There have been several very informative articles on White House Packards in the PAC magazine The Cormorant over the years, in particular I recall a few by Chuck Flinchbaugh who is a bit of a historian on this topic. Some of the photos he used have been seen before but there was one that was new to me and I'll try to see if I can find it and post it here later, it's FDR emerging from a 41 or 42 limo, at the Lincoln Memorial I believe. What caught my eye on this photo was the scuffed and blackened front right whitewall tire, no doubt the result of the chauffeur trying to get as close as possible to curbs to easy FDR's exit and entry.

My knowledge of Presidential Packards has been enhanced tremendously having previously been solely from my recall of ancient newspaper photographs. In my old age, "My memory is like a steel trap; rusty and full of mice."

Peter, i've often wondered about that.
The Germans pronounce the letter "W" like the english letter "V" then how do they pronounce the letter "V" itself??? Like an english "W" maybe???

And if that is the case, then how did the English manage to get it backwards???

I don't think that the gasket is important and leaving it out would not be any harm for the reasons you state. If the mating surfaces are clean and fit tight a gasket is probably not necessary.

Thanks again for all the response. What I'm thinking is because there was not anything between the break backing plate and the axel housing except the bearing shim I will put it back together without a gasket on either side of the shim. Seems to me that with a new inner axel shaft seal very little if any gear lube will make it to the bearing much less leak out the other side. Even if it did leak it would leak down the back side of the backing plate and not on the breaks. On the surface that seems like a strange rationalization but I'm just not sure what to do. Considering what the shim is there for it may be a mistake to put a gasket on either side of it. On the break side of the backing plate the position of the gaskets is clear. Any last help before I commit to leaving the inner gaskets out?

Re: Venting - no problem on being a messenger, it just that getting rod bearings for this project has been an ordeal.

Peter, Since you were the one who raised the topic of RHD Packard 12's I would be curious to know what YOU were inbibing if not beer?

I know how the thing got its name...see...some German guy who had a '42 180, was driving around in Russia.. came upon the Russian car...said...."VAS IS ZISS ?"

hmmm....all this talk about beer drinking...may I assume the idea of a RIGHT hand drive Packard Twelve, came from, and is limited to the end result of a night of too much of the stuff, and that in fact, my suspicion that there is NO SUCH THING in the real world, is correct ?

Seriously, thanks for the info. about Aussie vehicle laws. I did not know that it is possible to legally drive LEFT hand drive vehicles in Australia (apparently under limited circumstances).

That is why I was puzzled at seeing the photo of what appears to be a '39 Twelve in an Australian collection. I was aware, as I noted above, that EIGHT cyl. Packards delivered to (or later shipped to) Australia have RIGHT hand drive kits installed.

So - thanks, guys, for straightening me out on this -

What with all the great Canadian beers I don't usually drink Fosters either. Years ago when I considered myself a beer connesseur of fine brews and hearing such god things about Coors I drove my motorcycle 800 miles to Colorado to find some Coors since it wasn't sold east of the Mississippi River at the time. In a bar in Loveland I asked a barmaid about Coors and she answered "All the serious beer drinkers around here drink Budwieser." Oz is in my "bucket list". Don't know when I'll get down under but someday.