Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Hey!

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

Relax Tony

You're posting so frequently your thread will stay on top of the page.

Hanno

[Private_collector]

I knew i'd come unstuck one day!

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Hey!

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

There we go mate. Not sure what turned it off

[Private_collector]

Well, thats it for photos for now at least.

[Private_collector]

Steering box now finished. I had originally chosen the best sector shaft & best worm gear shaft, but despite several attempts, I could NOT get them to work together without binding mildly in what would be roughly straight steering. Had a re-think and tried the other worm gear shaft. Bingo! Smooth rotation from lock to lock. When adjust fully, it is now possible to turn the worm gear shaft by twisting the sector chaft alone. These two parts had been a pair for 70 years and they still work perfectly together.

Assembled the box fully yesterday PM, after returning home from photographing those old CMP wrecks. Checked the assembly this morning and found some oil weepage from both of the bolt on plates. Very minor, but shouldn't be any leaking there at all, they both have brand new gaskets. Re-torqued the bolts this evening, for another check in the morning. I would hate to think I need to remove the cover plates for some reason


Heres a small glimpse into the distant future.


The new sector seal was installed easily but painfully. With weather being so hot, I put the bare steering box in the sun, and the seal had gone into the freezer the night before. Upon removal from the fridge, the oil that seal was sitting in had turned thick, as thick as treacle! When I took hold of the steering box after sitting in direct sunlight for 4 hours, it was VERY hot. I unwittingly reenacted the scene from Indiana Jones where the bad guy grabs the medallion thats been in the fire. The difference being, the writing wasn't as clear on my palm......and i'm not a fascist nazi bully boy.

With the differences in temp, the seal could be tapped in easily. At least that bit doesn't weep oil.

[Private_collector]

Regarding the following photo sent by Darrin a day or so ago, exactly what is the machine gun? Wouldn't mind making a replica one.


The frame that the turret sits on doesn't look quite right. Looks like the front 'triangular' frame attaches to the same location on far forward position that the gun is attached to (the location I have circled below).

If this were the case, it wouldn't be able to elevate.........would it?

[Marc van Aalderen]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Here are a large number of REALLY interesting photos, showing a massive military vehicle gathering in the areas of D Day landings, in 2009.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kmbizal/Normandy2009#

My Wife and I travelled through this part of France in 1990, while on a tour. At that time, you could still see pillboxes all around, and the occasional tank shell, rusting in fields or placed as monuments.

Imagine being a part of this scene
Attachment 52539

Hi Tony,

A bit late but I just noticed myself driving by with the Dingo in picture 202! Together with my eldest daughter Pauline. We recognize a lot of the scenes and were in the same places at almost the same time. What a coincedence!

I enjoy your thread and the magnificent job you are doing.

Cheers,

[Private_collector]

Hello Marc,

It's never too late to come join in!

We're hoping to get back that way again some time. Will certainly take more notice (and photos) next time.

Thank you for the kind comments,

[Private_collector]

Finally got the compressor into the repair shop yesterday arternoon. They closed earlier on friday, and I didn't get there before knock off time, so the damn thing has been in the back of my wifes vehicle all weekend. Not a particularly safe thing to be carting around.

Mike, I was very pleased that when I described the way the motor behaved during the fault, the repair shop guy said straight away that he thought it sounded like a capacitor problem. That is exactly what it was. Said part replaced, at minimal cost, and motor tested for any other damage, without further faults identified.

Another thing Mike was spot on about, my local hydraulic shop printed me a list of the bronze bushings available as standard (overnight) order. I didn't get to place order today because of picking up the repaired compressor, but will do this tomorrow morning. Obviously not tested the following bush sizing, but I am ordering a 3/4 ID, 7/8 OD, by 1" length. Will also order same with a 1 & 1/8 length, just in case the borderline fitting 1" size is not quite long enough.

So Mike, my thanks to you for alerting me to these two answers to recent dilemmas!

P.S: steering box gaskets x2 still weeping. Bastard. I will look for another type of gasket paper while at hydraulic shop tomorrow A.M. I'm worried now, because the same paper was used on jointing two halves of rear axle some time ago. Oil not yet put into the diff casing. Must do so prior to replacing axle onto chassis!

[Mike Kelly]

Ah !

That is good news

I am a hobby machinist . I bought a ex school lathe and learnt how to use it by trial and error .. with more errors than trials If you need a special part made , I may be able to help you .

With those weeping gaskets . I wonder if you use Permatex gasket sealant . I think No. 3 Permatex is the non-hardening stuff. It's excellent stuff . It's available at most auto parts shops .

Mike

[Private_collector]

I am very excited to have found a photo of the exact CMP vehicles that belonged to my fathers batallion. It pays to check the AWM website periodically. New things added to the collections all the time. Bloody boring rear bodies they had!!!

[Keith Webb]

Looks like the steel GS dropside body.

Originally Posted by Private_collector

I am very excited to have found a photo of the exact CMP vehicles that belonged to my fathers batallion. It pays to check the AWM website periodically. New things added to the collections all the time. Bloody boring rear bodies they had!!!

Attachment 52902

[Private_collector]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

With those weeping gaskets . I wonder if you use Permatex gasket sealant . I think No. 3 Permatex is the non-hardening stuff. It's excellent stuff . It's available at most auto parts shops .

Mike, I bought some of that gasket stuff yesterday. No time to try until Saturday though. Damned if it dont smell like molasses!

[Private_collector]

Bloody rippa!

Disassembled the steering box again yesterday, and put it back together with fresh gaskets. This time I coated the surfaces of gasket & metal with lashings of sealant. This morning, I anxiously checked for leaks before leaving for work, and found NOTHING untoward.

Now, every gasket I replace will have this treatment. I have never used sealant before, but won't do any future work without it.

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Bloody rippa!

Disassembled the steering box again yesterday, and put it back together with fresh gaskets. This time I coated the surfaces of gasket & metal with lashings of sealant. This morning, I anxiously checked for leaks before leaving for work, and found NOTHING untoward.

Now, every gasket I replace will have this treatment. I have never used sealant before, but won't do any future work without it.

That is good news Tony . My neighbour uses that Permatex on just about everything , including head gaskets - but I wouldn't recommend it for that purpose . He even uses it on tubeless tyre rims , before assembly he smears a coating of it around the rim and it seals any potential leaks . I found that Its great for water pump gaskets , sump gaskets and timing covers too Mike

[hrpearce]

I've used locktite no.3 for years. I cut a lot of gaskets out of cerial boxes and have never had a falier. You can use it sparingly on shim packs also to get a good seal without adding thickness.

[Private_collector]

I found this excellent site for Australian Military History resources.
There is a VERY impressive range of books, DVDs, etc...

http://regimental-books.com.au/index.php

They even had a copy of a book about my fathers infantry battalion. A book I had not seen anywhere else except in my bookcase.

Well worth a look, for anyone who has a relative who served. Mostly Australian resources, but there are some New Zealand and other commonwealth offerings as well. Enjoy!

[Private_collector]

Well, with fellow MLUer Andy Cusworth, I have spent a great chunk of today gathering some small parts I need for my reuild. Some of the things I got include:

• Pair of front shocks complete with the rods to the axles

• Hand brake lever and some of the mechanism that I was missing.

• The sunshine roof I was talking about some time ago.

• Bumper bar, badly bent, BUT has very good D shackles and the correct mounting hardware for the nudge bar........also with good nudge bar......and set of bumper bar to frame brackets....unbent & unmolested, thankfully. Didn't get it for the bar, just the brackets and other hardware.

Instead of trying to remove the roof panel from the rotted out cab floor it was attached to, I was offered to take the whole chunk, which I did. I noticed when I got it home that there is a substantial bracket assembly on passenger side of cab rear roof & rear lower panel. It has two round collars which I assume are intended to slip something tubular down into them. What is this bracket meant to be used with?? I'll try to remember to take a photo of it tomorrow (i'm on holidays this week). The inside of cab still has the piece that the door curtain bag attaches to, and I hope to save this for later use. Also has the two weapon clips inside, BUT they are different to each other, with the smaller size being on passenger side. We wondered if the smaller size on passenger side was for a Bren Gun? The rifle butt blocks are the metal rectangular type, and both are quite advanced in state of decay. One would be useful as a pattern for new ones, the other would be useful for contracting tetanus only!

The most exciting find is an absolutely PERFECT condition window frame! It is a passenger side, but I dont see any reason why it cannot have the lower section reversed and made to then fit driver side..............which I desperately needed! Did I mention it is entirely without rust, straight as a die and flat all around. That was incredible really, because it was sitting right alongside the other frame (both removed from the truck aeons ago) which was completely eaten away with rust all along the lower section. Guess that one gave its life so that the one I got could live.

P.S: Found the steering box STILL weaps oil through the sector shaft adjusting thread cap and locking ring. I already slopped these with gasket sealant, so no more stuffing around. Bought a tube of the 'semi grease' that someone mentioned here once.
A specially produced grease for vintage (read as leaky) steering boxes and gear cases! Take that, evil steering box.

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

there is a substantial bracket assembly on passenger side of cab rear roof & rear lower panel. It has two round collars which I assume are intended to slip something tubular down into them. What is this bracket meant to be used with??:

Tony is this the bracket?
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9269

[Private_collector]

Thats it Robert!

Will be sure to save it, now that I know what it is.

So long as it doesn't rain, I'll be cutting up the rotten cab & roof today. Photos will follow.

T.

[Keith Webb]

Now you'll have to search for one of the bent tubular light machine gun mounts to go in it. Curious they are so hard to find seeing so many must have been made.

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day Keith,

I am in the same boat as many Blitz restorers, I have the cabin bracket for the machine gun mount but not the L shaped pipe. The only photo I have seen of one is the attached from the book "A History of the Ford Motor Company in Australia" by Geoff Easdown. It was from Ford's WW2 archives.

Not really enough info in the picture to make a good repro but it gives you a bit of an idea.

Probably the the straight pipe section was more usable post war on the land hence none are around.

Brgds,

Jacques

[Grant Bowker]

It wouldn't surprise me if many Blitz owners decided the pipe structure had caught in one too many trees and just heaved it to be rid of it.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

It wouldn't surprise me if many Blitz owners decided the pipe structure had caught in one too many trees and just heaved it to be rid of it.

I think you're right, although probably it happened even before the vehicles were disposed of, you see them in the factory or official images, then rarely in service pics. Probably if you weren't in an area under possible threat of aerial attack they were a major nuisance.

[Mike Kelly]

The little 12 cwt Plymouth utes were also fitted

I owned two of these utes in the early 1980's , another project I should have kept, along with the 41 Pontiac ute .... that I sold to Colin Anderson . Mike

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Now you'll have to search for one of the bent tubular light machine gun mounts to go in it. Curious they are so hard to find seeing so many must have been made.

And here's why!!



Regards Rick

[Keith Webb]

Great illustration of use Rick!

Originally Posted by lynx42

And here's why!!



Regards Rick

[Euan McDonald]

Lets play spot the gallows!

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Euan McDonald

Lets play spot the gallows!

I think that there is more fun identifying all the other bits.

2 Lunettes for No.27 Limber,
numerous Limber draw poles,
25pdr. Limber tray,
P.O.L Holder of a Blitz
and a
Rusty limber No.27 complete with spring bumper in lower right hand corner of photo.

[Mrs Vampire]

Hi Euan I am looking at building a Limber any help with parts would be welcome
p