Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Getting the nose panel onto the truck initially took three people. The boy and I holding an end each, and Mrs B putting in enough bolts to stop it from amputating my toes when we let go.
Pedal plate installation 1.jpg
Once in place, I saw that the driver side foot well didn't fit right. The bit nearest the engine cover would NOT go in as far as the pedal plate required it to be. Despite some careful whacks with first a rubber mallet, then a ball pein hammer, and finally a large and loud outburst of swearing, it STILL WOULD NOT GO IN. By now I had caused some damage. Rubber burns from the mallet, and lots of paint removed by the hammer.

The swearing was getting out of hand (so my wife said. I thought it was just right amount), so I switched from english to Italian, Estonian & German. I don't actually speak any of these fluently (effluently ), but I know sufficient curse words in foreign language to get my head punched in, all around the globe!
Pedal plate installation 2.jpg
Then I had an epiphany. I drilled a hole through the offending parts, and pulled them together with the tightening of the bolt. Propper job! What a shame this didn't occur to me prior to buggering the paint to extent that it will need to be sanded and repainted!
Pedal plate installation 3.jpg
By this time of the afternoon, I had re-offended my shoulder to the extent that it would only communicate with me in sharp bursts of morse code, and crouching down to tighten the inner bolts was a fairly painful and unrewarding experience.

More to come...nearly done!

[Private_collector]

G'day Keith! Yeah I have that bit, but ran out of sunlight and motivation before I got it back on. I really wanted to put the grille on temporarily, even though the shroud isn't done yet. I need to put the Ford badge onto the grille first. I dropped it the other day, but it fell writing side up (the way that buttered toast DOESN'T) and wasn't damaged. Bonnet needs a set of shims made and it's ready to go on then also.
Signage 1.jpg signage 2.jpg signage 3.jpg signage 4.jpg
The final task today was sticking the vehicle numbers on nose and doors. I wasn't sure about the font when I first received these from U.S.A, but they kind of grew on me, so I thought I would go ahead with them. It was cheaper to buy these from USA, as opposed to buying local. That's just amazing. Putting 'em on was no problem as I had dabbled in computer-cut signage some years ago. Ah the memories! Wish I had kept the sign cutter.

The sun had gone down but I wanted to get the numbers on TODAY, so I hooked up an old floodlight for ambiance. Because of the steaming turd of a day I had suffered, and because the numbers are my Fathers' service numbers, I was determined to finish the day on a positive note. To be frank, I would have fired up the old kerosene lamp if I had to do so to get the job done. When I stood back and took a good look, I have to confess I got a bit choked-up, and was thinking Dad would have loved to see this vehicle finished. He's been gone 6 years now and I guess at this time he would love to see any vehicle I suppose.

I went from sadness to having a little chuckle, when I realised that Dads' service number when applied to the CMP, looks quite like the phone number you would ring to order a taxi.

I am expecting a TAC plate to arrive this week. Hope to get someone to cut me a chunk of metal for the unit & 'PASS' signs to go onto. I may take next weekend off as far as CMP work goes, to allow shoulder to settle down a bit. Mind you, I did say that last Saturday too.
spotlessly clean.jpg
And Lynn said I would never be able to keep the workshop clean!?!?

I swear I will NEVER restore another vehicle of this size and weight again...............so if anyone has an old Saturn V rocket that needs doing up, send me a message!!!!!!!

Ende