Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

But first,
Cab roof - sunshine 1.jpg
Thanks Phil. You are correct. It's 'one for the price of 2' sort of thing. I took a good look at the one with best roof profile, and it is the one that will become the Sunshine Roof. The second roof is a suitable donor for rear window frame and possibly bugger-all else. I also have a third roof. It is OK to use as is, once cleaned up and panelbeaten a little, but that can wait for another time. I'm more interested in getting the hole cut through for the sunshine roof to go away for blasting, welding, etc.. I have a couple of metres of canvas on order. Should get it this week. Wasn't feeling best last weekend, so I sat down and did a lube job on the sewing machine I bought some weeks ago.
rear spring pitch coated 1.jpg
This morning (and afternoon) I did a job I have been avoiding for a long time. Rear springs. I have a good set of rear ones without overriders, from the 'organ donor'. All the clamps are intact. The main bolts are in good shape. The leaves are not rusted. Unfortunately the reason they are not rusted is because of an awful lot of pitch between all the leaves. Mmmmmm, pitch/tar/whatever........wat ho! Oh my god! Disgusting stuff to remove. Here's the steps:

Scrape all the edges and grooves with an old chisel.
Soak everything with petrol and remove what you can get at.
Go beserk with twisted wire cup on grinder. Spear several wire strands into legs etc...
Discover heaps of pitch still in grooves. Swear loudly and repeatedly.
Re-soak with petrol, and scrub grooves with wire brush.
Use compressed-air to clean MORE pitch from grooves, as it sprays everywhere. Clean black muck off hands.
Re-re-soak with petrol and remove yet more muck. Repeat previous step (and this one) x 3 times.
rub over with brillo pad and Marine-Clean (POR15) 5:1 mix.
Dry thoroughly with compressed-air and throw em in the car for blasting during the week.
Rear spring cleaned 1.jpg
Covered the bushes with an old pin in each side, and copious wraps of gaffer tape to stop grit getting in and damaging.

6 Hours for the pair. Couldn't bring myself to seperate the leaves. All the leaf clamps are 'Ford' stamped too!!
rear spring trial fit 1.jpg
Before I cleaned the springs, I wanted to make sure they would actually fit the truck. Not in great shape this weeekend either, so I certainly wasn't gonna waste hours on something that won't work. I attached a 'should now be painted' (Grrrr) back hanger and swing. Presto. Great fit. The new shackle pins and lock bolts should be here by the end of the week, springs should be blasted and back by Friday, and paint WILL BE ready for me to have by then too. Provided I actually feel up to truck work next weekend, the only thing left to be done by end of next weekend, is the U bolts blasting and running a die down the threads,