Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Hey Mate,

I had no idea you were in that area, or I would have asked how you were doing!!!

Glad things are settling down there now, but Jeeeezus, I wouldn't trade places with you there, that's for sure.

That reminds me, Ross Prince is outside Hervey Bay. He may have had problems too. I'll give him a ring in the morning to check. Only just getting mobile phone reception, but it's a little scratchy.

Added at 2020hrs: I just emailed Ross. Phone signal dropped down here again so I couldn't ring. If no answer, I'll try a land line in town tomorrow afternoon.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Hey Mate,

I had no idea you were in that area, or I would have asked how you were doing!!!

Glad things are settling down there now, but Jeeeezus, I wouldn't trade places with you there, that's for sure.

That reminds me, Ross Prince is outside Hervey Bay. He may have had problems too. I'll give him a ring in the morning to check. Only just getting mobile phone reception, but it's a little scratchy.

Added at 2020hrs: I just emailed Ross. Phone signal dropped down here again so I couldn't ring. If no answer, I'll try a land line in town tomorrow afternoon.

G'day Tony,

No worries Tony - it is all okay. I did not put my location down as anything other than "Queensland". Probably should put Bundaberg down - aye!

By the way Hervey Bay has been marooned for days and will probably remain that way for a little longer. Chances are telephone and power are down too. The internet has been far from brilliant of late around these damp-ish parts too

P.S Fixed the location to Bundaberg - Queensland :0)

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Private_collector]

Now have the rear spring sets back home. Blasted Friday, Etched and primed today, after a damn good blow with compressed air. They will be painted tomorrow, as will the remaining spring hangers etc..
Inspection light 1.jpg Inspection light 2.jpg
The recently arrived inspection light was disassembled Friday nocte, and is now etch primed. It is a Lucas type. I should get it painted tomorrow. New (correct type) electrical wire has been ordered from USA. New aligator clips yet to be purchased.
Mudflap final design 1.jpg Mudflap final design 2.jpg Mudflap final design 3.jpg
I got back onto making the front mud flaps again this afternoon. All of the metal pieces have been fabricated and fit together well. I suspect the photo I was working off had a round bar weight at the bottom, but I will be using a piece of flat bar that will be easier for the guys to sew around, and this should make for a neater finish. I'll take these to the upholstery guys early in the coming week.

[Ian Johns]

Nice job. Now if I could get you to come over here I have a long list of the things you could fabricate for me.

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Ian Johns

Nice job. Now if I could get you to come over here I have a long list of the things you could fabricate for me.

Sure, I would be happy to come help. It'll cost only an airfare and a CMP fuel/water tank.

Seriously, I will keep my eyes open for something similar to your tank. I like the look of a tank on a blitz. Wonder if I could slice one in half horazontally, and make it hinge open to be a campervan! Not a genuine one of course, modern equiv.

[Private_collector]

I have been looking at this vintage exhaust company in US, http://waldronexhaust.com/

They have round mufflers in 5 or 6" thickness, and any length up to 36", in aluminized steel, 16 GA for $80! Their checkout says shipping to Australia would be $25.
round short muffler.jpg
I'm asking for confirmation of shipping before I place order. I'll let you know if it is correct.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Tony,

After saying a few months back I've never seen an original muffler for a CMP vehicle, while visiting the Army Museum at Bandiana Vic. in December I spotted this one on a Ford Ambulance. This was the only Ford CMP truck on display.

Noted the domed ends as mentioned by you in an earlier post and another item worth noteing is the position of the inlet and outlets.

As viewed from the outlet end, the outlet is at the 3 o'clock position and the inlet, is as the 6 o'clock position. This is not readily apparent in the parts manuals.

Noted too that the exhaust pipe and muffler are one unit which is shown in the parts manuals too.

Cheers,

[Ian Johns]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Sure, I would be happy to come help. It'll cost only an airfare and a CMP fuel/water tank.

Seriously, I will keep my eyes open for something similar to your tank. I like the look of a tank on a blitz. Wonder if I could slice one in half horazontally, and make it hinge open to be a campervan! Not a genuine one of course, modern equiv.

If you find the 350 gallon tank it will give you a little more room to stretch out.

[Private_collector]

Rear springs painted 1.jpg
Painted springs, the remaining 2 hangers, and inspection light body.
New engine mounts.jpg
Placed the new engine mounts and installed the two earth straps. I had to do something, while waiting for paint on springs to dry.
Rear springs back on 1.jpg Rear springs back on 2.jpg
Last thing for the day was re-attaching the rear spring hangers, pivot, springs, and then finally....the rear axle. That was a total cow of a job for one person. That engine hoist just paid for itself! I was forced to attach a ratchet strap to the spring sets, and pull them together so the spring centre bolts would line up with the axle. After half an hour of adjustment, I discovered the bolt head on passenger side was ever so slightly bigger than the matching recess on the axle, so had to undo all my work and get the axle far enough away to use grinder to round the bolt head a little. That chassis sure does sit high now. I'm very pleased that the chassis sits level at rear.

I will need a new set of U bolts. The one's I have are too long for the springs that don't have overriders adding to the height. We have a spring-works in town. The engineering works could thread further down the bolts and cut off the extra, if spring-works can't assist.

Next, I will remove front springs from the axle, and get them ready for blasting. I'm not comfortable with the rear end being able to roll forward/back and front sitting on just the stand. I don't trust my welding, and want to be able to attach the trailer axle to front. That will eliminate the possibility of causing a catastrophy by chassis falling.

Previous owner of the truck didn't have shock absorbers on the rear. Twit! I have em, and will start working on cleaning them up for installation.

A friend of mine has been trying to find Speedway brand tyres for one of his vehicles. He was told they were good tyres, but can't find anyone who stocks them. Is anybody aware where he can buy those tyres, please?