Blitz Chassis and Truck info wanted

[Tony Wheeler]

Here's a pic of the chassis I mentioned Jason. It's very clean and straight, the only imperfections being the missing rear crossmember, damaged fishplates (wrong type for FGT anyway), some oxy damage to the round holes in the chassis rail ends, plus a bit of steel welded onto them.

I need the running gear off this chassis but the frame is yours for $100 if you finish up needing it. I'd leave the springs on as yours have had a hard life.

Judging by your pics I suspect you'd need two new rear crossmembers and some new fishplates as well. I'll be getting several of each made up in due course so I can increase the order if need be. Also I'm not sure the winch crossmember fishplates are present on your chassis, so if you can post some pics of this area I can check.

Anyway it's here if you ever need it and I'll keep it in case you do. As I said though you may be better off with a complete truck if you can find a suitable one up there.

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for that ill need the rear crossmembers anyway so let me know when you plan on getting them done and ill see how to get this chassis to toowoomba.

Thanks

[Jason Linders]

Having problems finding the chassis number is it right on top or on top of the side near the fron engine mount
Thanks

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Having problems finding the chassis number is it right on top or on top of the side near the fron engine mount
Thanks

It is right on top, but sometimes they didn't stamp them at all. If your truck has the original gearbox it is also stamped on the top of the bell housing and if it is the original engine, which is unlikely, it is stamped on the machined face on top of the block where the valley cover bolts on.

[Keith Webb]

This is where it is on the gearbox:



And (from a cab 12) adjacent to the engine mount on top of the chassis rail:



And sometimes (as on this FGT) it is on the vertical face, in this case you can see the solenoid bolts:



Hope this helps. Did you manage to decypher any of the numbers on the front of the truck?

[Jason Linders]

Not yet but i will get a gearbox number and see what i can find on the numbers tomorrow

[Jason Linders]

the number on bellhousing is : 3G47582F
and some of the numbers under hood is : 8 23 12 55
and looks like down near the bottom : 179

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks for that ill need the rear crossmembers anyway so let me know when you plan on getting them done

No worries Jason, I'll get onto it in the next week or so and let you know costs.

[Jason Linders]

That would be great Thanks Tony

[Jason Linders]

Hi does anyone know what cab no my FGT no8 is
Thanks

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Hi does anyone know what cab no my FGT no8 is
Thanks

It's cab 13, the integral body is a Gun Tractor No8 Aust.

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for that Keith i also found the gearbox number.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks for that Keith i also found the gearbox number.

Which is...?

[Jason Linders]

3G47582F AND WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE BLITZ TYRES

Thanks

[Jason Linders]

And the numbers under the hood
8(?) 23 12 55 and then near the bottom looks like
179

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

3G47582F AND WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE BLITZ TYRES

Thanks

Should be 10.50-20 for yours. Originally it was fitted with 'runflat' tyres and the body was not designed to carry a spare.

[Keith Webb]

I have found your ARN: 132272

It was issued through Victoria Barracks when new in 1942, written off and disposed of by the Board of Survey, March 22nd 1960. Incidentally the previous ARN, also a gun tractor was written off the same day, and I have this listed as being at Meandarra Qld.

[Ken Smith]

I am interested in this no provision for a spare. Mike Cecil in his AMEP series states that the rear floor is timber planks and there is no spare tyre mount .I wrote to Mike in 1992 and queried that statement as I have what appears to be a spare tyre mount welded in the rear compartment from new and mine has a steel floor, I didn't get a reply and as Mike is a good researcher I wondered are there early and late bodies? I can't find a Holden body number or where there has been one but there is a little copper/lead tag about 1 inch by 1/4 inch soldered under the lower right of the rear door opening.
Imagine trying to lift a CMP 20 inch wheel up on to the roof, I think something or somebody would have got broken but I guess when you are in the bush you just had to get on with it.
My rear body section is Chev as it turns out.

Cheers Ken

[Keith Webb]

It depends whether yours is a No8 or 9. They both have wooden floorboards in the rear but the No9 does have provision for a spare on the right side, and it also has a ramp carried on the outside of the vehicle. The No8 is considerably narrower inside due to the lockers on both sides of the body and therefore only has a single door on the back as opposed to the two doors on the No9, which also has a step in the roof.

Feel free to post some pics of yours here.

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I am interested in this no provision for a spare. Mike Cecil in his AMEP series states that the rear floor is timber planks and there is no spare tyre mount .I wrote to Mike in 1992 and queried that statement as I have what appears to be a spare tyre mount welded in the rear compartment from new and mine has a steel floor, I didn't get a reply and as Mike is a good researcher I wondered are there early and late bodies? I can't find a Holden body number or where there has been one but there is a little copper/lead tag about 1 inch by 1/4 inch soldered under the lower right of the rear door opening.
Imagine trying to lift a CMP 20 inch wheel up on to the roof, I think something or somebody would have got broken but I guess when you are in the bush you just had to get on with it.
My rear body section is Chev as it turns out.

Cheers Ken

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Imagine trying to lift a CMP 20 inch wheel up on to the roof, I think something or somebody would have got broken but I guess when you are in the bush you just had to get on with it.

Yes it would certainly be a bit of a struggle but nothing out of the ordinary for young fit Arty crews used to hauling 25 pdrs through mud and scrub!

I have an idea with runflats they sometimes just carried a spare tyre, to be fitted on the rim when time permitted. I've seen photos where the tyre on the roof looks too thin to be on a rim.

As Keith says the problem was rectified with the No.9 gun tractor, which yours would seem to be Ken. We'd love to see some pics if you can post here.

Cheers,
Tony

[Jason Linders]

So other then the spare wheel,single door on rear and locker boxes is the construction the same like the curved steel in the roof the same and the wheel arche design between the no8 and no9, just trying to get a idea of how to make my rear section

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

just trying to get a idea of how to make my rear section

To build one from scratch we'll need drawings Jason. We already have FGT9 drawings so it shouldn't be difficult to produce FGT8 drawings, by simply noting the differences. This will involve taking measurements off an existing FGT8 body, of which there's at least one in Victoria I believe.

In my case I'll need drawings for both, as I have the remains of 3 FGT8s as well as a FGT9. None of them have bodies so if I live long enough I may have to build four of the bloody things! I'm thinking of tackling a FGT8 resto first, as it may suit my plans better. If so I'll need to work up some drawings quite soon, as I'll be starting on the body rather than the chassis. That's because I now have a complete running F15A to get around in (purchased yesterday!) so there's no need to restore another one now.

I'll start putting my mind to the drawings and let you know how I get on.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

I have found your ARN: 132272

Nice work Keith! This is quite close to my FGT8 ARN 132257, or remains thereof! I'll be interested to see if Jason finds any trace of Desert Stone on the panels, as found on mine. This colour was discontinued here in mid '42 so it should give us a fix on production date.

Just to inspire you Jason here's a few pics of the colours and markings appropriate for your FGT8 when the time comes. Factory camo at the time was Khaki Green / Light Stone. E1 tactical sign indicates E Troop, Tractor 1.

[Tony Wheeler]

They also had a stencilled Formation Sign, this one turned out to be NT Force.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Good day Jason,
Nice to see another one saved. I have a rear section of a No 8 body I would be interested in selling, pm me if interested.
Cheers Ken

Hi Ken,
If Jason doesn't buy it I'd be very interested myself. I'll wait to hear the outcome as I don't want to jump the queue!
Cheers,
Tony

[Ken Smith]

Good day Tony,
The body has sold , I am happy to see it go to where it will do some good in another restoration.

Cheers Ken

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Good day Tony,
The body has sold , I am happy to see it go to where it will do some good in another restoration. Cheers Ken

Wow, that was quick Ken! Where did it finish up going? I've since learned it's a Chev body so less appropriate for my resto.

Cheers,
Tony

[Jason Linders]

I know Tony was hoping it was a ford to but no joy, if it was i would have got it.
Trying to get a hold of Adelaide military museum but no one will get back to me.

So i am trying another avenue my dad retired from the army after 30 odd years now works for Veterans Affairs so we will try to get the paper work through freedom of information he said it might take up to 6 months if we are lucky but i will give anything ago at the moment.

[Keith Webb]

Theirs is a sort of facsimile upper rear built on a genuine No8 chassis and subframe. You really need a genuine one to copy, and there is one a little closer to home.

[Jason Linders]

Were is the closses one located.