Quote:

John,

Thanks for your concern re Wade's oil filter/cooler conversion and the hose and fittings utilised in the process. There are at least 2 things which mitigate against this, being Wade's many years experience in the aircraft industry and his utilisation of Pirtek, a major hydraulics company here, for advice, supply and installation of some of the fittings. I'll refer your post to Wade of course and I'm sure he'll take your concerns on board.

Tuesday 17th June 2008

After my earlier post today received a call from Dave of JJ Smith Radiators at St Peters, an inner southern suburb of Sydney, to let me know the '41's radiator overhaul was done. So after dropping my wife at her sister's for the day at Rouse Hill, which is an outer north-western suburb, backtracked to St Peters and picked up the radiator. Dave said that the major work to the radiator entailed fixing a crack in the top tank, a core leak in a lower corner and the overflow tube was blocked, as well there was relatively little sediment in it. One of the reasons that Wade suggested having it overhauled was because of the overflow tube was crimped and he thought there could well be a blockage there, so chalk another one up for Wade. As the pic shows there is surface flattening to the fins but there were no leaks, as evidenced by the pressure testing undertaken, and the flattening is purely surface and cosmetic damage. I'm glad it didn't have to be recored as the cost then would have been much much more, and all this at a cost of AU$150.00, about US$137.00, and Dave even threw in a new 4&1/2lb cap when I said I needed one. He mentioned that he likes to look after the "resto" guys and he's certainly doing that, Dave's one of the good guys.

On my way back home went to the workshop to drop off the radiator and at first thought Wade wasn't there. But after depositing the radiator found him, along with Barry and David, two other members of the Packard club sitting in the office chewing the fat. Barry's the guy who I met when I went to see the '41 after it first arrived in Oz and he was there picking up his '51 Convertible. Tells me that he's now got his 327 9 main and the O/D trans back and they are ready to be put into the car. He says the next job is to install the new floor pans he got in the US a couple of months ago. He's picking them up tonight, from Belmont(about 80 miles north of Sydney) from the guy who imported our cars, on his way home to Tamworth(about 300 miles north-west and inland from Sydney). This was the first time I'd met David, who's from Wauchope(about 300 miles north of Sydney near the coast), he's got a '29 626 Sedan, '34 1101 Coupe and a '36 7 Pass Sedan. After showing Barry how to do a reply to a post in Packardinfo, something about the blind leading the blind comes to mind, he's set to unleash himself on the Forums and has a wealth of Packard knowledge to share. I then got into David's ear about joining the Site and putting his car's into the Owner Registry at least. Also got on to Barry's case about the same subject. All in all a very enjoyable half hour was spent with these blokes before they departed.

Quote:

And Dave,

Got your post up on-screen for Wade when at the workshop and he assures us that all is OK with the ID of the fittings, etc being used. Again, for your concern

Attach file:

---

  (21.37 KB)


  (27.45 KB)

Quote:

Dave,

Wade, the guy helping me with my '41 Coupe, is doing this conversion for his '34 restoration and is thorough, experienced and particular in his approach to solving problems or in this case engineering a solution for the oil filter he's fitting. So I would think he's already addressed the concerns you've raised. He also reads the posts here from time to time, but irrespective I'll raise these matters with him so that he is conversant with the matters you've raised. Thanks for your concern, it's much appreciated, as I can see you're looking to avoid what could turn out to be a catastrophe.

Tuesday 17th June 2008

Woke this morning to find that Forum member Turbopackman had forwarded an eBay listing of a Lower Transmission Stabilizer Rod which I require because the left hand threaded section on mine has snapped off. Thanks Eric. We now won't have to pursue Wade's proposed fix which he was talking about just yesterday, what a co-incidence!

And while I'm here, a couple of things I forgot to mention in recent posts. Thursday last week, on his return from the Border Run to Berri, Wade arrived with a Gel type battery for the '41 which came via another Packard club member from Melbourne, Victoria. And on Friday I dropped into Lee Bros, the specialist fastener supplier, and picked up some copper sump plug washers.

Also this morning another Forum member, Heather Moss, had emailed me some pic's from the Border Run including her '39 Super 8 and ANOTHER '41 Coupe. I note there are a few external differences compared to my '41, notably the front bumper and the lack of running boards. I will make contact with the owner, as another '41 coupe owner to satisfy my curiosity concerning these features, and just to talk "Packards".

Attach file:

---

  (5.30 KB)


  (33.03 KB)


  (56.50 KB)

Monday 16th June 2008

After donating plasma at the blood bank earlier arrived at the workshop late morning to find that Wade wasn't there. Further cleaned up the engine prior to painting and wired up the smaller parts in preparation. Then rang Wade to find he was literally overhead having just arrived at the carpark on the roof of the workshop. He'd been to Pirtek, a hydraulic hose specialist, sourcing parts for the '34's oil filter conversion. Took a number of pic's of the oil filter parts and setup today and will post these along with a description of the setup in the near future.

Proceeded then to mix the Packard Green paint and hardener for the engine and parts requiring painting and applied a coat by brush, leaving the old spark plugs in place. The engine painting is going to be done in a number of steps because I'm now going to remove the timing cover and tappet side covers and paint these separately. I'll also paint the sump separately as it is currently resting on the blocks which gave clearance for removal of the steering crank pin. Once the steering crank pin is re-installed, and the new front engine mount rubbers are installed then the sump will be done. After the engine and related parts were finished more parts were wired up and POR-15'd black.

I had hoped to add a surprise here as a photographer arrived at the workshop soon after I did and told me he was expecting up to 12 young women to arrive shortly for shots to add to their portfolios as aspiring models. Well we waited, and waited, and waited and I was ready to drop my paintbrush at a moments notice and become a photographer myself, all for the sake of art of course. They were going to use Wade's Super 8 as a prop as well as a Harley chopper that had arrived. But all to no avail as apart from one young lady who arrived early in the piece and left soon after nary a one was sighted. And at this point I was going to show you the pic's of the girls doing their posing. But never fear, if the young ladies do appear at some future date I'll take and post pic's of the event.

Attach file:

---

  (31.92 KB)


  (28.25 KB)

Quote:

Dan,

Message received.

Bought one recently off eBay for US$177.50 and added to that had to pay US$38.00 to ship it down-under, Total US$215.50 = AU$230.65. And very recently another one went for a similar price. Haven't had the original antennae off my '41 yet, although it looks reasonable, because of other things being worked on. But it is more rotary than it should be, so I've bought one for "insurance" while I could (they don't come up that often). Anyway, once my antennae is sorted out, in a couple of months after the rest of the car is up and running, I'll keep you in mind with what's leftover if the parts are in reasonable shape.

Over and out from "Down-under".

Thursday 12th June 2008

Half a day at the workshop this morning and had only been there about 1/2 an hour when Wade arrived. He and Gina had arrived back from the Border Run rally to Berri yesterday and Wade was there to clean up the Super 8. However Wade hadn't been at the workshop long when Gina rang to say her Celica wouldn't start, apparently the battery drains if left sitting for a week or more, so Wade rode to the rescue returning later once Gina was back on the road.

While Wade was out I was Marine Cleaning the engine and more engine compartment bits. Then when Wade returned he started on pressing out the old bushing from the steering crank arm which took a little persuasion in the press but finally came out after the direction of push on the bush was reversed. Some comparisons with the old parts were then made to ensure we had the right pieces and all checked out OK. Wade honed out the steering crank and the new bush slid in without a worry. And while this was going on I proceeded to Metal Ready the engine and the other bits. All prep work finished now and ready for paint, probably early Saturday morning.

While washing down the engine after the Marine Clean a guy named Peter came over and we started chin wagging as you do. Seems he's known Rick for a long time and was getting Rick to fix a problem with his Mazda MX5, bought it new and says he'll keep it till he dies. Also mentioned some other cars he's owned including MGB, E-Type Jaguar(like most former E-Type owners didn't have one good word to say about it) and a Ferrari Daytona! He'd also gone for a drive in a new Jag recently and wasn't impressed at all either. Plenty of interesting people are in and out of the workshop all the time.

A word too about the Rally, haven't heard much yet from Wade but will catch up on that in the next few days. And if he's got some pic's I'll include those or a link to an album for all to see. There were 26 cars with all but 2 of these being Packards, so a very good roll up, with the 2 non Packards being Cad-La Salles.

Attach file:

---

  (36.73 KB)

Wednesday 11th June 2008

Couple of hours at the workshop mainly scraping and wire brushing the head and block in preparation for painting. Also took off the breather pipe at the back of the engine and cleaned it too. It's no fun cleaning things while they are still in the car but circumstances dictate what can and can't be done at times. And now for a bit of R & R, we're off to visit the granddaughters this afternoon.

Tuesday 10th June 2008

Before heading to the workshop this morning a courier delivered the steering crank pin kit I bought off eBay recently. I'm still amazed that when I needed this item that one popped up on eBay, it's like deja vu all over again! The kit is good, including the "Belleville Washer" Peter, only drawback was the price US104.49 but I couldn't wait around so had to buy it.

On the way to the workshop dropped in to see Sam and Ivan, and Sam was able to weld the broken oil filter bracket for me. And this time I didn't go empty handed and was able to leave them a dozen bottles of "Pure Blond" beer as a thankyou for their help over the last few months'

At the workshop, first tidied up Saturdays painted items taking them off the wire most had been strung from and cleaning up any overpaint of POR-15 on inappropriate surfaces. Then drained the oil from the engine. Next, into the engine compartment disassembling the horns and horn bracket and the cross engine throttle linkage. These items, including bolts and brackets, were cleaned on the bench grinder wire brush in preparation for painting later this week.

And on arriving home found there was a small parcel in the letterbox from Packards1. I've bought a Gas door spring on eBay that the '41 was missing, thanks Joel.

Attach file:

---

  (24.28 KB)


  (22.50 KB)


  (26.46 KB)


  (35.67 KB)

Quote:

Kev,

I can't find a Project Blog for Owen_Dyneto, could you mean Randy Berger's?