Kev,

Like the shirt, but, especially like your valet.

My shirt's winging it's way across the Pacific now.

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Eric,

Looks like you were well on the way with 288 in the Star chassis all those years ago. I'm glad to see the pieces are falling into place with eBay making it's contributions. But I'm amazed at the "treasures" you've amassed over the years especially the diversity you've so far displayed! What more awaits revelation? Can't wait to see the Speedster when completed. It's development from concept to this stage has been exciting and it's future looks even more so.

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Brandon,

There's a pushbutton unit on eBay at the moment.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/50s-PACKARD-TRANSMISSION-PUSH-BUTTON-SELECTOR-RAT-ROD_W0QQitemZ360034416273QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item360034416273

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Tom,

That's great! Thanks for taking the time to help out.

Kev,

I had another look at the Unidentified Packard Photos and have identified some more, but not too many more, mostly 40's and 41's. I also see that Eric has identified the Speedster as a 1928!

Back to my previous identifications - I have put some pics of Pan-Am's in the 1952 year section when they should be in the Show and Concept Car section. Kev, can you correct this please?

AND - There are still plenty left requiring identification!

So let's do it! Use your areas of expertise, say V8's, Bathtubs or whatever and identify what's left.

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I could be running a close second!




But thanks to you Kev, without you this wouldn't be happening. I'm sure it's a source of personal pride and satisfaction that the Packardinfo site is growing and developing so strongly.


And thanks to all who have contibuted in any way to the site as the diversity of information, subject matter, publications, ideas and opinions, etc all go to making Packardinfo the success it is today.

Brandon,

Welcome to Packardinfo, I know it's somewhat belated as I've seen your other posts, but it's more for this Project Blog aspect. I'll be following with interest the progress on your Patrician.

Can I ask, as a 61yo old fogey, how did you become interested in your Packard or Packards in general? As a 20yo you're probably the youngest member of Packardinfo!

Wish you all the best with Pat. Don't forget to speak up, here or in the V8 Forum, as there's plenty of friendly and experienced Packard people here who are willing to help.

Thursday 20th March 2008

Did it again! Finished composing my post last night, Thursday here in Oz, then added a picture and then uploaded it and what happens - Lost it! Regular readers will know this is a familiar occurrence with me and I used to think I was either too trusting or much too naive. Now that it's happened again, I realise that actually I'm too long-winded with my posts and it times me out. And this time, in the resurrection of this post, it did it again! I wonder why, another long-winded post no doubt, but I did learn from last night and copied it before I previewed the post, Whew! After all, how could anyone have such a fascination with scraping the underside of a Packard and for so long at that! Looks like I'll have to find a new focus for my obsessive-compulsive behaviour in another Packard related task as this aspect is finally drawing to a close.

Further scraping was done of the engine, bell-housing, trans and aero-drive. Reason this is taking so long is the in-situ nature of the task with restrictions on access to these parts. Also found the same casting date on the left side of the engine, 3 28 41, as on the right side, good to know it's the same - LOL! Have already taken off generator and will de-mount distributor, starter and tail-shaft to finish this task and after scraping top of trans and other closely related parts through the trans floor plate cover will get to the cleaning phase. And thanks to you guys for your tips for this part of the operation but after talking with Wade he's suggested spaying on brake cleaner so I'll give that a go.

Among other matters I discussed with Wade were re-woodgraining the dashboard, which I rang Harvey about on Wednesday night. Harvey said he's snowed under with work and other matters at the moment but that he should be able to do it in about 3 to 4 weeks time. Reason I ran it past Wade was to get his input as to whether this would impact much on the re-assembly which WILL start soon! Wade was OK with the time-frame so I rang Harvey again and advised we'd go ahead and he suggested I follow-up Noel, the owner of the other 41 Coupe here in Oz, to see if his still has the colour and pattern on the dash for Harvey to use as a template, and this I'll do.

Another matter was the new wiring harness which arrived on Wednesday from Vintage Wiring Harness in Melbourne, and does it look good. Especially when compared to the ratty tatty perished original which they also returned, along with full tagging of the new harness and instructions and lists identifying the wires and their applications.

Still another matter was the front most manifold bolt had appeared to sheer when I removed the heat shield over the fuel pump. And was I relieved that it wasn't me who did it, as the age of the rust on the sheer indicated it was an old injury, but it is one more thing needing fixing.

Final '41 related matter taken up with Wade was the rust in the right front inner body panel. As Wade was going down to the panelbeaters to pick up the oil-filter for his '34 which had some dents removed, he said he talk to them about the '41's rust situation. As Wade tells it, he was talking to the former owner the old guy who started the business and drops in occasionally and the old guy said something like "It's no good talking to them(his son's mind you) about it, they wouldn't #$%^&*@ know what to do. I'll come down myself and have a look." So it looks like the rust repair aspect is in hand.

There was a further Packard related matter I took up with Wade, this time on behalf of Eric, aka Turbopackman, who is in the process of accumulating the pieces for his Packard Speedster project. Eric was after a period type Packard Gauge Plate and Gauges for the Project and it came to me that Wade has a '34 parts car for his '34 project and Wade told me last week he did still have the dash and gauges. So after speaking with Eric in the chatroom as to whether a '34 dash would suffice in lieu of his preferred '37 Super 8 I approached Wade about this subject. Although Wade was positive about the dash and gauges there was a BUT - He wouldn't part with the parts car pieces until his '34 was up and all the gauges in it had been checked out as OK. BUT - There was another but, being he also has a further Gauge Plate which Eric could have. When I asked how much he wanted for it, he said Eric could have it for nothing and added "wasn't that what we are here together for as Packard owners to help each other out"! Needless to say the Gauge Plate should now be winging it's way over the Pacific to Eric, who has voiced his thanks to Wade by email including the offer of amber refreshments should their paths cross!

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Wednesday 19th March 2008

Still more scraping. Finished the front frame rails and crossmembers and underbody. One thing I did find though, was more rust than I thought there was. It's just in one spot, at the right front bottom of the body shell where it curves back under the car. Knew there was one rust hole there but with more vigorous scraping in that area other smaller holes came through. There is also a lot of dirt inside that area so when it's cut out I'll clean it all out and de-rust before the patches are welded in place. I think it most likely happened from a leaking windscreen seal but the car has a new seal now so should be OK in the future.

Then onto the engine, started on the right side and to provide access to the block removed the generator. This type of scraping is different to that required for the frame and underbody. For one thing it's oily and greasy gunk of different consistencies from almost runny to hardened depending exposure to heat or continued exposure to oil. Found the casting date on the lower rear right side of the motor, being: 3 28 41.

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Ron,

As Willie Nelson says.....Back on the road again....

Happy Packard motoring!