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kev, I wanted to get a nice smooth finish and I found that the brush left stroke marks. The block is rougher finish and they didn't show but on the smooth head they did.

For awhile now I have not relied on any outside software (or its developers) for the Forums or any other part of the website. So the forum is safe from Upgrade Hell.

I took Open Source software, and modified for this website. If you were to download the latest open source version of this Forum, you would see that it wouldn't have Spell Check, or have the ability to jump to the newest message. Those were features I added myself.

The Model Info Pages, Parts X-Ref, and Owner Registry were custom written by me. All of the content was of course from you guys.

All of this was done to provide a unified login to the website, very little downtime, and only one throat to choke if there is a problem, mine. The only service blips I have really seen is when my ISP is having actual server or switching problems. But that is pretty rare.

When making any updates, I back up all the PHP files locally. Make the changes, and test. If something goes south, I simply put the backup PHP back in place. No harm, no foul. Most of the time, this is done in the late PM California time, so there are very few people online at that time.

The fact I am a Software developer by trade allows be to make beneficial improvements to the website without having to resort to major upgrades and the problems that come with them. Relying on outside software is a nightmare, so I feel for the people that have to.

So I would just use standard laquer thinner and either use a spray gun, or a reusable spray can?

Dave,

Was there a reason you Spray Painted the head instead of brush painting it?

A quart should be plenty. Agree about the small gun as it can be used for a multitude of things. Another option is something like this reusable thing from Harbor Freight. There are any number of other systems available also--a little more expensive but some with disposable pieces for no cleanup and others with canned air.

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BigKev -

I don't know how much paint is required for a Packard engine, but a friend easily went through 2-3 rattle cans on a Pontiac straight eight. Yet, a lot of the content of those rattle cans is wasted in thinner and propellant.

Since you have a compressor, why not invest in a little detail gun and thinner to spray your engine? I bet a quart of paint will be more than enough.

Perhaps others can chime in with their experience.

Kev, I used one quart of the Bill Hirsch paint to do my 356" engine. I had a local paint shop put some into a "rattle can" to do the head but I brush painted the block. I had just enough paint to do the whole engine with very little to spare. Brians idea about a detail spray gun is a great idea and I would go that route if I had to do it over again.

I am no webmaster, but while it may be inevitable that external links become dead-ends, broken internal links - even though they are within user posts - give the appearance of poor planning or simply not caring about the users. I'm no programmer, but I don't believe for a NY minute that situation couldn't have been avoided.

While the PackardInfo.com site has been up for less than two years, it has undergone some very substantial changesand revisions. There may have been some very short-lived blips in service, but I've seen no loss of data. No one's posts have been irretrievably deleted "by accident", either. BigKev must really move carefully and stay on top of things.

No wonder this online community has attracted nearly 250 registered users in such a short time - and with so little moderation.

Ahhh thanks. I see that just dont have the gray in Rattle Cans. That was the drop-down I was looking in. I guess I will be brushing the paint on.

Anyone have any ideas how much paint is required to paint a complete 327?

Boy... i can just FEEL the love. :)

The AACA forums are back to working as they should. The upgrade was painful, but neccessary. Migrating almost 600,000 posts were a bigger problem than I anticipated. I plan on making a few cosmetic changes still, but technically its back to normal.

Searches work
xref is 100% intact
etc.

Yup, the old url's are broken, unfortunately that is the cost of progress. Someday when BigKev has to update this site the same problems will occur. Hope treat him well when he does.

The new software will provide some additional features, faster searches, better editing, easier attachement features, more photo features, etc.

Enjoy.

Peter

P.S. J.S. - Maybe you should enjoy a beer now and again. May loosen the stick.