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Photo and a couple of scanned pages out of the workshop manual emailed to W.W. Shock Absorbers.

Then late this afternoon drove about 16miles(27kms) to the 135th Robertson Show for the Saturday Night Demolition Derby. First DD I've been to in at least 45 years. Reason for the run was not so much the DD but as a run for the Packard. Took my GPS and discovered that at an indicated 40mph it was actually about 31mph, while an indicated 60mph was actually about 53mph. Also found that an indicated 55mph(actual about 50mph) or about 80kph, was best for engine harmony. Taking it up to the 60mph indicated was starting to make the engine work. Thinking three things, 1) the engine is tired, 2) the modern lower profile radials don't help and, 3) an overdrive would come in real handy. Didn't realise how good the Coupe had been with its rebuilt engine. Spent many hours cruising in it at an indicated 60mph and easily at that. That was without using the OD. as it hadn't been used for about 3->4 years after nasty noises started coming from it. Prior to that, with the OD in the Coupe, 70mph+ was regularly attained. I must mention the Coupes speedo was about 10% fast too! But, even so, it never felt stressed. Also temperature, in the '50, although at about 2/3 to 3/4, was reasonably steady. And oil pressure sat at just over 40psi both going there and back.

Tires are the most likely the culprit. A tired engine wouldn't change the speedo.

Amen, just drive her where she tells you she wants to be, Mel, the old machines know best and all we have to do is to listen carefully to them. Our 23rd series wants to be in overdrive at anything over 50 as well. If I forget to let her go into overdrive, she lets me know. Beautiful day in Arizona. Ernie

Agreed, radial tires may be an inch or so less in diameter than the original bias which would cause the fast reading speedo. It could also be a tired spring on the pointer cup letting it read a bit higher and could need calibration.

If it is smaller tires and assuming the speedo gear is the correct one for the rear axle ratio, the odometer should also be off to a measured Km or however you do it in Oz. If it is only a tired spring then the odometer should be reasonably close but the speed reading would be high.

Kev, Didn't mean to infer the speedo reading would be influenced by the condition of the engine, sorry

Ernie, I will be "in tune" with what the old girl is telling me. Should be nice here as our forecast for today is 23C = 73F.

Howard, Checked the odometer reading against distance to Robertson and back and it is reasonably close. Haven't measured/checked the diameter of the tyres. But the weak spring hypothesis looks to have some credence.

Monday 5th March, 2018

Besides all the excitement generated by the imminent arrival in Oz of Bruce Blevins, with emails to/from Bruce and emails to/from PACA members in organising a dinner for Bruce on Friday the 9th, a package arrived today from the US. It contained this! Scroll down to see "my precious" which I'm very pleased with. It has exceeded my expectations and should add a little bling to the '50!

Wow, the Egyption, my favourite.

It will look good.

"Wow, the Egyption, my favourite."

Mine too.

Thought it looked pretty good in the eBay pic's but it turned out to be better than expected. Seller wanted USD$225.00 BIN, but with USD$67+ Shipping it was going to arrive in Oz at AUD$400 plus. Offered USD$185 which was accepted and, when the eBay shipping calculator kicked in, shipping was less than USD$40, a pleasant surprise. All up landed in Oz, less than AUD$300, much more affordable. But I shot myself in the foot on another bargain. Found a very nice Horn ring and button for USD$50 BIN, but identified as 1951 Studebaker Packard. Offered USD$35, next thing I know it's not on eBay any longer. Next time, if there's a next time, won't be so greedy for a bargain.

Mal, I'm glad you got another Packard again, it's fun to read your enthusiasm when you are around your Packard.

Wednesday 7th March, 2018

After a bit of "to and froing" with photos and copies of parts pictures from the manual, which the previous owner had printed out from PackardInfo, received a quote from W. W. Shock Absorbers. Not going to do this at the present time but will take the opportunity to do so in the future, ie before years end. Probably send them away before I leave for Hershey so that they are ready to reinstall on my return(I hope). Interesting thing is the cost. Had the front shocks on the Coupe reconditioned 10 years ago and the quote for the '50's is 50% dearer. That's inflation for ya!