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I do admire your perseverance -- and wish I had a minuscule amount of your skill.

This all sounds very familiar to me....I hate to say it, but you will find more cancer than you can imagine. Good luck and I hope you don't give up! (unless you find a better body and make a great car out of two...)

I woulda have given up on this car a long time ago....I applaud you bro!

Well it goes from sucking to SUCKING. Got downsized Friday, so it looks like I will get to spend the summer in the garage with Penelope.

Anyhow, after 2 hours of power washing the frame to remove 58 years of road rash, Low and behold, I have a cracked torsion level compensator housing and screw holes blown out. Ill be on the hunt for one of these at a poor mans budget.

Might be a short hunt if you check with Mike Dulinski up in Duluth. His contact info is listed in the site's Packard Directory, under the Packard Vendors and Parts category.

This weekend's project is to make a torsion loading and unloading tool. I'll post pic's and put together a DIY instructions. Looks like I can do a replica a very low cost with 1-1/4" acme thread. It is rated at 5400# load. I have been able to locate one or two that could be loaned or rented but they seen to always be in use.

FYI

Search this site for what others have done to work on the TL system.

Some have used chains for the front holding tool.

Ill just blog as I go and post the pics, when I get everything complete I will give a full breakdown.

so, why am I doing this? I realize many have tied up the load arms for service, and used make shift hooks and chains which I think is great and applaud the various visions.

Working with Torsion arms on Army Tanks for many years, I have seen first hand the hurting they can give. You aint seen nothing til, you see a tank hurl a bogie wheel 100 yards when they let go.

With the need to remove the T/L system for maintenance I want a little something where I have positive control both winding and unwinding and not loose a limb having a chain slip. I plan on more Packard's in my future so why not build a safe reliable tool.

the following pics are just a mock up, and still needs final welding and clean up. The fit is perfect and will give me a great "Aftermarket" T/L tool. Ratchet, steel, and fasteners all under $65. If I had the time to wait and order the exact steel I wanted, It would be a bit nicer, but I wanted to see if it would work from everyday parts available a Menards / Harbor Freight, etc. for those wanting to do the same. It's looking good thus far.

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Looks like a start. How are you going to make the large J that pins into the hole on opposite frame rail to hold the shaft or are you going to try to do without it? As I recall that free end moved a few inches vertically as the load arm rotated and it has to withstand a tremendous pull.

Here is some info on that item courtesy of Mike F., one of our regular posters.

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thanx Howard, that is pretty close to what I had measured but this will take the guess work out. I am bending the J out of 2" instead of the 1-1/4 but that will be fine.

I am going to see if I can make it work from one side and not have to span the opposite side of the frame. I have to pick up an 3/4" silver and deming bit tomorrow to drill for the 3/4" pin that locks the J bar into the frame.

Work in process, so any suggestions are very welcome.