Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Keith Webb]

Tony, by the look of the shoes in your pics they are all the width for front brake drums as fitted to axles with the 4 7/8" steering ends which were used on 15cwt and early CMP front axles. They won't fit the rear at all. Vehicles with 6" steering ends had the wider drums.

If you look at your brake drums, if the front are as wide as the rear then these will be of no use to you at all.

[Jacques Reed]

Another thing to consider is what are the linings made from?

I have a NOS set of shoes and linings which have a distinctive blue/green hue to them and was told by a brake shop they contain asbestos of the worst kind.
You know- Midnight Oil's "Blue Sky Mining"

I replaced all mine with modern asbestos free linings and have left the blue/green ones in permanent storage and will probably never use them. I am even loathe to put them on Ebay because of what they may contain. I don't want to suck up asbestos dust in years to come or would wish anyone else to do so on something I sold them.

So much WW2 stuff contains asbestos so best to check.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Posted here are two photos.

They show a 2" wide front brake shoes as used only on F15, F15A, and F30 CMP vehicles and the 3 1/2" wide rear brake shoes which appear to be used on all other models front and rear according to MB-F1 U-9. Check section however for specifics. The F15 and F15A rear shoes in addition have a pin pressed into the shoes at the top for the hand brake actuating lever.

Note the 2' wide front one is shod with a modern non-asbestos brake lining, grey in colour.
The 3 1/2" wide rear one is a NOS I referred to previously with the greenish/blue coloured lining.

The person who informed me it contains asbestos was running a truck brake business for 40 years and just recently closed shop so I believe he knows his brakes.

Cheers,

[Keith Webb]

Nicely illustrated Jacques. That green colour is pretty.

Incidentally (I know you probably don't need any now) I have some NOS handbrake cables for the F15A as well as the little rubber accordion boots for them.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Keith,

Yes they are pretty, pretty hazardous to health if ground down to dust!

Jokes aside, I think I may drill out the rivets on the linings keeping everything wet as I do to prevent any airborne dust. Once the linings are off and the shoes are washed down they should be safe from contamination.

So Tony if you need them give me a shout. I have two NOS, and 2 VG used 3 1/2" wide shoes. They are no good to me as they do not have the pins for the handbrake lever as used on my F15A. I have a correct spare set anyway.
And thanks Keith I have the handbrake cables, boots and a spare set too.

[Private_collector]

Hi Guys,

And thanks to all, for the information.

My front brake hubs are most definately narrower than the rear, which poses more questions than answers. My chassis was 'reduced' to 115", so it must have been longer, correct? If it WAS a longer chassis, and assuming the writing under the hood lid which was "60L/1942", is original (and I believe it was, based on script and condition of writing) then my front axle should not be the F15/F15A/F30 type?!? It is though. Can you confirm I am right or wrong from the following two photographs, please.
Front axle assembly 1.jpg Steering joint 1.jpg

Jacques, thanks for the offer, but I have a second set of 3 1/2" on my spare rear axle assembly. I'm confident the front ones will be 2", though not fully understanding WHY they are. Some axle swap in the past, most likely.

Now i'm even MORE keen to get those on ebay. That's a whole lot of front pads for me to choose best of, and send another set away for relining. Some of the auction ones seem to be colour suggesting previous relining, and others obviously original, and evil! That said, I agree with Jacques, that there are safe ways to remove, and dispose of, asbestos linings.

I recall the exact day I was enlightened to the dangers of asbestos. It was a Sunday, and 60 Minutes (a current affairs show, for all you foreign folk) ran a story about a number of people who were dying of asbestosis and mesothelioma. Earlier that day I had just finished removing inside walls of a house we were renovating. Guess what the walls were made of! While I watched the 60 Minutes story, the asbestos wall lining was sitting in a shattered pile in back yard, ready to be carted away. We made a good show of breaking the chunks into small pieces, so it would fit in the back of the car. There must have been asbestos dust EVERYWHERE that day. No idea it was of any concern until that evening. My Father had asbestos related lung damage, which he never knew about, and was only discovered by CXR the day he passed-away. He had been a builder for over 30 years......right through the 50s, 60s and 70s, which were of course the days when asbestos health problems were not known about, at least by general population.

I curse you James Hardie!

[Private_collector]

Bought the remainder of bolts needed to finish assembly and installation of pintle. Some parts yet to be painted. Thats tomorrow job #1.

Bumper brackets are also to be painted, thats tomorrow job #2.
inspection lamp assembled 2.jpg inspection lamp assembled 1.jpg
The new wiring for inspection light arrived wednesday, and I finished reassembly last night. I managed to knock a few bits of paint off, while man-handling to 'encourage' two parts to come together, so it will need another lick of paint tomorrow as well.......job #3!

The last pair of Ford engine mounts arrived yesterday. These were needed for the cab floor front mounting positions. I put those through the brackets this afternoon, primarily so I don't lose them. Never did find the two bushes for for'd of front spring sets. They're here somewhere..........I think!?!?

Currently searching internet for 3/4 UNF csatle nuts to go on tie rod ends. Original ones are OK, but not good enough to be re-used.

Finally, I have found this set of radiator hoses for sale.
radiator hose set.jpg
Are these the style that were original? I have two conflicting images in two manuals, showing this type in one and a solid metal pipe style in other. Grrrrr!

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Jacques, thanks for the offer, but I have a second set of 3 1/2" on my spare rear axle assembly.

No worries,

If anyone else out there wants them please contact me. They are no good to me without the F15A handbrake lever pins. I will very carefully remove the asbestos linings, 2 x NOS, and 2 x used giving you a full set of bare rear shoes to reline for spares. The used shoes are very clean and free of rust.

Cheers,