Ford FAT No.9 Restoration

[Phillip]

Well this is my first foray into an online community so here it goes.

After a hiatus due to all the usual things, kids, work, absence of shed. e.g. life in general, I've finally commenced the restoration of 'Arty' my Ford FAT No.9.

I'll keep this post short to see how this all goes, hopefully I've attached the photos from when this was collected from a farm many years ago (and for those who my recognise this, yes it used to belong to Wayne Henderson)

[hrpearce]

Welcome Phillip, I'm looking forward to future posts and pictures.

[Tony Wheeler]

Welcome to MLU Phillip and thanks for the pics, great to see another FGT9 project commencing and I look forward to lots more pics as you progress! There's a handful of FGT9s around Australia awaiting restoration, including my own ARN 133172, or what's left of it! Do you have a chassis for your project?
Cheers, Tony.

TONY4409 - Copy.jpg

[Phillip]

Thanks Tony and Robert. I've followed this forum for a while and it appears to be a great community and supportive community, so thanks once again.

You can't see it in the photos but the ARN of this No.9 is 134881.

The body came into my hands having been de-skinned and some of the rusted bar work replaced and sitting on a good -semi restored FAT chassis and new 12 x 20 MRF's.

It was going to be rebuilt as a chev, but why would you do that (cue comments on Ford Vs Chev) - it has Ford doors for a start!

It has taken me a while to find where to start and some good reference images for items like the rear crew doors, floor plates. Thanks to Euan for assistance in this respect.

[Phillip]

I managed to get started on this project just before the end of financial year so will bring this thread up to date on progress so far.

Working out the order to do this in has been a challenge. The B pillars are welded to 1/4 inch plate joining the front cab to the Australian made body, but you need to have the pillars in place and the spacing right so that both set of doors fit properly. But you can't have the pillars in place without the floor plates..............

1. Removed old cab (origin unknown) and chev window frame for Ford donor truck cab sitting on new cab mounts.
2. Using highly specialised tools (crow bar and sledge hammer) aligned rear body to cab.
3. Pursuaded the hugs and kisses to help me lift the roof back on.
4. Whilst doing the dishes, made a mental note to build a gantry crane.
5. Cut 1/4 plate to make floor plates;
6. Cut up a set of front doors to make the crew door inner skins.
7. Set spacing for new B and C pillars with skins and make minor adjustments to body and cab spacing.
7. Weld in new c channel between rear body and cab to join the two together.

Next: Weld the two side 1/4" plates into place/ Finish both crew doors/ Complete and weld B and C pillars into place.

Stay tuned..................

[Keith Webb]

Great to see your progress Phillip!

If you need any more detail shots I can possibly assist with images of my No9 which is close to yours in it's ARN - 134855.

Incidentally for some reason I had yours listed as 133181 when Wayne had it - body number 147 - my one is 131. The individual FGT body numbers were stamped into the lower rear door sill.