OZman,

Thanks for pointing that out. I have not check out the registry in a few months. I will update mine stating I no longer have the oldest Packard in the registry. :(

Tom Wilcox,

Can you post some pictures of your interior? Would like to see it since it is original.

Is you car painted Packard Blue?

Thanks

I used an air gun and the bolt came out easily. You can not use an ordinary three-jaw puller to remove the balancer after the bolt is out. The thin piece of sheetmetal surrounding the rubber will not stand the strain. A friend welded up a puller for me out of angle iron. Look at the picture of the puller in the shop manual. The jaws reach around the sheetmetal ring so that the force is being exerted against the cast balancer itself and not the ring surrounding the rubber. Examine the hub of the balancer carefully. Several owners have reported cracks in the balancer.
I can also recommend Damper Doc in California. Far more reasonable than other rebuilders. I had mine rebuilt there several years ago.
http://www.damperdoctor.com

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Has anyone removed the nut that holds the 56' harmonic balancer? I see there are special tools that hold the pulley in place to remove the nut for Chrysler and GM. My harmonic balancer has come apart and I need to remove it. Any help would be appreciated.

Somewhere in the mountains of Packard data I have an article from a Canadian newspaper written some years ago by a Studebaker employee in Canada who previously worked at the Packard facility. In this article he relates a bit of history of that facility (opened about 1933?). I have many photos of RHD Packards built in Canada with RHD, and have also seen one 1936 120 coupe with LHD with a Packard-Canada VN plate. I also have an article somewhere that details the Commonwealth rules for "Canadian content" to quality the cars for duty-free export to the UK. As I remember, a very large amount of the car was Canadian based; tires and glass were Canadian as were electrical components, bodies were assembled, painted and trimmed in Canada; engines were built up from parts, upholstery and other soft materials were entirely of Canadian content. I'll no doubt find these articles someday and will try to remember to post them here when that happens. I believe the Canadian Packard facility closed just prior to WW II, and RHD cars were then assembled in Detroit thru 1954 (the RHD parts are listed in the parts books). Leonard Williams did the RHD conversions for 1955/1956, though they were very few in number. A few 1956 Packards were also built from knock-down kits by the D'Iterian Bros. in Belgium who were doing the same for Studebaker and VW. Elsewhere in this website you'll find a roadtest on one such 56 Clipper converted by Leonard Williams.

John, Thanks for the information on the British Packard Leonard Williams dealership. I was unaware that it had been bombed during the Blitz. Do you have any information (pictures, address etc.) of the Packard assembly plant located in Windsor Ontario across the river from Detroit. I grew up in Windsor and didn't realize that Packard had an assembly plant located in Canada until about 15 years ago. Any information greatly appreciated.

Before WWII most Packard imported to England were shipped to England partially or completely knocked down, to avoid paying high English tariffs.

Imported chassis, body panels and partially assembled kits of parts and final assembly were carried out in West London. This was done by the Leonard Williams Packard dealership. The William's dealership was the distributor for Packard for all of England.

During WWII the William's assembly building located on the Great West Road was bombed twice. In the first air raids carried out on London in 1940 a 1000lb fell on the assembly building. Then again in March 1945 a V2 Long Range Rocket fell on the building. The building was completely destroyed
32 people killed 102 injured, and 662 house were destroyed.
After the second bombing King George V and Queen Mary visited the site.

During WWII the William's assembly building was used to assemble marine engines.

John F. Shireman

How about all those Packardinfo Forum members who haven't entered their Packard in the Owner registry doing so? Including a photo if possible? It's quite a simple process and even I managed to load a picture!

I know I'll cop some flack for pushing this, as not everyone wants to broadcast or advertise their pride and joy, but so be it! I just want us all to be able to enjoy more Packards.

PS - I see Tom(Packin31) doesn't have the oldest Packard there now.

John,

Unfortunately the '37 Super Eight is not mine but belongs to Wade, another member of the club. It is a very very nice car! Wade saw it for sale on eBay about 3 months ago and bid and won it.

As for the import process, if you have a look at my Project Blog, about the '41 Coupe I bought on eBay, I think that covers what and how and how long.

To all - Thanks for the kind words, and as various Packard or automotive events take place here I'll try and photo them and add comments as required.


PS - There is a picture of Wade's '34 RHD chassis in Packard Pictures on this Forum. The story there being that Wade is also restoring a '34 Sedan and that a couple of years ago the body, while waiting to be painted in a paint shop on the southern outskirts of Sydney way across town, was destroyed by one our largest summer bushfires ever. Since then Wade found another '34 of the same model in the US and the body he got from that is now at the paint stage. The Chassis from the US body is presently sitting next to the restored chassis and the difference is remarkable (Next time I'm in his workshop will try and photo them together). So now Wade will shortly have 3 Packards on the road (he already has a '37 120 Daily Driver - literally)!

Mal, Thanks for sharing! Lovely cars!

MAL: Thanks for the private pm and the link. I like the pictures from the Sunday Packard run.

Onething that greatly interests me is the importation of your 37 Super8. How long did it take to ship the Packard over to your country. Was the Packard put into a container for shipping, and what did you have to do to unpack your new baby. Please give us details on the importation process of bringing a car into your country.

THANKS

John F. Shireman