Blitz Chassis and Truck info wanted

[Jason Linders]

I am planing on rebuilding this poor old girl, so the chassis is standed and has not been cut and rewelded to make a shot wheel base then, if that the case ill have a mate fix the cracked rails properly and replate it.and is the winch between the rails standed. and what is it then a f60s or a f60l

[Keith Webb]

The engine cover is definitely from another truck, the No8 and 9 gun tractors did not have the big winch plate which was part of the Australian winch modification.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

No8 and 9 gun tractors did not have the big winch plate which was part of the Australian winch modification.

I didn't know that Keith, does that mean these chassis arrived as F15A?

[Jason Linders]

Thanks Andrew so about another 12 inches past the rear hangers needs to go back on. and ill give the museum a call and see if they have the drawings
that they used. and what year model is it

[aj.lec]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks Andrew so about another 12 inches past the rear hangers needs to go back on. and ill give the museum a call and see if they have the drawings
that they used. and what year model is it

1942

Chassis rear layout in picture

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for the help and info and are the fuel tanks the same as all the blitz's

[aj.lec]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks for the help and info and are the fuel tanks the same as all the blitz's

GT fuel tanks are larger capacity than a standard CMP tank. Same width but higher and longer

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks Andrew so about another 12 inches past the rear hangers needs to go back on. and ill give the museum a call and see if they have the drawings
that they used. and what year model is it

As far as I know these are kept on microfilm in deep storage and not accessible any more. Older copies were made before they were sent to the AWM.

As to building bodies, the Adelaide No8 was built on an intact subframe, but many of the details in the new build are rather dodgy and lightly made compared to the original.

Were you able to make out any of the ARN on the front?

Your chassis number (which is the same as the original engine number) should be stamped on the top right chassis rail just behind the engine mount. It will start with 3G and end with F. If you have those details we may be able to tell you more about it's history (not a lot but something is better than nothing!)

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

I didn't know that Keith, does that mean these chassis arrived as F15A?

No, the Aust which kit was used as a retrofit and I believe the whole kit was made here including the winch.

The thing which makes the FGT more interesting (and I believe the CGT also) was the chassis came here as a complete kit with winch fitted. The Canadian winches have a guard fitted which local ones do not and also the front fairleads are quite different, incorporating the towing D on Ford gun tractors.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

No8 and 9 gun tractors did not have the big winch plate

...and here I was feeling quite pleased with myself at having picked up one of these winch plates on ebay for my FGT9!

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

I am planing on rebuilding this poor old girl, so the chassis is standed and has not been cut and rewelded to make a shot wheel base then, if that the case ill have a mate fix the cracked rails properly and replate it.and is the winch between the rails standed. and what is it then a f60s or a f60l

It is a FGT chassis, Ford Gun Tractor.

You might find it easier to get a F15A chassis and transfer the bits onto it.

As Tony mentioned it would be good if it is possible to discern the Army Rego number once painted under the windscreen.

The winch looks to have the drum on the wrong side, but it is a blitz winch.

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for all the help and how would one go with the missing rear cab section

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks for all the help and how would one go with the missing rear cab section

You could either be incredibly lucky and find one or you could fabricate it - the drawings exist for the No9 FGT (we have almost all of those) and probably also for the No8 too but not sure how you could access them.

[Keith Webb]

Looks like you have a number of stencils there.



Worth giving it a gentle wet and dry to see what you can bring out.

Usually it will be "GT 42" but at the factory the full model designation was often hand painted there.

[Ken Smith]

Good day Jason,
Nice to see another one saved. I have a rear section of a No 8 body I would be interested in selling, pm me if interested.
Cheers Ken

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Good day Jason,
Nice to see another one saved. I have a rear section of a No 8 body I would be interested in selling, pm me if interested.
Cheers Ken

Hi Ken,
If Jason doesn't buy it I'd be very interested myself. I'll wait to hear the outcome as I don't want to jump the queue!
Cheers,
Tony

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Looks like you have a number of stencils there.

They're probably service history stencils like those found on FGT8 ARN 132257. This is Northern Command record so possibly a stablemate of Jason's FGT8 at some stage. Stencils appear to read:

Date repair to Class
Class before repair
N/Comd
Mileage before repair

Mine shows E/R (presumably Engine Replacement) some time in '57, and Jason's shows a '50s date in the same location, so I'm tipping it also refers to engine replacement.

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for all you help with this Tony

[Keith Webb]

This is on my FGT and shows the same Canadian winch installation as yours would have been fitted with originally. The cable is paid out through the rear fairleads then forward to the fairleads on the bumper, which is why it is on the left side.