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Wednesday 21st August 2013

Arrived at the workshop in the Coupe to find Ed's '37 120 Touring Sedan being positioned to go up on the hoist. Once up the rear universal joint was disconnected from the diff(third member, Randy?) pinion flange and the tailshaft wired up to the rear sway bar so it was out of the way. The flange removed and then the leaking pinion seal removed. Inspection of the pinion flange revealed the sealing area was good so the new seal was then installed and the pinion flange re-installed. However the pinion nut wasn't in great shape so a trip was taken to Lee Bros for a replacement. This entailed going in the Coupe, which normally I would have done alone, but because the hand brake was disconnected I enlisted Ed to ride along. Ed was going to stay behind and clean up the spray that resulted from the leaking pinion seal but did that bit of housekeeping later in the circumstances. Picked up another nut, but the only locking nut they had was too long. So another trip in the Coupe, this time to Ed's house because he lives relatively close. There, a thinner washer was sourced as well as Ed cutting down the length of the nut in his lathe. Quite a lathe is it too, formerly from HMAS Perth. It is in extremely good condition, only being used while the ship was at sea for emergency repairs, while in port any work required used dockyard facilities and machine shops. Took a while to do the job, with most of the time spent in centering up the nut in the chuck. Back to the workshop, washer and nut on, tailshaft reconnected, diff refilled and then Ed finally was able to do his undercar cleanup.

After waving Ed goodbye in the '37, started work again on the Coupe and its handbrake cable saga carried over from yesterday. The problem yesterday being that the split-pin holding the handbrake handle end of the cable under the dash, besides being in a very difficult position, was very stubborn in defying removal. Even though the split-pin was loose and rattling in the clevis pin it couldn't be gripped for removal. Finally after a loooooong, loooooong time Wade finally managed to extricate the split-pin in a number of pieces. To do so the front seat squab had been removed, padding laid down, and Wade lay across the cabin. But by doing so his head hung out the open drivers door with no support and his neck was copping a beating. Who should come to the rescue? Why Max Merritt of course! Huh! Actually it was the box from Max that the hand brake cable came in and this, together with a couple of folded up towels, provided a head rest of sorts for Wade. No chance of falling asleep though, still not comfortable enough for that to happen. But if you've ever wondered what those oversize boxes Max's parts come in are good for, now you know at least one use. Old cable out the interior end clamp removed and reused on the new cable the new cable was then finally pushed through the holes in the body and remounting began. This too proved to be difficult as Wade was vowing the spit-pin would be more easily removable should it ever be necessary in future. It is but not as well as Wade expected, the physical restrictions inherent in remounting the hand brake cable providing impediments in being able to do so. Still, one end of the cable was now secured, time now to put the car up in the air and do the other end under the car. This proved a lot easier, being readily accessible for a start, but did shorten the threaded section on the end of the cable that holds the clevis. Did this almost freehand with a hacksaw under the car while Wade held the cable end with a pair of vice grips against the arm of the hoist. Adjusted the rear brakes up some adjustment of the clevis and we were in business. Once again I'm indebted to Wade for the time and effort he spent on the Coupe.

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Am interested in where you acquired the Packard lettering decal on the trunk of your '34. I have a '36 and would like to have one.

Your help is appreciated

Dave Lee Saratoga, NY
Classiccar47@aol.com

G'day Dave,

I bought the Packard decals for Wade's '34 off US eBay over 2 years ago. I'd also bought similar Packard script decals for my '41 also off US eBay about 5 years ago. However, at the moment, the only current eBay listing for Packard Script decals is this one. Though did find an old email from 2 years ago which indicates the seller was The Sign Depot 1 which had an email address of - thesigndepot1@aol.com. If you don't have any luck there, or on eBay, maybe one of the Packard clubs or Vendors sells them?

EDIT - Looking at the Site of the seller of the eBay listed decal they also have a larger Packard Script decal available.

Sunday 22nd September 2013

Been over a month and nothing much has happened at the Workshop, besides dropping in regularly to give Misty a bone, but that doesn't mean all things Packard are in hibernation here.

Back on 22nd August took the Coupe up to my daughters at Wahroonga for a photo opportunity. Rose Seidler House hosts a Fifties Fair each year and my daughter and her daughters were attending this years fair. My daughters Mother-In-Law had donated accessories, hat, fur and gloves from the period while my daughter made the poodle skirt outfits for her daughters and wanted to use the Packard as a backdrop for some photos prior to the actual event on the Sunday, see pic's.

On Tuesday 3rd September my brother was in town and together with his son visited with us. And my daughter, together with my grandson, also came along for a family morning tea. Because of the number of cars arriving and, because my brothers son is in a wheelchair, I'd moved the Coupe out of the garage so he could be wheeled through to the rear of the house thus avoiding the wheelchair unfriendly stairs at the front. Then on leaving, seeing the Coupe parked in the front yard, my daughter took a couple of pic's of my grandson at the wheel of it. Little did I know why she wanted to do that, but I never let a photo opportunity bypass the Coupe. See the pic's below.

On Sunday 8th September our Packard Club held a Concours Day at Cattai National Park on the far western outskirts of Sydney. Not a big turnout, only 8 Packards 4 of which were judged. The others, including my Coupe, declining the invitation to be placed under such close scrutiny. Good day had by all, see pic's in this Picasa Album link.

Wade too normally would have joined us at Cattai but instead had booked to attend the Shepparton Swap meet a two day event over the same weekend but about 750kms south. This event was part of the Victorian arm of the Packard Clubs Events Calendar and attracted a number of interstate Packard owners. Don't know how good the swap meet was but I'm sure the social side was well attended!

Then on Saturday 14th September my daughter-in law, wanting to surprise her husband, my oldest son, arranged for a Packard Taxi, the Coupe, to convey them to a French Restaurant for a 10th Wedding Anniversary meal. The restaurant was in the Rocks area, one of the first settled areas of Australia, and is literally in the shadow on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, see pics.

Finally today I took Noel over to TonyW's at Eastwood, the next suburb to where I live at Epping, and where I grew up. Noel, while the major body work is being completed by Karl at Fineline at Moorebank, has Tony working on other pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that is his Coupe's restoration. Tony had already woodgrained the dash and is now in the process of reassembling it. Advice, guidance, opinions were sought and/or given with directions for it's completion now clear. Noel brought over the right side inner fender panel and the front lower panel from under the grill from his Coupe. Both had been viciously attacked by the dreaded tin worm and Noel was seeking to determine whether Tony could 1)repair or, 2)remake them. The short answer was No to both, but Noel has another avenue to pursue which he'll attend to in the near future. Noel had also brought over the glovebox door for Fleurette which has the annoying habit of, when opened, falling right down. That it does this is particularly exasperating to Noel and today armed with two other glovebox doors sought Tonys advice and hopefully help in fixing the problem In this case Tony will be able to help and soon Mr Perfectionist won't be exasperated any longer! Noel was also able to pick a few of the pieces Tony had been working on including his Coupes horns. Note, because it's a 160 it has a three-pack of horns whereas my lowly 120 only has a two-pack!

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Quote:
G'day RL,

My answer is: I don't know, not being a '37 115C expert!

So I'll ask BigKev to move your post from this thread to the Pre-War Forum where it can be addressed and you're much more likely to receive an answer.

Thanks for the info. Will look into this!

Dave

Wednesday 9th October 2013

Received advice a few days ago that Wade would be in the Workshop today and was going to look at a few things on Fleurette, being the gear linkages, putting the radio back in and the heater.

Good, I too needed to make use of Wades services, because On Saturday the 4th the Coupe developed a problem. But before getting to that, I was initially surprised my wife Kath suggested we take the Coupe that day. We were going to a family function, usually attending most of those in the daily driver. Turned out Kath wanted her brothers and their families to see the Coupe because most of them hadn't had that pleasure yet. And of course I wasn't going to say no, any chance to give the Coupe a good run I'll take any time. A 100 mile round trip should be right up it's alley. And it was, with things going very smoothly on the Freeway, until Kath remarked how well the car was running. That did it, because a little later when I eased off the throttle at 65mph, there was a growling noise from the drive train! Thought it may have been from the diff, the pinion coming loose? But after stopping, and taking the car out of overdrive, on carefully resuming our progress, the noise on the over-run had disappeared! But at least it wasn't the diff. With the problem narrowed to the overdrive and by locking out the overdrive there wasn't a problem! However I was concerned, I'd seen first hand the results of two overdrives that had failed and locked up, Fleurettes and Juniors, and I didn't want the Coupe to suffer a similar catastrophe. Then of course, when I tried to recreate the problem with Wade riding along today, the Coupe wouldn't go into overdrive! Green light on, back off throttle, green light stays on. Tried a number of times, but no dropping into overdrive. However the Coupe is still operable, although at a reduced speed, so will be able to go on our club run Sunday to Jamberoo, about 70 miles South. Thought now is to rebuild a trans/OD unit and swap it into the Coupe at a later date.

But, before looking at the Coupe, Wade first attended to Fleurettes gear linkages. An adjustment to re-align the holes in the column bellcranks seeming to take care of that(a test run hasn't been done yet so it remains to be seen as a proven repair). Then Wade looked at the heater. The last time Noel took Fleurette home from the workshop, after the heater had just been hooked up again, Noel gave the heater a test only to be met with a really bad smell which reminded him of the time the wiring harness shorted out and burned. As I said, Fleurette hasn't been taken for a run yet, but Wade discovered that the demister(defroster) motor wasn't working but there was a current draw, maybe it burned out? The radio wasn't attended to because Noel still has the speaker box which Tony refinished. However, before the speaker box or the head goes back in Fleurette Wade wants to reunite it all on the bench and test it. Instead, turned to an oil leak discovered while under Fleurette. The line from the back of the block to the oil pressure gauge was slowly dripping oil from the line fitting at the block. Tightening of the fitting slowed down the leak some, but it continued. Removed the line from the block and from another fitting on the firewall before it passes through into the passenger compartment. Besides a kink in the line near the block fitting the "shoulder" on the line doesn't look good. Wade is going to take the line to Pirtek to have it repaired or replaced.

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Hi Mal and all, Please note that a common cause of not going into overdrive is that the motor idling setting is too high. All of the R6, R9 and R11 overdrives need a positive reversal of the internals of the gearbox when you lift your foot off with the green light( governor of R9 and R11 only) on, to allow the overdrive pawl to engage in the window. You should also allow a good three-four seconds for the reversal and engagement to occur. It will be very obvious once you get used to it. It will also delay if you have 140 weight oil in the box. 85W GL4 oil should be used to avoid screwing around with the bronze bushes in the OD. Do NOT use GL5 as this will toast your gearbox synchro rings and OD bushes. Best regards PT

Friday 11th October 2013

When Noel arrived at the workshop today to pickup Fleurette, did I get a friendly greeting? No, I was thoroughly castigated for failing to report, in these pages, yesterdays events at said premises! But apart from that, all was well with Noel! Noel also had the radio box with him for Wade to reconnect it with the head and the speaker for testing. Besides taking Fleurette home Noel also took with him the air cleaner/silencer for his Coupe. Noel advised that it looks like his Coupe won't be out of the panel shop until after Christmas at the present rate of progress. When it is finished there, the Coupe will then go up to Wade's new shed on the Central Coast where Wade will fit the new wiring harness to it.

But back to yesterday, although there wasn't a great deal to report. When I arrived late morning Wade was just finishing up re-installing the oil pressure gauge line. Earlier in the morning he'd gone to Pirtek, where for the princely sum of $1.40, they'd replaced the collar on the line as well as provided a new nut. But it wasn't all that easy, the hardest part was ensuring the oil line wasn't interfering with or being interfered by the clutch pedal(it was), the 1st/reverse gear shift linkage(it was) and the accelerator linkage(you guessed it, it was too). Fixing the fouling took a fair number of up and down sessions on the hoist, some with me in the car to operate the pedals and gear lever, before the clearances necessary for all parts to act without causing interference was achieved.

That done, there wasn't anything more to be attended to on Fleurette, so attention turned to what? Why, The Fossil in this instance! Been a while since the old girl has received any attention. In order to transport The Fossil north to its new home Wade wanted to temporarily attach the front mudguards(= fenders[US] or wings[UK]), the running boards as well as the boot(trunk) as a good means of transporting these items rather than doing them as loose pieces. After carefully retrieving the right 'guard from its cocooned existence on the mezzanine level, aka the office roof, we tried to install it but what should have been a 5 minute job ended up not being done! Everything seems to have another dimension because of what had to be done following the fire which destroyed The Fossils original body. In this instance the mudguards(fenders/wings) from the donor car didn't have side-mounts while the original did. So the donor mudguards were converted to side-mounts with wheel wells fabricated in the 'guards. However, on trying to mount the 'guard today the cutout for the side-mount post is off by a smidgen, probably about 1/8" while 1/4" would have been even better.

Frustrated by that, the exercise of mounting the front mudguards was shelved for the day. Instead we turned to mounting the boot(trunk). Being a Club Sedan the boot(trunk) on '34's, and I presume '33's, is a bustle like addition snuggling into the rear of the body. A few months back Chris, starliner, had fabricated a new wooden floor and back for the boot but hadn't finished mounting the wood in the metal boot bustle structure. This needed to be done before the boot could be mounted on The Fossil. Took a little time to drill holes and screw screws but that was relatively easily accomplished. Then came the hard part although we didn't know it then. Mounting the boot lid to the boot, although that in itself isn't difficult. The difficulty arose because when the lid was installed the hinges fouled the lip of the boot. Elongating holes gave clearance which then allowed the lid to close, but it didn't align. Inspection revealed the new wooden back was fouling the hinges which poke through the hinge plate when closed. Filing the wooden back gained the clearance required for the hinges not to foul and the lid to close but the lid was still out of whack. All of this took numerous fitting, filing, removing, re-fitting, etc, etc attempts. By this time, being a 37c day, it was decided to call it quits and try again another time.

Another couple of miscellaneous matters. On his return from Shepparton last month Wade brought back a care package(see pic) of parts from Fred, pepepackard, for IanH's '36 120b Club Sedan. And on Wednesday evening Peter, the guy who owns the hoist Wade uses in the workshop, had dropped in a Model T Ford firewall and engine splash shields(also see pic. Apparently these were left over from a Model T restoration and had been found by Peter when cleaning out a garage. Thought Wade might know or be able to someone or a home for them). And finally, I have bought a '46-48 trans and O/D unit, for the Coupe, from a guy in South Australia about 850 miles south west. And, all going well, the unit will probably arrive here sometime next week. It's for a RHD car but I don't foresee any problems in that regard. Plan is to rebuild the trans and O/D and then to replace the unit currently in use. Besides the trans and O/D other things, that will be done at that time, are replacing the steering box with one currently on it's way from the US, dropping the fuel tank to check for a leak and other minor matters. And thanks Peter for the OD advice, I'm running the right oil, the idle is good and I know to allow for the "lag" for want of a better term. Although I did say earlier "there wasn't a great deal to report" looks like that statement either 1) wasn't true, or 2) I'm just running off at the mouth again. I think 2) best describes it.

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Sunday 13th October 2013

Newsflash!

At the end of our run to Jamberoo today, Noel wanted it known that Fleurette's adjusted gear linkage is working perfectly!

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