Thanks. This sounds like a good thing.

I've got to get serious now and get the Packard together. I bought a guys micro cars and a truck load of parts - my shop is going to get real full real quick!

Back on track again. My wife is doing fine, I don't have to be full time caretaker now so I get to slip off and mess with the Packard from time to time.

Was cleaning it up to paint and for some reason put a wrench on it and turned it over - opps - wouldn't go all the way. Pulled the head and it appears thatsome of the heavy carbon build up worked loose and was stopping one or two pistons from going over the top.

Cleaned it all out, found there were standard pistons with nearly no ring ridge, which is consistant with the 29K miles we thought was on it. That and the timing chain with no play at all says it is as we thought.

Got it back together this afternoon and painted it. Looking good.

I do have a question. Pictured is the serial number. Is there any significance to the "CE" at the end of the motor number?

Attach file:

---

  (39.31 KB)


  (39.74 KB)

He said they sell several a week, so it must be a heck of a big stock!

Called Max Merrit this morning. They have the Throwout bearing, which they are certain will fit my carrier. Not the $20 to $30 I've paid for throwout bearings in the past, but at $90, certainly cheaper. They also have the spring which I'm certain I stretched before I realized it was attached to the transmission. They are on the way. Should be the next to last thing I need to get her all in tip top shape. Last item? Time!

Since there is nothing of that size listed in the trade books, I was curious where they get the non-existent bearings. They claim there are still suppliers, and some are NOS. Guess I'll know more in a couple days.

Thanks very much for the pointer to Max Merrit. Looks to be a great supply source.

Actually, Kanter has a solution, $149 exchange. I assume they machine the carrier and recycle. I guess I'll go with them if nothing else shows up. Just pains me to pay $150 for a $20 part. Pay to play, huh?

I don't know who Max is.

I'm not having the best of luck finding a new throwout bearing for my 48 Club Coupe, sn 2275XXXX. Old bearing was a BCA 1686-1. Bearing house tells me the equal to it by others is not made any longer.

Sounds like my choice is to machine the carrier to fit another to it, or made a spacer to fit another.

What has anyone else done?

Parts from "Then and Now" showed up, including those studs, radiator hoses, fuel hose to fuel pump (all correct), fuel pump and carb kits (look correct), pan and manifold gaskets.

Wife came down with a medical issue we will be dealing with full time for a while, so it'll be a bit before I get to assemble this pile of stuff.

I bought a set of Calli wide white wall tires in 235 75 15, 4" whitewall. I have them, they look good, but time will tell more when I get them on the road. They are similar to Diamondback, but about 60% of the cost. I guess I'm the Guinea pig, I couldn't find anyone who has tried them.

I have been happy with the Diamondbacks I put on my Desoto Airflow, but $700 for a set delivered is better than $1100 for a set delivered.

After I get them on the road I'll report back. My plan is to mount them tubeless on freshly sandblasted and painted rims.

After doing several google searches using various terms and finding nothing, that was my take. But I've been wrong before, so I figured it was prudent to ask wiser sources.

I have a big cut in my cheek right now from the little crowbar I was using as a tire iron slipped and sprung out at me. So, I do screw up occasionally. Gave my wife plenty of fodder to rag on me on Facebook, but I now will get no flak when I go buy propper tire irons! There is a silver lining in most things.

First coat of paint is on the wheels, in a few minutes they will get the second coat.

I'll have to admit I never heard of them. Google search came up with the patent for Firestone, which didn't help much. Also, explained the "safety tubes" in the "Hot Rod Lincoln" song, but they were referring to tube shocks.

Please tell me more - I'll be mounting new radials later this week. Even my 1940 Dodge has safety rims, so it's never come up before.