Ford Thames 10hp Pickup truck.
More about the 2nd Ford E83W I bought.
[back to my own E83Ws page]
Pickup No.2
A couple of years after acquiring my first pickup truck, I heard via some old-car contacts of mine (Fred & Barb Littlewood)
that another truck, this one in better nick, was possibly available for sale up near Bolton. This was in 1992 I think.
Needless to say a visit was made and the truck bought for a reasonable sum, despite not being MOTd. The green E83W was
dragged back to Barb & Fred's driveway in Ashley, and took up outside residence on the side of their driveway, parked behind
their Morris J Type. Some years previously both CJM 357 (E83W) and OYF 470 (J van) had been owned by a little museum somewhere
up North, so they were back together again after a break of a few years.
It didn't take much recommissioning to get the little Ford pickup running again, although one cylinder was suspected
of being a bit down on compression. After that CJM was shown at some local shows, and carried all sorts of loads, including
a load of vintage car parts when I did an autojumble years ago.
CJM hasn't been on the road for a few years now - the compression issue was finally resolved thanks to a new set of rings,
but never really ran 100%.
Once I had my own house (and garage!) I stripped down the valvegear on CJM and found some duff valves. These were replaced
and the engine runs much better. However there is still a problem with the clutch/drivetrain, that means the whole thing
shakes violently on taking up drive. I suspect rust or oil on the clutch plate, so a stripdown will have to take place to
resolve this glitch.
Overall this truck is fairly presentable, in a slightly scruffy working-vehicle kind of way! I did weld in some new sections
to the cab a couple of years ago, and there are a few corners that would benefit from my trusty Mig, I just need to find
time to do them.
Over the years I've had E83Ws I've been on the lookout for original literature and E83W memorabilia.
So far I've bought handbooks, postcards, factory brochures and individual model sheets, and a selection of manuals
and parts lists. Ever since buying my first pickup I searched high & low to find a model-specific model sheet solely
on the steel back pickup. Many brochures I already had include the steel pickup, but it took me until 2004 before I tracked
down a specific model sheet finally - in New York, USA!
Update 2005
On & off lately I've been working to return CJM to the road, after a few years in storage. One of the big problems it had was an amazingly bad vibration when pulling away from standstill. The problem (or one of them!) became obvious when I had a good grovel underneath. This model has 2 radius rods that attach to the side of the gearbox, and run backwards to a chassis crossmember. At some point in the past, one of the two rods had been removed, following the corner of the gearbox casing splitting away. No wonder the poor thing was shaking badly.
A hunt around secured a replacement gearbox, and 2 refurbished rods (thanks Pat). As the clutch was showing big signs of slippage, the obvious thing to do was pull out the engine and box, and replace any dodgy components.
The front end panelwork has been removed, and the engine and box pulled out. I've fitted a new clutch assembly, and have a gearbox lined up to go on.
CJM has always had a bit of a lean to port, thanks largely I think to the engine being offset to the passenger side. With the front end removed, I thought I may as well fit a new front spring, and shackle pins. I dropped the front axle off, and that is currently at a local garage, awaiting new shackle pins to be pressed into the axle. Once I get that back, I will fit the new spring and bolt that back on.
Once the engine and box is back in the chassis, I think I'll fit a better grille, as the one currently fitted to CJM is slightly bent. The front wings could do with a repaint too, so I'll probably flat the whole thing back, do some local repairs to the rear body, and give it a quick lick of paint. It'll be no show winner, my plan is to have CJM in presentable condition and actually use it for pottering around locally.
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