Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[cliff]

Tony what are the series of holes in the top Chassis rail over the rear axle for?

I believe the Australian fifth wheel setup had a series of bolts along the edges of the mounting plate rather then the 'U' bolt setup of the Canadian F60T.

If these are what the holes are for then maybe it is an F60T but fitted with an Aussie fifth wheel?

[Private_collector]

I have no idea what those holes are for, Cliff.

In fact, the more I learn about this vehicle, the more I am aware that I don't know.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Tony,

Can you make detail pictures and do some measurements as per the Chev chassis views thread listed above? That would help a lot in determining the exact type.

Did you ever come across any part numbers stamped on the chassis rails?

Hanno

[Private_collector]

Unfortunately Hanno, there are no markings or numbers on any part of the chassis.

Yes, I can take measurements. Anything in particular you would like me to focus on?

[Tony Wheeler]

Sorry folks but it's just a shortened F60L chassis. As Hanno suggests it's been done by moving the axle forward and chopping off the excess rear chassis. Simplest and tidiest way to move the axle forward is to move the rear spring hanger to the front spring hanger position (they use the same rivet pattern on Fords) and move the front spring hanger forward correspondingly. This results in a wheelbase close to 115" which tends to play tricks with the mind! As Mike says - "the 115 inch wheel base seems too much of a coincidence for a farmer-shortened chassis." Of course, once you're familiar with this mod it's easy to detect the numerous inconsistencies resulting. For example, the triangular rivet pattern for the overload spring stops located curiously BEHIND the rear spring hanger!

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[Private_collector]

Thanks Tony,

That settles that question. I knew somebody would be able to make a definitive call.
Kind of a shame, but at least I don't feel guilty about removing the extra spring packs, and replacing the back 15-16" of rails. I think the person who did the chassis shortening would be honoured that his work was only able to be picked by chassis holes!

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Tony,

Sorry to hear your F60T is actually a cut down F60L. Still, you have lots of the donkey work done so it would not be too hard to change direction a little bit should you so wish.

I found out the hard way many years ago that Blitzes are not always what they appear. I bought a second "very original" F15A soon after I bought the first cab chassis as I thought my first one was missing too many items to be a good starting point. Sadly, after I bought it and had a good crawl under it, I realized I had bought a dodgied up F15 converted (poorly) to a F15A. The giveaways were the transfer case crossmember was bolted to the chassis and not riveted, the transmission crossmember was the F15 type, and the front engine crossmember was arched out via a gas axe for front diff clearance to simulate a 4 x 4 chassis.

I changed direction by restoring the first F15A chassis which luckily was in very good shape and transferred many of the items from the dodgied up F15 one onto it. It actually worked out fairly well as it did give up the GS body, spare tyre carrier, and many other bits that were missing from the first one so all was not lost- other than paying perhaps too much for the second one!

So whichever way you go, moving forward you can be very proud of the good work you have already put into it and all the great knowledge you have picked up along the way.

Cheers,