Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

Firstly, Tony, NOW I get what you meant, and I am very relieved that I don't have to worry about chassis width. The length is enough of a headache as it is. I have read you PM, and thankyou!

This afternoon I got the canvas side curtains from the upholsterer. I am glad they are back so I don't need to write 'upholsterer' for much longer. I often spell it wrong and have to go back to fix up.
Side curtains 1.jpg Side curtains 2.jpg Side curtains 3.jpg Side curtains 4.jpg Side curtains 5.jpg
Anyhoo, I am pleased with the finished product overall. My only criticism (that word's as bad as upholsterer ) is that I wish I had asked for a green piping around the access flaps. The originals did have black too, but it seems the black stands out far more when it's new. Maybe I could dull it down with a little brown boot polish? Probably won't do that because I am likely to get some on the canvas.

For those who are overly observant (yes, you Keith! ), there is one fastener missing on each side of the windscreen support panel. I have two from the upholsterer (oh...that bloody word), but have not put them on yet.

The slight warp of the canvas in front of door won't be as bad once the window support is moved back a little when the roof is to be attached. I measured it, to find it is too far forward, but without the roof to bring it to correct position, I will leave it where it is for now. If the canvas fits alright now, it should fit a bit better with roof on.

The magnetic catches for the access flaps work as good as I had hoped. You wouldn't want to have used 'regular' magnets though, they wouldn't have been strong enough. I believe the little metal piece I welded to the frame where the magents are to stick to, caused a nightmare for the guys (notice I didn't use the word upholsterer......oh crap!) to sew around and they had to make a bit of a detour around this with one of the stitch runs. That's my fault entirely, and I will have to live with the result.

[Private_collector]

This afternoon I received the bridge loading plate I had ordered from Axholme Signs in U.K. See: http://www.axholmesigns.co.uk/
Bridge Loading Plate 1.jpg
I had ordered a bridge plate, number for same and a reusable stencil for the fuel tanks saying "Caution, Do not overfill, Allow for expansion". The CMPs may or may not have had such a caution, but I will be greatful of the reminder with each filling of fuel. Lets face it, being a V8, it will happen often enough. Axholmes even sent an extra copy of the number sticker for bridge plate, as a spare. My reputation must have preceeded me!

The bridge plate is NOS and nearly perfect condition, with only a couple of very small areas of paint chipped around the edges. I will see if I can find a flat yellow paint tomorrow at the paint shop, to touch these areas up.

Care to place bets on my chances? Line marker yellow may be suitable. It's only for the damaged bits after all.

[Bob McNeill]

Just a question on the tops , what happens when you open the door since the line through the hinge will cause the top to swing inwards, stretching the top flap. the originals ,with square top frame had a folded flap to allow for movement ?? .

[Private_collector]

Helllo Bob,

That is an excellent question, and it was something I had worried about the whole time these things were under construction. Because of the chain of events as they transpired, I had no opportunity to test fit the old canvas.

If you recall, I had taken the curtains in for a quote, accepted the quote, had the guys remove the steel frame for me to 'clean-up', and then found that the two original frames were different. At that point I called a stop to any potential work on the canvas until I could make new frames. In order for this to happen I had to have the doors on the cab to test frame fit. I figured I might as well finish doors completely, which meant lots of work, and considerable delay. In that whole time, I was fully aware I would not have any chance to test the fit of the canvas itself (they were already cut off the frames before this).

For some reason I had felt it would be the design for the canvas tops to go a little slacker with door opening, but I was wrong entirely.

In order for the guys to make these tops, they required some measurements from me. That being, distance of canvas from front edge of the steel frame of the curtain to corner of the windscreen support frame. Also needed to know the spacing of the fasteners along the windscreen support front edge. In my usual style, I gave them very precise measurements because I didn't want the thing to look loose once fasteners were clipped into place. Oh boy! By now I should have realised nothing is precise on these vehicles, and allowed additional length to be sure, but I calculated what I though was the exact size then added a 1/2" for good measure. I'm very pleased I did too.

When the doors are opened, not only does the whole thing NOT loosen, it actually tightens up a little bit! Not enough to cause any problems or damage paint or canvas, but it can be felt if you push on the canvas before and after opening the doors.

Here's where serendipity stepped in on my side. You may remember I indicated the window support panel sits slightly too far forward at the top? As luck /gods would have it, that is the reason why the tightening of the canvas occurs to the extent that it does now. The window panel top needs to be moved to the rear approx 1-2cm for roof to fit properly, perhaps even a little more. I have worked out that once this has occured, the tightening of the canvas should not occur anywhere near the extent it does now. Bearing in mind that it is quite OK now, the whole scenario should be almost entirely resolved with roof on and the windscreen panel in the propper place.

Here's where you can learn from my mistakes. Always allow more than the 'minimum' when measuring anything like this on a CMP, and try to make sure you always have the opportunity to test fit anything before disassembling for repair. I should have known from the fitting of the doors some weeks ago, that NOTHING is precise in fit or construction. To attempt to make something so precise that it is at risk of failing is just asking for trouble. In this case I got away with it, but it could easily have gone the other way if I had, by pure chance, managed to have the windscreen support panel sitting in the correct position at time of measuring, or worse, if it had been sitting too far back. In that case the curtains would need to have the front strip cut off and a new bit added for extra length. Wouldn't that have looked great?

[Private_collector]

As usual, it was into town this morning, despite the rain & cold!
Did manage to find two suitable yellows at paint shop, so I can now touchup the paint chips on the bridge plate.
Cabin front signage 1.jpg Side curtains 6.jpg
Speaking of bridge plate, it's finished now. So is D ^ D markings on door tops.
Cabin front signage 2.jpg
All signage on cabin now completed, thank goodness. Apart from a thorough tidy of the workshop, that's the sum total of todays output.

I still have to finish the repair work on radiator air duct, after that its about time to return focus of attention back to chassis work.

Tomorrow I am on the road to retrieve some parts a couple of fellows are holding for me. Into Brisbane first and then up to Warwick way. From memory, it's a 8-10hr round trip from home, so don't expect to hear from me tomorrow, unless I show the bits I have brought back

[Euan McDonald]

Tony,
I have a few sets of side curtains and the ww2 set has a bit of freedem to allow the door to open.
Most blitz only need a LH side curtain as its only required to keep the driver mate happy.
Check out Keiths site for more pics.

http://www.oldcmp.net/canvas.html

Cant wait ot see engine in and running.

[Private_collector]

Euan,

Your photo shows one of the very few curtains I have seen which are made with the steel rod instead of the flat bar construction. I note there is also the triangle access flap like mine.

I suspect my originals would have had a bit more 'slack' in them too, but the need for them to be disassembled for examination of construction method has now reduced them to a pile of rags. Very old and stinky rags at that. Mind, the the canvas was in dreadful state, so I don't feel any remorse with not being able to keep them as they were.

The truly odd thing is that the rod frames were different to each other. One had the angle of windscreen slope, other was a simple rectangle. The rectangle one had a longer portion of canvas at front to accomodate the shorter frame, and still allow it to fit sloping windscreen. very strange!

I still have the frames around. They will be kept for "Justin"