Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Before I painted the head area where the serial number is, I took a picture - notice the yellow "X" on each side of the serial number pad. Is there any significance to that marking?

Attach file:

---

  (44.81 KB)

May is my worst month for work every year, getting 15 airplanes turned around in the shop to start June projects and training pilots, going through equipment etc etc. Busy busy until 8 every night. So, not any time to work on the car which would be nice as a brain break, oh well.

But, I did get all the brake lines out of the car so I can measure what I need to replace them. I got the 3 new flexible lines from NAPA, and I need to get a hub puller for the rears. I got a socket for the rear hub nuts (yup, 1 5/16") and got those off with my impact wrench. The cotter pins were so rusted that I can't get them out so I just broke them off at the ends and peened them flat with a punch so I could get the nuts off. When I get the hubs off and axles out I'll drill out the rest of the pins.

Spent an hour tonight bead blasting the manifolds. I don't want to try to get them apart, those bolts are really frozen and aren't budging even after soaking in penetrating oil for a couple months since I took them off. And I do not want to bust off those bolts and create a big job when the manifolds are straight and weren't leaking. The only thing wrong was the flapper valve was seized up, but after blasting and more pen oil a little persuasion with a wrench and it is free again. The spring is even good and now it's nice and free and springs back like new.

What were the manifolds painted, I read somewhere about a stainless steel paint from Eastwood I think that is supposed to look good? Will it look good on both the intake and exhaust manifolds, since they are going to be the same color without disassembly.

I used por15 manifold grey. It looks like raw cast Iron grey. Factory finish was just bare metal. I think painting The intake black was done by enough dealers that it is considered "correct".

I was hoping to buy Charlie's windshield from his famous 51, but he found a crack in his 52's windshield and I am back to looking. Mine is cracked pretty bad and I haven't found anyplace that has new ones to fit the 51-52 so far.

So if anyone has a lead or a windshield let me know, thanks!

Attach file:

---

  (26.71 KB)

Hey, Summer happened while I was working like a crazy man this last month! About time. I got some time to get to the car after work today, took my plastic garage down and cleaned up after the winter. Then I pulled the rest of the old wiring out of the car and scraped the tar residue off the inside of the roof, to get ready for sanding and repriming. It's the first time I've worked up a sweat on this car, always too cold before.

Attach file:

---

  (45.37 KB)


  (67.81 KB)

The studs on my exhaust manifold are long gone, the exhaust wasn't even attached when I got the car. So I need to helicoil them and install new studs. Can anyone tell me how long and what size the studs should be?

Attach file:

---

  (40.56 KB)


  (43.42 KB)

The original fasteners for the exhaust pipe to manifold were bolts, not studs.
Size 3/8-16 by 1-3/8" long.

thanks! I will make it so.

we have some airplanes based in Calgary, at Springbank. If I get a chance I'll look you up to see your car if I get up there this summer.

Great work on the motor! Looks like your long winter was successful.