FGT Restoration

[Lynn Eades]

I'm very hazey on this Rob, but should you consider putting the earlier heads on the 8BA (or vice verca) I understand you need to open up a couple of the water ports in the block? Apparently the new style starter bendix holds up better using 12 volts, with a 6 volt starter. A 6 volt instrument cluster would need a voltage reducer for fuel, oil and temp guages. It's easy. You can buy them for singles, or a unit that does all 3.

[rob love]

I can live with the 8BA heads (maybe), or I may do as you suggest. As to the starters, I have used a separate 12 volt battery on all my carriers over the years and never had a starter issue. Besides,starters are a fairly common item, and are also readily available online.

This is my first Ford with the round gauges, so I may end up replacing all or most with their equivalent in modern repros as used on the US military stuff.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by rob love

This is my first Ford with the round gauges, so I may end up replacing all or most with their equivalent in modern repros as used on the US military stuff.

Chev CMP gauges are dead wringers for Jeep, etc, and therefore modern replacements. The visible difference between the CMP and jeep/modern ones is that the CMP's have a flatter outer ring holding the glass on. The faces of Ford gauges are different (go figure). Example battery voltage instead of ammeter.

[rob love]

This one has an ammeter. Good confirmation on the gauges. These actually don't look bad, aside from the speedo. They may get restored, we'll see.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by rob love

This one has an ammeter. Good confirmation on the gauges. These actually don't look bad, aside from the speedo. They may get restored, we'll see.

Watch out for the radium in the speedo if you take it apart, but I'm sure you know that.

[rob love]

Yep. Radium is pretty commonplace here at work. But thanks for the reminder.

[Lynn Eades]

Bruce, Rob, on the Ammeter verses the volt meter, the Australian pattern carriers had them both, but which was fitted depended upon which generator was fitted. The two brush went with one and the three brush, with the other. I don't recall which with which, but my guess would be the volt meter with the 3 brush?