Does anyone see any problem with using ROD bearing inserts on the MAINs or visa-versa if we could find some to fit????

why do you "believe" it would be possible to convert a Packard V-12 over to right hand drive ?

(well...ANYTHING is "possible".....!). May I respectfully suggest you crawl under a Packard V-12, and take a good look at how the exhaust system is set up, and then tell us what you think about "possibilities" ?

The axle of my 1947 which I believe is essentially the same as on your car. There is a gasket between the oil seal and the shim as well as one gasket before the retainer for the oil seal. The sequence in the diagram left to right is oil guard-gasket(12.031)-seal retainer-oil seal-gasket(12.033)-shim. As I recall the gaskets are very thin paper.

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I'm a bit hazy on this, it's been a lot of years, and would suggest looking for a good picture in the parts book or the shop manual. But my memory says the only paper gasket goes between the drip retainer and the outside of the backing plate.

Been thru this a number of times. When I did my 34 1100 engine (at 89,000 miles) it was after the faintest of rod knock noticeable at a warm idle, though oil pressure was still acceptable. #8 rod showed some babbitt failure and I redid the engine sticking with the original babbitt.

MANY years back when you could still find original rod bearings for the 35-39 320 engines, one alternative was to find a set of rods from those engines to replace the 34 and back rods, but since the 80s or so those bearings were unfindable. Those bearings were flanged to control end play. I now believe one of the major Packard vendors has had them remanufactured.

The third alternative, which has been widely documented over the years involved the conversion of the 34 and earlier rods to take a modern simple insert (PM me if you want some more info). This took a bit of machining on the rods, on some conversions it required notching the rod bolts, and as the bearings didn't have the thrust flanges to ride on the crank cheeks, nubs or buttons were welded on the rod side faces and machined to control end play. Some people swore by these conversions, others had buckets of troubles, the differences perhaps depending on the skill of the mechanic doing the conversion.

I drive my car sensibly in recognition of it's original capabilities and thus stayed with babbitted rods and mains.

There is a formula for calculating HP to the REAR WHEELS based on a test run of the car. I can't find it yet.

I've often wondered about the dual quad and big cfm carbs being too much several times.


If one weree to come up with a way to mount a modern video camera to the side of a WCFB with a remote on/off button then during a test run the opening of the secondary counter weight could be witnessed.

A Q+D way mite be to mount a toothpick in some dumdum next to the WCFB secondary counter weight and see how much it moves after a test run. I mite try it.

Hi Pre War Team

A good friend has encountered some serious knocking coming from his 34 (1100) Standard Eight engine. Oil pan removal has revealed plenty of metal, big-end bearing damage, journal damage but fortunately no hole in the crankcase (you can be lucky)! We don't suspect main bearing damage but the crankshaft is coming out soon to fully investigate.

Options include re-babbiting of the main and big-end bearings.

Other option? I understand that later Super 8 320ci engine (37-39) had easy to obtain slipper bearings. Is it a viable option to machine the 34 320ci engine to fit the later bearings?

Or are there other bearing options?

(I have just noticed a 733 on e-bay claiming to have slipper bearings)

Please let me have your thoughts and experience.

Best regards

Quote:

Todd,

As used to be said: "Don't miss the next thrilled packed episode". Looking forward to the next one.

Monday 4th August 2008

Bank holiday here today as well as Mechanic's Holiday. This explained why John and Rick were sitting in the sun having a few quiet drinks and not getting their hands dirty as usually is the case.

But I didn't go directly to the workshop, first went to Parramatta Tools at Rydalmere after the elusive 7/16" 24 TPI Bottom Tap. After searching eBay and googling for this tap over the weekend without any success I wasn't expecting a positive result. And so it proved to be but I was given leads to 2 other possible sources, Total Tools at Granville and McDonald Engineering at Pendle Hill. Instead of going on a wild goose chase looked them up in the yellow pages and rang them. Total Tools, the closer option, didn't have one but McDonald Engineering did.

Left the chase for the elusive tap for the time being and proceeded to the workshop. There, after some gentle advice from Wade, was easily convinced my leaving the heater box and front unpainted was not really an option. Cleaned the box and front up, and after going to the local hardware store, returned with a spray can of the closest colour I could find to match the original heater colour. Although the new colour is a gold while the old colour a light brown. But as I hadn't sprayed anything with a can for a long time my attempt was a little heavy handed, but did get 3 coats on and I'm sure it will look OK in the dark recesses under the dash.

Then, instead of then going directly home, made the trip out to Pendle Hill to the address I'd found in the yellow pages. Turned out to be an Academic College and on ringing McDonald Engineering turns out they haven't been at that address for 5 years. Must have an old, old yellow pages at my place! They did give me the new address and although not literally around the corner it wasn't far away and they did have the tap, so mission accomplished! And turns out the 7/16" 24 TPI is a "NFS" National Fine Special. One of the internet sites over the weekend had said something to the effect of "good luck in finding one - you won't". Well I did, so I'm very pleased.

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Have noted the 2 previous posts and the specific reference to V-12 RHD conversions. Irrespective of that, I have taken some pic's of Wades 34 chassis, pic below, see link for all the pic's.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ozstatman/Wades34

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