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Wednesday 6th November 2013

Nothing happening at the workshop, but there have been some Packard goings on. Michael, Noel and myself took a trip up to the Vintage Motor Garage at Central Mangrove in my Coupe to, among other things, see whether they could make a new left right side inner fender panel and lower grill panel for Noel's '41 160 Coupe. The panels he has are very rusty, swiss cheese like and, especially the lower grill panel, are lacking in strength. But on arrival, before Noel got into a panel making discussion, we saw that Phil's '26 Limo was still in residence. Last time we were there 29th July it was thought it'd only be about a month before the Limo was heading to Tassie for finishing, but obviously it hasn't happened yet. After that Noel recovered the panels from the boot(trunk) of my Coupe he conferred with the proprietor, Jonathon. We then departed together with the panels as the estimate was very steep, lucky Noel has a strong constitution otherwise we might have had to carry him to the car from where he fell in a heap from the price shock! But all was not lost, by chance Noel left the panels in the boot(trunk) of my Coupe but was able to meet up with him later to hand them back. The occasion being a PACA Committee meeting, one of whose members is DavidM. Seeing David there, it came to Noel that maybe David could help him out with the panels. Upshot is that David left with the panels and is going to try to save them if possible and at what would be a more comfortable cost I'm sure. At least this will pull David away from working on BSAs, Singers, Alvii(plural of Alvis?) and such as well as his Maxwell and back onto Packards. Actually David is currently working on the Maxwell, there's been a lull with the little Pommie cars, and has the Maxwells diff apart for the umpteenth time and is determined to get it right this time!

PS - Does anyone have, or know of, a '41 160 right inner fender panel or lower grill panel for sale? Noel would be interested!

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Friday 8th November 2013

David's advice re the panels is this "After a close look at Noel's panels in the light of day I think they are beyond repair. I don't have the gear to make new ones properly. I will suggest he follows up with Chris's panel beater."

So the PS from my previous post of "Does anyone have, or know of, a '41 160 right inner fender panel or lower grill panel for sale? Noel would be interested!" is even more pertinent. I've also posted this wanted ad.

Monday 11th November 2013

Harking back to posts of days gone by, see #1274 and a number of subsequent ones, there was a competition of sorts for a picture caption. I don't think I ever announced a "winner" and that thought has been nagging me for almost a year. The main reason being, I didn't have a suitable "prize" although mention had been made that something from the workshop would probably fill the bill. Instead, and the judges decision is final with no correspondence being entered into, I am finally announcing JW as the winner! More because a suitable prize has now entered my possession than anything else! Following JW's Clipper "starring role" in the movie Parkland, about the Kennedy assassination, the "prize" is a magazine with an article on Jacki Weaver who featured in the movie and "drove" JW's Clipper!

John, the magazine will soon be winging it's way to you.

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Mal, I am honored and happy to hear the contest results. The prize is most appropriate. Many thanks to you for sponsoring this fun event. It is these things that make the site what it is - First Class. Looking forward to receiving the magazine are reading about Jackie and "Parkland".

I still have not seen the movie. It was premiered here in Austin about a month ago, then had a short run at one house. No news of it since. This all reminds me to see when it will be released.

When on our trip to New Mexico in September to visit with family and friends and do some volunteer work for the Santa Fe Concorso we viewed "Rush" (highly recommend it). Coming out of the movie got this photo of a "Parkland" poster and me in the theatre lobby. Also reposting the photo of Jackie and me during the filming in Austin.

Edit: Oops, too quick on the Send button. Here is the poster photo.

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Mal - The prize arrived yesterday. Enjoying reading the various articles and looking at the advertisements. There is a nice article in it about Mark Webber, one of my favorite F1 drivers. Saw him on Sunday at the US F1 GP here in Austin. Great driving, but he just could not get around Grosjean's Lotus. Still, finished on the podium for a 3rd place. Thanks for sponsoring the contest and providing the prize. Take care.

(o{}o)

JW, you can buy it now at any retailer i believe. I forgot about your car being in the movie and plan to view it soon myself. as for F1, I wish BMW was still running around out there.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/parkland-dvd/2072083.p;jsessionid=36E6AC5E558EC6689651894A314B04BC.bbolsp-app03-141?id=2750172&skuId=2072083&st=parkland&lp=1&cp=1

Hank, thanks for the pointer to Best Buy. I'll head over there and see if they have a copy. I too wish BMW were still in F1. The Sauber team is still running and BMW had it for a time until Peter bought it back.

(o{}o)

Got a DVD of "Parkland" this afternoon and viewed it. Thanks Hank. The scene where my 55 Clipper was used did not make the final version. The scene was redone completely different with no cars involved. It is a powerful and intense movie. Well done and I recommend it to those interested in the assassination. Oh well, my fleeting fame once again escapes me.

(o{}o)

P.S. Jackie Weaver was great playing the disturbed mother of Lee Harvey.

I was about to ask you if you thought the scene with your car was cut, cause I could not find it either.

disappointing it was cut.

Thursday 21st November 2013

After a morning visiting the grandkids arrived home to receive a call from Wade.....he was at the workshop! Arriving there found Wade with 2 disassembled fuel/vacuum pumps. The inoperative one from Amelia, there's an electric pump installed, and another I'd bought off eBay on Ross's behalf. Wades plan was to use the best of both pumps for the rebuild. But first we pulled the top off the trans section of the R9 OD trans I'd bought last month which, from a cursory inspection, looks OK. Plan there is that Wade will disassemble the whole unit at his leisure, present me with a list of requirements which, once met, will be followed by reassembly and eventually swapping with the current unit in the Coupe. But back to the pumps. While I cleaned parts in the blaster, wire wheel or just with cleaner, Wade was supplying me with further parts for cleaning and also reassembling a pump with the rebuild kit procured for that purpose. And the parts left over which are almost as good as the ones rebuilt will, I'm sure, also be rebuilt so that there's a spare pump "on the shelf". Upshot is that the rebuilt pump can now be sent to the guy who has rebuilt the supposedly rebuilt engine in Amelia. The now properly rebuilt engine will be run and tested before being shipped to Wade for reuniting with Amelia.

On another note, Wade and PeterL attended the Bendigo Swap Meet this past weekend. This resulted in a phone call from Wade on Saturday asking what a P/N #446095 Crown Wheel fitted? From the top of my head I advised a 50's Packard. But subsequent investigation of the 48-54 Parts List in the Literature and Manuals section on site couldn't confirm that. Instead in Group 12.005 there is a listing of Crown Wheel and Pinion sets which carry P/N's like 60xxxx! Sighting the pinion and crown wheel today which are marked 446094-10-41 Packard 8 53 and 446095-41-10 Packard 12 9 51 respectively. Interesting the differences in dates between the crown wheel and pinion but I'm more interested to learn if there's a source available to be able to translate the #446xxx numbers to the #60xxxx numbers!
And a big round of to Greg, saltydog, see this thread, because if all's gone to plan, inner fender panels and a radiator splash guard for Noel's Coupe should now on their way to the land down under.

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