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Wednesday 17th June 2009

Although I didn't get to the workshop today phoned Wade and he told me:
1) He's found some modern cam rollers to replace the damaged and worn Super 8 rollers.
and, 2) ABC Bearings has the rear axle seals, he's got one pair while the other pair is coming from one of their other stores.
When I see Wade Thursday I'll catch up on the details and take some pic's.

You Aussies remind me of an old Vermont saying:
Use it up, wear it out,
make it do, or do without.
You have a knack for finding parts, seals,etc. that I really admire. Make sure you give us the part number of those seals. We all thank you.

Randy,

It's just a matter of going along to your local bearing store with the bearing or seal you need a replacement for. They'll either measure and size it to a modern equivalent for the seals, or take the part number off the bearing and look up that number in their data base or do similarly as was done with the seals and measure and size it. Not rocket science and not black magic either and more often then not it works!

I know I have no luck at autoparts and the only bearing outfit is a good hours drive - haven't been there in years.
Last time I asked for something they said it was out of stock and wouldn't be replaced.
But thanks anyway mate.

Thursday 18th June 2009

Arrived at the workshop to find Wade working on, of all things,.......a Toyota Celica!
Relax, he hasn't turned to the dark side of the force, it's Gina's and, because she's driving up to see her Mum in Gilgandra next week, Wade was giving it a service.

After getting over that shock, yesterday's results from ABC Bearings were then discussed. The sample of the cam roller followers ABC lent Wade won't be used in the rebuild although they probably would do the job. But there is another type of roller follower coming from ABC which is a more likely candidate. The outer rear axle seals procured were NOS items made by Repco, an Aussie auto parts supplier, while the inner seals are coming from one of ABC's other stores. More to come, especially for the cam followers when it's settled what and how these will be utilised.

So while Wade continued his Toyota Service Technician impression I took both sets of rear spring leaves outside and gave them the Marine Clean and Metal Ready treatment. During the course of that treatment there were breaks to allow the M/C and M/R time to work their magic and coupled with Wade waiting to get the Celica onto John's hoist these presented opportunities for real Packard work.

One was bolting Big Red's radiator/grill/grill shell assembly back together. Because of the intermittent nature of the breaks this was accomplished in a number of episodes. First the radiator was laid outer surface up on some old sofa cushions, the lower radiator mounting fitted, the grill shutter assembly fitted and bolted up. Except, although the rod for the shutters operation was passed through the radiator top tank, the rod wasn't fitted through the pivot/nut mechanism of the shutter-stat. So after partial dis-assembly and then re-assembly it was back together again. Wade also took the opportunity to polish all the chrome while it was readily accessible then was re-fitment of the painted grill surround. The re-assembled radiator, grill and surround and then carefully stored awaiting it's return to Big Red after the engine goes back in.

The other Packard activity was installing the flexible front brake hoses, at least with this Wade could see something going back on Big Red for the day's work. And tomorrow, because I'm having some R&R with the granddaughters, Wade is going to POR-15 the rear spring leaves, all 22 of them 11 per side, good luck!

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Wednesday 24th June 2009

Back to the workshop today and did it in two bites. The starter motor brushes I bought on eBay for Wade back on the 12th arrived yesterday so dropped them in early in the morning so he could put Old Blue's starter back together. Then back again early in the afternoon after a morning spent with the granddaughters. And on the way back from them saw a sight you don't see every day, see pic's below.

Last Friday Wade had painted one side of the rear springs, then came in on the Saturday and painted the other side. Also over the last few days he's re-assembled the rear springs, and re-assembled the diff putting the centre back in the housing complete with new WFI gaskets. He's waiting on the new screw shackle bolts that's Ivan's making so the rear springs can then be re-installed, the partially assembled diff housing mounted, rear axles installed, rear brakes fitted and the tailshaft re-mounted.

Today, in the morning Wade re-assembled the starter, re-installed it and now Old Blue is back up and running. When I arrived Wade was looking through his pic folder but couldn't find the pic's he wanted. He was planning to re-assemble the '34's grill and wanted to ensure he put it all back together per his pictorial record. But it wasn't to be, so he went on with some other things including mounting an electric fuel pump near the tank for priming purposes only as the fuel either drains out or evaporates if Big Red sits for a while. While Wade was doing that I turned to Big Red's fuel tank and cleaned it up in preparation for Marine Cleaning/Metal Readying/POR-15'ing tomorrow. Except for the engine that should account for the last of the major parts requiring paint......phew!

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Thursday 25th June 2009

On my ownsome at the workshop after Wade rang to say he wouldn't be there but was going to Helensberg. Helensberg, somewhat south of Sydney, is where the '34's body is being painted so I presume he's there checking on it's progress.

Anyway my activity in the workshop was confined to finishing the clean up of Big Red's fuel tank, then Marine Cleaning, Metal Readying and a coat of POR-15 only on the underside of the tank. Will do the top side tomorrow. Also took some pic's of the electric fuel pump Wade installed under Big Red yesterday.

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Friday 26th June 2009

After donating blood plasma, and seeing what was for me a strange looking motorcycle on the way back this morning, it was off to the workshop. Wade was engaged in re-assembling the '34's grill so I left him to that while I gave the top of the fuel tank a coat of POR-15. Then helped Wade with the final assembly of the radiator shutters, it's definitely a two man job to get it all together. Also cleaned up and POR'd the '34's headlight bar. And Wade's taking home Big Red's fuel tank sending unit tonight to clean it up and get it working.

Wade told me the reason for his rushed Helensberg trip yesterday was to go and see the painter to confirm the lighter colour he has to put on the body. Wade confirmed it was the colour he wanted so all was well. And Gina took some pic's of the '34's body yesterday so when Wade emails me copies I'll post some here.

Last pic posted is of Big Red from the Kimes book, page 393 of my edition. Wade told me it was in there a while ago and I finally remembered today to look it up.

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Saturday 27th June 2009

Pic's from Wade of the '34 body

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Looks magnificent. Excluding the Dietrich colors, I believe there were 5 gray colors in 1934, is this a match or close match for one of them? The original colors were Silver Fox Gray, Sea Shell Gray (only as a stripe color), Storm Cloud Gray, Roanoke Gray Light, and Mt. Vernon Gray. I've not seen any 1934 chip which might help me distinguish one from the other.