Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Ryan]

Reading and watching with awe as usual Tony.
Such an excellent thread.
Ryan

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Tony

Yes it is near impossible to do the full lenght of the frame even on a short C15a without having a union joint somewhere. Make sure you get yourself, buy or borrow, a good flaring tool...... they will save you money on wasted brake lines and give you better overall results...... and good non leaking brakes are cheap insurance.

We have found at the barnt hat it is usually preferrable to reproduce a bracket rather than try to clean it up.... make a few extras they are good bargaining chips...... and tag and keep the original for reference.

Enjoy reading and watching your progress.

Bob C.

[Private_collector]

G'day Bob,

I just make the brake pipes. I get the flaring done by a local hydraulics shop. I have a flaring tool, but as you say, best to be certain of quality workmanship. My flaring tool will be used for fuel lines only.

When I made the brake lines, I allowed a little extra length in case even the professionals work is not good enough and has to be redone.

I did have a guy that was supposed to be doing all the brake work, including pipes, hoses, and all connections, but he was to get back to me about a particular part I was wanting, and I didn't hear from him again! I don't reward unreliability.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Hi Tony
Yes it is near impossible to do the full lenght of the frame even on a short C15a without having a union joint somewhere.

Hi Tony,

Going up to Industrial Fittings Pty Ltd tomorrow morning to get a joiner for my front and rear chassis brake lines in view of them seeming to be original fitment and the difficulty I found, too, of bending and flaring a one piece line in-situ for the rear chassis brake line. Front one not quite such a problem but still will use a joiner as per your diagram.

While I am there do you want me to pick you up any?

Cheers,

[Private_collector]

Oooooh, Yes please!

Awfully decent of you. I'll take two if that's OK. You never know when you need a spare/replacement.

Thanks for that

Am awaiting a reply from Auto Surplus regarding the front suspension bolts etc.. I'll let you know what they say when I hear from them. Hope they have the parts. Macs might, but i'm still traumatised from the last enquiry effort.

[Bob Carriere]

When you have finally cut and shaped/bent the line to perfection then you flare the end....................... with a perfection flare.....





.................................................. ........ and you realize you did not install the coupling before flaring !!!!!

Now who has not done that.? Honestly......

...and at time twice in a row...... and now the line is too short ..guilty as charged your honor.

I remember Rob going out the barn at -20 with a piece of coat hanger to make a model then come back in to warm up....cut..bend...shape.... go back outside at -20 to try it...... come back to flare it inside the barn....warm up ...go back outside....... then the word that came from the outside could melt the snow..... it's too short.....

Bob

[Private_collector]

Is part of the reason why I was happy to give that task to someone else.

In fact, the last of the brake lines were given to hydraulic shop this morning. Will go get them in 30min or so.

Did add an extra 50mm to each and every line, to allow for a once-only mistake such as you described, Bob!

Also saw my upholstery guys and asked them to order a couple of metres of same canvas used for the side curtain, for me to cut the pieces to make mud flaps, side light covers, and the bag behind the seats fo4 door tops to go into.

[Private_collector]

Well bugger me! Got the frame brake lines back from the hydraulic shop this afternoon, and did a tentative fit when I got home.

You wouldn't bloody well believe it. You may recall me mentioning that I allowed a slight bit of extra length with the pipes, as a 'just in case' one or more pipes required a flare to be cut off due to poor form? Guess what that equates to when they do the damn lot absolutely perfectly? Yep, one is too long, and will require shortening. As close as I can tell, and this is a guestimate until I get a joining piece that Jacques kindly offered to pickup for me, I will need to remove a further 2cm, possibly even more.

You cant win. If you dont allow for a 'visit from Mr Cockup', then you get caught short, literally in this case, and if you try to outsmart the berks of this world, you end up getting one of the few people that is actually good at their job.

Once I know the exact amount to be removed, I'll take that pipe (rear most one) back for an adjustment. I will be sure to tell them why too. At least they will get a kick out of the story.

to the guys at Wide Bay Hydraulics!

Needing to get one pipe flare done again, is neither a huge deal, nor a huge cost. Makes for an amusing anecdote too.