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Hi Mal!

Every week I read the OZ Packard story here in Souf Afffrika!

Keep at it and regards.

Greetings to all the Packard guys there!

Barrie

Mal, would it have been possible to remove the front valve cover and set No. 1 for the position of the tappets and pointer on flywheel? Just a little "Monday Morning Quaterbacking" as we say here in the States. Enjoy the posts, keep them coming.

(o[]o)

Wednesday 2nd May 2012

Arrived at the workshop in my '41 120 Club Coupe, but more of that later. Didn't get there Monday or yesterday because of our daughter and grand-daughter/s commanding my attention those days. In my absence Wade had taken up Big Red's crankcase, crankshaft and connecting rods as well as the two 426 water pumps to DavidM. At David's they were loaded into the Maxwells trailer for the trip to Tamworth at the end of the week. Wade had also been working on The Fossil! Yes, he'd assembled the windscreen wiper arms making new springs to fit. Has also sent an email to Ficken about wiper blades and is waiting to hear back about that. Steve, the panelbeater, has also been in and taken away the bonnet(hood) panel he's been working on. Apparently it should be back by the end of the week, all straight with new paint. The other thing Wade spent time on was Big Red's block. With his aversion to anything that leaks, and the water jacket side plate was one such animal, Wade was determined to fix it once and for all. Currently most of the bolt holes have been helicoiled, along with sealer, but still there were leaks. So all the bolts and helicoils came out and that was fine but, when examining the block afterwards, Wade found one of the sleeves had shifted! It had moved up a little in the block! When the oil was drained there were traces of water in the oil so maybe that's how it got there? Upshot of this further setback was Wade talking to Harvey who, good guy that he is, has donated a spare block! Also learned that Noel had been over to show Wade the new radio head for Fleurette, but it doesn't fit! Not to worry, apparently there will be still another one winging its way from the US real soon courtesy of another PackardInfo member. Noel has also prevailed upon Wade to re-assemble the engine for his '41 160 Club Coupe. So it looks like Wade will be doing a lot of engine work in the coming months.

But before going over to Harvey's to pick up the block there were some minor '41 Coupe issues to attend to. Why? Because Wade and Gina are going to Tamworth in the Coupe seeing that Big Red is out of commission. Barry Smith, from Tamworth, is having his two Packards on display along with two from DavidH from Wauchope and Big Red was going to round out the Packard display to five, DavidM's 1912 Maxwell will be one of about five pre WW1 on display which participated in the recent 2012 Expedition Across Australia. But one thing I'd noticed about a week ago on the Coupe was that the sound deadening material on the underside of the air cleaner top was being sucked towards the carburettor throats. I think it's doing that because the paper filter element I'm using is thinner than the original wire filled element. Consequently there's nothing to hold the material against the underside of the top when installed. Mentioned the problem to Wade who came up with a quick fix of cutting a circle of thin rubber to fit inside the cover with a small hole in the centre for the stud to pass through. Cut and massaged the circle of rubber to fit then a coat of contact adhesive to the underside of the cover and upper side of rubber, and hey presto, no more sound deadening sag! After re-installing the air cleaner top then did a vehicle lights check. Found the front left turn indicator bulb was fritzed so a replacement was installed. Now all lights work as they should.

Coupe taken care of, it was then off to Harvey's to pick up the block. On the way there dropped into Classic Vee-Dub at Rydalmere which Harvey had recommended to Wade. Reason being, they stock 3 pin 6V flasher cans, one of which Wade needs for The Fossil. And here's a little snippet, apparently the 3 pin flasher is for 356 Porsches. Then Hare & Forbes for some consumables for the bench grinder and wire wheel. Then onto Harvey's where under the house was the prize we'd come for, the block. So with Wade fully under the house, only about 3' of headroom available, and me down on my knees at the entrance we dragged, pushed and pulled the block out. From there onto a trolley then into the back of the Ute. Then lunch, despite our protestations. Well, we said no at least once. Carol made us a nice ham, cheese and tomato sandwich each and a cup of tea for me and coffee for Wade. Delicious too, have to do that more often, turn up at lunchtime!

Back at the workshop, unloaded the block, and commenced to examine it in detail. All valves still in, pistons and rods still in #1 and #3, lots of rust around valves and a quick check of the bore size revealing it looks std. Getting the pistons out was quite an exercise calling for a liberal application of brute force to hammer #3 out with wooden blocks, a large hammer, some penetrant/lubricant and some choice words. #1 was even tougher, not helped by the wooden blocks disintegrating from the repeated hammer blows, the chips were flying! With #1 almost at the bottom of the bore, and only a handful of splinters left, turned instead to some of the large round steel discs used as aids with the hydraulic press. They did the trick. Then removed the water jacket side cover, most of the bolts snapped off although some did screw out, with the internal baffle mostly disintegrated into a rusty mess. Cleaned it out and it looks reasonable in there but only a good hot tanking and subsequent inspection, including wall thickness checks, will confirm its viability. But by starting with an unbored block hopefully there will be enough meat for an overbore.

Wade is leaving early Thursday morning for the trip to Tamworth while DavidM is leaving Friday morning. Good clubman that he is, David will be attending PACA's Committee meeting on Thursday evening. Meanwhile, while those two are in Tamworth, other PACA Sydney based members will be going on a run to a visit relatively new PACA member, AndrewB, and his garage on Sunday. Andrew has a '40 160 Club Coupe and a '31 833 Coupe as well as many other collector cars, many of them early Fords. We'll also be catching up with Starliner, Chris, whose 48 Packard Woodie project is in a workshop across the driveway from AndrewB's. Unfortunately I had received an email earlier in the week from Wendy, Emily's Mum, that they couldn't make the Packard run on Sunday because of other commitments. So the necessity to get Emily up and running in time for the run dissipated. Because of that, instead of going over to re-time Emily today and install Junior's donor distributor that'll be done after Wade returns from Tamworth. Wade already has the rebuilt vacuum advance back and should have the tune up kit from the US by then too. So Juniors distributor fix probably won't be required as Emily's distributor should be good to go back in.

Quote:John,

No doubt possible but time and labour intensive. Instead Wade is going to pull #1 plug and find TDC that way. Speaking of which, we would have done that last time but someone(moi?) forgot to pack the plug socket!

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Mal, it's nice to see some work progressing on the Fossil, even if it is only bits and pieces. I'm pleased to see that the Fossil has not been forgotten!

Tuesday 8th May 2012

On my way to the workshop in the early afternoon after a grand-daughter visit in the morning mainly to give Misty, the shop dog a bone, when I received a call from Wade. He was there! Hadn't expected that as he was due to return today from Tamworth. Instead he and Gina had returned yesterday after a very enjoyable weekend away. The Coupe had run well with no real dramas just some "noises" at times when engaging OD and Wade jamming up the column change once. At Tamworth the five Packards on show comprised a '34 1101 Coupe, '36 1402 7 Passenger Sedan, '38 Twelve Club Sedan, '41 120 Club Coupe and '51 Convertible and were featured in a star shaped display. DavidM had also made the trip up but, instead of a Packard, had brought along his '12 Maxwell that recently completed the 2012 Expedition Across Australia a 4,000 km journey that recreated the first West->East crossing in 1912. David's Maxwell was displayed along with some other expedition entries as another feature piece of the Show. Many other cars were on show including Hot Rods, Muscle Cars, Antiques, Classics as well as modern cars in dealer displays. PACA members were successful with DavidM's Maxwell garnering the Vintage trophy and DavidH's '36 1402 7 Passenger Sedan the Veteran trophy.

Meanwhile, Sydney based PACA members had an event of their own last Sunday. A run to view member AndrewB's car collection. Andrew had bought a '40 160 Coupe about 2 years ago and had joined PACA soon thereafter. Then later that year I went to see the work being done on Starliner's, ChrisR, '48 Coupe to convert it into a Woodie. When I arrived Chris said would I like to see another Packard Coupe besides the '48, which turned out to be Andrew's Coupe. Besides the Packard Coupe Andrew had two large industrial units full of old cars, mostly Fords, from 1904 up. So on Sunday we were able to first view the Woodie then onto Andrews where we saw some of his collection. Apparently has about 65 cars now. We wouldn't have seen half of them with the rest in yet another industrial unit. Andrew has also acquired a very nice '31 833 Coupe, an older restoration. Beautiful. One of the runs attendees was packard34, Mat, in his '55 Caribbean. Finally back on the road after, I think, almost 2 years off. Mat only picked up the Caribbean a few days beforehand but since then, because he lives about 200 miles west of Sydney, has put some miles on it. Not without mishap though, battery not charging, flat tyre and T/L misbehaving, but not enough to stop Mat. Returning from the run I was able to drive Fleurette and can report she's running well with the trans and OD performing flawlessly. Also dropped in a spigot shaft to Harvey so he can put the trans back in his bosses '39 110 Coupe.

Meanwhile Wade tells me Barry's engine builder had a chance to look at Big Red's crank and rods on Sunday morning but because he wasn't at his shop didn't have all the necessary equipment. One thing he found, with the equipment he did have, was that a number of the crank's big end journals were tapered by about 0.0025"! Previous crankshaft grinder didn't do a good job! Investigation, measurement and inspection will continue. But speaking of engines, Noel's is bringing over his '41 356 engine to the workshop tomorrow. It's been disassembled and Wade will reassemble it for Noel so it can go into the '41 chassis when done.

And another unrelated item. A few days ago noticed there was a new member logged in with a Forum name of LJJ. So what? Well digging a little deeper I found LJJ is from Broken Hill. Again, so what? Well Broken Hill is a little bit further West than where Mat is, but only about another 500 miles, so another Aussie! With that, having no inhibitions where Packards and Aussies are concerned I shot off a PM to LJJ. Welcomed him aboard as another Aussie, enquired if he had a Packard and if he was a member of PACA and gave a couple of reply options PM, Email or Cell phone. Received a call early this evening from Lyndon(hope that's how it's spelled?) in response. He's on the lookout to buy a Packard, preferring a '38/'39 Six/110 Sedan with TJ Richards body so he can haul the family around. Has looked at a '39 110 in Adelaide, relatively close to Broken Hill only about 350 miles, but the seller wants a lot so Lyndon's still looking. And yes Pepe, I did mention BillB's '48 Sedan was still looking for a new home. Lyndon does have a Packard pedigree with his grandfather, a former PACA member, restoring a 426 Roadster with a body found in the '60's that had been through a bushfire. Grandfather also has a '30's and a '50's Packard. Lyndon is going to join PACA, so if anyone knows of a good '38/'39 Six/110 Sedan with TJ Richards body at a realistic price Lyndon would be interested I'm sure.

Link to pic's of Sunday's PACA run

Link to pic's of Tamworth Car Show pic's courtesy of Wade. Yes, he does know how to use a camera!

Link to Facebook page of Camden County Customs. Contains their pic's from Sunday's run.

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Thanks for the #s on the coupe. A very early 1931 car, both by VN and by body dash number.

Thanks for the welcome Mal.

Cheers
Lyndon

Wednesday 9th May 2012

With Noel and friend Les due to arrive later in the morning with the 356 engine from Noel's Coupe started on further dis-assembly of components off the likely replacement block for Big Red. Began with the valves, valve springs and cam followers/tappets. Many of the valves are stuck through age which was compounded by the effects of rust. A few valves came out easily, but not many. Most required force, to lesser or greater degrees, to get components to move for the dis-assembly process. Lets just say that penetrant, hammers, drifts, crowbars and, at times, colourful language were the most used factors in this process.

During the above process Noel and Les arrived with the mainly assembled 356 block, timing chain and crank sprocket, distributor, oil pump, water pump, timing case cover and assorted fasteners. Brief is to check out the components, address any issues and assemble once all is OK. First thing Wade noted, and verified later, was that the vacuum advance on the distributor probably needed rebuilding. It'll now go off to the guy up north who will probably have it back in Wade's hands by mid next week. Distributor will be gone through, likewise the oil pump, the timing chain and gears checked, etc, etc. Didn't get the flywheel with engine but now Wade is thinking it would be better to include it in the assembly process. Also it appears we are short some of the nuts and bolts so Noel will need to round those up. Just as well Noel said he's coming back in the next few days! Wade was also able to show The Fossil, and the work being done on it, to Les. This is because Les has two '33 1001 Sedans (with consecutive VIN's) amongst his collection, '33's and '34's being similar beasts.

Also received word from Noel that I would be welcome to attend the arrival of Peter Packard's '38 Twelve per Post #3 of this thread. So I will have to miss a day at the workshop next week for that auspicious occasion.

Quote:Lyndon,

Least I can do for another Aussie.

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Thursday 10th May 2012

While waiting for parts for Noel's 356, information on Big Red's crank and rods and the bonnet(hood) panel for The Fossil to return, turned to Big Red's front suspension which requires attention. Despite new king pins and bushes about two years ago the left front is now worn and needs to be replaced. The right will also be done even though it appears to be OK. Likewise the upper suspension bushes will also be replaced even though they too were replaced at the same time as the kingpins! The present upper bushes are two piece rubbers complete with a rubber collar/flange at each end and encase a metal tube on which the upper suspension bolt to the shock arm pivots, see pic. The rubbers are worn out already! However the replacement upper suspension bushes appear to be of a superior design to the ones being replaced. The new bushes have a steel outer encasing the rubber and the inner metal tube.

Before starting on Big Red Wade had a call from Barry who was at his engine builders. The engine builder had put Big Red's crank on his balancing machine and it was waaay, waaay out. To correct it now required weight to be removed exactly opposite from where weight had been removed by the previous balancer! They really stuffed things up! Who "they" are has been disclosed previously in the 100+ pages of this Blog. So for those who want to know, happy reading! Wade also had a call from RobT about the woes which are befalling him and the restored steering wheel he's fitting to his '40 110 Convertible Coupe. The first fitting of the steering wheel, restored by Noel's mate Tony, found the horn emblem not straight ahead. In a number of attempts involving glues and araldite to fix that and fix the fixes success has been somewhat elusive. But I'm sure Rob will find a solution sooner rather than later. Also a call from Noel, although he'll be in tomorrow I won't be as I have an appointment to donate blood plasma.

But back to Big Red. Left front king pin came out without a problem. Pity the same couldn't be said for the upper suspension bushing. Because the engine is out and Big Red is up on the hoist the upper suspension bump stop is bottomed out. Tried John's spring compressors which worked somewhat but not enough. Turned to Rick but the spring compressors he had had been scrap binned last week, one had given up the ghost. However retrieval from the bin and close inspection by Wade revealed 2 new nuts each would fix both! 5/8" NC nuts to be precise and not something Wade carries in stock. Thinking I could have some at home departed on a mission of mercy but also with a back up plan. Just as well, no nuts, so on to Lee Bros and back to the workshop. With new nuts there was still no joy, even using one of John's compressors combined with two of Rick's! But John had another idea, use a SPT. A SPT? Yes, a Special Packard Tool, in this case a comealong! Maybe not what the factory would have recommended but....it did the job. Hardest part was working out how to mount it to provide pull in the right direction while securing it adequately. After a number of attempts, and head scratchings, found that the front frame horn provided a reasonable mounting site with the cable looped around the back of the shock body. Old suspension bushing out now to get the new one in. Wade used a length of threaded rod, a pair of sockets, some large washers and tightened it up. Well it did until the new bush was about half way in then it wouldn't move any further. However once again John came to the rescue. He uses a similar setup for Subaru suspension bushes and lent us most of the parts from his setup and, Voila, bush inserted. Then to the king pin bushes. Pushed out the old bushes, steel backed bronze and pushed in the new bushes, all bronze. But before reaming the bushes to fit drilled out the grease hole in the bush. Wade was then able to use the set of reamers he'd bought last year and carefully reamed each bush to fit ensuring alignment was maintained while doing so. During all this a care package arrived from Max. Contained an engine gasket set for Big Red, bloody expensive, a front engine mount and one exhaust valve for Big Red, a number plate bracket and fittings for The Fossil, a distributor tune up kit for Emily and some tie rod end rubbers for Noel.

Also had a call from Pepepackard while I was typing this for the third time after I "lost" two earlier attempts! Fred had seen my reference to LJJ, Lyndon, looking for '38/39 Six/110 Sedans and mentionedthis one which had just come up on Aussie eBay. And another, a '39 110 with floor shift and OD from a late PACA member which is now for sale. Never know, Lyndon might have success through PackardInfo in his search for a Packard.

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Monday 14th May 2012

Didn't make it to the workshop until late morning, but more of that later. When I did arrive found Wade working on Emily's distributor. The "tune-up kit" had arrived last week and it was time to marry the two together. Wade told me that on taking the plate out of the distributor body he found the centrifugal advance mechanism full of grease and not working. Not so now, it's been cleaned and properly lubricated. What was now concerning him were the points. The points in the tune-up kit are completely different from those in the distributor and don't interchange. Because I had a couple of different sets of points, purchased a few years ago on a whim, I went home and brought them back just in case they fitted. They didn't, couldn't be that easy. Instead, Wade lightly used a points file to dress the points. Then the distributor was re-assembled including new rotor, condensor and cap, the rehabilitated points set and the rebuilt vacuum advance. Wade now needs to arrange a date and time for Emily to be re-united with her distributor.

That done, turned to Noel's 356 re-assembly. Last Friday Noel had brought over the flywheel, pressure and clutch plates, tappet covers, miscellaneous nuts and bolts, etc. In the meantime Wade had found 3 flywheel bolts to complement the 3 the 356 came with and also found 6 bolts for securing the bell housing to the block. So first step was to bolt the bell housing to the block. Next was the flywheel, which although it had been surfaced had a light coating of surface rust. But before progressing further needed to determine where the flywheel and pressure plate were marked so they could be assembled correctly. And yes there was a faint mark on both the pressure plate and the flywheel. But to be on the safe side more prominent marks were also punched into the pressure plate and flywheel. No marks to indicate how the flywheel should be orientated to the crankshaft but further examination revealed the unique bolt pattern that only allows the flywheel to be mounted in one position. Cleaned up the flywheel, now nice and bright and shiny. Bloody heavy things those 356 flywheels, helped a lot by having the block on the bench, can only imagine how difficult it would be to try to do this undercar. Took a number of attempts, quite a lot in fact, trying to turn the flywheel on the crank before getting the holes to align, bolted up and the ears of the lock tabs turned up against the bolt heads. The new pilot bearing was then tapped into the crank. Next was the clutch and pressure plate, but not having a spigot to suit for alignment purposes will be postponed until tomorrow. Instead 6 shouldered bolts were scrounged from Wade's "stock" and will be used to secure the pressure plate to the flywheel. So far I don't think the miscellaneous nuts and bolts have yielded anything to assist in re-assembling the 356. But Wade did find a '41 parking light lens in amongst the stuff, maybe it was missing and Noel didn't know it was? It's been put aside, just in case.

Last Friday Wade had completed the left front king pin reaming for Big Red and re-installed the stub axle and the brakes. And today Wade had received a call from Harvey seeking assistance when the time comes to re-install the trans and OD in his bosses '39 110 Coupe. Date and time to be determined.

But what of my earlier reference, "more of that later", about my late arrival at the workshop? I was delayed because of finalising travel arrangements for my Hershey trip this year! Yes, I'm coming/going to Hershey! So it's no longer talk, I've made the commitment. Now looking forward to meeting as many PackardInfo members as I can during the event as well as enjoying Hershey for all it is. Will also be taking in a few museums around the US, with naturally a Packard focus for these, a little sightseeing and a lot of airport arrival and departure lounges!

See you at Hershey! Come and say G'day!

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