Nathans F15A Resto

[Keith Webb]

Great to see you're getting stuck into your project.

I notice on one of your interior images a couple of curved angle iron pieces on the passenger side of the cab. I'm fairly sure these were only used on the later 3-ton Australian CMPs. Their purpose was to anchor a bracket on the back of the cab into which the spare wheel carrier arm engaged to stop it banging on the cab over rough ground.

The other observation is that all the late F15A trucks I have seen here retained their steel doors; they were not modified to take the lift off canvas doors.

So I think there's a possibility yours was rebuilt at some stage with a cab from a 3-ton truck. That may also be where the 20" wheels came from.

It's worth checking the diff ratios (stamped on the front of the diff housing) to see if they're the high ratio for 16" wheels or the lower ratio for 20" wheels.

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Great to see you're getting stuck into your project.

It's worth checking the diff ratios (stamped on the front of the diff housing) to see if they're the high ratio for 16" wheels or the lower ratio for 20" wheels.

Hi Nathan,

You may already know this but it may be of use to you and others. the attached photo from an earlier post shows the numbers Keith was referring to.

"639" is 6 teeth on pinion and 39 teeth or ring gear giving a drive ratio of 6.50:1 F15-A

"643" is 6 teeth on pinion and 43 teeth or ring gear giving a drive ratio of 7.16:1 All larger CMP's with two speed transfer cases and 20" wheels.

Hope this is of some help to all.

Cheers,

[Nathan O'Malley]

Gday Jacques

Thanks for the info mate ill have a look at the diffs over the weekend and see what's on them

[Ken Smith]

Thanks Nathan,I will give Supercheap a go tomorrow, and look for a Blackridge kit. I have a near new, engine driven 3 cylinder Clisby compressor. I am counting on it keeping up with the short bursts I will be using it.
Mike C your helpful comment on the cabinet blaster has made me think about the bead blaster at work, that little thing has done years of glass bead blasting. I think if the Blackridge blaster doesn't do the job then I will get a bead blaster hand piece and modify it to a sand blaster.

[David Herbert]

The key to blasting is you must have a compressor that will keep up with the air consumption and maintain 100psi / 7bar. Obviously a large resevoir helps but even blasting small components will empty a large resevoir amazingly quickly. Once the pressure drops you are just making dust to no real benefit.

David

[Nathan O'Malley]

Gday Keith

May very well have been rebuilt at some stage, it would certainly explain the excellent condition the mechanicals are in and the C69 Flathead

unfortunately I know very little about the Trucks history other than my mother recalling it sitting in the local mechanics yard for some 30 years. knowing what he was like as a mechanic it could have been cobbled together out of whatever he found to keep the tow truck running however the mounts etc are far too factory for his handiwork.