Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Attachment 47093
The steering column bracket that bolts to the frame has me puzzled. I know the two holes on upper part attach to the frame, but what do the other two bolts attach to (the ones with the bolts still in them)?

These are where the bracket with the regulator, voltage cutout and ignition resistor was mounted.



The number on the cab frame is a cab serial number but so far we have not found any listing to match. Presumably it was more a factory management number.

[Private_collector]

I wound never have suspected that goes there.

[Private_collector]

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Left side wheel arch has been welded & filled, both sides now under spray putty. Won't touch this again until next weekend. It was 39 degrees in the workshop today so it will be well & truly dry by next weekend!
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Wheel arch undersides have been coated with Stone Guard. It is fully paintable & is not rubber or tar based, so it won't 'bleed' through the green topcoat.

[Private_collector]

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Several small items painted entirely and floor plates painted on the underside. Once the cab frame underside has also been painted, the plates will be reattached for final painting.

[colin jones]

Well thats a very detailed resto.Great job.

[Private_collector]

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This afternoon I block sanded the wheel wells, and final primed them in readyness for top coat application tomorrow. They are certainly not perfect, and i'm no panel beater, but shouldn't be too bad once painted. A generous application of good quality seam sealer has been run along the joins where wheel arch meets floor frame.
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The rear cab panel and windscreen frame were picked up this morning. The blasting process has blown a number of holes in the lowest edge, where the rear panel overlaped onto the cab frame. This had been expected. I hope to get time to MIG weld those holes and several other areas where previous owner/s have cut openings for some reason. Please excuse the quality of first of the three rear panel photos. It was almost pitch black in the workshop and camera couldn't get a propper focal point.

I see another part number or serial number has shown up on a round disk welded to the rear panel. There will be a significant amount of metalworking required before the panel will be straight enough. Should not be a problem with getting the outside acceptable, but the inside of the panel may be very difficult to get completely straight. I have been considering spraying a light coat of stone guard on the inside of rear panel. If I do this, it would only be the flat parts of steel. The ribbing and framework would be masked off. I am in two minds about this. It wouldn't be original finish and would not look right, BUT it would hide all of the slightly bumpy areas where filler could not be applied to achieve the same finish. Might also minimise any vibration or 'drumming' which can arise from flat panels like this. It's quite a lazy way to cover imperfections but may be warranted with my panel beating skills. Thoughts anyone?????

See next posting for windscreen frame issues.

[Private_collector]

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I am a little disappointed with condition of the windscreen frame. There is substantial pitting inside the top cross rail. It won't be seen as far as I can tell, but I will have to replace the thin metal skin along the top. While at the blasters (primarily a heavy engineering works), I had them re-weld one of the vertical end pieces. Original welding had become cracked and it was nearing complete failure! N.B: In the above photo, I have allowed the panel to fall slightly forward of where it should be sitting, in order to take the photo.
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I did a trial fit to check alignment. everything aligns OK I guess, (at least at first testing) but I have an important question relating to final assembled position. In checking the total width of the two window frame openings, I have noted that the bottom would be approximately 3-4mm wider than measurement across the top. Both measurements taken from inner edge of the vertical end pieces that bolt onto the cab frame & door hinges.
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...Driver side........Mates side... (Both viewed from front of vehicle)

With reference to the two above photos, here is my question. When the vertical posts are bolted in final assembly position, should the windscreen frame posts sit flush with the alignment of the cab frame itself?

I.E: Are these posts simply bolted and pulled towards the door hinge side of the cab frame, which would leave them as they appear in the photos, or is there a spacer or packing of some kind to keep them aligned laterally flush with the cab itself????

If they are 'packed' slightly in a bit, to be flush along the vertical edge of cab frame, then measurements taken (left to right) across inner edges of the posts would then be correct and identical top to bottom. I have heaps of photos in my library, but can't find one which is good enough detail of that area for me to see properly!!!! I know this might have sounded like a daft question, but if there was a packing of 1-2mm each side, the window glass frames sit square in place. If no packing, they have a slightly wider gap at bottom. Rubber seal would cover it but doesn't look right.

HELP!!!!