Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

Private_collector · #1 12-12-12, 09:23

This morning, while at Starbucks ordering the morning coffees, a lady remarked that she liked the 'Aloha' shirt I was wearing. When I thanked her for the kind comment, she asked about my accent and where I was from. When I said Australia, she enquired what language we spoke in Australia! Right now there is a lady from continental U.S.A trying to convince her friends that Australians only speak english abroad, and that our native language is actually Dutch.

As my daily routine here is to get up around 0330 to 0430hrs, go for my morning walk, then sit outside Dennys waiting for the coffee shop to open at 0530hrs, I get to see a little of the side of local life that others wouldn't notice. I am perpetually surprised with the number of homeless people around. More than I recalled on previous visit. I guess if you must be vagrant, where better than in Hawaii, right? Still a very sad sight to see these folks that in better circumstances could have had a vastly different life. Who knows what chain of events lead to their present situation. The few that I have spoken with seem decent folks, if a bit guarded about discussing themselves. I could never imagine how desperate their lives must be, living among such affluence, but being reduced to a life on the streets and rummaging through bins for food or recyclables to cash in.

Certainly makes one grateful for the things we take for granted every day.

Private_collector · #2 19-12-12, 10:56

Arrived home last weekend, some time earlier than expected, due to the cyclone heading for Fiji. With our original return flight (via Fiji) cancelled, and with further disruptions likely, we decided to 'get out of Dodge'. I had previously sworn I would NEVER fly with jetstar ever again, but faced with the prospect of being stranded, albeit in paradise, I would have conceded to go with Aeroflot, Air China, or even "Eddies Airways".

For the last two days, I have been attending to superficial repairs on chassis, where the more visible but light rust pitting is.
Chassis primed 2.jpg
The areas of dark grey are the cosmetic repairs!
Chassis primed 3.jpg
The holes in chassis rail ends make for good carry handles when a tube is inserted.
Chassis painted 1.jpg Chassis painted 2.jpg Chassis painted 3.jpg
Once again, painted outside to eliminate possibility of contamination inside workshop. Chassis was hoisted up at 0530hrs, and painting commenced 0720hrs, in an attempt to get the color applied before temperature went too high. Well, it was too hot for me, but the paint seems to have been able to adapt a little better. My third coat of paint was about 25% more reducer than normal, to overcome the 'dusty' effect of paint drying too quickly due to the heat (37%c at 1030). Final 'coat' was really an additional splash of almost straight reducer.

Because I needed to get in & out of the chassis compartments, under & around chassis, etc..I couldn't wear my old hat, so as a consequence I have the same color as zoidberg! This too shall pass.

Private_collector · #3 19-12-12, 12:09

Mr Alexander Dyga - born 16 april 1923.jpg
This is Mr Alex Dyga, the 89 year old gentleman I spoke about in an earlier posting. Mr Dyga has been making the journey to Pearl Harbor each year on December 7th, to pay his respects to the fallen and work as a volunteer at the "Valor in the Pacific" Museum and USS Arizona memorial. This year he will be there for an entire month!. Mr Dyga is a delightful old gent who has had a fascinating life. It was one of the trip highlights to have met him!

Private_collector · #4 20-12-12, 13:00

Engine hoist.jpg
Bought an engine hoist this morning. Without one I wouldn't have been able to raise the front end of the chassis onto the stand. In retrospect, a second crane inside the workshop would have been worth considering. Never mind.
Chassis on stands 1.jpg Chassis on stands 2.jpg
Using the hoist, chassis is now resting comfortably on both sets of stands. Refitting of components starts tomorrow, after I return from town with a swag of fresh bolts. Can't install fuel tank assemblies yet because they need to be cleaned out with POR 15 fuel tank cleaning/sealing system. I don't have the $$$ for the kit yet, but already have some of the step 1, marine clean.
Front Axle Bump Blocks 1.jpg Front bump blocks.jpg
Remember these? I bought the new pair some time ago, to install them before setting the painted chassis onto the stand, thus avoiding paint contact and possible damage.

One quick question regarding starter solenoid: I have seen a couple of photos showing the solenoid installed with the push switch on bottom. I thought it would be at the top! With switch on bottom, the battery cable comes to solenoid without crossing in front of it and same for the starter cable. I would also guess installing solenoid 'upside down' might assist in keeping water/contaminants from entering the solenoid body. So in short, do I attach mine with switch on top or bottom??? Provided I know this tomorrow, it will be attached. Also bought a set of cables from battery through to starter motor. Got a whole heap of earth straps some time ago. They will start to be appreciated tomorrrow as well.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Finally, my ever growing collection of reference books and photos is starting to pay off.

Tony Wheeler · #5 20-12-12, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private_collector

So in short, do I attach mine with switch on top or bottom???

Definitely on the bottom Tony. Funnily enough I picked up a new solenoid myself today, I'll be fitting it to my F60L tomorrow.

Private_collector · #6 20-12-12, 14:16

Cheers Tony!

Mine will go on tomorrow now as well.

Mine came courtesy of So-Cal in Sacramento. They have supplied several small parts to date. Works out cheaper than MacsAuto, because I find Macs shipping is too expensive for single/small parts. I tried to obtain one of these while in Hawaii, at O'rileys and also NAPA. No luck with either.

Did get a couple of side mirrors and a length of speedo cable though. Not your stereotypical 'souvenirs'.

Private_collector · #7 21-12-12, 11:33

chassis reassembly 1.jpg chassis reassembly 2.jpg chassis reassembly 3.jpg chassis reassembly 4.jpg chassis reassembly 5.jpg

Tony Wheeler · #8 21-12-12, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Mine came courtesy of So-Cal in Sacramento.

I ordered 4 solenoids from So-Cal last week but they only had one left in stock. Macs are out of stock too. After much ringing around I managed to find a hot rod shop nearby which stocks Macs stuff, they had ONE solenoid in stock which I promptly grabbed! I still need two more to get my four running blitzes going again. The old rusty solenoids worked for a while but then died off one by one.

Given the difficulty in finding 6V solenoids in a hurry I shall definitely be carrying a spare when I finally get on the road!

Hanno Spoelstra · #9 23-12-12, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Right now there is a lady from continental U.S.A trying to convince her friends that Australians only speak english abroad, and that our native language is actually Dutch.

H.

Private_collector · #10 25-12-12, 06:54

Merry christmas to all you good folks, and I would like to express my sincere thankyou to the great number of MLU members/friends that have supported me through the year, with advice, information, parts and kind or encouraging comments. Without your help I may have struggled in my restoration. Maple Leaf Up is a tremendous legacy of its founder, and for that I am truly grateful.

I hope you all are having a great Christmas, and will enjoy a happy and prosperous 2013. The new year seems to have come only weeks since the start of this year. I suppose it must be true, as someone once said, "Life is like a toilet roll, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes".

With the ANZAC centenary rapidly approaching, I will need to double my efforts to finish the truck, for it to be ready for that special commemoration.

20121225_153306.jpg
On another topic, I am rostered to work today, and one of my patients has given me a wonderful gift, in the form of two volumes of 'Letters Home' from his brother (Flt Lt Malcolm S. Buchanan, DFC) who was a pilot in europe in WWII. These will no doubt be fascinating reading, and a wonderful keep sake. Unfortunately Lt. Buchanan was killed in action towards the end of the war.

Lest We Forget

Keith Webb · #11 25-12-12, 07:22

That's a great gift Tony, I have a few of these personal stories and collections of letters given to me by veterans. Wonderful insights to how these men traveled through the war.
Oh, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours too. May your 2013 be full of CMP achievements and satisfaction.

Private_collector · #12 26-12-12, 06:04

$T2eC16h,!)!E9s2fD)!+BQiwefLZcg~~60_35.jpeg $T2eC16FHJHoE9n3Kd5odBQiwegddg!~~60_35.jpeg
Saw this item on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Sty...item3f2064331d

Good option to retain original look, while using modern battery.

Would look much better with the lead cell connectors added.

Private_collector · #13 27-12-12, 11:26

After a prolonged search for the wiring clips I was telling Phil about the other day, I came up empty and was begining to think I must have been mistaken about ordering them in the first place. With that in mind, I located another source (ebay, not MacsAuto this time) and ordered 2x sets of 12 pieces each. At $5 per 12, it's not a huge investment and I really do want to use these.

Made the purchase yesterday, sent a request for seller to advise shipping cost, then waited for reply. Seller got back to me and shipping cost minimal. Purchase finalised this afternoon.......................................
Wiring clips.jpg
.......then I found the 10 pieces I did in fact already have. They were in the proverbial "Safe" place.

Typical

Private_collector · #14 30-12-12, 10:24

Brake Lines Both Axles.jpg Rear Axle Brake Lines 1.jpg Rear Axle Brake Lines 2.jpg
Today, I decided to make the steel brake lines for rear axle. Enjoyed it so much, I went on to do the front axle ones as well. Did not attempt to flare the ends. A local brake shop can do that, when they return to work after new year of course. Bloody public holidays.

Rear Axle Brake Lines 3.jpg
Don't worry, the tube will line up again, once the flaring shortens the end a little. I was very fortunate to have the remains of lines on both axles to fabricate from. I did exercise a little user discretion in a couple of places, to keep things neat.
Front Axle Brake Junction Block.jpg
Need to find one of these brake line junction blocks for front axle. Ebay or Macs will provided eventually. The nut into other side (just visible in photo) has corroded very badly, and would have damaged the thread of the block, as it expanded.