Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Hi Tony
Yes it is near impossible to do the full lenght of the frame even on a short C15a without having a union joint somewhere.

Hi Tony,

Going up to Industrial Fittings Pty Ltd tomorrow morning to get a joiner for my front and rear chassis brake lines in view of them seeming to be original fitment and the difficulty I found, too, of bending and flaring a one piece line in-situ for the rear chassis brake line. Front one not quite such a problem but still will use a joiner as per your diagram.

While I am there do you want me to pick you up any?

Cheers,

[Private_collector]

Oooooh, Yes please!

Awfully decent of you. I'll take two if that's OK. You never know when you need a spare/replacement.

Thanks for that

Am awaiting a reply from Auto Surplus regarding the front suspension bolts etc.. I'll let you know what they say when I hear from them. Hope they have the parts. Macs might, but i'm still traumatised from the last enquiry effort.

[Bob Carriere]

When you have finally cut and shaped/bent the line to perfection then you flare the end....................... with a perfection flare.....





.................................................. ........ and you realize you did not install the coupling before flaring !!!!!

Now who has not done that.? Honestly......

...and at time twice in a row...... and now the line is too short ..guilty as charged your honor.

I remember Rob going out the barn at -20 with a piece of coat hanger to make a model then come back in to warm up....cut..bend...shape.... go back outside at -20 to try it...... come back to flare it inside the barn....warm up ...go back outside....... then the word that came from the outside could melt the snow..... it's too short.....

Bob

[Private_collector]

Is part of the reason why I was happy to give that task to someone else.

In fact, the last of the brake lines were given to hydraulic shop this morning. Will go get them in 30min or so.

Did add an extra 50mm to each and every line, to allow for a once-only mistake such as you described, Bob!

Also saw my upholstery guys and asked them to order a couple of metres of same canvas used for the side curtain, for me to cut the pieces to make mud flaps, side light covers, and the bag behind the seats fo4 door tops to go into.

[Private_collector]

Well bugger me! Got the frame brake lines back from the hydraulic shop this afternoon, and did a tentative fit when I got home.

You wouldn't bloody well believe it. You may recall me mentioning that I allowed a slight bit of extra length with the pipes, as a 'just in case' one or more pipes required a flare to be cut off due to poor form? Guess what that equates to when they do the damn lot absolutely perfectly? Yep, one is too long, and will require shortening. As close as I can tell, and this is a guestimate until I get a joining piece that Jacques kindly offered to pickup for me, I will need to remove a further 2cm, possibly even more.

You cant win. If you dont allow for a 'visit from Mr Cockup', then you get caught short, literally in this case, and if you try to outsmart the berks of this world, you end up getting one of the few people that is actually good at their job.

Once I know the exact amount to be removed, I'll take that pipe (rear most one) back for an adjustment. I will be sure to tell them why too. At least they will get a kick out of the story.

to the guys at Wide Bay Hydraulics!

Needing to get one pipe flare done again, is neither a huge deal, nor a huge cost. Makes for an amusing anecdote too.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Tony,

Glad to see I am not the only one who has to do things twice to get it right.
My wife and I call ourselves Mr. and Mrs. "Twotrips". Usually when you buy something you have to go back to the shop a second time for something defective, omitted etc. In your case it was something actually correct!
It seems to have permeated my hobby too!

As for me doing my brake lines twice as per previous reply in this thread I am very grateful for the replies and photos here. Could have save myself a bit of work. Least I held off doing the rear chassis line so it will only be done once, hopefully.
I re-read the F15A Spare Parts List brake section and have attached a scan here on the brake lines. Some interesting points:

Seems to confirm that at one stage there was a separate line to each side of the front axle like the F15 even on the F15A 4 x 4 version. Parts no CO1QF 2263 and CO1QF 2264. I would assume the larger models of CMP's had the same arrangement.
They were then replace by 91A 2269 (a roll of Bundy tubing) and fabricated in the field.
Note the quote "Used with brake tubing attached to axle housing- new location"
So everyone debating three or four flexible lines to the front axle is correct.

Had I read it more carefully also the lengths of CO1Q 2267 = 46-7/16" and CO1Q 2268 = 19-11/16" might have tipped me off that my brake lines did not follow the original path on the rear axle. Oh well, as my Dad used to say "By the time you are dead you know everything!"
Another interesting point is Part CO1Q 2070: Union- inverted, that you mentioned, Tony, and showed in the diagram does not appear in the F15A brake line diagrams but does appear in the parts list for it. This is not uncommon though with the parts lists I have found.

Now if I can ask Keith, or anyone else here for a good close-up photo and/or dimensions of the brake line clip under the rear springs I think I will have all the info I need to re-do the rear diff lines.

P.S. it only cost me $5 for a 1.8m offcut of Bundy tube at Industrial Fittings when I picked up the joiners so it's worth correcting the mistake on the rear axle. All I lose is a bit of time.

Cheers

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Now if I can ask Keith, or anyone else here for a good close-up photo and/or dimensions of the brake line clip under the rear springs I think I will have all the info I need to re-do the rear diff lines. Cheers

Hi Jacques,

It seems there were two different types of clip used. The type seen in the first two pics appears to be p/n 2081, which is also used at several other points to secure the brake line to the chassis, as shown in the maintenance manual diagram (Fig. 1 on page E0). It's listed as "Clip, brake pipe, 1 1/8" long (old design)". As you can see in the photo the brake line itself has been dragged out from under the clip, bending it back in the process.

The type seen in the third and fourth pics wraps around the brake line and is thus more secure. I'll post some pics with dimensions in case you want to fabricate this one.