Ford blitz ambo project

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Tony has covered it pretty well... my recollection was there was no washer behind the split pin which caused it to wear through From memory the clevis pin hadn't disappeared and we had some wire to use instead of the split pin, but I can't be sure.

Yes Keith, a lot of what you say fits with my own recollection, but I wasn't sure so I didn't elaborate. To expand a bit:

1. clevis pin - I'm not sure either, it may have disappeared or it may have stuck in the clevis. I don't recall reassembling it, but I don't recall driving all the way home on the handbrake either.

2. wire - I doubt we would have had any wire up on the mountain, but I remember the use of wire instead of a split-pin being involved in the story somehow.

3. washer - like you I recall a washer being central to the story, and in fact I have a picture in my mind of a shiny new silver washer.

It's interesting that we both recall a washer being involved, because the blitz doesn't appear to use washers on these clevises. There are none on any of my blitzes, and none appears in the exploded diagram or parts list. Also, the clevis pin itself appears to be too short to allow a washer - the split pin sits hard up against the clevis on my blitzes.

Here's what I think may have happened:

I don't believe I would have fitted a clevis pin without securing it somehow, and if I'd used a split pin to secure it, I find it hard to believe I wouldn't have spread it. It's something you do in one motion - you put in the split pin and you spread it. Otherwise there's no point putting it in! It would have to be a conscious decision not to spread it, and I can't think of a good reason.

BUT....if I didn't have a split pin at the time, which is not unlikely, I may have used wire instead, intending to replace it later, then either forgotten or never got around to it. Once the cab went on it would be out of sight and out of mind.

Wire is generally quite soft, so it's not entirely inconceivable that it could have worn through in several hours of driving with lots of brake usage, as there would have been on those tracks. But I doubt that a split pin could wear through so quickly, and clearly they've lasted for years on my other blitzes without washers.

However, having discovered that whatever was in there had worn through so quickly, and nearly killed us, we would definitely have wanted to fit a washer before our next outing! That may account for my recollection of a shiny new washer, ie. it was at Wayne's place, after the incident. If it had been before the incident it would have been painted DBG, like every other nut, bolt, screw, flat washer, lock washer, etc. etc. that I had obsessively painted during the resto!

But in order to fit that shiny new washer, we would have needed a slightly longer clevis pin (judging by my present blitzes) and I certainly don't recall seeking one out. So maybe we were satisfied that a split pin would be safe where wire hadn't been.

It's all speculation of course, but it does raise this question - will you be using a washer on your FGT?!!

[Keith Webb]

The main thing is we didn't kill ourselves thank goodness and damage was fairly minimal. Before going to Yarra Junction the truck had an occasional workout around the night streets of North Box Hill upsetting all the neighbour's TV reception, what a hoot that was!

When it went to Peter Growse after my brief ownership (it had to go when I went overseas for 18 months). I steered it while we flat towed it with Peter's F15A to Heathmont. It was a slow trip.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

it went to Peter Growse after my brief ownership (it had to go when I went overseas for 18 months)

It's a shame you couldn't hang on to it and keep your FGT body too, which wasn't too badly rusted at that stage. You could have shortened the chassis (again) and had a FGT on the road in no time. From there you could finish it off at your leisure.

There would have been a nice synergy in merging our two teenage projects! If only we'd had somewhere to store them....

[Keith Webb]

Yes; but at least body and it's correct chassis have been reunited and Peter's brother Alan is restoring it.

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

It's a shame you couldn't hang on to it and keep your FGT body too, which wasn't too badly rusted at that stage. You could have shortened the chassis (again) and had a FGT on the road in no time. From there you could finish it off at your leisure.

There would have been a nice synergy in merging our two teenage projects! If only we'd had somewhere to store them....

[Tony Wheeler]

Here's a few pics from our next outing, with me looking a picture of concentration at the wheel!

Lots of mud in evidence here - this may have been the "mudslide" outing. We found a freshly cleared logging coup on top of a mountain - several acres of flat muddy ground, completely devoid of vegetation. Here we had great fun slithering around and spinning out in the mud, by building up speed in a straight line, then chucking on full lock and slamming on the brakes. These antics would have made an excellent U-tube clip today - the sight of a blitz spinning like a top while sliding along in a 4 wheel lock up would be quite entertaining I reckon.

[Tony Wheeler]

Here endeth the story of my first blitz resto, with a few pics from the final outings. By this time we were taking guest passengers - seen here are Keith's mate from school, and his girlfriend at the time. You'll note the bumper is back on now.

For some reason the thermostats were missing, which caused it to run too cold in winter, often needing choke as Keith mentioned earlier.

[Euan McDonald]

Hi Tony,
A couple of weeks ago I was in at Power train as its being closed down and the propety sold and on the wall is still the pic of your truck and the sig van.
Who would have thought after 35+ years that pic would still be on the notice board.