Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Thanks guys,

Matt, I was hoping there would be something like that. Some miracle chemical that strips the rust away, leaving the inside clean (and possibly has a delightful minty fragrance). I have started looking into the range of tank cleaners & sealers, such as POR 15 etc.

Hanno,................seriously! People actually do those things. Guess the industrial revolution has come around again. I do understand that those would be good mechanical debridement, but what about the baffles inside preventing free movement, or worse, damaging the baffles themselves. I do like the glass idea. That's really quite ingenoius. Not sure exactly how I would set the tank up for continuous shaking or rotation.

A friend of mine has a dog that's epileptic. I could gaffer tape the tank to his back, I guess!

Seriously though, thanks guys

P.S: Ordered new front wheel cylinders from Rockauto in USA. They were just over $31.00US each, and with postage still came to less than $100AUD. Shipped via FedEx and trackable. I'm following their progress since they were despatched several days ago. I lead a sad little life.

[colin jones]

Tony, I would'nt use the dog. One spark and "WOOF" all over red rover?

[Lynn Eades]

Do you have the original top frame to copy for your battery?
My guess is it should be a std ford one as seen in Aussie LP2/2a Carriers, without the bolt on lid. Keith(or some one else might like to chime in with the answer. If that proves to be the case, they are quite lightly(panel steel) constructed, with steel across the four corners,and a central loop for the hold down studs.

Who is up to date with batteries?
Apparently the std. car battery is now (last 5 years?) a "calcium" battery rather than a "lead acid" battery.
I have heard the new batteries dont always work well with generator charging systems.
Anyone like to back up or refute this?

[Private_collector]

Lynn,

I have been told much the same thing about some of the modern batteries. It's not dire though because a range of options are still available.

I have seen the original style hold down frame in photos, but decided to make my own somewhat different style. That will do me well enough for now. If I happen to fall head first into a box full of NOS battery top frames, I will certainly shove one under my shirt & walk out whistling, but I don't fancy the odds of that happening.

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Tony, I would'nt use the dog. One spark and "WOOF" all over red rover?

Oh Dear.............That was spectacularly BAD!

A man after my own heart.

P.S: Do you know how to make a cat go woof?

Pour petrol on it, and strike a match. Whoof!!!

[Private_collector]

It is with heavy heart that I acknowledge my idyl week of leasure is over. Back to work tomorrow morning. It will be a brave colleague that asks me if i'm glad to be back. I fear I may cut off their head, scoop out the insides, and send it to their mummy as a vase. (Thank you Cpt Blackadder)

Why couldn't I have been born rich instead of devistatingly handsome?
No, that's not true. I have a face like a dropped pie! And not rich either.
Fake Battery 1.jpg
As for todays efforts, nothing of great importance...again. Did get to a certain stage with work on the 'fake' battery top. The first layer of blade putty has been laid in the gaps between the three cells. There is not much that cannot be made either from scratch, or taken as a pettern from an original item. I have ordered 1x original period Ford cell cap from UK, and that will be used to make a mold for a batch of 'new' ones. The lead cell connectors can be easily made from scratch. I hope to be able to incorporate the "Ford" lettering from the top of the cap, into the cell connectors, making them look more realistic. The only thing I probably won't be trying to replicate will be the lead poles for the cables to attach to. These are easily obtainable from scrap metal place in town, so I will ask them if I can hack up a couple of old batterys to get em.
Ford Military Vehicles.jpg
That's enough for now. I'm off to bed to read my newly acquired Ford book.

Oooooh, just one more thing. I was following the journey of my front wheel cylinders via FedEx tracking, and see that they are now in Honolulu, HI.
Lucky bastards. Hope they bring me a nice loud shirt!

[Private_collector]

The front wheel cylinders have arrived. Only 8 days from order to arrival. Really only 7 days, because I got the package note yesterday, and couldn't pick up until today. Less than $100AUD for both, including shipping.

Also, take a look at this footage I found on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSnDr6zMlJs

It is an amauter film of the Victory Parade, London, 1946.

A dear friend of mine is the commander of the Churchill Tank that appears 3:05 into the film. What an honor that would have been. The film is even in color. I don't believe todays O.H & S would allow tanks to run so close to pedestrians these days. And probably not that fast either.

I remember in the early 1990s, I was at a "VJ" Day parade in Brisbane, and a couple of modern tanks were participating in that. I vividly recall the tanks were shut down for an RAAF fly past, then they started up together. I was standing quite near one of the two when the engines were started. Oh my GOD! I have never felt such a shaking of the ground, as they both roared into life. The whole street just vibrated with the immense power and noise. That's a feeling I will never forget. Mind you, there is such a number of pipes etc below the streets, that probably played a part in magnifying the effect.

The most moving sight for me that day was one old soldier who had obviously had a stroke at some point in the past and could hardly walk, but he half staggered, half dragged one leg, the ENTIRE LENGTH of the parade. He would be gone now, no doubt. There's no justice in the world

For those who don't know, VJ stands for Victory over Japan. In these politically correct & enlightened times, we now call the day VP day (Victory in the Pacific). Wouldn't want to upset the defeated agressors!

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi mate,

Not pedalling my own wears as from memory, I've sold them all, but I did fall over a pile of nos battery hold downs (the only decent pile I've ever fallen on!).

Here's a pic of the ones I had:



As fitted on my f15a to see how it fitted. They had a ford number which matched the parts lists exactly and were with a lot of other surplus stuff.


Hope this helps,
Ian.

[Private_collector]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, crap!

Well Ian, if you ever find one you haven't sold, please let me have first option on it. I would rather have original spec if I can. There's enough 'substitute' materials already on this truck.

Thanks for posting the photos.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

The battery hold down as shown in Ian's post is visually identical to Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Ford trucks used up to the late 40s. So you may be able to widen your NOS search. It is visually identical to the orginal one on my 49 Lincoln Cosmopolitan.

Cheers Phil

[Private_collector]

Thanks Phil.

Search goes on.....

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

The battery hold down as shown in Ian's post is visually identical to Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Ford trucks used up to the late 40s.

Hi, Further to the battery hold downs. Attached are photos of the Vintique Repro I will be using. Unless NOS is absolutelly essential these look pretty good to me. After a few years of battery acid mist on it you will probably be needing to replace it anyway.
For those following the battery holder construction I am presently finishing off accurate drawings of it. When finished, I will post it on the forum along with some fabrication tips and info.
Wish to thank Ian Fawbert for the original pictures and sketches, Tony Baker for further info and photos, and Tony Wheeler who kindly leant me his holder to lift the dimensions. A real team effort from the Ford CMP truck lovers in Aus.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

The battery hold down as shown in Ian's post is visually identical to Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Ford trucks used up to the late 40s. So you may be able to widen your NOS search.

Repro item from Mac's auto parts looks identical to me. Good value at 12 USD.

http://macsautoparts.com/early-v8-fo...0R3CHL1071740/