Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Mike K]

Tony

It may be better if you buy a new motor and fit it yourself . There are many new motors around these days .. cheap on Ebay .

You might have to fiddle the mounts a bit to make another motor fit .

Most of those electrical places are not worth it . They will just say , buy a new motor, from us .

Those single phase motors usually have a starting capacitor in series with a start winding, if the capacitor shorts out , the motor will growl and become hot and won't turn . All that is needed is a new $10 cap, but will they tell you that , no, they will say the whole motor is stuffed , buy a new one , from us of course . Mike

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened last Saturday, that very Saturday of course being the day firm progress was finally made with the chassis.

After seeing some glimmer of results being made on chassis in the morning, I returned home and commenced blasting some small parts relating to suspension. I had shut the door, pulled down the window blind and switched on the light inside of blasting booth. At this point, compressor had already been started and was running along. Within a couple of minutes, I began to smell an aroma which was immediately recognised as burning electrical wires. I had my arms in the blast booths biceps length rubber gloves, but got em out as fast as I could, to turn off the compressor ASAP. By the time I slammed the stop button, the compressor was already producing acrid fumes and black smoke. It was also running 'like a hairy goat'.

Initially I wondered if the fault was as direct result of the high temperature, but discounted this cause quickly. It wasn't any hotter in the workshop that day than it had been many times in past, without having problems of this nature. Sunday morning I restarted the compressor (after placing it waaaay outside, away from anything combustable) and got the same issue return almost immediately.

Isn't it just TYPICAL that when return of chassis is imminent, the one thing I would rely on to get paint on it, would shit itself completely!!!!!

Thursday I will lump the damn thing into town for electrical evaluation, and fully expect I will be advised that my motor is U/S, and needs full replacement. $$$$$$$$$$$$! Guess i'll probably get a hernia getting it into the back of the car too.

Figures, don't it?

Life's cruel, aint it

[Private_collector]

I'll post a series of vehicle photos on a new thread, but here is my major purchase.

I just couldn't resist this 1950s Machine Gun AA Turret. It had been taken out of it's box only recently, and while my pal (Andy) and I took the side bins off to get it in back of my sons car, I saw the ball-bearings in the traverse mechanism did not even have a scratch on the military paint sprayed on them when constructed. It's a heavy bastard. Two of us required to get it into the hatch of the lads Ford Focus. Wish I had taken a photo of it in there, but don't want any evidence to be found.

mgt1.jpg mgt2.jpg mgt3.jpg mgt4.jpg

It works beautifully, and once home, I found the springs for elevating the weapon have a great deal of adjustment, so I can attach a lighter replica without it being facing straight up in the air.

I love the ammunition belt track! Can't wait to try a chain of cartridges I have.........somewhere

There were 4 of these available for sale. Well, actually 3 when I left.

I now have the steering box sector shaft seal, and it's having a little swim tonight. Will get the box reassembled tomorrow afternoon.
steering box seal new.jpg

[lynx42]

Tony, These were made by the Howard Rotavator Co. and I think were an experimental .50cal. mount. to go on the roof of the Mk1. International 4x4.

They were not adopted by the army, although there are a few photos of the up on the cabin roof around. (A previous thread has them.)

Regards Rick

[Darrin Wright]

Here is a pic that I acquired from the Proof & Experimental Range at Monageetta, Vic.
This should be your mount....

[Private_collector]

Thanks for the information and photo, guys!
So if not adopted, does that make em an unusual find...........or dirt common because the army disposed of the lot.

If mounted as the photo Darrin posted, wouldn't it be a bugger to use? Where does the gunner hold onto? There is a thick metal tube that has a complex two part release catch, and in the 'stored' or locked position it is sitting right down against the traverse ring. I originally thought it was a release catch for the locking mech. but I looked closer today and it has absolutely nothing to do with the locking catch. Could this actually be the piece that gunner holds onto, with the two handed release catch being the firing trigger?????

In the first of the following two photo, you can easily see the part I mean. It is the thick tube running across behind the two shafts that run parallel to the gun itself. The two part lock system can be seen too and it would be roughly where the hands might be if placed like in your photo, Darrin.

mgt5.jpg mgt6.jpg

I guess I start searching for more 50 cal shells now! These were enough to fill the top row of an ammo box with some to hang out of the box with lid ajar. Majority of the ammo box was foam padding. I don't remember exactly why I did this, but it was about 10 years ago now, at least.

[Keith Webb]

There were a few sold at Corowa this year - possibly yours was one of those.

[Private_collector]

While at Canungra yesterday, I was given some very bad news relating to a lovely old gentleman (well, only 70yrs old) who had been a source of mine for a range of CMP parts. I was shocked to hear that this fellow had passed away a couple of weeks ago. For more than 6 months I had been passively trying to find the time to re-visit and show photos of my progress so far, and point out the particular parts I had purchased from him. While he has not been a very well man, I had no idea that he had recently been diagnosed with liver cancer. I believe he was in denial of his prognosis, right to the end.

A kind & friendly old fella, and he will be greatly missed. Don't put off visiting distant friends or family, they may not be there when you finally get around to the visit. to you old mate.

Hearing the sad news, I went to go see his brother today. He actually lives on an ajoining property. Over a cup of coffee, I was told that an auction was being considered for the remaining blitz wrecks that remained on the property. There are one or two that still run, but are rough to look at. The rest would donate parts, though none of those would be restorers in their own right.

Two of the trucks still have the doors on em, and those doors are in VERY good shape. Two are about the same condition as the set I restored for my truck, and the other two (there may be more I didn't see today) are in superior condition. I think this pair were Ford too!

I will post 5 sets of photos, starting here, to show these trucks and some other items which may be of interest. I hope some of the rare bits like doors etc end up surfacing for purchase, but thats not been decided as yet.

p1.jpg p2.jpg p3.jpg p4.jpg p5.jpg

[Private_collector]

This place has so many bits & pieces that you come across. The stuff is just laying in the grass, ready to bust a toe on.
p6.jpg p7.jpg p8.jpg p9.jpg p10.jpg

[Private_collector]

Finally got the compressor into the repair shop yesterday arternoon. They closed earlier on friday, and I didn't get there before knock off time, so the damn thing has been in the back of my wifes vehicle all weekend. Not a particularly safe thing to be carting around.

Mike, I was very pleased that when I described the way the motor behaved during the fault, the repair shop guy said straight away that he thought it sounded like a capacitor problem. That is exactly what it was. Said part replaced, at minimal cost, and motor tested for any other damage, without further faults identified.

Another thing Mike was spot on about, my local hydraulic shop printed me a list of the bronze bushings available as standard (overnight) order. I didn't get to place order today because of picking up the repaired compressor, but will do this tomorrow morning. Obviously not tested the following bush sizing, but I am ordering a 3/4 ID, 7/8 OD, by 1" length. Will also order same with a 1 & 1/8 length, just in case the borderline fitting 1" size is not quite long enough.

So Mike, my thanks to you for alerting me to these two answers to recent dilemmas!

P.S: steering box gaskets x2 still weeping. Bastard. I will look for another type of gasket paper while at hydraulic shop tomorrow A.M. I'm worried now, because the same paper was used on jointing two halves of rear axle some time ago. Oil not yet put into the diff casing. Must do so prior to replacing axle onto chassis!