Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Windscreen - passenger 2.jpg Windscreen - passenger 3.jpg Windscreen - passenger 1.jpg
The first of the window frames is now finished. I decided to put the glass in tonight, in case I broke it and needed to rethink the rubber seal technique. Fortunately it didn't break and went in smoothly. Considerably better than I was expecting.

Did have a little help though. I applied new grease to the parts of the rubber that would be required to slide down into the lower part of the screen frame. Without that, the rubber would have been displaced badly while sliding in.

I'll have to find something useful to do tomorrow now

The transfer case has to come out this weekend, and ideally, front end to be removed as well. I have booked a weeks holiday for late July. That is when the chassis will go for blasting.

P.S: I just couldn't get the upper left corner join to go together perfectly. Perhaps the rubber is preventing a proper fit. I might back the bolts off a little and give a bit of encouragement with a rubber mallet. Failing that...............guess thats how its gonna fit!

[Private_collector]

Does anyone know of a supplier for correct steering wheel to suit Ford CMPs?

I have been told once that some of the Ford tractors used same s/wheels on vehicles of same period.

Is this correct, or just another load of BS????

[Private_collector]

Windscreen finished - passenger 1.jpg Windscreen finished - passenger 2.jpg windscreen finished - passenger 3.jpg windscreen finished - passenger 4.jpg
Passenger side windscreen has been installed back on the truck. Well, when I say installed 'back', I mean installed on my truck, not its original truck. That was scrapped some time ago by the owner and same fellow gave me this frame.

It's good to see that FINALLY something fits as it's supposed to, without major surgery to adapt. The only 'jiggery' needed was a minor mashing of the hinge piece, so the window would close well. It worked, and has given no problems since.
windscreen finished - passenger 5.jpg
The only concern is the window adjustment slides/rods sit high above the line of the window support panel, and I hope the extra height of the cab roof is sufficient that they dont touch there. I guess Ford knew what they were doing, but time will tell.

My very great thanks to David DeWeese for the set of window adjustment/locking parts!

All those parts were used on this window, so if anyone has another set of 2 slides, hex shaped spacers & the tightening wheels, I would be very interested in buying them so I can do the other side. Even the hex bits and adjustment wheels would be good. I have a couple of ratty slide bits that I may be able to weld up & repair.

[Keith Webb]

On Australian cabs the inner pair were actually levers, so if you can find some of them you can save the extra sliding one for the other side. The other thing to notice is the Aussie outer ones are longer allowing the screens to open to 90 degrees.

[Private_collector]

Cheers for that info, Keith.

I will take off the one wrong side tomorrow, and start looking for those levers. I don't recall seeing any so far, but then I wasn't really looking for these bits and may have overlooked them while ogling other parts.

That will teach me.........using loc-tite putting them on today

[Euan McDonald]

When looking for the levers Ford and Chev are different. Ford are flat were they bolt to the frame and Chev have a slight relief to accommodate the slight radius of the frame. The pivot length is also different between the F & C as the mounting point on the side of the screen is at different heights. The fixing bolts are slot head machine screw and NOT phillip head.

[Private_collector]

Can't get the slot head screws anywhere local. This is the third time I have wanted slots and not been able to get them. There was even one occasion when I waited for two weeks while the shop checked suppliers and advised that there were none in stock with their wholesalers. Interestingly, at that time, I got on the internet and bought them myself from a company in Brisbane (total of 2hrs away). They shipped them straight to me within a few days. Then forgot to send the nuts with the order and I had to wait for those too.

I am now making do with what can be sourced easily and when I want it. That would have been a big deal for me some time ago, but now i'm more interested in making progress than having annoying delays because I wanted absolute originality. There are a number of things that will never be exact...........the bolts & screws are just two examples of the many!

Incidentally, the wipers will be blasted & painted green, at least.