Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Vac Booster valve mechanism 1.jpg
There are actually two more things needed to finish the vacuum booster. I broke the retaining clip that locks the valve action mechanism, and will have to make a new one.
Vac Booster adjustment end.jpg
Also, there should be a tiny little rubber boot here, to stop dirt getting into the valve shaft. I have NEVER seen one of these, even a rotten one. I have seen some attempts to make do with a crude canvas replacement, but i'm no fan of that, so i'll head off to the local toy shop during the week and see what thay have for R/C vehicles that can be used here.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Tony

Have you check with your friendly motorcycle shop for a throttle or brake cable boot? Mine came from the brake cable of a 1978 Yamaha 125 Trail bike if I remember correctly. Boot is about 2" long but can be cut down.

As for the used the little tiny hair pin style carburetor linkage clips.

Cheers Phil

[Private_collector]

Phil, That's a grand idea!

I will look into that tomorrow.

Thanks,

[Howard]

Tony, check your PM's
HH

[Private_collector]

Just completed a 'birthday' order for MacsAuto parts, including the battery hold down thingy. Mostly brake stuff. Those bits will be going onto the chassis ASAP, that is once I get it back and paint it.

I love the current exchange rate!

It is looking quite possible that I may do the blasting myself, in the engineering co. booth. I can do that on a Saturday when they don't normally use the blasting booth.

Won't be this weekend. It's the Gympie swap meet. That must come first!!!!

[Private_collector]

Today I went to 2 motorcycle shops and 1 bicycle shop, in search for suitable dust boot for front of vac booster. The bicycle shop were helpful but had nothing suitable, despite looking through a number of storage locations for me. Strike #1

One of the motorcycle shops was staffed by some unkempt, tattooed, greasy haired, gap toothed old crone who was not interested in being any help at all once she ascertained I wasn't there to buy one of their crappy imported quadbikes (Chinese built, of course). Strike #2

The other motorcycle shop had a guy that was too lazy to check what was available and insisted the boots would only come as a set with the applicable cable, no matter which brand of manufacture. Not at all helpful, and couldn't seem to grasp the concept that it was for something other than a cycle. He strangely had a face quite red in color. Not sure if he had tremendously high blood pressure, embarrased about his apathy, or got horribly sunburnt somehow. Whatever the cause, it was redder than a smacked arse! Anyhoo, no joy there with the part request. Strike #3

Then it occured to me, just wait until the Gympie swap meet, this Saturday!!
If I don't get something suitable there, i'll be very surprised. Must wear a hat! Learnt my lesson from the motorbike shop guy

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Tony,

Liked your tale of chasing rubber boots at motorcycle shops. I sometimes thought I was the only one who had to deal with indifferent, lazy, or aggressive counter people.

I think my benchmark of poor service was trying to hire a chain saw a few years ago. The counter man was rather belligerent to anyone except his tradie mates it seemed. He asked me "what was I going to use the chain saw for?" "To cut down a few trees" was my obvious reply. He then went into a tirade about using it for that purpose because there are a lot of ants in this area that carry sand up into the hollowed trunks and it dulls the chain. I noticed a sign above him that said "All chain saws will incur a $20 sharpening fee when returned" and said "so I pay the $20 when I bring it back, what's the problem? He got quite nasty and outright refused to hire me one. Needless to say I never went there again and told everyone I knew about their crappy attitude towards customers.
A few years later the business folded. I wonder why?

Brgds,