Re: New member saying hello
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Just popping in
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The roadster that Ross built (great work BTW) and the positive support that his fellow board members offered was the reason I stopped lurking and started posting.
I was worried at first my idea wouldn't go over well, I've read enough posts to understand that most everybody on this forum are fans of stock style restorations... which I totally respect. My plan, as best as I can lay it out for now (still all in my head): I want to use a pre-IFS chassis from a car that is otherwise un-restorable... do to a collision, body rust, etc. IIRC that means Pre-120 six cylinder cars and pre-1937 eights? I'm still not 100% up to speed on Packard model designations. I've found 2 cars in the last couple days in the $1500-2000 range that are just a couple years too new, but somebody aleady attacked them with Mustang II front ends. If I find a fairly complete car with some good extra parts, then I'll make sure they go to other cars that need them, not the trash. Although a later chassis would make for a better driving car, the beam front axle with leaf springs is an unmistakable feature of early racers and speedsters. I'd like to use a much stock running gear as possible, like 6v electrical, the generator, the chassis lubricator and the maybe even mechanical brakes... I read the '32 to '36 brakes were actually quite good. I've never worked on any of these early systems, which is why I am so fascinated by them. For the engine I was planning to use a 356, it has enough cubic inches to make decent power and seems to be fairly easy to obtain (I am nervous about the working on the crank though). I really have nothing against the earlier built up engines (man that aluminum crankcase is a work of art), but the big 385s seem to be difficult to find and expensive. Not planning on going crazy with the engine, just try to boost the compression a little, smooth out around the valves, maybe a reground cam, and custom intake and exhaust. I had originally planned to run a standard 3-speed trans, but the overdrives have piqued my interest... I'll have to try to learn more about them. The body: I might try to salvage the cowl if I find a more complete car. I definitely want to run an original radiator shell and some 20's drum headlamps. The rear of the body will be custom built around a wooden frame work, with some steel tubing worked in for safety. I consider some seatbelts a must (people drive crazy around here), so I'm planning on using something that resembles 30's airplane harnesses. I don't like the staggered seating you see on a lot of racers/speedsters... so I'm going to change that. The wheels: I'm a big fan a wire wheels, but I just "discovered" those cool "disc" steel wheels and wouldn't mind a set of those either. Hoping to run a little larger tire than stock for a little extra grip. Haven't decided on a color yet, but I know it will be a factory Packard color. What do you guys think?
Posted on: 2015/3/12 21:26
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New member saying hello
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Just popping in
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Hi guys,
Just wanted to take a minute to say hello to everybody. My name is Chase and I just joined the forum a couple days ago after lurking the past few weeks. I was drawn to the forum by my love of engines... I've always been fascinated by them, especially odd, or at least, non-mainstream ones. I've been spinning wrenches on various car muscle car projects for the last 15 years... half my life, and I finally reached a burn out point. So I started thinking about the cars that first caught my interest as a child, cars from the 20's and 30's. I'd never given much thought to owning one as never felt comfortable with the thought of driving one in modern traffic. So I decided to build myself a car that looked old but has some modern upgrades for safety. I had my plan, so I starting thinking engines... no way would I run SBC, and a Ford Flat Head wouldn't do either, then I decided on a straight eight. Researching inline 8's led me to the best ones ever made, which led me here . I've been reading as much as can trying to learn all things Packard, and I must say my goals for the project have changed. I no longer want to build some run of the mill Hot Rod with a unique engine... I want to build an elegant speester, one that uses as many well-engineered Packard parts as I can. If can find a suitable (meaning otherwise non-restorable) car to start with, I have no doubt I can really build something special.
Posted on: 2015/3/11 23:36
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