Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

What a stroke of luck!

Scott, i'm on Southern Cross website now, ordering one.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention


I can't believe Southern Cross Militaria have a bloody Sherman Tank for sale. Wish I had the money.
Those things are sooooo easy to park. Just put it anywhere you want, and on whatever you want too.
Would be $50,000 well spent for a great gate guardian. Turret facing down the road where boy racers come flying along, of course.

[Private_collector]

As expected, Ross Prince to the rescue again.

He has the seal I needed, and a bloody good price too

I'll get that at the Canungra meet weekend. I believe Ross will be attending again this year.

[Private_collector]

Chassis blasting.jpg Chassis blasted.jpg Chassis primed.jpg Chassis primed 1.jpg Chassis primed & x members bolted on.jpg
It's finally happened!
The chassis is blasted and etch primed.
The job was achieved this morning, being a joint effort between the Engineering Manager and myself. He did the blasting. I did the spraying (after Brad, the Manager, mixed the paint), and then spent quite some time bolting the parts on when etch had dried. Only bolted the parts that are needed to maintain the dimensions for measuring and attaching the new rear cross member.

Yes, I do know there are two plates missing from the current aft most x-member. Because the chassis is shortened, the height of chassis wall is greater, meaning the standard brackets will not fit. A problem for another day.

It's now safe to state that the serious concern I had some weeks ago is NOT an eventuality. I had heard rumors (from two sources) that the engineering works was actually going broke, and due to shut down on either the week I posted or early part of following week. It wasn't sporting to indicate that sort of thing here, at a time of uncertainty. As it turns out, they are going strong, with more work than ever. In fact that's been the delay with my chassis. Their regular money comes from the sort of thing you see in the first photo, above. That's a truck mounted water tank, completely fabricated on site. My stuff has had to wait until they could spare the time to 'play around' with it.

Hope to have the chassis back home within next 2/52. Wouldn't be bringing it home next weekend even if it was ready. That's the Military Jeep Club of Queensland' Canungra meet and swap. Won't be missing that!

I'll be satisfied, so long as chassis is painted before end of November. It can sit and harden further while i'm on holiday.

[Private_collector]

Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened last Saturday, that very Saturday of course being the day firm progress was finally made with the chassis.

After seeing some glimmer of results being made on chassis in the morning, I returned home and commenced blasting some small parts relating to suspension. I had shut the door, pulled down the window blind and switched on the light inside of blasting booth. At this point, compressor had already been started and was running along. Within a couple of minutes, I began to smell an aroma which was immediately recognised as burning electrical wires. I had my arms in the blast booths biceps length rubber gloves, but got em out as fast as I could, to turn off the compressor ASAP. By the time I slammed the stop button, the compressor was already producing acrid fumes and black smoke. It was also running 'like a hairy goat'.

Initially I wondered if the fault was as direct result of the high temperature, but discounted this cause quickly. It wasn't any hotter in the workshop that day than it had been many times in past, without having problems of this nature. Sunday morning I restarted the compressor (after placing it waaaay outside, away from anything combustable) and got the same issue return almost immediately.

Isn't it just TYPICAL that when return of chassis is imminent, the one thing I would rely on to get paint on it, would shit itself completely!!!!!

Thursday I will lump the damn thing into town for electrical evaluation, and fully expect I will be advised that my motor is U/S, and needs full replacement. $$$$$$$$$$$$! Guess i'll probably get a hernia getting it into the back of the car too.

Figures, don't it?

Life's cruel, aint it

[Mike K]

Tony

It may be better if you buy a new motor and fit it yourself . There are many new motors around these days .. cheap on Ebay .

You might have to fiddle the mounts a bit to make another motor fit .

Most of those electrical places are not worth it . They will just say , buy a new motor, from us .

Those single phase motors usually have a starting capacitor in series with a start winding, if the capacitor shorts out , the motor will growl and become hot and won't turn . All that is needed is a new $10 cap, but will they tell you that , no, they will say the whole motor is stuffed , buy a new one , from us of course . Mike

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened last Saturday, that very Saturday of course being the day firm progress was finally made with the chassis.

After seeing some glimmer of results being made on chassis in the morning, I returned home and commenced blasting some small parts relating to suspension. I had shut the door, pulled down the window blind and switched on the light inside of blasting booth. At this point, compressor had already been started and was running along. Within a couple of minutes, I began to smell an aroma which was immediately recognised as burning electrical wires. I had my arms in the blast booths biceps length rubber gloves, but got em out as fast as I could, to turn off the compressor ASAP. By the time I slammed the stop button, the compressor was already producing acrid fumes and black smoke. It was also running 'like a hairy goat'.

Initially I wondered if the fault was as direct result of the high temperature, but discounted this cause quickly. It wasn't any hotter in the workshop that day than it had been many times in past, without having problems of this nature. Sunday morning I restarted the compressor (after placing it waaaay outside, away from anything combustable) and got the same issue return almost immediately.

Isn't it just TYPICAL that when return of chassis is imminent, the one thing I would rely on to get paint on it, would shit itself completely!!!!!

Thursday I will lump the damn thing into town for electrical evaluation, and fully expect I will be advised that my motor is U/S, and needs full replacement. $$$$$$$$$$$$! Guess i'll probably get a hernia getting it into the back of the car too.

Figures, don't it?

Life's cruel, aint it

[Private_collector]

I'll post a series of vehicle photos on a new thread, but here is my major purchase.

I just couldn't resist this 1950s Machine Gun AA Turret. It had been taken out of it's box only recently, and while my pal (Andy) and I took the side bins off to get it in back of my sons car, I saw the ball-bearings in the traverse mechanism did not even have a scratch on the military paint sprayed on them when constructed. It's a heavy bastard. Two of us required to get it into the hatch of the lads Ford Focus. Wish I had taken a photo of it in there, but don't want any evidence to be found.

mgt1.jpg mgt2.jpg mgt3.jpg mgt4.jpg

It works beautifully, and once home, I found the springs for elevating the weapon have a great deal of adjustment, so I can attach a lighter replica without it being facing straight up in the air.

I love the ammunition belt track! Can't wait to try a chain of cartridges I have.........somewhere

There were 4 of these available for sale. Well, actually 3 when I left.

I now have the steering box sector shaft seal, and it's having a little swim tonight. Will get the box reassembled tomorrow afternoon.
steering box seal new.jpg

[lynx42]

Tony, These were made by the Howard Rotavator Co. and I think were an experimental .50cal. mount. to go on the roof of the Mk1. International 4x4.

They were not adopted by the army, although there are a few photos of the up on the cabin roof around. (A previous thread has them.)

Regards Rick