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Again like to thank everyone for their sympathy both here and in PM's and Emails. Much appreciated.

Saturday 4th August 2012

After a week of rest and recuperation, during which I wasn't allowed to drive, dropped into the workshop this morning. Besides giving Misty a bone, checked out Packard corner and this is what I found:
- Noel's '41's radiator bolted into the collar but sitting on a bench top.
- Big Red's old broken exhaust manifold on another bench. It had been away for quite some time and has been repaired with the rearmost ear now welded back on.
- The starter motor out of Noel's '41 and on the bench in pieces. Coupled with Wade's copy of his Motors Manual open at the Starting Switches page.
- What looks like a 320 exhaust valve on the desk instead of the inlet I left there.

Also heard from Noel, by email, on return from his holiday. Just as well, because I dropped my mobile(cell) phone into the toilet bowl last week and for some strange reason it doesn't work anymore! Here's an edited version of Noel's email - "...delivered some Packard stuff...including the fuel sender unit (very nice), a coil with bracket (not sure it's correct) and a shop manual. Re the fuel filter picture, I'm sure the one on Andrew's car is not kosher, at least for the '41's I've seen. If that's true, I'll do a Tony related quote - "I don't want my car like that"!..." Noel had been holidaying in Thailand and had been met there by an emissary bearing the Packard parts referred to. The reference to the fuel filter picture refers to one I sent Noel of one on the '40 160 Coupe we saw in May at Smeaton Grange.

Anyway, from all of that, it looks like I have some catching up to do on Monday. Although I'll still be taking things easy as I go back to the Doc on Wednesday for my post op appointment.

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Mal, welcome back. You have been missed. Pleased to hear your recovery continues and you are now able to sit up and take nourishment.

(o[]o)

Mal,
Glad to see you back, missed your action.

Monday 6th August 2012

Just a drop in and catch up at the workshop. For two reasons, 1) still feeling tender, and 2) ain't much to occupy me there at the moment. Caught up with Wade who has installed the clutch mechanism into Noel's chassis as well as the brackets for the engine snubber. Waiting on new rubbers to be able to install the snubber itself as well as new rubbers for the radiator/fender stays. Speaking of which, on my recent sabbatical, I was looking through some pic's of my '41 120 from back in 2010 when the engine was out and saw my stays. Ah Ha I thought! Can now tell Wade how these mount as he'd been scratching his head about that point. Means, once the rubbers arrive, the radiator, collar and mudguard/fender bracket assembly can also be mounted. As for the starter motor, Wade picks up the rebuilt starter pieces from Star Auto Electrical at Gladesville this afternoon and it should go back on tomorrow. Wade told me, that after the starter failed on the 356, he pulled it out then on the bench it only just turned over! But apparently it was working when the engine was fired up after Noel's Coupe arrived in Oz some years back so was "assumed" to be OK. Also tomorrow, on his way in Wade will be seeing Tony at Quik Fit mufflers at Gladesville to have a lower radiator pipe bent up for the 356. Looks like Wade's work on Noel's chassis will be just about done come the end of the day tomorrow. There will be some outstanding matters but until parts come to hand these cannot be addressed.

And apparently some action on The Fossil front, or so Wade hopes. Steve, the panelbeater, collected the other top side panel for the bonnet(hood) on Friday to ensure both panels were OK. Once the bonnet(hood) returns and can be mounted a lot more can and will be done to The Fossil. It's like a missing piece in a jigsaw puzzle at the moment.

That aside I have "booked in" my Coupe for some work tomorrow. Remounting the Clipper window handles that have fallen off, thanks for that insight Noel, I was blissfully unaware they weren't kosher. And hook up the horn wire that's come adrift. Is there a special type of wire used in horn wires? This is the third time mine has broken.

Had expected Noel to drop in at some stage but if he did it was after I left. Hope he did cause Wade is anxious to see the shop manual for the Coupe, there are a few points in there he'd like to check on. Also missed Barry Smith from Tamworth. Apparently to emphasise that he really isn't going to restore another car Barry told Wade he was getting rid of his blasting cabinet. Whereupon Wade suggested he toss it in Wade's direction because it's bigger and better than the bench top model Wade has. That Barry has now done with the cabinet sitting in a prime position at present in front of Packard corner. Now it looks like Snapey might be the recipient of a hand me down blasting cabinet as he'd expressed an interest in borrowing Wade's bench top model at one time.

The other matter I needed to attend to while at the workshop was pick up a valve for the 320 engine at the Mudgee Museum. Except I think I've mucked things up. The letter received from the museum specified 1 x Inlet and 1 x Exhaust valve, which Wade donated. But when I rang the guy he said they actually required 2 x Exhaust valves! I returned one valve to Wade but I now realise I returned the exhaust valve and retained the inlet valve! Need to talk to the guy at Mudgee before I send anything to ensure he ends up with the right valves and I don't end up with egg on my face.

EDIT - Almost forgot, I threatened promised LJJ that I'd post a pic of his new Packard. It isn't what he'd been aiming for previously in this thread. But as he said "...The search for a Packard is over, I am currently arranging the import of a 1947 Super Clipper 7 Passenger from California, it's a lot of car for the money. I will certainly have enough room for the whole family!..."

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Tuesday 7th August 2012

Just as well I didn't wait for Noel to arrive yesterday, it was well over 3 hours after I left that he strolled in! Had brought over a coil and bracket, '41 160/180 Preliminary Shop Manual, fuel tank pickup and sending unit as well as what looks like a NOS exhaust hanger insulator. But on my arrival this morning there was a surprise, parked under the ramp to the roof top carpark was a black '33 Super Eight Sedan! Lots of pic's below, including some specifically for O_D. Belongs to PACA member AD and is a LHD car. Hasn't been on the road for about 8 years, then 6 years ago went to Cowra for some touch up work on the body, which was never done! It's now with Wade because it won't run, with Wade's brief being to get it going so it can be sent elsewhere for what now will be much more than a touch up. Because it looks like it's been out in, or exposed to, the weather for most of those 6 years! Then venturing inside, after that unexpected Packard fix, found Wade had picked up Noel's starter motor body now fitted with new brushes together with a skimmed and checked commutator from Star Auto Electrical as well as having a pipe bent up for the lower radiator hose by Quik Fit Mufflers.

But, didn't start with those. Instead, because I'd brought down my Coupe, we turned to that. Yesterday on my way home had bought a box of assorted roll pins to facilitate the re-installation of the free floating Clipper(GRRRRRR!) window winding handles. What doesn't help is that none of the door or window handles on my Coupe have a tensioning spring on them. The trouble started in 2011 on the Tour to Tamworth run when the passengers side door handle fell off, fixed after our return to Sydney by, who else, Wade! Used one of his roll pins on that occasion. Then earlier this year the drivers side door handle fell off. Fixed temporarily by Mal using a nail! Later fixed properly by Wade with a roll pin AND some clear tape! Next handle to part company was the passengers side window handle when Wade took the Coupe to Tamworth in early June. Maybe there's something about that place that causes handles to fall off? Finally in early July, coming back from American INDEPENDENTS car show, the drivers side window handle fell off. Rather than go the Mal nail route I'd parked the handles and bezels in the glovebox waiting a more opportune time for a real fix. Today was that time. Found a couple of appropriate roll pins and together with more tape effected the necessary repairs. Now don't have to ask the lovely Kath to pass me the handle so I can open my window.

But, wait, there's more! The other matter needing attention was the horn wire which had parted company from the contact under the horn button. First removed the horn ring whereupon contact, spring and insulating disc came out in no particular order. Then removed the horn wire, which although it had been tied up underneath had come loose and was dragging on the road. Into the workshop with the contact, spring and wire and sourced a length of multi stranded wire more flexible then the failed wire. The thought being that the failed wire was too stiff with more flexibility required. Soldered the contact to the new wire and back to the Coupe only to discover the contact had been soldered on the wrong way round because the dis-assembly hadn't been conducive to identifying the order and orientation of the parts concerned. Fixed and back again to the Coupe then pushed the old wire back up the steering column and using it as a pull wire drew the new wire through. And everything worked, re-assembled the horn ring, Wade put a connector on the bottom end of the new wire plugged it in and Mal hit the Horn. PAAAARRRPP!!

Don't worry Noel we hadn't forgotten your '41. The starter motor was next, re-assembled then put back on the engine. I thought Wade would have bench tested it but he didn't. It was only later that he said he had intended to but overlooked that step, while I thought he was just very confident it would work! Which it did, turned over straight away on your Optima Noel, with no plugs in. And Houston, we have oil pressure, all of about 8-10lbs at cranking speed! What next? The brakes. Wade had previously fitted and tightened the new brake line which came loose with the chassis but before commencing a pumping checked that all the bleed nuts were tight, they weren't! That done, then did commence a pumping. Started at the right rear and as expected before any fluid came through an awful lot of air did. But as soon as fluid came through, as well as resistance in the system, leaks became apparent. First at the tee at the front of the master cylinder, then the fitting to the rear flexible line. Fixed those, finished bleeding the right rear and turned to the left rear. With more resistance in the system leaks appeared at the tee on the diff and the tee for the front brakes as well as the front flexible line joins. Bleeding stopped, fittings tightened necessitating, on the front ones, the use of an 11mm spanner. Noel, please note that down for future reference! Although Wade has replaced many mongrel nuts and bolts with AF/NF where required, these weren't so easy to do so you're stuck with them. Anyway, now have brakes on your '41, and will be monitored over the next few days for signs of leaks.

What else to do? Well the old plug leads were installed although I believe new ones are on the way and a set of Champion spark plugs installed. Before you have a stroke Noel, these Champions were in the Autolite boxes you provided to Wade. With appropriate markings on the back of the boxes, in my hand no less, see pic! Wade has also rigged up a key start for the engine so all that's required now is a can of fuel, a hose from the can to the fuel pump and your presence to witness it's return to life. Note, there is spark, that has been tested, so the sooner you get to the workshop the better, Wade has an itchy ignition finger!

After confirming this morning that the Mudgee Museum requires 2 x 320 exhaust valves for their Packard, Wade was able to come up with the goods and these were posted to them on my way home this afternoon.

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Mal, thanks so much for thinking of me with the numbers, 1933 numbers are particulary hard to come by. And what you thought was the oil filter is indeed correct, 1933 was the last year before the changeover to the full-flow filter and temperature regulator system so that feature looks correct. As to the Trippe question, I believe the Trippe Seniors had the bubble level,the Trippe Juniors didn't.

If you have the opportunity, please take a closer look at the patent plate, the # 402 makes sense numerically but there is some feature, perhaps a scratch or smudge, before it that makes it look like a 1402.

Dave,

I may not get to the workshop today but here are another couple of pic's I took yesterday of the Patent Plate. I don't think there's a "1" in the number sequence, now it's obvious didn't pick the best pic yesterday!

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Wednesday 8th August 2012

Contrary to my previous post I did make it to the workshop today, but only for a couple of hours. And even though I was around the '33, at one stage, didn't think to check and photograph the Patent Plate again. Sorry Dave, I'll try and remember next time. And why was I around the '33? Took down a car cover to at least partly cover it for 1) weather protection, and from 2) inquisitive eyes. Where it's parked, although a long way from the street, it is visible so reducing visibility makes sense. Once Noel's chassis moves out the '33 will move in and weather and security issues will be a thing of the past.

Found Wade under Big Red cleaning her chassis and undercarriage so everything is ready for the engine going back in, whenever that may be. Allied to the engine, the block being used is different to the one that came out of Big Red so I was cleaning parts to fit to the rebuilt block when it returns. They were a pair of tappet covers and their retaining screws as well as the carb heat shield off the '33. First the tappet covers, someone may be able to shed some light on the fact that Big Red's 320 block had a single looooong tappet cover while all the other 320 blocks that Wade has seen have two tappet covers. Any comments or insights? Cleaned up nicely after scraping, hand parts washing, wire wheeling finally finishing in the blasting cabinet. Now the '33 carb heat shield. Wade has only had a preliminary look at the '33 and as can be imagined, after sitting for 6 to 8 years, the fuel system is cactus. Wade removed the glass filter housing which was half full containing a black foul smelling substance. Because of this the tank will be dropped, cleaned and treated as well as rebuilding the pickup and sending unit, all fuel lines cleaned and flushed, and fuel pump and carburettor rebuilt. Then it will have a much better chance of running. The electrical system, as it pertains to the engine, will also be gone through. In this regard Wade has already been under the dash and found a makeshift fuse in place of the correct one.

Wade also commenced a tear down of Barry's blasting cabinet. It's given long and faithful service restoring a number of Packards and needs some TLC before being returned to active duty. Wade has removed what was left of the operator gloves, must have been quite an experience at the end with blasting media pouring out of big holes in the gloves! So tomorrow we're off to Hare & Forbes for new replacement gloves as well as any other pieces required.

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Mal, thanks for the extra photos clarifying the vehicle numnber. I pretty much assumed it couldn't have been 1402 as they only made 1300 Super Eights that year, distributed across what, 13 or 14 body styles. But with so many curious numbers appearing these days I wanted to be certain.