Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[lynx42]

This one Richard? That's our motor home behind a QL at Etreham. One of the many photos in that series by kmbizal>Normandy 2009. Brings back many happy memories.
Regards Rick

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by lynx42

This one Richard, That's our motor home behind you at Eterham. One of the many photos in that series by kmbizal>Normandy 2009. Brings back many happy memories.
Regards Rick

Hi Rick,
That is not my QL, but it does appear in the background of this photo from the same series. That is Rippo's MW in the foreground. This was at the MVT camp at Etreham.

regards Richard

[Private_collector]

Wow! That must have been an amazing gathering. I envy you both.

Such an unbelievable tribute to the D Day participants!

I would like to do this journey one day. I imagine there would be a permanent lump in my throat for the duration.

My family & I will be present at Pearl Harbour this year on the aniversary of the Japanese attack, Dec 7th, 1941. That should be quite a moving gathering as well. They recently disbanded the Pearl Harbour Survivors Association, due to lack of surviving members. I have a photo of a floral wreath placed on the Arizona memorial from that association in 2010. I wont see another one this year.



While I think of it. where the hell did the LC come from, that was in one of the Normandy photos in my earlier post?
I have a photo of my Fathers comrades coming off something I think is very similar if not identical, but in the pacific theatre.

to you both!

[Private_collector]

Gentlemen,

A friend of mine is seriously searching for a Ford 2WD CMP, to compliment the one he already has. He does a great deal of travel in his current CMP and wants to restore another one!

Anyone that has a suitable 2WD CMP, please contact me via PM and I will pass on your details to my friend.

[Private_collector]

The fellow I mentioned in previous post is in the process of importing a large quantity of 16 inch (900x16) tyres to suit CMPs. The tyres are in transit and will be arriving in Queensland within next month or so. These tyres will be offered for sale upon their arrival and customs clearance. If you have any interest in purchasing tyres for your Blitz, or know someone who is, send me a PM to pass onto the imported.

Sorry folks, no 20 inch.......yet! Pity. I could use more....for 'ron'.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Wow! That must have been an amazing gathering. I envy you both.

Such an unbelievable tribute to the D Day participants!

I would like to do this journey one day. I imagine there would be a permanent lump in my throat for the duration.

While I think of it. where the hell did the LC come from, that was in one of the Normandy photos in my earlier post?

Hi Tony,
It is a priviledge to take part in these events and meeting the veterans who took part in 1944. My first one was in 1989 when the Vets were a lot younger and I remember so well in '94 when a lot of our club members vehicles transported a group of Vets along the beach to Arromanches so they could march in front of the Queen.

The Landing Craft was one currently in service with the British Army.

In 2014, it will be the 70th anniversary and the military vehicle clubs in the UK are already planning their tours with participants booked in. Once again there will be a number on Australian and New Zealander MV enthusiasts who are going to ship their vehicles to Southern Europe to travel up to Normandy and join us on the MVT campsite.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I think you started it by posting that photo up

regards, Richard

[Private_collector]

I'm not seeing it as hijacking, Richard.

Pleased to have the opportunity to hear about these events and to talk to you guys that were there.

All the best.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

I'm not seeing it as hijacking, Richard.

Thanks Tony

[Little Jo]

Hi Tony

If you would like to be there in 2014 with your restored Blitz, then check out details below. Lang is organising another trip accross Europe to end up on the beaches on D Day. He has a thread going under. "Istanbul to Normandy Convoy - 2014".

Cheers

Tony

07-08-12, 17:21
Lang
Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 628

Istanbul to Normandy Convoy - 2014

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Istanbul to Normandy Convoy is on again for 2014. We already have a pretty full complement of Aussies and Kiwis and will soon be starting a waiting list but I would hold a few places for Canadians and/or Americans to come along just for the cultural mix.

6 weeks, departing Istanbul 01 May 14 and ending on the WW1 battlefields in Belgium 12 Jun 14. Really interesting route this time via Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, UK (Jersey Island), France, Belgium. About 6,000km so very easy driving.

Camping at mostly first class facility camp grounds.

You can see the DVD of the last trip - just Google "Driving to D-Day" and you will find a distributor to supply one. I think some of it is on You Tube. You can also go on our web site to read the blogs, photos etc www.next-horizon.org

Take the opportunity to bring your vehicle over (direct shipping from North America to Istanbul is available) or buy something in Europe to take home.

ps We will be visiting Vimy and the USA National WW1 memorial.

[Private_collector]

Guys, my truck wouldnt be ready by 2014. Possibly ready for centenary of ANZAC in 2015, but nowhere near done in 2014. Even if it could be done, the cost would put it beyond my reach. Then there's the time I would need to be away from work.

Shame though.

[Private_collector]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, chassis still not home, BUT will be blasted during this week and I will be going there on Saturday to reassemble the bits that will need to be in place prior to the making of the new crossmember for rear. That will be manufactured next week.

So, once again, I go on with other parts for now, including finally finishing the passenger side step assembly. This step tread not quite as good as driver side, and i'm not greatly impressed with the finished product, but there you have it!

This is the new fuel filter finished. Remember it will be hidden on inside of the chassis, with an original but non-functioning filter in place on the driver step assembly behind the battery. At least if anyone does see the new one, it will be in the right color.

I stumbled across another old booster I had forgotten I had, and found the exact part I was needing for securing the actuator piece. Yaaaay!

Also got the sector shaft seal out of the steering box and then got the thing painted. It's now awaiting new seal, bearing and shims/gaskets from MacsAuto. Those should arrive around mid week. Box will be reassembled this weekend, all going well.

Drag link is now finished also, requiring replacement of only one of the ball cups (and new grease nipples of course).

[Private_collector]

Started tidying up the gearbox mounted tyre pump. This was given to me by a good friend who didn't want it.

I am looking for the bushing that goes on the piston connecting rod, and also the cover that goes over this assembly. If you have either of these to sell, please send me a message and i'll be happy to buy it/them from you.

Cheers!

[Euan McDonald]

Hi Tony,
If you can wait till next week i'm sure I have a NOS piston and rod with bush.
May even have the cover plate as well.

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Attachment 52589
Started tidying up the gearbox mounted tyre pump. This was given to me by a good friend who didn't want it.
Attachment 52590
I am looking for the bushing that goes on the piston connecting rod, and also the cover that goes over this assembly. If you have either of these to sell, please send me a message and i'll be happy to buy it/them from you.

Cheers!

Tony

If it's a bronze bush you are after , you can buy them in standard imperial sizes at most industrial bearing suppliers .

Mike

[Private_collector]

My steering box parts from Macs arrived today.

While the part numbers are identical, the sector shaft seal & worm gear are NOT CORRECT PARTS FOR CMP. I have added this information to my original post where I first mentioned the part numbers and supplier.

I can't believe this scenario. Basically I have been waiting for over 2 weeks for stuff I cannot use. I'm really very pissed off about this. Starting to understand why a lot of people simply do not go to this extent with restoration.

Can't be bothered with playing hide & seek anymore, so sod the damn things.
I'll make a call tomorrow to Ross Prince, and hopefully save myself a lot of stuffing around!

I can feel a little 'blitz free' time coming up soon. Maybe my motivation will return after a bit of a break from the weekly dose of dissapointments.

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Tony

If it's a bronze bush you are after , you can buy them in standard imperial sizes at most industrial bearing suppliers .

Mike

Thanks Mike!

[Private_collector]

What a stroke of luck!

Scott, i'm on Southern Cross website now, ordering one.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention


I can't believe Southern Cross Militaria have a bloody Sherman Tank for sale. Wish I had the money.
Those things are sooooo easy to park. Just put it anywhere you want, and on whatever you want too.
Would be $50,000 well spent for a great gate guardian. Turret facing down the road where boy racers come flying along, of course.

[Private_collector]

As expected, Ross Prince to the rescue again.

He has the seal I needed, and a bloody good price too

I'll get that at the Canungra meet weekend. I believe Ross will be attending again this year.

[Private_collector]

It's finally happened!
The chassis is blasted and etch primed.
The job was achieved this morning, being a joint effort between the Engineering Manager and myself. He did the blasting. I did the spraying (after Brad, the Manager, mixed the paint), and then spent quite some time bolting the parts on when etch had dried. Only bolted the parts that are needed to maintain the dimensions for measuring and attaching the new rear cross member.

Yes, I do know there are two plates missing from the current aft most x-member. Because the chassis is shortened, the height of chassis wall is greater, meaning the standard brackets will not fit. A problem for another day.

It's now safe to state that the serious concern I had some weeks ago is NOT an eventuality. I had heard rumors (from two sources) that the engineering works was actually going broke, and due to shut down on either the week I posted or early part of following week. It wasn't sporting to indicate that sort of thing here, at a time of uncertainty. As it turns out, they are going strong, with more work than ever. In fact that's been the delay with my chassis. Their regular money comes from the sort of thing you see in the first photo, above. That's a truck mounted water tank, completely fabricated on site. My stuff has had to wait until they could spare the time to 'play around' with it.

Hope to have the chassis back home within next 2/52. Wouldn't be bringing it home next weekend even if it was ready. That's the Military Jeep Club of Queensland' Canungra meet and swap. Won't be missing that!

I'll be satisfied, so long as chassis is painted before end of November. It can sit and harden further while i'm on holiday.

[Private_collector]

Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened last Saturday, that very Saturday of course being the day firm progress was finally made with the chassis.

After seeing some glimmer of results being made on chassis in the morning, I returned home and commenced blasting some small parts relating to suspension. I had shut the door, pulled down the window blind and switched on the light inside of blasting booth. At this point, compressor had already been started and was running along. Within a couple of minutes, I began to smell an aroma which was immediately recognised as burning electrical wires. I had my arms in the blast booths biceps length rubber gloves, but got em out as fast as I could, to turn off the compressor ASAP. By the time I slammed the stop button, the compressor was already producing acrid fumes and black smoke. It was also running 'like a hairy goat'.

Initially I wondered if the fault was as direct result of the high temperature, but discounted this cause quickly. It wasn't any hotter in the workshop that day than it had been many times in past, without having problems of this nature. Sunday morning I restarted the compressor (after placing it waaaay outside, away from anything combustable) and got the same issue return almost immediately.

Isn't it just TYPICAL that when return of chassis is imminent, the one thing I would rely on to get paint on it, would shit itself completely!!!!!

Thursday I will lump the damn thing into town for electrical evaluation, and fully expect I will be advised that my motor is U/S, and needs full replacement. $$$$$$$$$$$$! Guess i'll probably get a hernia getting it into the back of the car too.

Figures, don't it?

Life's cruel, aint it

[Mike Kelly]

Tony

It may be better if you buy a new motor and fit it yourself . There are many new motors around these days .. cheap on Ebay .

You might have to fiddle the mounts a bit to make another motor fit .

Most of those electrical places are not worth it . They will just say , buy a new motor, from us .

Those single phase motors usually have a starting capacitor in series with a start winding, if the capacitor shorts out , the motor will growl and become hot and won't turn . All that is needed is a new $10 cap, but will they tell you that , no, they will say the whole motor is stuffed , buy a new one , from us of course . Mike

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened last Saturday, that very Saturday of course being the day firm progress was finally made with the chassis.

After seeing some glimmer of results being made on chassis in the morning, I returned home and commenced blasting some small parts relating to suspension. I had shut the door, pulled down the window blind and switched on the light inside of blasting booth. At this point, compressor had already been started and was running along. Within a couple of minutes, I began to smell an aroma which was immediately recognised as burning electrical wires. I had my arms in the blast booths biceps length rubber gloves, but got em out as fast as I could, to turn off the compressor ASAP. By the time I slammed the stop button, the compressor was already producing acrid fumes and black smoke. It was also running 'like a hairy goat'.

Initially I wondered if the fault was as direct result of the high temperature, but discounted this cause quickly. It wasn't any hotter in the workshop that day than it had been many times in past, without having problems of this nature. Sunday morning I restarted the compressor (after placing it waaaay outside, away from anything combustable) and got the same issue return almost immediately.

Isn't it just TYPICAL that when return of chassis is imminent, the one thing I would rely on to get paint on it, would shit itself completely!!!!!

Thursday I will lump the damn thing into town for electrical evaluation, and fully expect I will be advised that my motor is U/S, and needs full replacement. $$$$$$$$$$$$! Guess i'll probably get a hernia getting it into the back of the car too.

Figures, don't it?

Life's cruel, aint it

[Private_collector]

I'll post a series of vehicle photos on a new thread, but here is my major purchase.

I just couldn't resist this 1950s Machine Gun AA Turret. It had been taken out of it's box only recently, and while my pal (Andy) and I took the side bins off to get it in back of my sons car, I saw the ball-bearings in the traverse mechanism did not even have a scratch on the military paint sprayed on them when constructed. It's a heavy bastard. Two of us required to get it into the hatch of the lads Ford Focus. Wish I had taken a photo of it in there, but don't want any evidence to be found.



It works beautifully, and once home, I found the springs for elevating the weapon have a great deal of adjustment, so I can attach a lighter replica without it being facing straight up in the air.

I love the ammunition belt track! Can't wait to try a chain of cartridges I have.........somewhere

There were 4 of these available for sale. Well, actually 3 when I left.

I now have the steering box sector shaft seal, and it's having a little swim tonight. Will get the box reassembled tomorrow afternoon.

[lynx42]

Tony, These were made by the Howard Rotavator Co. and I think were an experimental .50cal. mount. to go on the roof of the Mk1. International 4x4.

They were not adopted by the army, although there are a few photos of the up on the cabin roof around. (A previous thread has them.)

Regards Rick

[Darrin Wright]

Here is a pic that I acquired from the Proof & Experimental Range at Monageetta, Vic.
This should be your mount....

[Private_collector]

Thanks for the information and photo, guys!
So if not adopted, does that make em an unusual find...........or dirt common because the army disposed of the lot.

If mounted as the photo Darrin posted, wouldn't it be a bugger to use? Where does the gunner hold onto? There is a thick metal tube that has a complex two part release catch, and in the 'stored' or locked position it is sitting right down against the traverse ring. I originally thought it was a release catch for the locking mech. but I looked closer today and it has absolutely nothing to do with the locking catch. Could this actually be the piece that gunner holds onto, with the two handed release catch being the firing trigger?????

In the first of the following two photo, you can easily see the part I mean. It is the thick tube running across behind the two shafts that run parallel to the gun itself. The two part lock system can be seen too and it would be roughly where the hands might be if placed like in your photo, Darrin.



I guess I start searching for more 50 cal shells now! These were enough to fill the top row of an ammo box with some to hang out of the box with lid ajar. Majority of the ammo box was foam padding. I don't remember exactly why I did this, but it was about 10 years ago now, at least.

[Keith Webb]

There were a few sold at Corowa this year - possibly yours was one of those.

[Private_collector]

While at Canungra yesterday, I was given some very bad news relating to a lovely old gentleman (well, only 70yrs old) who had been a source of mine for a range of CMP parts. I was shocked to hear that this fellow had passed away a couple of weeks ago. For more than 6 months I had been passively trying to find the time to re-visit and show photos of my progress so far, and point out the particular parts I had purchased from him. While he has not been a very well man, I had no idea that he had recently been diagnosed with liver cancer. I believe he was in denial of his prognosis, right to the end.

A kind & friendly old fella, and he will be greatly missed. Don't put off visiting distant friends or family, they may not be there when you finally get around to the visit. to you old mate.

Hearing the sad news, I went to go see his brother today. He actually lives on an ajoining property. Over a cup of coffee, I was told that an auction was being considered for the remaining blitz wrecks that remained on the property. There are one or two that still run, but are rough to look at. The rest would donate parts, though none of those would be restorers in their own right.

Two of the trucks still have the doors on em, and those doors are in VERY good shape. Two are about the same condition as the set I restored for my truck, and the other two (there may be more I didn't see today) are in superior condition. I think this pair were Ford too!

I will post 5 sets of photos, starting here, to show these trucks and some other items which may be of interest. I hope some of the rare bits like doors etc end up surfacing for purchase, but thats not been decided as yet.

[Private_collector]

This place has so many bits & pieces that you come across. The stuff is just laying in the grass, ready to bust a toe on.

[Private_collector]

Internet is very slow tonight. I'll do the remaining post on these tomorrow night.

Keith, the turrets sold at Corowa would number exactly 14 I believe. It was the same seller and that is the figure he mentioned taking there. Sold the lot.

Oh crap, I forgot to post something about finishing the steering box today I'll do that later too. As usual, it was a trilogy in four parts! Bloody thing

P.S: The sunshine roof is already spoken for!

Andy, email sent. Look closely at the photos too

[Private_collector]

Hey!

Whichever of the moderators made my new 'page' please put the "Sticky" back on!!!!!