Private_collector]

Cheers Robert, thats a start.

Judging by the tyre carrier price in the previous advert, that the tool box would be roughly $250-300 ish, if on its own. When I get back to my home computer, I'll show a couple of photos that will explain why I am asking for the info.

[Private_collector]

Righto, thats better. Over a week ago, I took a call from a third party that passed on a message to phone an acquaintance. The message concerned some parts he discovered while clearing out the shed of his recently departed uncle. This morning he arranged for me to look over the parts.
Seat with original canvas 2.jpg Seat with original canvas 3.jpg
The first interesting piece is this seat, which still has the original canvas covering. Obviously it's not good enough to actually use as is, but the canvas is all there, including the tabs that attach the base to the seat cushion. This will come in extremely handy to take a pattern from, for it is my intention to manufacture a limited number of reproductions at some point in the future. That won't happen for some time yet though.
Tool box new 1.jpg Tool box new 2.jpg
This is the other item which was of interest. Apart from the addition of some small holes the original owner drilled to add legs, there is no damage to this item. Not one patch of rust, and no dents!
Tool box new 3.jpg
Even the shelf inside is virtually undamaged, as is the door hinge.

I don't need more seats, and I already have a tool box (not this good), but at the purchase price, I couldn't pass them by. Each one cost me $50.00. I did tell the seller that I considered the box might be worth $200.00 or more if advertised in the right location, but the fellow didn't want the bother, and only wanted to see them go to a good home. I have a good home for them.


P.S: Although I haven't been able to continue working on the front end in recent weeks, I have put considerable time researching best sources for the many engine components I want to buy. I'm aiming to retain original specifications where possible, and comparing costs of replacement items VS regrinding or reboring etc. has shown that if buying right, replacement can be cheaper that getting engineering done to tired old bits. I'll write more about this in coming days or weeks, and show some of the examples I have found.

Also got in touch with Ajays Ford V8 Parts in NZ (http://www.fordv8parts.com/). They now have the B7557 grease hoses for clutch throwout shaft. Two should be on the way to me Monday. Don't remember exact cost, but certainly less than $20.00 and that's New Zealand dollars, which means it's about $17 to $18AUD. Get em while they're hot, guys!

[Private_collector]

Thought it was about time to get back to work on the front axle assembly.
Front backing plates blasted.jpg Rusty backing plate stripped .jpg front backing plate - filler.jpg front backing plate under putty.jpg
A number of parts were returned after sandblasting. Wheel hubs, hub caps, steering end brackets & both backing plates are now either under primer/putty or painted. One of plate needed a little cosmetic work before priming. I HATE panelbeating!
front backing plate new shoe adjusters x2.jpg
The plate I got from Jacques needed to have the brake shoe cam adjuster assemblies welded back on. Not a diffficult job, just fiddly, and as usual I had to make a special piece of steel with a hole through it to access the surface of the cam while allpying MIG weld onto it. I used two pieces of metal box, one pressing the bolt & spring upward, and one pressing the cam plate down at the same time. A pair of screw clamps were used to press the two lengths of box together so there would be sufficient compression on the springs. Didn't want them slopping around of their own free will. They don't! In fact they are very firm. I'm grateful that Jacques sent me the required parts for the cam adjusters, when he posted the backing plate. Cheers Jacques.

I'll put the wheel hub pics in a seperate post.

[Private_collector]

Front hubs painted.jpg Front hub closeup.jpg Front hub cap - too shiny.jpg
The wheel hubs required quite a lot of attention with the wire cup before I was happy to start the painting. Primer first, obviously. Try as I might, I could NOT get rid of the gloss. This can of paint has given me strife a few weeks in the past, and being aware of the issue, I tried several techniques to reduce the gloss that souldn't be there. No luck at all!
steering rod end bracket painted.jpg
I'll get the paint shop to contact Protec and see if we can find out why this paint is so glossy.
Monday morning mixing? Friday afternoon mixing? Employee just had an unhappy love affair???
Everything I painted today, will need to be given at least one further coat with a fresh can that has the appropriate lack of 'lustre'.
Valve spring compressor - unfinished.jpg
This is the valve spring compressor I have been working on over past weeks. Nearly finished now.

Both front axle/ diff casing halves are with the sandblaster, and I may get them back this weekend. I'll bet they are just as much fun getting out of my wifes car, as they were getting them in. I won't be attempting to progress beyond primer unless I have another can of paint.