A little light entertainment: 1939 Ford 1 ton Utility restoration

[jack neville]

Today I made a simple die to press the top hat sections for the support brackets that attach the running boards to the chassis outriggers.

[jack neville]

Keyways are needed to allow fitting of coach bolts.

[jack neville]

First running board is done and I am very happy with the fit. Just needs a little tidying then sandblast and paint.

I’ve run the bead roller over the second one in half the time.

Just thought I’d show how I folded to curve in the outside edge. A piece of pipe pressed into a piece of channel iron allows for nice curves.
Clamp the pipe on the apex of the curve and then centre in the channel.

[jack neville]

I use whatever works and pieces of railway track are good for pressing over long lengths. But heavy to set up hence the use of my overhead gantry to facilitate positioning of the setup.

As the pressure comes down I just slacken the chain block and then remove the clamps holding the sheet as the curve begins and the pressure holds everything in place. It is crude but effective but for one off things like this it is hard to find engineers either interested or able to do exactly what you need.

[Bob Carriere]

.....must remember that.

[jack neville]

Gauges have been away for several months being overhauled.
Picked up today. The temperature gauge could not be repaired but I have another that might be ok.

249F4E07-2518-48C9-BE9D-4AE39D44C236.jpg

[jack neville]

Running board end pieces added for reinforcing and underside brackets welded in also. Final fit required a bit of heat to align the three mounting outrigger supports which have been bent over the years of use but aren't obvious until you try to align things up. There are not too many old vehicles that have a running board that fits neatly between the front and rear mudguards. Thank goodness: because it is a lot of work especially if you are trying to resurrect this crap.

All now ready for sandblasting.