Mornin' all,

While this discussion has gone entirely over my poor little head I will attempt to add something resembling an intellectual comment.

While I have no idea about the gear ratio on my car, I will tell you that the progressive modifications to my motor, (forced upon me by necessity and the need for total reliability, in all weathers, night and day), have allowed the motor to breath, fire and charge better. In particular, I replaced the totally worn out carb (EE33?) with a carb supplied by Max Merritt. I will see if I can find a make on it but I can tell you it is totally rebuilt and looked like new. (I think I remember it was from some aircraft engine, could be wrong. Anyway, it really opened the motor up, improving acceleration and pulling power. The electronic ignition provides fat sparks with no problems such as points breaking down or bouncing at high rpm. The 12v alternator connected to a heavy- duty battery keeps the ignition happy. An electric fuel pump was also an important addition to the 'performance package', when this was added the rpm really settled down from barely ticking over to high rpm.

While I do have other totally standard vintage American cars, the Packard was in a poor state when I got it, hence the need for, ultimately reversible, modifications.

Pat.

My replacement leaf springs (from a 34' 1101, possibly a limo) appear to have 11 leafs, my origional ones have 10.
Any thoughts?

Still working on the shackles. Have the 3 out from one front side. Extremly difficult to get the new pins through the front shackles, a very tight fit indeed.

The Bijour is not supplying any oil to the front, the oil lines contain hardened oil residue, who knows how long it has been like this. The pin were worn by 1/3 of their diameter, the bronze (?) bushings were in good shape and needed to be cut and drifted out.

More later!

Pat.

...........UPDATE...........................................

2 front ones out so far!

Really stuck fast, had to cut flat heads off and hammer the bolts back in.

Having a cup of tea now and a hairy mince pie I found at the back of the cupboard then back to work!

Heat from a oxy-acy torch? How hot? Lots of paintwork around the top bolts!

Yes, I have new bolts so no problem there.

What about grinding the flatheads off the bolts and hitting them from that side. That is, swinging a mallet from the outside towards the crank hole cover, to help prevent damage?

Thanks for the info, while your all tucked up in bed tonight I will be up to my ears in shackles, will let you know tomorrow.

Please keep all suggestions coming!

Pat.

Thanks Bruce,

I have sorted out the problem, the fuel pump was drawing oil into the inlet manifold.

Pat.

Hi all,

Ok,its time to put your collective grey matter together to come up with the answers again.

My car is going to be off the road for approximately 4 weeks to carry out some work.
The first job is to replace the front leaf springs, shackle bolts and leaf spring clamps.

I made a half-hearted attempt to gently hammer out the shackle bolts to no avail. I have been applying WD-40 for a number of weeks now to try and release them. The bolts are quite worn and probably have a 'step' worn into them, which does not help matters. Unless I am missing something (like a retaining pin), they are well and truly stuck!

I have had suggestions from heating the shackles to freezing them to cutting the heads off (flat side) and hammering them out from that side.

Please reply with any suggestions you may have for removing them, thank you.

Have you any idea what the top speed was for our motors when new?

Hi Jim,

Sorry, but I have no idea about the gearing, be it high or low. All that I can tell you is the puts up a good show and is always first away from the lights! People are always amazed at the turn of speed.

I forgot to mention it also has a High Compression head, so maybe a previous owner had sporting pretensions?

Pat.