Re: Don's 1937 1090 138CD Limo

Posted by Don 37 On 2011/7/14 19:59:31

It has been awhile since I have last posted on my 1090 138CD blog. It's not because the project is stalled. On the contrary it has been going great. The body has been taken off the frame and was stored for a couple of months in the back of a 48 Diamond T ton and a half. While it was removed, the frame was un-sub framed and put back to original with the donor frame I took to Kansas. Then it was painted and now the body is sitting on wood blocks above the frame about to be re-attached. I have bought last week a stainless steel exhaust system from Waldron's ($625.00) and it is being shipped to the mechanic to install a little later after the body is back on the frame. The project is all back to Packard parts now with the removal of the Cadillac rear end. It was one thing I had thought about keeping as it had disc brakes and it still allowed the original wheels to be utilized.. However, I decided to make a upgrade to the drive train and remove so it. In its place I purchased a complete R-11 OD transmission setup ($150.00) which I will have the top of a original transmission that was restored for the Limo adapted to the newer R-11 so it will still be floor shift. This way it will still look stock and should give me a little higher top end and lower RPM's on the engine. I am having my Brother-In-Law take some pictures this weekend so I can post them to the blog to show the progress on it so far.

I am planning a quick trip towards the end of August to take some parts he is needing, the largest being a replacement trunk floor. The one in the Limo has one fairly large hole. I am in the process of parting out a 37-120C Touring Sedan and will take the trunk floor from it. A few weeks ago I removed the front doors from the sedan and Al took then to Virginia to swap some of my parts for the 55 Patrician he has now for sale, with Ken P who picked up the 55 in Massachusetts for Al. Ken P in turn needed the parts from me and Al took with him to Virginia. A four-way swap I think went off good for all involved. (Al and Ken P. are both here on Packardinfo)

I am not sure how far along I will have work being done in Kansas but so far I am pleased with the results so far. What I am thinking about doing is somewhat crazy but when it is restored mechanically and running good, I plan to drive it the 850 miles home. The kicker is I a getting together attire to wear during the trip from 1940's era. Take the back roads and passing through small towns along the way,' kind of going slow and having an adventure along the way. I am thinking this is going to be in Spring coming up.

I will post some photos as soon as I get them. The mechanic is old school no internet or digital camera even. So that part is a little unhandy. I guess that why he only costs $25.00 an hour for his labor. Also knowing him for 35 years does help some I guess. I don't give out his information. I learned my lesson about telling people about him and his vast supply of parts and Packard knowledge. The one person from Packardinfo I told about my mechanic cheated him out of several hundred dollars in parts so I have learned that lesson.(That person is not on here anymore).