Work on My F8, No. 11

[Jim Price]

Terry,
Thanks for the link. I read the material and found it to be right on the mark. I used as my guide a booklet by Randy Rundle titled "The Official 12-Volt Conversion Guide". It's available on eBay US for around $10 USD.

Best regards,
Jim

[Jim Price]

With the military vehicle show coming up on January 24-25, we have been busy, busy busy! In the interim since my last post we've accomplished the following:

Followed up on the status of the tires I purchased in Australia. They're still in Oz........

Wired all the lights to the switches. All lit up when the proper switch was pulled!

Wired all the original gauges. Used Runtz voltage reducers for three but will need to have the 6 volt voltage guage converted to use with the 12-volt system we've installed. All work!

Although I have a replacement speedometer cable that will work with the original speedometer we'll need to take it to a specialty shop for installation of the correct gear and calibration. I did purchased a new face from Mac's and had it installed.

As an aside, we did not need to install a fuse panel as each switch (purchased from NAPA) has it's own fuse and the turn signal has an in-line one. (By the way, I'm stuck with the knobs that came with the switches. I haven't been able to find any original style that thread onto the switch shafts.)

Hooked up the choke. It seems that my flathead is a bit tempermental when it's the least bit cold!

Took the gas tank, plank and cover panel over to a friend's store and he steel banded all together. Put gas in the tank and it didn't leak!

Bob welded up copies of the outside rear view mirror bracket arm. I did get one with the truck but it was a bit trashed. Purchased a pair of rectangular mirrors from NAPA that will work well. They're approximately 5" by 7", larger than the originals which were approximately 3" by 5", but have a better field of view. Should make the truck safer to drive here in left-hand-drive country!

Bob also fabricated a battery box based on the plans of a MLU Forum thread covering same. Thanks to all who contributed to that thread!

Today we installed the bottom rear cab panel and the doors. That panel sure did go on faster than it came off!

All the new parts have been delivered to the painter and all, along with the windshield and roof/rear window group should be back this coming Tuesday.

Monday I'm taking the voltage gauge to have it converted to 12 volt and to pick up a control rod for the throttle.

It's really coming together!

Regards,
Jim

[NORTH-SHORE(CANADA)]

Hi
Do you have the dimension for the mirror bracket

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Jim Price

Followed up on the status of the tires I purchased in Australia. They're still in Oz........

It's a long way from Kansas, Toto! (Sorry, Arizona )

Originally Posted by Jim Price

Wired all the lights to the switches. All lit up when the proper switch was pulled!
(By the way, I'm stuck with the knobs that came with the switches. I haven't been able to find any original style that thread onto the switch shafts.)
Regards,
Jim

Dennis Carpenter makes repro's of the switch knobs, and they're also available through Mac's. You might have to mix and match to get enough of the knobs you need, and then do a bit of fiddling around to get them to fit your switches. Just drill them out and epoxy them onto your switch shafts.

Part numbers for the following pics are 01A-11661, 01A-9270AS, and 11A 9270.

[Tony Smith]

The Throttle and Choke knobs in 01A-9279AS are correct for the 11, 12 and 13 cab Ford CMP. Just think, I bought a set just for the T&C and threw the rest away!

[Jim Price]

Eric,
Attached is my best quick effort in a drawing of the measurements of the mirror bracket. A bit amateurish but hope it gives you the information you seek.

The mounting plate (2 3/4" by 1 1/2") is 1/4" plate. The bottom hole in it is 1/2" on center from the bottom with the second hole 1 1/4" on center from the bottom hole.

The knuckle was the original piece that was used to attach the mirror to the bracket; we welded a 1/8" thick tab to the outside edge of the rod 1/4" from the end and drilled the appropriate size hole for the morrors we purchased from NAPA. The mirror shown is the backside of the original.

By the way the original rod was 5/8" in diameter starting at the mounting plate and tapering to 1/2" at the end; we used a 1/2", non-tapering rod.

Regards,
Jim

[NORTH-SHORE(CANADA)]

Hi
Thanks that is perfect

[Jim Price]

Tony,
I'd previously checked out the knobs in both Mac's and Carpenter's catalog and ruled them out as they appear to have the "hook" shaft that locks into the switch box cast into them. I tried to remove this shaft from the originals and were unable to do so. If this shaft can be easily removed from the reproduction ones I'll buy them. At $8 USD each I didn't want to purchase four of them and find that they couldn't be used.

As for the throttle and choke knobs, the originals are in fairly good condition and I'm using them as they are (with a bit of cleaning!).

Thanks for your suggestion!

Regards,
Jim

[Jim Price]

It was an 11th hour effort to get the truck ready for the military vehicle show this past weekend but we made it!

Here's what we got accomplished in the interim:

Installed the newly painted battery box.

Installed the windshield.

Hooked up the throttle.

Installed the voltage gauge. Was successful in getting it tweaked to work in a 12 volt system!

Installed the outside rear view mirrors.

Installed the windshield wipers. (Although I'd carefully cleaned both the passenger side one won't complete its cycle. Will have to take it apart again! )

Picked up the vehicle markings from a local sign maker. I decided on using that for the The Queen's Own rifles, 60th Rifle Co. They were part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during WWII>

Picked up the newly painted roof and rear window section and bolted it on. Was't ready for pickup until Friday morning and we had planned on leaving for the military vehicle show at 2 PM. Made it! However, the trailer had develpoed a flat tire overnight and we had to fix it before we left!

Got numerous compliments from all at the show. Mine was the only Canadian vehicle there. Was worth all the effort we put in to get it ready!

Am taking some time off from the truck. I've been neglecting some other projects and need to address them. However, I will be putting together the plans for the tool box group as well as the spare tire brackets and hope to have them installed by the early part of March. Will keep you all posted. (By the way, the container with my tires is on the dock in Sydney! ) Sooo, any further updates will come at a slower pace!

Regards,
Jim