How To: Ford CMP "Blitz" miscellany

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day,

I just received the prototype engine and transmission data plate from the laser engraver and I am very happy with the results. I liaised closely with him to make it as close to original as possible. I have already informed him to increase the left and right borders by 2 mm for those who spotted it.

As previously mentioned it is black anodized aluminium with the thin black anodizing, laser etched to reveal the aluminium beneath. The depth of the etching is microscopic, so no deep lettering or graphics.

Same material as original, aluminium, but a modern process to replicate the appearance.

Original F15-A plate is at top from which the common artwork was developed.
Middle scan is the F30/F60 prototype.
Bottom photo is an F60 plate from which the Auxiliary Transmission pattern was obtained and the relevant quantities for the larger trucks.

I will get them produced depending on interest shown. Anticipate they can be done for under $30 each. Will know exact amount once I have an idea of quantities to produce. PM me if interested.

Cheers,

[Keith Webb]

Looking great Jacques!

Any plans to do a FGT variation with the power take off and 42 gall fuel capacity?

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Good Day,

I just received the prototype engine and transmission data plate from the laser engraver and I am very happy with the results. I liaised closely with him to make it as close to original as possible. I have already informed him to increase the left and right borders by 2 mm for those who spotted it.

As previously mentioned it is black anodized aluminium with the thin black anodizing, laser etched to reveal the aluminium beneath. The depth of the etching is microscopic, so no deep lettering or graphics.

Same material as original, aluminium, but a modern process to replicate the appearance.

Original F15-A plate is at top from which the common artwork was developed.
Middle scan is the F30/F60 prototype.
Bottom photo is an F60 plate from which the Auxiliary Transmission pattern was obtained and the relevant quantities for the larger trucks.

I will get them produced depending on interest shown. Anticipate they can be done for under $30 each. Will know exact amount once I have an idea of quantities to produce. PM me if interested.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Looking great Jacques!

Any plans to do a FGT variation with the power take off and 42 gall fuel capacity?

Hi Keith,

I can ask the engraver if he can do it. Should be fairly easy to modify existing artwork.

I would just need a scan, or photo taken square on of the Auxiliary Transmission area of the plate and the capacity area. The rest of it would be a cut and paste from the existing common artwork. Doesn't have to be from a very good plate as long as I can make out the shift pattern. My F60 plate was a case in point.

Cheers,

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Good Day,

I just received the prototype engine and transmission data plate from the laser engraver and I am very happy with the results. I liaised closely with him to make it as close to original as possible.
Cheers,

I made some of these up a few years back: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4818

I noted at the time that there is a variation in spark plug gap .025 and .030 on different plates. Never got a response on why the difference.

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

I made some of these up a few years back: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4818

I noted at the time that there is a variation in spark plug gap .025 and .030 on different plates. Never got a response on why the difference.

Tony,

I found in the attached pages from the British War Department "Special Pattern Vehicles" Two types of spark plugs are specified. Champion J-9 and Champion H-10 both with different 0.025" and 0.030" gaps respectively.

It also appears that at some time the plug type was changed in the parts lists.
Both a 1940 parts list and a 1943 parts list show part No. 52-12405 C as the earlier part and 01T 12405 a later part to be supplied when 52-12405 C is depleted. 01T 12405 is also specified in the 1943 parts list as a Champion #H-9.

"J" plugs have a 3/8" reach with the 0.025" gap
"H" plugs have a 7/16" reach with the 0.030" gap

Not sure why but for some reason they changed the type of spark plug to be used.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day,

Recently I was asked by a fellow restorer for the dimensions of the splash plate in front of the battery on a Cab 13.

In the course of drawing it up I noticed two variations of the same plate.

One has a rectangular opening to clear the running board support adaptor and the other a 45 degree opening to clear it.
The first one also has a semi circular hole at the chassis rail and the other has the plate pressed out at that location.

I am sure both are original. the one with the semi circular hole came from a an early 1943 cab and the one with the pressing came from a late 44 built vehicle.
A design change for some reason? I could not find any reference to the part in an F-15A Parts List. Not in the running boards, battery, cab, or miscellaneous sections. If anyone can point me in the right place please let me know.

Have posted the drawing here of the earlier one which may be of use to someone. They do go missing, as I found out with my first truck.
Hope this is of some interest.

Cheers,

[David Herbert]

The changes are I think just driven by better production practice.

The punch that makes the hole with the 45 degree step will last longer than the original design, require a bit less force and reduce the need to clamp the plate to avoid distortion.

The pressed bit in the top left corner will require less force than the punched notch and support the extreme top left corner of the plate much better. Again the tooling will last longer.

It is possible that there was more than one source of this piece so it could be that one factory was better at production engineering than the other rather than an evolution thing.

David

[Jacques Reed]

Hi David,

Very good points from a manufacturing perspective. Sharp corners in openings are always to be avoided for stress concentration so I can see why the 45 degree cut was used instead of the 90 degree corner at that position.

I know which one would be easier to replicate unless one has a 20 tonne press!

Cheers,

[Mike Cecil]

I would suggest that all the holes were punched at once with a double-action press: first action clamps the plate flat in the die, second punches all the holes in one action. The die set for the earlier plate with the notched half-round opening along the top edge would be easier to manufacture than the die set with a forming punch to force the bulged shape in that location.



In any event, punching 1/8th MS plate would need to have the plate clamped to avoid distortion and to ensure the plate strips from the punches as the die set's punches are withdrawn. I also suspect each plate was dipped in a drawing/cutting compound prior to placing into the die.


I suppose the other question is the country of origin: Canadian or Australian manufacture? Both from the same country, or one from each?



Mike