Willanthry Chev Blitz C60L Restoration

Willanthry · #1 11-11-09, 07:57

Finally, yesterday, we launched the operation to place the new engine in the Blitz. We fairly quickly established that the crane on the back of John's ute couldn't lift the engine in the way we needed to get it in the right position in the engine bay. My dad and I raced up the road to our neighbour's place to borrow the good old tripod again.

This time, we had to open the top hatch in the Blitz and run the endless chain through it, attaching the hook to the bell housing. We manoeuvred it into position and lowered it onto the crossmembers. We ran into a problem when we discovered that the hook was jammed between the bellhousing and the floor of the Blitz, but a bit of deft screwdriver levering once the tension was slackened off the hook got it out.

We also cleaned up the gearbox and put it back in and took off the two fuel tanks, both of which are inevitably full of rubbish. We'll have to clean them out with some product before we can use 'em again, but John has recommended the stuff we need. We also reconnected the clutch pedal and had some discussions about how to get around the fact that the accelerator linkage across the front of the engine is prevented from going in it's normal place by the different water pump. Obviously some modification will be necessary there!

Anyway, things are happening. I'm hoping to get the old girl going before I leave for the Defence Force next year, and we're on track for that, touch wood!

Willanthry · #2 08-12-09, 01:59

Well, after some work, the original problem with the Blitz looks like it is on track to be solved. I've had a new engine pipe made to replace the old one which was smashed off many years ago , and it's a beauty. I've also ordered a fuel tank kit from Permanent Painted Coatings to clean out the two fuel tanks, as they are in a fairly lamentable condition.

The Carby Kit i ordered from Chev Parts arrived, and with John Mackie's assistance we reconditioned the Rochester Carburettor in preparation for re-installation. The accelerator linkage problem still needs to be got around, so to speak; the water pump prevents the linkage from going in it's usual place across the front of the engine. Anyone else struck this problem? How'd you get around it?

Phil Waterman · #3 08-12-09, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willanthry

Well, after some work, ....... The accelerator linkage problem still needs to be got around, so to speak; the water pump prevents the linkage from going in it's usual place across the front of the engine. Anyone else struck this problem? How'd you get around it?

Several people have of course done the 235/261 conversion, and the the accelerator linkage across the front of the block is a general issue. In all cases that I have seen it means fabricating a new accelerator cross linkage.

How you go at it depends a lot on which water pump approach you use. From your pictures looks like you are using the 235 stock water pump which is lower than the original 216 water pump, but as the top or thermostat housing is where mounting bolts for the cross shaft connects it is more of an issue of making it fit your thermostat housing. With the lower water pump you don't have the clearance problems of squeezing the cross shaft behind the water pump fitting.

I've fabricated two cross shaft linkages to fit two different engines, I'll dig out photos of both post them and perhaps everybody else who done could do likewise.

While I dig for pictures check http://www.canadianmilitarypattern.c...ifications.htm

Hope this helps

Cheers Phil

Willanthry · #4 12-12-09, 14:03

Thanks to Mr John Brill of Griffith, I now have a pair of Blitz seats that look (to me) as nice as they must have looked when they come out of the factory. Of course, they're too good to put in the truck until I've got the canvas doors, side windows and the windscreen fixed to seal the cabin, but at least i'll have something to sit on when i get the truck going!

As you can see from the photos, the seats have come a long way from what they were!

Thanks for that info as well Phil, that'll be a great help when I get up to it!

Willanthry · #5 16-01-10, 09:00

Well, after acquiring my Chev Blitz back early in 2009, and a fair bit of hard work since then, our efforts were finally rewarded today. Myself, my dad and John Mackie put in two days of work on the Blitz to get her running, and I'm thrilled to announce that after sitting dead for around about 50 years, my Blitz today went for a drive!

It wasn't much of a drive, admittedly, as there's still a few small issues that need to be ironed out, but the old girl astonished me with her virtually thoroughbred quality! After a bit of initial hesitation that we diagnosed as a blocked fuel line, the engine was running magnificently, with the merest waft of the hand over the starter and a touch on the throttle. What an amazing experience it is to bring such a thing back to life!

Thanks very much to you Phil for providing that site about the modified accelerator linkages; that helped us get around the problem of the water pump, quite literally!

As soon as I get the right nuts for the rear left-hand axle, and a missing transfer case shaft to stop the oil leaking out, then we'll be able to take the truck on a much more long-distance drive, which will be awesome!

Willanthry · #6 19-01-10, 05:54

Spent this morning completing the treatement of the two fuel tanks. As you might imagine, both tanks have been accumulating rubbish inside for the last 50 years, and one of the tanks had more holes than a sieve. On John Mackie's recommendation, we turned to the Permanent Painted Coatings kit to clean 'em out and make them useable again. I applied the tank sealant this morning, so the tanks should be ready for use by Saturday. Eventually, we'll strip the tanks back and paint them, and they'll be ready to put back on the Blitz.

hrpearce · #7 22-01-10, 00:14

Toby if your transfur case looks like photo 1 then I will post whats in photo 2.