How To: Ford CMP "Blitz" miscellany

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day Hanno,

I may have answered my own question. Revisiting my various publications and studying the diagrams I noticed what could be the speedometer cable passing over the engine. See attached.
I am now thinking 84" may be the correct length but will wait until later today to check it out. Seems unusual to have it go above the engine, but when I was researching speedometer cables I read they should be kept away from hot exhaust manifolds. My route in the previous post puts it very close to the right exhaust manifold. A photo on the engine and transmission colours thread shows an open engine bay from above on a Polish CMP truck but I could not see any speedometer cable. As the truck was under maintenance perhaps it was removed for access.
The other thing I noticed was the clips on the ignition wire conduits. I saved them off some other conduits but don't really know where they are used. Perhaps they are to clip the speedometer cable to the conduit? They have the right diameter opening for the cable. Would make sense not to have it flapping around on the engine.
Anyway we are back to Covid19 lockdown in Melbourne so more time to go back over things like this. I cannot legally go to a different area so going to get the cable shortened will just have to wait 6 more weeks.
I will still be interested to see how your cable is routed Hanno.

Cheers,

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

I will still be interested to see how your cable is routed Hanno.

Jacques sorry to keep you waiting, hope to take the necessary pics this week. Remind me after the weekend if you don't see anythng posted here!

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Hanno,

No worries. Will look forward to the pictures. Hope I am on the right track now with the cable over the engine instead of beside it.

As I mentioned, Melbourne is in lockdown for Covid19 so I won't be venturing too far from home for the next 6 weeks. The speedometer cable company is on the other side of town for me. Even a trip to an adjoining suburb, without a good excuse, could result in a large fine under our emergency laws.

Thanks, and stay well too.

Cheers,

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

I may have answered my own question. Revisiting my various publications and studying the diagrams I noticed what could be the speedometer cable passing over the engine. See attached.

Your manual diagram indeed shows the speedometer cable.

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

I will still be interested to see how your cable is routed Hanno.

Well Jacques, I finally took to time to crawl under my 1943 F15A. I can't vouch for the routing to be the orginal one, but this is how it has been routed for the past decades and it works.

Behind the speedometer:

P1040007_resized.jpg P1040011_resized.jpg

Coming through the engine cowling it dives straight down past the engine in between the 2nd and 3rd cylinder.

P1040016_resized.jpg P1040038_resized.jpg

And then dives past the cylinder head into the chassis:

P1040041_resized.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The speedometer cable somehow snakes in between the clutch and brake mechanism:

P1040037_resized.jpg

And then passes through the cross member:

P1040034_resized.jpg

On the other side of the chassis cross member it snakes up and then into the speedometer cable attachment on the transfer case:

P1040030_resized.jpg


Taking a close look for the first time I wondered about how loosely fitted this is. And I wonder how it manages not to get snagged by the clutch and brake mechanism? So not sure this is the orginal cable routing, though it is the shortest route from speedometer to transfer case.

I hope this is of some help.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

I am now thinking 84" may be the correct length

I have NOS shaft-speedometer C29Q-17262 for the F15A.

I unpacked it and measured it up. From tip to tip it measures 216 cm = 85 inches.

IMG_6176.jpg IMG_6198.jpg

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Hanno,

I cannot thank you enough for the photos and length information. After 30 years climbing over relics, not finding a single speedometer cable on any truck, I finally have the right information.

*C29Q 17262 is listed in my F-15A parts list as the shaft for the "new design" cab, i.e. Cab 13 I would assume.

I notice you have the vertical entry cable at the transfer case speedometer gear. Mine is the later horizontal. I will check out my truck and see if it adds any extra distance to the length where it penetrates the crossmember. At least I got that right.

I have determined for a round speedometer that the distance from the speedometer ferule end to the transfer case ferule end is 35mm-41mm less than the shaft depending on whether the transfer case shaft end has a shoulder on it or not. (See attached). If no shoulder on the tip the shaft goes 6mm further into the driven gear and 6mm less into the speedometer. That may be acceptable, but I prefer full engagement of the shaft in the speedometer. That makes the casing length about 83-1/2" (2121 mm). It may, however, be slightly different for a Ford commercial speedometer due to different end nuts at the speedometer.

Knowing this I can now get my cable shortened.

Many thanks again for your help.

Cheers,

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

I cannot thank you enough for the photos and length information. After 30 years climbing over relics, not finding a single speedometer cable on any truck, I finally have the right information.

Hi Jacques, happy to be of help. It is the least I could do in return for the wealth of information you post on here.

Interesting note about not finding a speedometer cable on any truck in Australia. Either they were in short supply so every Blitz was stripped off it, or seeing most of the Blitz' are used as paddock bashers, tree sniggers or whatever you call them, there was no need for a speedometer!

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Hi Jacques, happy to be of help. It is the least I could do in return for the wealth of information you post on here.

Interesting note about not finding a speedometer cable on any truck in Australia. Either they were in short supply so every Blitz was stripped off it, or seeing most of the Blitz' are used as paddock bashers, tree sniggers or whatever you call them, there was no need for a speedometer!

Hi Hanno,

I think that is it, also maybe removed to prevent fouling during an engine change and never put back. Also in the case of F-15's and F-15A's you can add missing handbrake cables going to the backing plates to prevent fouling on stumps. Hydraulic brake lines also go missing. Bolt cutters seem to be the weapon of choice in all cases.

Thanks. As researchers say, go to the source. Nothing beats measuring and sighting an original, be it a part or a document.

Cheers,