Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Phil,

I would be interested to hear the answer to that question also!

All other curtain frames I have seen (live or in photos) are made using flat bar for frames.

[Private_collector]

Phil,

I don't believe I got back to you regarding the ammendments to your blueprints for the rifle butt cups.

The fellow that made mine from your drawings had told me that there were two different sizes of imperial measurements. I have never heard this before, but he said there is both an "English" and an "American" set of measurements, and that they are slightly different! Bearing in mind that he had all but completed the woodwork before I even knew he had started, I had no opportunity to answer any questions he had regarding which measurement type was used on the drawings.

I have been told it was a direct consequence of using the wrong sizing that resulted in a slight variation, making the cups too small. When the guy re-measured with the other size system, it was (after initial enlarging) then correct against the detalis you had provided. Therefore, the measurements were correct!!!!

As I have said, the whole 'two imperials' thing comes as a complete surprise to me. Does this make sense to you?

[Private_collector]

The unceasing rain today has brought useful work to a halt.

Instead, I got one of the side door curtain flaps from upholsterer, and sourced adequate polycarbonate sheeting to make two new ones prior to sending frames to upholsterer on Mon or Tues.

I had taken some reference photos yesterday, showing the position of frames when installed on the doors. These are specifically to avoid any misunderstandings of how the whole thing works. I have noticed that both frames are identical in that they are not 100% parallel to the windscreen support frame. This is found now, due to me not attempting to fit roof at time of assembling doors and w/screen panel to cab. Therefore exact position of windscreen panel will not be realised until roof is fitted. That will be MUCH later.

The original curtain frame on drivers side showed the same thing, so it will either be remedied by later adjustment of screen panel, or curtain has NEVER been quite right. Either way, no problem because the original canvas did fit, and new canvas will also.

While I may not get the engine cover undercoated tomorrow because of rainy weather. I have bought a number of sheets of cardboard today, to make templates for cutting the heat/acoustic insulation for under the cover sections. That I can do in the workshop, regardless of weather. I never paint in workshop, due to great risk of paint dust adhering to other surfaces before it dries. That risk is doubled in cold weather.

I got the drivers floor plate from sandblasting on Friday, and it will get a small welding repair tomorrow, unless it's raining really hard.

So, overall, no dramatic progress achieved. No photos worthy of publishing. The photos I had intended to take from our Memorial Lane murals, have now been put on hold until the Blue Skies Chase Those Dark Clouds Far Away!

[Private_collector]

Pedal plate primed.jpg
With the sun out again, pedal plate got welded & primed.
Engine hatch 2..jpg
As did engine cover.
Engine hatch 3.jpg Engine hatch 4.jpg
In fact, I also painted the inside edges, after two good coats of primer.
I wouldn't normally paint edges alone, but the rest will not be seen once I layer the inside with heat & acoustic insulation.
engine insulation.jpg
Spent an hour cutting templates for the insides of cover, then cut the pieces of insulation. I had bought a metre (~3ft ish) which looked big in the shop but not so big when the templates were laid over it.

More to come

[Private_collector]

engine insulation 1.jpg
The insulation was easy enough to cut with a box knife. Also making sure to cut part way through where the cover metal has the bends. Negative folds required removal of a small 'v' of the foam from back side, so that insulation would bend correctly without bunching up.
engine insulation 2.jpg
It sit quite well, but make sure it's in the right place before touching it to the surface or there will be a huge effort getting it unstuck. I tried that on purpose on the workshop door before I started the 'real' installation. There would still be some there now if I hadn't used turpentine to remove it!
engine insulation 3.jpg

A metre of insulation can do the entire inside, if you cut it right. I marked mine right, then cut the last piece in the wrong place. Don't know why! The result is that the rectangular piece closest to cab rear is now 3 pieces side by side.

Instead of buying more, I have left it that way, to remind me to be more careful in future. It'll drive me mad every time I see it, believe me.

More to come....

[Private_collector]

Last thing for today.
side curtain access flaps 1.jpg
Cut the 'polycarbonate' sheet into two new access flap cards for the side curtains. I don't know what the difference betweeen perspex & polycarbonate is, but I have been assured it is very much stronger and long lasting.
side curtain access flaps 3.jpg
I drilled two holes in each flap, where the corresponding metal piece is on frame, and glued two magnets into the plastic. By pure good fortune, the magnets are almost exactly the same thickness as the plastic sheet. They are just a tiny bit narrower, so the holes I drilled were not all the way through. That way the magnets can't be pulled out of the plastic.
side curtain access flaps 5.jpg
With these bits finished, and reference photos printed on Saturday, all pieces can now go to the Auto Upholsterer tomorrow afternoon.

I have been advised it will take about 2 days to make the new curtains.

[Private_collector]

All the materials, photos & instructions are now with the upholsterer.

These side curtains may be finished by this weekend!

I have just been reminded that next Monday is a public holiday, which means more time to work on the truck

I may even be able to arrange a visit to a friend who has got a valve grinding tool put aside for me. It looks to be really old and while it is not exactly spartan, could come in very handy in future.