The bloke i heard the story from first about the blitz also said it was sold 10 yrs ago but its at least 7 yrs since i first got told the story .
Theres a couple of Ford Blitz Cranes in Sebas they are old ex Barry james Trucks similar to the layout of the one you took photos of but have a larger crane and stabilizers fitted too the chassis .

gearboxes
 

Have you got any photos of those Blitzs plushy?


GEARBOXES
ok, I've tried to search the forum but I cannot find the thread on Ford/Chev gearbox differences/similarities. Anyone know it?

I'm in need of a Ford gearbox for my flathead ( I do know where I could get one though ). But I have a spare Chev gearbox sitting in a C60 wreck. I can remember reading about how the housings were slightly different on this forum once. Can I feasibly bolt up a Chev gearbox out of a C60 to the back of a Ford Blitz Flathead and bolt it into a Ford F15 chassis?
Or would it be much easier to just lay out more money and buy a Ford gearbox?

Ryan i have 4 or 5 ford gearboxes here if you want one come and get one :)

No photos of the Crane blitz`s but if i get a chance anytime soon i will get a few photos .


Plushy

No worries Plushy, I'll be in touch. :salute:

I was going to say...
 

I think it'd be a lot easier Ryan if you went with the ford gearbox...plus they make a much better noise than the Chevy box anyway.

But Plushy has solved your problem ... :thup2: :thup2:

box
 

Hi Tony, yep I'll go the easier option.

Not only that
 

It wouldn't bolt onto the Ford engine anyway.

Better not buy yourself an early cab 11 then :D

I thought you owned them all? :thup:

Hi Keith, well that saves me a lot of wasted time indeed!

:D Ive only got one cab 11 :D but it is an early one with chev diffs
and FGT to boot :thup2:

Hmmm
 

That sounds like a brag ..it's only a silly Ford after all :devil:
Only the GM diffs saved it from the scrap heap

oh! We have a heathen among us! Children, avert your eyes!

More of a stir than a brag :D
Caught one fish at least :D

gearbox issue
 

Problem solved now.
Brought home 2 Ford Blitz trucks yesterday from a farm about an hour away.
So now I have 2 gearboxes to play with as well as another flathead V8. I now also have an overflow tank too.
The more complete truck had both windows fitted in their frames before we left the farm. By the time we got to my place one had slipped out and dropped onto the tray of the tilt truck. Amazingly it didn't break!

Plushy, thank you for your offer but now I will not need to grab a gearbox off you. :salute:

more
 

Here's some pics of the pick up. Both were canadian built trucks. To fit them both on the truck one was chopped in half. The chassis was rusted anyway and after unsuccessfully trying to snap it in half by using the tractors FEL to bend it, the angle grinder was brought out. Job done.

The third one will be retrieved at a later date. It still has the V8 and gearbox fitted and features 20in rims on a SWB.

Third one
 

Nice, Ryan!

What was the third one? Looks to have had a yard crane conversion, just wondering what wheelbase it was... also have you found any ID details on your new acquisitions?

I see as usual the tinworm thrives underneath cypress trees!

Was the overflow tank OK?

Hi Keith, it had a set up for a scoop bucket via a pulley system. Engine ran on all 8 cylinders but was rough when it was parked there. Many many moons ago. Here's a photo I took of it several years ago.

No tags on any of them. I never have luck with tags it seems.
The overflow tank looks very good considering the nose had all but disappeared over it!

edit: I have removed the overflow tank and it has two small rust holes on the bottom.

No Worries Ryan let me know if theres any other parts your chasing . If you happen to find a spare drivers side fuel tank could you let me know as i am still chasing one for my Bliz .

cheers ,
James

No worries Plushy.

Working on the front of the chassis today. Removed the hand made supports for the Holden radiator. Bumper cross member will be replaced as the previous owner had cut off the top off it to fit the non standard radiator. Bolts came out fine. Wondering about the rivets. Thinking I will just cut them off with a grinder and replace with with a round head bolt. Were they hot or cold riveted?

Removed a couple of good flathead radiator support brackets out of a wreck today. Grinded off the rivets. Then knocked them through their holes, buggers of things they are. Cross member can wait for tomorrow.

a little today
 

Removed the bumper cross member today and cleaned it and the radiator brackets up. The removal of the original cross member will be tricky. I'll either have to remove the front springs to properly access the rivets or break the oxy out and cut off the tops of them.
To the manual. :coffee

clearing sale
 

When it rains it pours.
Went to a clearing sale today in Geelong and picked up a further two gearboxes. And a transfer case with pto. Gear levers, bearings, fuel tanks, straps, steering wheels, clutch plates, NOS horn, drive shafts, axles, plus much more.
Had a good chat with Hugh Tompson and met a new chap from Drysdale who has a 3/4 finished Ford Blitz tipper who DIDN'T know of MLU! Needless to say I told him about us. Hope he pops up soon. Both he and Hugh also shared in the goodies.
Missed out on other items like more driveshafts and wheels and tyres. A early sidevale V8 sold for $150. Another bloke bought a Ford Grille with badge to hang on his garage wall because it looked 'nice'.

sale
 

Oh yeah, also spoke to a scappy from Balwyn who told me they had just a couple of weeks earlier cut up a 'excellent condition and running' Chev Blitz with crane. The yard wouldn't sell it on due to health and safety reasons. :doh:

My dad sounds like he has been spending my inheritance. I will call him tomorrow and find out what he purchased. I recall him looking forward to this clearing sale.

sale
 

Well I better not tell you he'll be at another one on friday at Gnarwarre. lol. I might have to take the day off work.
The clearing sale was good apart from the usual pushy people ignoring the agents calls to move back.

Parts
 

You've done well, Ryan! :thup2:

Let's see some close ups of the goodies please, especially the horn.

close ups
 

Well, after having a proper look, it's not actually a blitz horn but a flathead part. In my haste at the auction I saw 'horn' in the blitz pile and put 2 and 2 together and came up with 3.
The rollers are a mystery, what are they off?
And some of the other parts. Some good bits and pieces.

A small step down on the farm.
Fitted the replacement front crossmember and the proper radiator supports today. All lines up as it should. Will get some bolts to replace some of the rivets through the week if I remember.

another adoptee
 

Not much has happened on the F15 over winter this year as my time has been spent on our house which is being renovated. But I was given the oppurtunity to purchase another Ford Blitz from nearby Geelong recently. And I just can't say no. The running gear and 20in rims and tyres also came with it. What a great body, look at those curves.

Excellent
 

Wonderful to see Ryan! Nice looking cab too.