BLACKHAWK S13 resto project

don long · Sep 2, 2019

I'm diving into a new project and decided to build a thread around it

An S13 2 ton jack I found a couple years back

0114 by don long, on Flickr

It is short the light lens so I'm looking for a lead on one the button in the handle is also missing. But I don't think that will be as big a problem

2019-08-16 12.31.04 by don long, on Flickr

2019-08-16 12.31.44 by don long, on Flickr

The jack is very grimmy and a mess to clean but that's where I'll start
Second thought I'll dismantle each part then clean them up (Better plan)

First the handle came off and was put aside for a project within this project

2019-08-17 15.12.58 by don long, on Flickr

I'm thinking about chroming those 2 bars that push the pump

Next I unbolted the hydraulic pump

2019-08-17 15.35.42 (2) by don long, on Flickr

2019-08-17 15.37.30 by don long, on Flickr

2019-08-17 15.48.50 by don long, on Flickr

with the pump out I can take a good look at what it needs it obviously is leaking a lot so I took the top off to peek inside

2019-08-17 15.52.44 by don long, on Flickr

To my surprise it wasn't too nasty in there so I just set it aside with the handle to address later

By this trime the jack is almost apart so I finished unbolting and the sides came right off the lifting arm

2019-08-17 16.31.25 by don long, on Flickr

don long · Sep 2, 2019

I took all the ataching parts off the lifting arm and am thinking of chroming the 2 side bars

2019-08-17 16.41.49 by don long, on Flickr

I went after the lifting pad next and was very diligent in taking good close up pic,s of this area so I can get it back together later

2019-08-17 16.45.02 by don long, on Flickr

2019-08-17 16.45.10 by don long, on Flickr

2019-08-17 16.46.16 by don long, on Flickr

2019-08-17 16.46.20 by don long, on Flickr

with the pad apart it will be much easier to smooth out for chroming

2019-08-17 16.46.31 by don long, on Flickr

With that the jack is pretty much apart and time to start cleaning up each piece and to look them over for any repairs needed

2019-08-17 17.25.13 by don long, on Flickr

With a scraper and a stiff brush, a pot of diesel fuel I started cleaning up each piece and while I did that my buddy Pat started sand blasting the parts a I cleaned them up and by the end of the day we were ready to start the repair and smoothing out of the castings

2019-08-30 14.55.47 by don long, on Flickr

Tomorrow starts the grinding and smoothing out of the pieces.

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rickhigginshtbr · Sep 2, 2019

Subscribed! This is going to be a fun one!

thehorse13 · Sep 2, 2019

I'm getting flash backs of my S6 restoration. This will be an great thread to follow!

Stuart in MN · Sep 2, 2019

I'll bet your chrome shop guy smiles every time you walk in his front door.

don long · Sep 2, 2019

rickhigginshtbr said:
Subscribed! This is going to be a fun one!

thehorse13 said:
I'm getting flash backs of my S6 restoration. This will be an great thread to follow!

Stuart in MN said:
I'll bet your chrome shop guy smiles every time you walk in his front door.

Thanks for that vote of confidence guys!! :beer:

Stuart
My Chrome guy is a good friend and I have to beg him to take money from me
He also is Chip Foose's chrome guy and chip keeps him pretty busy.

don long · Sep 2, 2019

Spent the whole day out in the garage scratching on jack parts.
This is what I had already worked on last week
These parts were ready for primer when I got to the garage today.

2019-09-02 10.14.42 by don long, on Flickr

The left side rail was my project this morning. It is V E R Y rough and I like to give my projects a clean car finish so all these casting bumps must go away

2019-09-02 10.23.45 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-02 10.23.57 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-02 10.23.50 by don long, on Flickr

The front axle wouldn't break loose so I thought I'd just work around it. It sure was a lot harder maneuvering it around to grind on with that axle but I finally had it ready for primer and into the booth the parts all went

2019-09-02 13.42.59 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-02 13.43.07 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-02 13.43.17 by don long, on Flickr

Now they can cure for a day or 2 while I work on getting more parts ready for the chrome shop

Hephaestus29 · Sep 2, 2019

Does that model have a key and lock? I’d like
to know since I have a different Blackhawk
but it has a lock. I wonder if a locksmith could
make me a key.

don long · Sep 2, 2019

Next up The Wheels.
I mounted them in my lathe and turned them while I put my 3" sander against it and turned it against the rotation of the lathe

2019-09-02 14.32.06 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-02 14.36.20 by don long, on Flickr

I used 3 different grits of paper to sand the wheels. I want to have them chromed so I started with 80 grit then 150 and last 220 sand paper. The inner wheels will be painted black because it is too hard to get in there to smooth them out.

It is ready for the chrome shop to polish and plate the wheel

2019-09-02 14.36.26 by don long, on Flickr

After all 4 wheels were done it was time to concentrate on the fasteners.

Before

2019-09-02 15.22.52 by don long, on Flickr

A trip to either the sand blaster or the wire wheel and this is what I have tonight

2019-09-02 16.51.25 by don long, on Flickr

Using the same grits of paper I sanded these pieces for the chrome plater.

2019-09-02 16.57.54 by don long, on Flickr

I still have a couple of pieces to finish tomorrow then I'll run these parts over and pick up some for another project that I have painted.

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thehorse13 · Sep 3, 2019

Your restoration is going to make mine look like garbage. I left all of the casting marks in mine and didn't consider chrome plating. I sure wish I still had access to the spray booth and other professional body tools that you do.

Fantastic thread thus far.

don long · Sep 3, 2019

Thanks Horse
It took me hours and several grinding discs to clean up just one side of that jack. I didn't grind it til the pits were gone, I spread a thin coat of bondo on it to level out the low spots and fill the holes and that took another hour or 2 But I know it will be well worth the time spent

Thanks for looking in

Don

y'sguy · Sep 3, 2019

This is great to see your process Don. You always set the bar so hi for others. This thing is going to be beautiful, can't wait to see it. Much like what thehorse13 said, I have a walker jack that looks pretty good, but just cleaned andd painted with hardly any disassembly. Looks good to me and most others but just cannot compare to this kind of level of work.

Private Lugnutz · Sep 3, 2019

I had a good dialogue on this subject with Ryan, our Founder, a few years ago. I admire a full resto - and Don's, with the professional-level stripping, bondo, repainting and chroming, are clearly top notch. But I also and equally admire (and personally prefer) good preservation efforts, too. Sometimes an object is too far gone to preserve, and sometimes an object just needs a good cleaning and deserves to keep its original coat of paint, even if it is showing some wear and tear. It's like classic cars that way, and why most of the major shows, including Monterey, have added a "Preserved" class to the Grande Concourse.

EDIT: It should go without saying, but I will anyway, that that's not a judgement. Each approach has its merits and, as I said, it's possible to appreciate them both without contradiction.

thehorse13 · Sep 3, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
I had a good dialogue on this subject with Ryan, our Founder, a few years ago. I admire a full resto - and Don's, with the professional-level stripping, bondo, repainting and chroming, are clearly top notch. But I also and equally admire (and personally prefer) good preservation efforts, too. Sometimes an object is too far gone to preserve, and sometimes an object just needs a good cleaning and deserves to keep its original coat of paint, even if it is showing some wear and tear. It's like classic cars that way, and why most of the major shows, including Monterey, have added a "Preserved" class to the Grande Concourse.

EDIT: It should go without saying, but I will anyway, that that's not a judgement. Each approach has its merits and, as I said, it's possible to appreciate them both without contradiction.

Not to thread jack poor Don, but I have a preservation class cleanup project that will be posted pretty soon. You'll know when it happens.

don long · Sep 3, 2019

I have a good friend that loves the rusty stuff and cringes every time I get my hands on an old rusty project.

I personally like bright and shiny over old and rusty and I have more than my share of things to bring back to life. And IMHO they look better finished in the party garage lol

y'sguy · Sep 3, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
I had a good dialogue on this subject with Ryan, our Founder, a few years ago. I admire a full resto - and Don's, with the professional-level stripping, bondo, repainting and chroming, are clearly top notch. But I also and equally admire (and personally prefer) good preservation efforts, too. Sometimes an object is too far gone to preserve, and sometimes an object just needs a good cleaning and deserves to keep its original coat of paint, even if it is showing some wear and tear. It's like classic cars that way, and why most of the major shows, including Monterey, have added a "Preserved" class to the Grande Concourse.

EDIT: It should go without saying, but I will anyway, that that's not a judgement. Each approach has its merits and, as I said, it's possible to appreciate them both without contradiction.

You won't get any argument from me. The problem is I like it all! We all have our different levels of preference and appreciation for skill levels and knowledge of historical and sentimental pieces.
:beer:

Private Lugnutz · Sep 3, 2019

That's pretty funny about your friend cringing, Don. I don't like rust, which will just keep eating away at the steel (unless you go as far as the ratrodders do and actually sealcoat it! HAHA). I do prefer a 'been there done that' look, though, as opposed to a factory refinish. But, let me re=emphasize, I don't mind looking at someone else's factory refinishes, especially yours! Especially with the party garage as a backdrop! :lol:

Pure eye candy. Keep 'em coming. And sorry for the thread drift.

don long · Sep 3, 2019

I'm pushing forward on the jack restoration today
I spent the morning chasing down a seal kit for the jack and this afternoon I went back to cleaning and polishing the hardware

I degreased all the shafts and sandblasted the rust away from them.

2019-09-03 16.04.34 by don long, on Flickr

Since I'm chrome plating the nuts and bolts that hold the 2 sides of the jack together I've decided to polish the ends of all the shafts that are exposed.

2019-09-03 14.56.19 by don long, on Flickr

So I've started by grinding each end smooth

2019-09-03 14.56.26 by don long, on Flickr

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OldNeons · Sep 3, 2019

Great work! I love the old jacks, and have more than I care to admit to that are awaiting a process similar to yours! Subscribed!

don long · Sep 4, 2019

OldNeons said:
Great work! I love the old jacks, and have more than I care to admit to that are awaiting a process similar to yours! Subscribed!

Thanks for checking in tonite

I should be painting it soon

Matias · Sep 4, 2019

Nice to see a project like this so well documented, thanks! Definetely subscribed.

I must say, before GJ I didn't even know/think about old tool restorations, but I'm linking it. I'm just becoming a little scared I'll buy something myself after all these great examples I'm seeing here

drivesitfar · Sep 4, 2019

Don: you have a real talent not only picking up and buying some unique stuff, but also the ability to spiff them up like nobody else. you also have a great support team we don't see that I'm sure take some of your hard earned cash, but they just seem to add another positive to your awesome talent.

one of these days i'll get a sandblaster and spiff up a few old gems I have sitting around getting rusty.

thanks for starting a thread on this and for documenting all the steps and with plenty of pics too.

don long · Sep 4, 2019

Matias said:
Nice to see a project like this so well documented, thanks! Definetely subscribed.

I must say, before GJ I didn't even know/think about old tool restorations, but I'm linking it. I'm just becoming a little scared I'll buy something myself after all these great examples I'm seeing here

Thank you Matias
Welcome aboard and good luck finding something fun to restore

drivesitfar said:
Don: you have a real talent not only picking up and buying some unique stuff, but also the ability to spiff them up like nobody else. you also have a great support team we don't see that I'm sure take some of your hard earned cash, but they just seem to add another positive to your awesome talent.

one of these days i'll get a sandblaster and spiff up a few old gems I have sitting around getting rusty.

thanks for starting a thread on this and for documenting all the steps and with plenty of pics too.

Thanks for that nice complement Drives
Yes I have a very talented crew that help making my projects look good.
They are also good friends that enjoy seeing their work on display in the garage.

It was way too hot to play out in the garage today so I ran around town in the A/C driving from the glass shop to the welding supply shop and tomorrow I need to go to the upholstery shop to take care of a little problem that has popped up. I'm waiting on the chrome shop to finish the chrome on the Alemite lubster bucket so I can drop off my jack parts.

don long · Sep 6, 2019

I've spent a little more time cleaning and polishing the nuts, bolts, and shafts for the jack and I think I'm ready for the assembly when I get the parts back from the plater

IMG_1918 by don long, on Flickr

I polished the ends of each all the ends that show on the shafts.I restored the I.D. plate and polished the edges.

All the parts that will be chromed have been ground and sanded to a 220 grit finish to insure the quality of the chrome.

Parts to be chromed

2019-09-06 12.05.53 by don long, on Flickr

Next is sanding and painting the jack body.

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y'sguy · Sep 6, 2019

Don, thanks for showing and explaining your metal prep for chrome. Most people don't realize you did a bunch of the work BEFORE it goes to the plater. This helps the cost stay down some. And mostly starts out a good finish process. Much better than dropping off an old rusty grungy part.

Duker · Sep 6, 2019

Yep... suckered me in for another project! Looking great so far.... I have an old Blackhawk jack to restore but it’s waaay down the list at the moment.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

J.C. · Sep 6, 2019

Fantastic work so far - subscribing so I can follow the progress!

casmurbax · Sep 10, 2019

Don, another great project.

I believe on another one of your jack projects, I questioned the scuff marks on the front wheels...

Do you ever move these around after you get them done? What do you do to keep the chrome from scratching on them? Yes besides not rolling them around?

John

don long · Sep 12, 2019

y'sguy said:
Don, thanks for showing and explaining your metal prep for chrome. Most people don't realize you did a bunch of the work BEFORE it goes to the plater. This helps the cost stay down some. And mostly starts out a good finish process. Much better than dropping off an old rusty grungy part.

y'sguy
You are spot on with the work that goes into chroming parts. It's better for me as well as the plater if I prep my parts. He doesn't charge me full price regardless of what my parts look like so I feel good doing the prep work for him.

Duker said:
Yep... suckered me in for another project! Looking great so far.... I have an old Blackhawk jack to restore but it’s waaay down the list at the moment.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Duke
I'm looking forward to October. I hope your plans come thru.
Thanks for the complement. I understand the project list and how far back it goes. I've had this one for a few years and always wanted to get it done.

J.C. said:
Fantastic work so far - subscribing so I can follow the progress!

casmurbax said:
Don, another great project.

I believe on another one of your jack projects, I questioned the scuff marks on the front wheels...

Do you ever move these around after you get them done? What do you do to keep the chrome from scratching on them? Yes besides not rolling them around?

John

Thanks for dropping in John
To answer your questions about the wheels on my jacks.
The last jack is mechanical so I know that it works and it will be part of the equipment that will reside in the 30's garage and it will be used if any of the cars in the party garage need to be lifted
The wheels will only roll on the clean floors of the party garage so scratching will be limited and this jack will be more of a display unit with chrome wheels that will also stay in the party garage.

don long · Sep 12, 2019

Not much to report on the jack progress.
I did drop off the parts that I want to be chromed and I have given the painted parts a first sanding and a second coat of primer.
I have started giving the pieces a second and final sanding with 500 grit paper

I'm very happy with how smooth the parts are looking
Here is a before and after shot of the left body side

2019-09-02 10.23.57 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-02 10.23.45 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-12 11.24.30 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-12 11.23.59 by don long, on Flickr

And here is how the top plate will be finished with the Blackhawk letters and border in polished steel.

2019-09-12 12.06.23 by don long, on Flickr

Also the side panels will have some bling

2019-09-12 11.30.53 by don long, on Flickr

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drivesitfar · Sep 13, 2019

Don: as usual your spiffing up old steel and cast iron is second to none. just curious with all that fine dust flying around can you show us what kind of eye protection and dust mask you use?

i'm finally remembering to use my ear (muffs) protection when i use my impact, saws and other power and noisy tools, but still have issues putting on masks and safety shields cause 60+ years of bad habits are hard to break.

keep up the great work!!

bonneyman · Sep 14, 2019

Another admirer here! :thumbup:

So many of you guys are so talented with this restoration stuff, and your craftsmanship Don is just incredible.

don long · Sep 15, 2019

drivesitfar said:
Don: as usual your spiffing up old steel and cast iron is second to none. just curious with all that fine dust flying around can you show us what kind of eye protection and dust mask you use?

i'm finally remembering to use my ear (muffs) protection when i use my impact, saws and other power and noisy tools, but still have issues putting on masks and safety shields cause 60+ years of bad habits are hard to break.

keep up the great work!!

Thanks Drives
It's always nice to have you drop in cause you have such nice things to say.
The safety equipment consists of a pair of safety glasses and or a particle mask (no pic's available tonite)

bonneyman said:
Another admirer here!

So many of you guys are so talented with this restoration stuff, and your craftsmanship Don is just incredible.

Thanks Bonneyman
And welcome to my madness lol

So I spent the morning working on the jack pump trying to reseal it first I had to figure out how to take the damn thing apart (not an easy task)
I had to make a couple of specialty tools for the job.

The ram

2019-09-14 10.26.59 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-14 10.27.27 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-14 10.29.00 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-14 10.38.50 by don long, on Flickr

Then the other end The pumper Sorry I forgot to take a shot of the homemade tool in use taking the smaller bar out of the pump.
But I got it out

2019-09-14 11.25.50 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-14 11.57.05 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-14 12.10.25 by don long, on Flickr

The smaller ram shows at the rear of the jack so while I have it out I went ahead and polished it up to a bright chrome finish (the tape is so I don't polish where the seals ride on the ram)

Now I have to put the new seals back into the pump.

casmurbax · Sep 16, 2019

Hi Don, looking good. Thanks for answering my questions, always impressed with your work.
:beer:

don long · Sep 18, 2019

You are welcome casmurbax
Any time.

Well I have a small up date on the Jack
I managed to get the pump rebuilt and back together.
All the parts that will be chromed are at the chrome shop
I managed to get all the parts to be painted primed, blocked and reprimed and sanded for paint and tonight the color is on the parts

2019-09-18 17.23.47 by don long, on Flickr

2019-09-18 17.23.55 by don long, on Flickr

The paint is water base material. It will need to have a clear coat sprayed over the color to be finished. The reason I didn't blow the clear over the color yet is because I will be polishing the paint off the blackhawk letters and raised parts on the jack sides and want the clear to seal the metal after I've polished it to a chrome finish. Tomorrow. Then we wait for the chrome to return home.
Thanks for following along.

.

thehorse13 · Sep 19, 2019

Don,

Where did you find the pump rebuild kit and was the process pretty straight forward? I opted to farm out this part of my resto but have often questioned if I could do this as a first timer.

Thanks.

FJ 432 · Sep 19, 2019

don long said:
The reason I didn't blow the clear over the color yet is because I will be polishing the paint off the blackhawk letters and raised parts on the jack sides and want the clear to seal the metal after I've polished it to a chrome finish. (/QUOTE]

I love it when I get to the part where you're clearing off the paint on the high spots. That's when I really get excited about a restoration project and the completion.

Love the color choice BTW. It looks close to original. As always, nice job.

don long · Sep 19, 2019

thehorse13 said:
Don,

Where did you find the pump rebuild kit and was the process pretty straight forward? I opted to farm out this part of my resto but have often questioned if I could do this as a first timer.

Thanks.

Horse
For the jack kit I called this number 620 594 2247 it's from Hi-ball
I had to make a couple of tools to fit the odd nuts on the ends of the jack
I pulled one end apart at a time and placed each piece of packing in the order that it came out and it went back together pretty simple

I don't know if my pump works yet. won't try til the jack is back together

FJ 432 said:
don long said:

The reason I didn't blow the clear over the color yet is because I will be polishing the paint off the blackhawk letters and raised parts on the jack sides and want the clear to seal the metal after I've polished it to a chrome finish. (/QUOTE]

I love it when I get to the part where you're clearing off the paint on the high spots. That's when I really get excited about a restoration project and the completion.

Love the color choice BTW. It looks close to original. As always, nice job.

Click to expand...

Thanks FJ
I think the jack will look pretty cool with the Blackhawk logo looking like chrome. The color is a newer Ford color. I didn't want the jack to be bright red but wanted something more suttle so I went with the Ford color.

Thanks for checking out my project

Don

y'sguy · Sep 19, 2019

I like the FORD red Don!, It looks like it might be slightly metallic, is it?

JoCoSawdust · Sep 19, 2019

Incredible. Thanks for letting us follow along Don. It's like kicking back with a beer and watching some guy named Michelangelo paint a ceiling.

BLACKHAWK S13 resto project

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