Also note the firewall mounted brake master cylinder. It looks like Glynn's car has had work done to it.

Big Kev,

Could it be that a 9-main bearing engine was installed in Glyn's Mayfair? I don't know which engine the '53 Mayfairs had. Also note the u-joint to connect the steering column to the steering box. A 9-main bearing engine is longer than a 5-mains version by about the engine mount offset.

John

Try Terrill Machine or Egge (they advertise in Hemmings and Packard publications) for your engine parts. Contact Robert Aller (12-11 N.E. 144th St., Kearney, MO 64060) for one of his oil pumps.

West, for what it is worth I offer the following. I have a 1973 Datsun 240Z. The car had a noisy transmission and differential. This condition had persisted since the car was new, according to the previous owner's log. I drained and refilled the units with Red Line synthetic 85W-140 gear oil. This took care of almost all of the noise. I was impressed by the remarkable change. I don't know if this oil is compatiable with your transmission and overdrive, but thought you might like this information. I have a 115C and using an EP 85W-140 gear oil in its transmission and differential. This oil seems to be working just fine. John

I like the idea of a hopped-up straight 8. Here is my fantasy for a hot rod Packard. I would love to get a '51 - '53 coupe and "fix-it-up". A Packard '55 or '56 V-8 to start with, coupled to a Packard manual shift transmission with a floor shift. Next, I'd radius the rear wheel openings to give it that special touch. Then I would install reversed and chromed original wheels with small original-style wheel covers and black sidewall radial tires (larger size on the back). Finally a nice interior and paint to complete the whole picture. Of course, it would need to have a great dual exhaust system to announce its presence. I think this is would be a fun car. John

I also meant to add that no sealers were used on the rivets or bead area. John

I had wide white sidewall tubeless radial ply tires installed on my 115C Convertible Coupe using the original wheels. I bought a set of Diamond Back tires. I have had no problems with them. They hold air, they balanced easily, and improved steering, braking, and handling. I recommend them. John

The tappets shown are not from a Cadillac 346 V-8. While the Cadillac did have removable tappet assemblies, it used hydraulic silenced type lifters. The ones shown have adjusting screws and locknuts. The search goes on ...

Big Kev,

I'll e-mail the article to you. It will be in MS Word. I'll also include a chart and table. The table has the specifications for the Packard-build V-1650 Merlin. The chart displays the production of Packards and shows how few of the senior cars were made and how the junior cars dominated the production in the period covered. The cart is in MS Excel.

In the docent presentation I had about 50 view graphs used as talking points with many photos of Packards, Merlins, and Mustangs and other Merlin powered aircraft in the mix.

Thanks for the interest, and I'm glad to contribute.

J.W.

In 2005 I wrote an article about Packard's involvement in producing Rolls Royce Merlin engines. I approached the topic a little differently, talking about the Automobiles (120s, 115Cs, Sixes, Eights, and 110s) that saved the company (Packard) that produced the engine (Merlin) that powered the airplane (Mustang) that won the air war over Europe. I used this article as the basis for a lecture to the docents at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California. Please let me know if anyone would like a copy of the article.