Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Well bugger me! I just noticed you're here in gods own country, Lynn. How long have you been here? A fellow by the name of Paul , who has the HotRod shop in Gympie, tells me he knows you. Met you some time ago apparently.

Now that you're not that far, pop up here and have a look for yourself. Can't be more than a few thousand kilometres. Bet you know what that is in chains, leagues, furlows or yards! Sounds like I wasn't too far off with the volume of that tank though.

Since I posted the previous thread, I went looking at solar panels on ebay. Solar is the way I will go, without a doubt. The tank comes to me with a nice lid to keep curious animals out, and even has a couple of metal rods that sit across the top to hang bits (and the accompanying metal electrode) from. I'll get it off the trailer tomorrow, and take a couple of photos.

About solar panels. I will be needing something in the vicinityof 40W, which will produce roughly the amperage I want, to allow a nice slow process, devoid of harmful gas buildup or, hopefully, explosions. The tank will most certainly be a looooong way from the house or fire pile. If I choose wisely, the selected solar panel should be able to just run all through the day, without supervision, and an inspection in evening will quickly tell me if it runs another days worth, or if the job has been done!

I'm quite excited about this project, and will be deciding on the ideal location for the tank tomorrow. That said, the priority for the day will be getting color on the rear axle U bolts, and the tie-rod as well. With those bits painted, it's time to reassemble the front axle and steering. I left the front diff cluster with a local engineering co. yesterday, for them to remove the carrier bearings. Those were impossible for me to cleanly remove at home, and too big for Gympie Bearing Service to fit in their press. I got that back this afternoon, job well done. I now have everything I need (bar a few new bolts) to finish that assembly. Only need to put in the effort now. I'm on annual leave this week, so unless I have to go on another parts run later this week, I should at least make a serious dent in the reassembly.

[David Dunlop]

Since hydrogen is a light gas and your container has a lid, could you not cut a couple of three inch holes in the top, one to either end and cover then with some nylon or fibreglass screening to vent the gas?

In a pinch, a small blower motor like those used to cool computer boxes could be safely added to exhaust from one opening.

Once you are all set up, do you think the locals will suspect you are making your own alcohol?

David

[Private_collector]

Yeah David, i'll need to make some sort of way to get rid of gas buildup. Haven't given any thought yet to how this will happen, but would prefer something that does not require electricity. There won't be power available, apart from solar. I have a spare rotary vent somewhere here that is meant to go on a roof and vent heat & moisture. That would work well.

I'm lucky to live rural and have a decent size piece of land, so very few neighbours to ponder exactly what the tank is for. Some years ago we had a couple of serial killers here in Australia that were putting the victims bodies into plastic drums filled with an acid, in an attempt to disolve the remains. I hope no one thinks my tank is for the same thing!

[Private_collector]

My NOS valves arrived today.
NOS Set x16 Valves 1.jpg NOS Set x16 Valves 2.jpg
So did the new main bearings.
NOS Main Bearing Set 002thou undersize crank.jpg
Here are the recently arrived con rod bearings, STD size.
NOS Con-Rod Bearing Set STD size.jpg
Couldn't resist making the first new full valve set. Only another 15 to go.
First new valvetrain.jpg
Normally I would do this inside in the evening, but if I start removing all the protective mucus from the valves on the loungeroom floor, I won't be very popular. My wife can't stand the smell of turpentine, nor does she like the cosmoline smell. Guess i'm waiting until tomorrow then.

[Private_collector]

Yesterday I took some tools (no one you'd know ) and bought a spare front axle, as a 'just in case' for the future. A reasonable buy at $100.
Spare Front End 300513 1.jpg Spare Front End 300513 2.jpg
It was virtually unmolested, but has had replacement brake hoses at some time.
Unfortunately it doesn't have the lifting flanges that I wanted, so I continue the search for those.

Incidentally, One of the hubs was stuck fast to the brake shoes, and had to be removed for a cleanup before I could roll it to it's resting place. When I removed the hub cap I found that this axle has the same system of locking hub nuts as Phil showed in his earlier photos. That being; Twin hub nuts with a double layer of lock ring between, and a keyed washer installed before the nuts. There is also holes through the thread for a cotter pin and castle nut, so I suppose it could use that method as well.