Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Tony,

I agree with you on all points you made, as to what you feel looks most pleasing!!!!! Must be a 'Tony' thing

I can't wait to get those wheels/tyres on and stand back to take in the visual effect. I will need to get a hurry on, or I will need some form of mobility hoist just to get up to the cab.

After my reply to you this morning, I have now found the phone number of the contact who offered a cross member for free. I will call him tomorrow.
Not to concerned about not getting that one, because the company that does my sandblasting is primarily a heavy engineering business that specialises in..................are you ready for this.................truck chassis repairs and driveline modifications They are good folks and I have already lined them up to make a new one if all else fails. Always good to have a backup plan!

When I did a measure up of the wheelbase some time ago, it came to 115". I believe that is length of the F60T. If I have that correctly. I don't really fancy restoring as a bland prime mover. Am thinking of putting some sort of AA gun replica on the rear. It will need to be no higher than the truck cabin, or at most 6" higher, because last weekend I tried to check clearance of truck to garage roller door. I will have 8" to spare, MAXIMUM. Once the vehicle is finished, the gantry crane I built outside the workshop will need to be partly disassembled to get the truck through. The diagonal stays for the beam will foul the cabin sides if they aren't taken off. Mind you, by that time there won't be any need for it. That is of course unless I get another project. Was thinking of a Bren Carrier or similar. My wife does not think this is a good idea. I think she may have the begining of dementia.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

I can't wait to get those wheels/tyres on and stand back to take in the visual effect.

Yes, it's an exciting moment in the project when you get the wheels on. I even got a bit excited changing the wheels on my F60S last week. Here's some before and after pics - I think you'll agree it's an improvement!

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

the company that does my sandblasting is primarily a heavy engineering business that specialises in..................are you ready for this.................truck chassis repairs and driveline modifications

How convenient!! Maybe you could get them to rivet your spring hangers etc. and pass it off as an original F60T!

Actually I'll be very interested to see how the prime mover wheelbase looked. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pic of one, except this sad looking Chev below.

In some ways it's almost fortuitous that you're forced to shorten the chassis, given that it will effectively be an F60T replica. It's not something you'd do by choice, but in doing so you'll have something a bit out of the ordinary, and of legitimate interest to CMP purists. That's how I'd be looking at it anyway. It's also a very practical wheelbase, and I imagine quite impressive with 20” wheels, while still being nicely proportioned. Was it 115" or 110"...I can't recall...not that it matters much.

I agree though, a turntable is not a particularly fascinating object to stand around and admire. A big gun on the other hand would certainly turn heads in the main street!

[Keith Webb]

Our prime movers were the 134" wheelbase, we didn't use the F60T here in Australia. And only Ford made the 115" wheelbase tractor late in the war.

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

How convenient!! Maybe you could get them to rivet your spring hangers etc. and pass it off as an original F60T!

Actually I'll be very interested to see how the prime mover wheelbase looked. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pic of one, except this sad looking Chev below.

In some ways it's almost fortuitous that you're forced to shorten the chassis, given that it will effectively be an F60T replica. It's not something you'd do by choice, but in doing so you'll have something a bit out of the ordinary, and of legitimate interest to CMP purists. That's how I'd be looking at it anyway. It's also a very practical wheelbase, and I imagine quite impressive with 20” wheels, while still being nicely proportioned. Was it 115" or 110"...I can't recall...not that it matters much.

I agree though, a turntable is not a particularly fascinating object to stand around and admire. A big gun on the other hand would certainly turn heads in the main street!

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

And only Ford made the 115" wheelbase tractor late in the war.

What did these look like Keith?

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

What did these look like Keith?

Like the one below Tony

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by cliff

Like the one below Tony

Thanks Cliff. I have a drivers handbook for this. And I was going to answer:

"They look chunky and beautiful."

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

"They look chunky and beautiful."

Very much so - chunky but nicely proportioned. Thanks for the pic Cliff. Is that a 21 gallon tank, or are my eyes playing tricks?

Quite a coincidence that Tony's chassis has been shortened to 115" - makes it a very worthwhile exercise IMO.