Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Tony,

The sign is a Division sign only. In this case it is 9th Division as you have said. It does not represent any particular unit.

9th Division had many battalions from all over Australia, certainly including S.A.

Your information on deployment is correct, but it is not specifically from any one state.

T.

Hi Tony

I stand corrected. I was given wrong drum. Your vehicle will represent a top fighting Division with a good record of awards.

The 9th Division was the most highly decorated of the four AIF divisions raised during the war. Seven of its members received the Victoria Cross, the nation's highest award for gallantry.

Military decorations awarded to members of the 9th Division include:

7 Victoria Crosses (VC)
41 Companion of the Distinguished Service Orders (DSO);
Order of the British Empire: 9 Officers of the Order (OBE) and 29 Members of the Order (MBE)
119 Military Crosses (MC)
57 Distinguished Conduct Medals (DCM)
212 Military Medals (MM)
9 British Empire Medals (BEM)
611 Mentioned in Dispatches

My 1942 Willys Jeep also proudly displays the Tac Signs for 9 Div. And was well received by veterans of the 2/10th in this years Anzac Day March.

Cheers

Tony

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Little Jo

The 9th Division was the most highly decorated of the four AIF divisions raised during the war. Seven of its members received the Victoria Cross, the nation's highest award for gallantry.

My 1942 Willys Jeep also proudly displays the Tac Signs for 9 Div. And was well received by veterans of the 2/10th in this years Anzac Day March.

Tony,

My Father was transferred to 9th Division, after they had already returned from the Middle East. He fought in New Guinea only, because he was CMF. Was involved in some tight 'scraps' there, including Finschafen, Lae, Borneo, Port Moresby and Rabaul.

I learnt some interesting facts about his time there that he didn't mention while he was alive. Like a lot of the WWII old timers, he was the master of understatement!

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Tony,

My Father was transferred to 9th Division, after they had already returned from the Middle East. He fought in New Guinea only, because he was CMF. Was involved in some tight 'scraps' there, including Finschafen, Lae, Borneo, Port Moresby and Rabaul.

I learnt some interesting facts about his time there that he didn't mention while he was alive. Like a lot of the WWII old timers, he was the master of understatement!

Hi Tony

Amen to that.

LEST WE FORGET

Cheers

Tony

[Private_collector]

Yesterday, I received a TAC plate holder that I had bought from ebay.

I knew that being a more modern version it would be too small to be accurate. So this morning I took it to a local steel fabricator to have two manufactured in the correct size, as well as two of the plates that fit into the holder. Should be ready for me by mid next week.

I already have the red paint for the background, but will need to re-visit a signwriting company for the numbering & letters. While the place I enquired about vehicle numbers was 'OK', I will try another local place for this project, so I can decide which one I get best service/price from.

Also bought a "Fast Moving Parts" catalog for Ford Canada vehicles from late 20s to late 40s. There is currently another seller with one of these on ebay, for buy it now of $125.00! Mine was significantly less It went all the way through a 9 day auction without bids, so I contacted seller once ended and made an offer

Is Australian seller and should arrive by the weekend.

[Private_collector]

I received an unexpected telephone call this afternoon, advising that the two TAC plates & holders were ready for me to pick up. This was significantly quicker than thought. I only requested them yesterday morning.
Sign plate new 1.jpg
This is the second time I have dealt with Gympie Sheet Metal, and it won't be the last. Turnaround time has exceeded prediction both times and standard of work is faultless!

These ones are exactly the right size and will look great once finished. Since I now have these to play with, I might see if I can get the plates painted this weekend. Painting being: Red for unit side and truck color for the "PASS" side. I can't paint the frames yet, at least until I weld the brackets onto back of each one. That may occur Saturday, but if not, it won't happen this weekend at all because on Sunday we are going to the Pumpkin Festival, at Goomeri. Renown for the famous "Pumpkin Rolling" competition. Yeah I know....i'm laughing about it too . Still my Wife puts up with all things CMP so I can go to this thing every year, besides, there's a HUGE street market, lots of displays including vintage stationary engines and classic cars!!! It actually is a lot of fun............unless you are one of the hundreds of pumpkins that get rolled down the steep hill.........then it's pumpkin mash for you! Strange that they have the classic cars in line with the end of the hill though?!?!?!?
Info plates for engine cover 1.jpg
Moving on, I received the info plates that go on the engine cover, that I had bought from David D. Bloody good condition they are too. I gave em a light tickle with some silvo and removed a small amount of age related soiling. The photo really doesn't do justice to em though. They are very nice. Thanks to Keith, I know the shift plate isn't 100% correct for the type of transfer case but I will attach this plate for now.

boom shanka!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Attachment 49373
Moving on, I received the info plates that go on the engine cover, that I had bought from David D. Bloody good condition they are too. I gave em a light tickle with some silvo and removed a small amount of age related soiling. The photo really doesn't do justice to em though. They are very nice. Thanks to Keith, I know the shift plate isn't 100% correct for the type of transfer case but I will attach this plate for now.

That's great, but in Ford info plates for cab 13 you planned to have some reproduced? Please do so before you attach them to the wrong vehicle. As you know I am looking for a set of plates, and will seriously consider a set of reproductions.

Thanks in advance!

Hanno

[Private_collector]

Re: Info Plates

I think what you mean is that I am intending to reproduce copies from suitable originals.

The shift plate is not good enough for reproducing, while the lubrication and front drive plates could be, especially lube plate.

I have taken high resolution images of those & sent to several photo / etching companies. Not heard replies yet. In the meantime, they can rest on my engine cover, held with screws, for easy removal when required.

If the shift plate is what you are after, find me a good plate for me and i'll gladly swap it over!

P.S: As far as I know, only the shift plate is not correct for my truck?

[Andy Cusworth]

Hey Tony,

Never say Never !

I reckon my suggestion of a LRDG Blitz is a good one .... as no doors, no roof, no bonnet or much nosecone .... just think how much less bodywork ... and swearing plus you can cover any dings with a jerrycan or scrim net ... perfect

[Andy Cusworth]

Sorry Tony & Keith, totally missed the threads on the light, thr bracket on mine has a single hole but they do look very similar, I thought it as an original fitting as the domed nut matched all the chassis rivet heads exactly, its only when I checked underneath that i saw was it was threaded, it shearded as soon as I took a spanner to it, the bracket, casing etc is solid but the bulb holder is toast so will need a new one fitting.

On a seperate note ref the assorted washers box, I bought 2 with washers, small nuts and bolts in seperate compartments to make life easy ...... and then tripped carrying both in the shed ...... ended up scooping them all up and putting in an ice cream box

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Tony

Things to check on Windscreen Hinge:

Some of them had a soft gasket between the hinge and the frame that moves the hinge out about 1/16 of and inch.

There is a notch in the hinge fore the wiper shaft if the notch in the inner and outer don't line up this can cause a problem.

Are the screw heads that attach the hinge to the frame sticking up in the hinge when it is closed.

I'll look at mine today to see if I can spot any other possible causes.

Cheers Phil

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Things to check on Windscreen Hinge:

Some of them had a soft gasket between the hinge and the frame that moves the hinge out about 1/16 of and inch.

There is a notch in the hinge fore the wiper shaft if the notch in the inner and outer don't line up this can cause a problem.

Are the screw heads that attach the hinge to the frame sticking up in the hinge when it is closed. Cheers Phil

Yeah, I discovered the bit about lining up the hinge with the wiper opening. That's a bit odd isnt it? Anyhow, that didn't fix the problem.

I just checked the screw heads on upper frame. They don't hit anywhere, so it's not that either.

I'm curious about the 'gasket'. Wouldn't that mean the hinge piece would move backwards & forwards during use? Maybe it's meant to, to overcome the problem I am now having? To be honest, I don't fancy that as a cure. I have several other hinge tracks I can try, and failing that, I can 'persuade' the hinge to see things my way . That's a last resort though.

Bought the rubber for outer edge weather seal which is perfect fit, as well as rubber for the glass recess, that I will need to modify slightly. I'll be doing that once I finish writing this.

If you don't hear from me any more, it means I have probably bled to death shaving a little off the glass seal rubber

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Andy Cusworth

On a seperate note re the assorted washers box, I bought 2 with washers, small nuts and bolts in seperate compartments to make life easy ...... and then tripped carrying both in the shed ...... ended up scooping them all up and putting in an ice cream box

Now that's funny! Only because it proves i'm not the only one to do that
Have done that twice. Both times with same box of screws. Knocked it off the bench first time, then re-sorted and left on the floor, where I booted it and tipped em all out again.